Unexpected

The last time.

Ivy had spent a few days with Marjorie and Reece. They had a great time, Ivy went to work with the two most days, and helped out around the nursery. The three days Ivy had spent with Marjorie and Reece made her hatred for her mother even stronger. She didn't want to go home. She didn't want to see her mum.

Friday morning came along, Ivy was to be home, strictly by 11 am, sharp. Marjorie was the first out of the three to wake up, she was downstairs making a coffee when Ivy walked into the kitchen.

"Mum." Ivy started.

"Morning my love." Marjorie smiled.

"I don't want to go home. Please don't make me." Ivy begged.

"My darling, it's not up to me. I'm sorry."

Tears began to fall down Ivy's cheeks. "I can't see my mum, I don't want to." Ivy cried.

Marjorie pushed a few stray hairs out of her daughter's face and wiped the tears with her sleeve. "I know sweetheart, I feel you. Self centred mums, aye? It'll be alright. I'm sure."

"Was your mum the same?" Ivy asked.

"Course she was, that's what makes me and you so similar." Marjorie started while taking a seat.
"My mum would regularly forget my birthday, she only commented on my appearance when she had something to criticise, she made me feel terrible about myself. I know your mum makes you feel the same way, but you can change that my darling." Marjorie smiled.

"How?" Ivy questioned.

"To be honest, you're lucky, you've got me and Reece. I had no one." Marjorie sighed.

"I can't imagine how lonely you must've felt."

"I put it all behind me, as soon as I turned eighteen, in fact, I moved out on my eighteenth birthday."

Ivy looked up at Marjorie. "I wanna move out before my eighteenth, I can't do this any longer." She stuttered.

Marjorie stood up and nodded. "Well, we'd best start getting ready, if you're late I suppose you'll be in even more trouble."

__________________

Reece drove, Marjorie sat in the passenger seat and Ivy sat in the back. Reece parked outside of Ivy's house and Marjorie walked her to the door.

Clara opened the door with a sinister grin on her face. "Ivy." She said.

"Hi mum." Ivy snapped.

"Head inside. I'll be there in a minute." Clara demanded. "Mrs knight." She began..

"Clara, you alright?" Marjorie put on her fakest smile.

"I will be, once you are away from my daughter, speaking of, I hoped you enjoyed the three days you spent with her. From now on... we go no contact. You don't get to see Ivy."

Marjorie looked disheartened "but.."

"There are no 'buts' Mrs knight, stay away. For the last time. Good day." Clara yelled as she slammed the door in Marjorie's face.

Marjorie strolled back to the car, fighting tears.

She slumped into the passenger seat and Reece immediately noticed that something was up.

"Gorgeous?" He was worried.

"That was it." She cried. "That was the last time?"

"That? What? Marjorie.. what is wrong?" He asked.

"Just drive, we've got a hospital appointment to get to, we can't be late." She said, her voice breaking.

The two had their twelve week scan that day, they were both nervous about it, but Marjorie's head was invaded with many other worries and concerns.

_______________

After the appointment, Marjorie was in a slightly better mood, the baby was healthy and so was she. Everything was as it should be. Reece was driving Marjorie home so she could get changed before the two made their way to work.

Marjorie walked into the bedroom, she pulled out a black, silk shirt which she paired with some black dress pants and her red bottomed heels.

She stared at her reflection while doing up the trousers and sighed, they were rather hard to zip up. Her bump was growing, it wasn't very noticeable just yet, but it was for sure growing.

She felt two arms snake around her waist. It was Reece.

"What's up gorgeous."

"I don't like it at all." She muttered.

"Like what?" Reece questioned.

Marjorie turned to the side and placed a hand on her stomach. "It's getting bigger, I could barely do my trousers up, I hate it. I'm huge." She moaned.

"Marjorie, I don't think you realise, what you're doing is incredible, that's our baby in there." He pointed to her stomach and continued to talk "I didn't even notice, you're not huge sweetheart, you still look stunning, as always." He smiled.

Marjorie had always struggled to love her body, especially as a young girl, much like Ivy, she hated herself. Going through changes during pregnancy was hard to deal with for her.

She looked up at Reece. "Really? You think?"

"Of course Marjorie, especially that outfit- you're smoking." He playfully poked her. "Never say anything like that again, Mrs knight."

She raised an eyebrow. "And why is that.. mr knight?" She giggled.

"Because, no matter what, you always look gorgeous, you're perfect. Please just have a little more self respect and don't be so hard on yourself, you're pregnant for goodness sake." He placed a hand over her stomach.

"Okay." She smiled, placing her hand on top of Reece's.