The rain drizzled lightly over the old graveyard, a mist clinging to the headstones like a shroud. Catherine Cawood stood silently by her daughter Becky's grave, the weight of her memories pressing down on her. She reached out and gently traced the engraved letters of Becky's name, her mind lost in thoughts of what might have been. The shadow of Tommy Lee Royce loomed large in her thoughts, as it always did when she visited this place. Charlotte stood a few steps behind, giving her mother the space she needed but staying close enough to be a quiet support. She knew that moments like these were when Catherine's resolve was at its strongest, but also when her vulnerability was most exposed. "Mum," Charlotte said softly, stepping forward, "I know this isn't easy. You don't have to do this alone."Catherine let out a slow, steady breath, never taking her eyes off Becky's headstone. "I know, love. But it's hard to shake the feeling that I've failed her somehow. I couldn't save her from him then, and now he's back out there. I have to make sure he never gets near Ryan."Charlotte reached out and placed a reassuring hand on her mother's shoulder. "We're all in this together, Mum. Tommy Lee Royce might think he can just walk back into our lives, but he doesn't know what he's up against."Catherine nodded, her eyes still fixed on the grave. "It's just—Ryan's already got so many questions, and we've worked so hard to keep him safe from the truth. I don't know how much longer we can keep it from him."Charlotte tightened her grip on her mother's shoulder. "We'll deal with that when we have to. Right now, all that matters is making sure Ryan's okay, making sure he doesn't get caught up in Royce's mess."As they walked back to the car, Catherine's phone buzzed in her pocket. She checked the screen and saw a message from Clare, her sister, asking her to come home quickly. Ryan had been asking questions again—about his dad.Catherine and Charlotte exchanged a worried glance before getting into the car. They drove in silence, the weight of the conversation hanging heavily between them. When they arrived home, Clare was waiting in the kitchen, a cup of tea in hand and a worried look on her face."He's in the living room," Clare said softly. "He's been asking about his dad again. I didn't know what to say, Cath."Catherine took a deep breath and nodded. "It's okay, Clare. I'll handle it."She walked into the living room to find Ryan sitting on the sofa, his eyes fixed on the television, though it was clear he wasn't really watching it. He turned to look at her, and she could see the confusion and frustration in his eyes."Gran, why won't you ever talk about my dad?" Ryan asked, his voice a mix of hurt and anger. "People at school keep saying things, and I don't understand why you never tell me anything."Catherine's heart clenched at the sight of her grandson's pained expression. She moved to sit beside him, taking his hand in hers. "Ryan, it's not because I don't want to tell you," she said gently. "It's just... your dad isn't someone I want you to know, not yet. There are things I'm trying to protect you from."Ryan looked down at their joined hands, his brow furrowing in confusion. "But everyone else knows, Gran. Why do I have to be the one who doesn't?"Catherine felt Charlotte and Clare enter the room behind her, their presence a silent show of support. She met Ryan's eyes, her voice firm but laced with sadness. "Because I love you, Ryan, more than anything in the world. And I'm trying to keep you safe. Sometimes the truth can hurt more than you know, and I don't want that for you. Not yet."Ryan pulled his hand away, frustration bubbling to the surface. "You always say you're protecting me, but it feels like you're just hiding things from me. I'm not a little kid anymore, Gran."Charlotte stepped forward, her voice calm and steady. "Ryan, your gran is doing the best she can. We all are. There are some things that are complicated, things that you're not ready to understand yet. But I promise you, when the time's right, we'll tell you everything you need to know."Ryan looked between his gran, his aunt, and Clare, his face a mixture of anger and confusion. "Fine," he said quietly, standing up from the sofa. "I'll wait, but I'm not a kid anymore. I deserve to know the truth."As he walked out of the room, heading upstairs to his bedroom, the three women exchanged a look filled with worry and determination. Clare let out a sigh, running a hand through her hair. "How much longer can we keep this up, Cath? How much longer before he finds out on his own?"Catherine's face hardened, her eyes darkening with a fierce resolve. "As long as it takes," she said, her voice a whisper of determination. "Tommy Lee Royce is not getting anywhere near him. I'll make sure of that, even if it's the last thing I do."Charlotte placed a hand on her mother's arm, her touch a grounding force. "We're with you, Mum. We'll do whatever it takes to keep him safe."For a moment, the three women stood together, a united front against the darkness of the past that threatened their future. The shadow of Tommy Lee Royce might loom over their lives, but together, they were determined to keep it from consuming everything they loved.
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