My Fair Ladies

I'll Be There Part Two

TW: insinuation of DA/DV

Week two: Autumn and Vivian

Marjorie watched as the alarm went off. She had been staring at her phone for the last hour, but it hadn't occurred to her to turn it off. Maybe it had been wishful thinking that she may fall back to sleep. She was pulled from her thoughts when the brunette snuggled in closer. The heat rose in her core, and she felt the fluttering in her stomach. She pulled her into a soft kiss. "Do you have to go?" She wished she didn't, but she had already gotten a message from Roger. "I do, beautiful. I wish I didn't, but Siobhan will be in again today."

Autumn's mind started to turn events over. She wondered if she should ask Marjorie what she knew about the Monday meetings, but maybe it was best to get the information from the source. She snuggled in and pressed her lips to the brunette's. "Too bad. I would have made it worth your while."

She let her mind wander to the previous week. Vivian had something to say. She knew she did. "Sunshine, do you know which number is Vivian's mobile number in Jamie's file? "It's the first one listed, my love. Is there something wrong? Something I should be aware of?" Marjorie was thinking about the time she spent with Siobhan last Monday, but didn't want to betray her already fragile trust. "No, I ran into her last week and just wanted to see if she might want to meet again today. Marjorie sat on the bed to put her heels on and leaned in to kiss the brunette. "Okay, well have fun. I've got to go. I'll be late otherwise." One more brush of the lips and she was off.

Autumn sat flipping her phone in her hand trying to decide the best course of action. She could text, but there wasn't much chance for a rebuttal if she ignored her. She dialled the number and waited. "Hiya." She almost hadn't expected an answer. "Hello, Vivian.It's Autumn from the nursery." There was a silence on the other end. "Is there some sort of problem? Jamie hasn't even been dropped off yet." Autumn was desperately trying to think of what to say to keep her on the phone. "Listen, I think you and I should meet at the pub this afternoon. I won't push or pry, but if you have more to say I will listen. I'm nothing like my father and if you give me a chance you will see that for yourself. If you don't want to go to the pub, I know some lovely restaurants as well." The silence on the other end of the phone was killing her, but she waited patiently. "Okay, but not the pub. If we are gonna talk, we are doing it without alcohol. Text me the address and I will meet you there at noon."

She hung up just that quickly. A smile spread across her face. Autumn hadn't anticipated her agreeing to meet but was taken aback by her ability and desire to take control. After making reservations at her favorite restaurant and texting the details to Vivian, she showered and dressed.

She sat at Marjorie's vanity to do her hair and make up and just let her mind wander. Roger had never made anything easy for her and Reece. If anything, he had tried to destroy them. Now she wondered if he was doing the same with his fiancée. She shook the thought from her head and checked the time.

She wove the red Jag in and out of traffic with ease and managed to make it to the restaurant before Viv. She decided to just go in and wait at the table. She was tempted to order a glass of red but decided to abide by Viv's rules. This time.

Viv arrived and stilled herself before entering the restaurant. It wouldn't hurt her to make more friends, but she wasn't sure a Knight was the right choice. As she got to the table, Autumn rose from her seat. She thought that kind of odd but let it go.

They ordered their food and drinks. Both abiding by the no alcohol rule which Viv was kicking herself for. In the moment, she could have used some liquid courage. Then they fell into an awkward silence. Neither being willing or able to be the first to speak.

Viv broke the silence. "If you have something to say, I would rather you just say it. I could have sat at home in my pyjamas to sit in silence." Autumn's eyes went wide. "Okay, I am gonna let you have that one." Viv's mouth opened at the thought. "Let me have that one? Look Autumn, you asked me to come out here to talk. Swore your nothing like your dad. Great, so do it. I don't have the energy to play games. Not anymore." Autumn pinched the bridge of her nose and sighed. "I didn't think you would make any of this easy, but had no idea how feisty you would get. If my father is doing something to Siobhan, and you know it. Then you have more information than I do, but I cannot help you or her without it."

"What do you mean help me?" Autumn raised one eyebrow. "Vivian after your outburst last week, do you really think that I haven't realised there was something more than meetings happening in the family room?" Vivian slumped back in her chair. "It's not how it started. It was more, but it's over now."

"Because of my father?" Viv nodded. They both slumped back in their seats as the waiter came with their food. As they ate, they found they had more common ground that either had previously thought. Both had been abandoned by what they thought was the more loving parent while being left with the mentally unstable one. While Autumn was frequently left in the care of Reece, Viv got shipped off to relatives in America every summer so her mother wouldn't have to deal with her. Even Vivian becoming a nurse and Aut working in childcare has similar origins for them. Viv became a nurse because she wanted to help people and try to ensure that she was a resource for people like her. While Reece was forced into childcare by their father, Autumn had chosen it willingly. To be a resource for children like her. Neither had expect to like the other's company but as they finished their meal, they made plans to meet again next week at a Thai place Vivian just loved.

Week two: Siobhan and Marjorie

Siobhan had just finished her last parent meeting of the day when her phone pinged with a message from Roger. "Out of town for a business meeting won't be home till tomorrow." Breathing a sigh of relief, Siobhan sat back in her seat and relaxed. Siobhan's thoughts drifted back to the previous week and how relaxed she felt in Marjorie's company. Suddenly feeling bold and brave, she wandered down to the office. Noticing Charlotte was handing accident forms over, Siobhan patiently waited for her to leave before entering the office and closing the door behind her. "Marjorie?" She took the seat opposite the brunette and waited. "Hiya Siobhan you alright?" Marjorie looked up from her computer screen briefly as the blond seated herself. "Roger is out of town for the night, I was wondering if you would?" Siobhan hesitated for a few moments, her bravery starting to waver. Marjorie noticed the hesitation and stilled her work on her computer and looked up at the blonde. "Siobhan what's wrong?" Siobhan fiddled with the ring on her finger taking a deep breath. "I was wondering if you would like to go out for dinner?" Marjorie was surprised but accepted. "Of course, I would love to. Let me finish here and let Autumn know and I'm good to go." Siobhan felt more at ease having taken the leap.

They arrived at the restaurant. Once they were seated and had ordered, the drinks and conversation began to flow. "So, Siobhan, tell me how's the wedding planning going?" Siobhan took a sip of her wine before answering. "You're interested in my..." Siobhan swallowed hard as the bile rose in her throat "... wedding planning." Marjorie saw the momentary hesitation. "Yeah, Autumn is about to become your stepdaughter. I'm with Autumn so we will be like family soon, and I will be at the wedding, won't I?" Siobhan looked up at Marjorie trying to hide the pain in her eyes. "Of course." Both women took another sip of wine as Marjorie noticed the way Siobhan fiddled and shifted about nervously in her seat. Thinking back to the previous week, Marjorie's mind began to race with questions that she was too afraid to voice ... yet. Why does she act nervous when the weddings mentioned? She startled last week when I raised my voice, why? Is there something more going off between her and Roger?

Marjorie was the first to break the silence. "So, Siobhan you and Roger have been together for almost a year now, are you excited to be taking the Knight family name?" Siobhan looked at Marjorie with a look of annoyance. Is she really asking me if I'm excited to be taking HIS name? Marjorie not noticing the annoyance carried on with her questions. "Is there anything you need help with? Are you having any last-minute nerves?" Siobhan took a sip of her wine taking in all of Marjorie's rambled questions. "I'm not nervous because I'm getting married, I'm nervous because I don't know if I want to." Marjorie took Siobhan's hand in her own trying to comfort her. "Oh, my love, everybody gets nervous that's normal. Those last-minute nerves, the am I sure he's the one or in my case she's the one?" Siobhan shot Marjorie another annoyed look. This time Marjorie didn't miss it. "Look what I'm trying to say is it's normal to get cold feet, my love." Siobhan pulled her hand from Marjorie's. "Sometimes it's not cold feet Marjorie. Sometimes people are in situations they'd rather not be in." Siobhan gulped down the rest of her drink leaving Marjorie with more questions running through her mind. The most important one:

What did she mean by that?