Just us.

40. He did what?

Isla and I walked in to see Claire and Ellie waiting in the hallway
"Heyy, how was it?"Claire smiles. Isla just stands there silently before running upstairs and we all hear the door slam shut.

"Mum?" I can tell Ellie is worried about her sister, and Claire is equally as confused.
"Your dad didn't come. She's just upset" I tell them. They stay silent. I think we all knew this would happen, yet we have no idea what to say, "uh, have you eaten?" I ask
"Yeah, uh, I have homework" Ellie mumbles before walking upstairs.
"I should get going. I'm sorry Char" I smile back at the woman before she leaves as well.

I feel like such a bad mum. I know the girls are hurting and I can't help them with this. I just have that he is putting our girls through this.

...

(3ed person pov)
Ellie walks into her little sister's room
"Isla?" The 7 year old is curled up in her bed clutching her bunny.

Ellie goes to sit next Isla,
"I know dad hurt you by not coming today, but mum was still there for you. And I'll always be here for you too, okay?" The smaller brunette lifts her tear stained face slightly,
"Why doesn't daddy want us anymore?"
"He does love us, I think he just... loves Ashley too. And when you find something new you like, you focus more on that. Like when you get a new toy. It doesn't mean you don't like your old toys anymore. You just want to play with your new toy. Do you understand?"
"But why can't we play all together? My dolls are all friends. They aren't mean to each other like Ashley is"
"I know, but don't get too upset, okay? It's not worth it" Ellie replies
"I just want daddy" the girl sniffles, "I want me and you and mummy and daddy. Just like it was before. Why does it have to change?"
"That's just how the world works Isla. Things change. There is good change and bad change"
"Well this is bad change! I want to go back" Ellie pulls her sister in and rubs her back gently
"I know"

...

Downstairs, Charlotte is stressing about how to help her girls. Just then her phone starts to vibrate on the table

Mia
Is calling

Charlotte slides her finger across the screen to answer it before holding the phone up to see the red head
"Mia"
"Hey sweetheart, how did it go?" Suddenly the brunette burst into tears. She didn't know what to say and felt completely helpless. "Char what happened?"
"Nathan didn't show up and Isla was crying and she refused to go on stage. It was a mess and I can't help her. I don't know how to help them. I'm such a failure o can't even help my own children. What kind of mother does that make me?" The woman blurts out.

"Charlotte, you are the best mother anyone could ever ask for, okay? Where is Isla?"
"Upstairs with Ellie. I don't know what to do Mia" Mia felt awful for Charlotte and worse for Isla. However she also bursting with anger at Nathan.
"I'm coming home"

"What? You can't the funeral is tomorrow isn't it?" Charlotte reminds the woman who has already put her phone down to start packing a bag
"I don't care about the bloody funeral. I've been here long enough. You and the girls are more important" As much as Charlotte thought Mia should stay, she really just wanted her with her isn't now
"Tell Isla I'll be home in few hours okay? Early tomorrow morning at the latest" Charlotte nodded,
"You don't have to Mia"
"Sweetheart, I want to" I also want to throttle that man and his silly little slut.

—-
A/N
Sorry this feels so rushed. I literally wrote it just now just so Charlotte can tell Mia. It does get better when she comes home :)
Xoxo-I