Just us.

11. Carly

(Charlottes Pov)
Things have been so awkward since I told Mia I couldn't do whatever we were doing anymore. I didn't even give her a chance to reply before I practically ran out of the room.

This morning one of the parents had the nerve to comment on Carly. It was awful. She had told me her child didn't need breakfast and that I should give it to her because she needs some 'fattening up'. Carly rushed off to the bathroom and I could see how pale she looked. I couldn't believe what had just happened.

After telling the parent that it's not acceptable to comment on people's weight and that 'skinny' was not a compliment to everyone, Carly came back in the room.

I offered to take her out to lunch, knowing her struggles with disordered eating but she declined. I don't want to risk it and push her but I can't just ignore this situation and allow her to slip into old habits. She's stronger than that. I know it.

I know that Reece is so good with Carly when she's at his nursery. She says he's like her work dad now. So, despite not wanting to interrupt his and Marjorie's break away, I called him.

"Again, I'm really sorry to disturb you. But, you've always been so good with Carly and getting her to eat. So I was just wondering, what is your usual that you two normally get?" I ask
"It's a Tesco meal deal. So you wanna get two bottles of Fanta, two quavers, chicken mayo sandwich, tuna sandwich. And then split half the sandwich with each other"
"Right. Got it"
"But it's gotta be a chicken mayo. You get the chicken stuffing she won't eat it, she hates stuffing"
"Okay, no problem" I think I got that
"Oh and let her switch the sandwiches. If you do it for her she'll be worried she's been given the bigger sandwich and she might not it eat it" I'll make a mental note of that. I thank Reece and remind him of how good he is with Carly
"Well, I've had some experience dealing with it in the past"
"Oh, ok" I wasn't aware of that "well enjoy the rest of your holiday and I'll see you soon"
"No worries. And I'll deal with that parent when I get back" brilliant. I love how protective Reece is of Carly. It's good to know she has him in her corner.

...

After going to Tesco, I go and sit down in the staff room where Carly is sat on her phone
"Hey Carly! I wondered if you wanted to share a meal deal with me" I put the bag on the table which she looks at before smiling at me
"You called Reece?"
"Yeah" I smile back at her
"Thank you" she puts her phone down on the table, "you must really love me if you were brave enough to call Reece on his holiday"
"What do you mean?"
"Let's just say, I'd be too worried about what I was interrupting to ever ring them on that holiday" she starts to rummage through the bag and it takes me a minute to understand what she meant by that
"Oh" okay. Didn't think about that...
"And when Marjorie's in a bad mood when she comes back you know you interrupted something good" oh god "don't worry it won't have been in vein" she smiles "I'm gonna eat the whole sandwich"
"Thank you" I smile. I'm so proud of how far she has come.

...

I've been keeping to myself mostly around the nursery. I leave straight away and come in on time just so that I can avoid any extra time hanging around. Any time that Mia has to talk to me. Right now I have to focus on my children and that's it. I can't be running around like a teenage girl anymore. Especially not for Mia.

I need to think about how I'm going to tell eveyone about the separation. Sorscha knows already, but she wouldn't tell anyone. And Mia, well she has no one to tell. Not many people around here will talk to her willingly.

Surprisingly she hasn't caused a large amount of trouble. In fact I think the quiet is a bad thing. If she is planning something, I have no idea what it would be. Unless she just likes to cause drama when Marjorie and Reece are around.

That doesn't surprise me very much. I just don't understand why if she doesn't want Reece. Unless she is just a bad person who does bad things for the fun of it. That's what I should believe. I do believe. I think...