Forgive me?

Chapter Eighteen.

Emma. 

I'm in the kitchen washing the dishes from lunch when there's a knock at the door. 

"I'll get it" I shout upstairs to Lacey. 

"It's probably Bailey" She shouts back. 

"Well I can't imagine it being anyone else" I laugh as I swing the door open and come face to face with Lacey's best friend. 

"Hey Bails" I smile. 

"I'm not always here you know" She says having heard our conversation through the door. 

"I mean, you're here quite often" I laugh. 

"Oh hush, you gonna let me in or what" 

I smile and step aside letting Bailey into the house, she kicks her shoes off by the door and puts her slippers on which she conveniently bought for herself to leave here, she may as well live here at this point honestly. 

"Where's Lace?" She asks. 

"Upstairs sorting something out, she'll be down in a minute. Unless you want to go up to her" I head back towards to the kitchen as I respond. 

"No I'm good down here" Bailey says following me "Dying for a cup of tea though" She says. 

"Well you know where the mugs are" I tell her heading back to the sink to continue washing up. 

"Rude, I'm a guest you know. You're supposed to make it for me" 

"Oh Bails, you have never been a guest in this house" I laugh. 

"True" She smiles flicking the kettle on. 

Bailey picks up a tea towel and begins drying the dishes and setting them on the side while she waits for the kettle to boil.

"So how have you been?" Bailey asks. 

"Yeah good, really good actually" I smile. 

"Congratulations on your engagement" Bailey grins. 

"Thanks Bails" 

"I heard you decided to drop down on your knee too! A double proposal and I missed it. I'm gutted" Bailey shakes her head with a sigh. 

"Don't worry, there were loads of photos captured" I chuckle. 

"Yeah I'm still waiting to see those" Bailey says. 

"Is that why you're here?" I ask. 

"Yes and no" 

"The real reason being?" I ask. 

Bailey stops drying up and leans against the counter looking at me, I turn the tap off and dry my hands before facing her. 

"You just gonna look at me or you going to talk?" I ask. 

"Has Lacey told you?" She asks. 

"About Aaron being a dick? Kind of, but don't think she gave me the full story" I tilt my head taking Bailey in properly for the first time since she got here. 

"Bailey, has he hit you?" I ask, seeing a fading bruise across her cheek. 

Bailey doesn't answer me, instead lowers her gaze as if finding the flooring interesting for the first time. 

"Answer me" I say. 

"It was just the once" She says. 

"Once is enough, where is he?" I ask her. 

"Emma don't" She says. 

"No, I watched our father well my father beat my mum, when he left it turned to me. I am not letting you go through this. If he can do it once. He can do it again. Now where is he?" I ask her.