"Options... I've ran out of Options..." (Book 3)

Chapter 17 - "Control..."

Chapter 17 - "Control..."

Clara's PoV

I knew John was handling it. He just wasn't handling it well enough or quick enough for my liking so I stormed in and got involved.

In hindsight it was a terrible idea because he later told me hat he had made some progress but at the end of the day I'm her mother and I need to be in control.

'That is it. I've had quite enough of this. I am your mother and you will do as you are told. John get the suitcase' I demanded, pushing into the flat. 'I appreciate it Richard but she is coming home and she is coming home now'

'No I'm not. I'm staying with Dad' she scoffed.

'Clara I was really handling this. We were getting on just fine'

'Just fine is me finding the pair of you arguing again. Get your coat'

'No' she yelled as I had, had quite enough. 'Get in the car' I gritted as my teeth were making things quite clear.

'No' she tried, arms folded as a right annoying and stubborn thing. She was doing my head in.

Sometimes she should just be like her sister. Avia is so much calmer and no one really bashes head with her because she's at least 5 years ahead of her time, but Evie was just a nightmare child.

Of course she was just exactly like me. Stubborn, small and hot headed with a temper that could destroy a building.

I stepped forward with my glare going right through her brown eyes which were working on John right now but they're my eyes - so they don't work on me. 'You put your coat on and get in the car now - or so help me you will not be going back to riding school' I threatened which is a threat I have used before. 'And I mean it' I said as her horse riding jacket was in my hand.

'You can't' she scoffed. 'I have my under 10's tournament next week. I'm going to win' she said confidently.

'If you don't get in that car - I will pull you from that tournament and you will be the laughing stock of everyone' I snapped as her face dropped and she looked down.

I watched as she handed the case to Richard who handed it to John and she pushed by all of us, walking out the front door.

'You wasn't serious about pulling her was you?' John asked, as we followed out of the door and back to the car where Evie was already sat in the back arms folded and crying in a strop about having to do something she didn't want to do.

'I was genuinely serious. She needs a taste of the cold harsh reality in life' I pointed out. 'Now when you get in - your to behave' I demanded.

'I don't want to come home. I wanted to stay at Dads' Evie scoffed folding her arms.

'Tough. We have the rehearsal dinner tomorrow night after school and then your at the stables all weekend. So you need to behave' I growled.

John was being extremely silent with not much to say - but I knew he was biding for time and didn't want to start the next argument before we had even gotten home.

- - -

'Evie come on sweetheart. Stop stomping around and talk to me' John begged sitting outside her bedroom door.

Evie had slammed the bedroom door shut as soon as she had got in and John had been sitting outside her bedroom door ever since.

'I've got nothing to say Daddy' she whined.

'Ha. You still call me Daddy. You must like me a little' John said chuffed with himself.

'Go away' she whined again as she opened the bedroom door in her pyjamas. Just a simple pair of pyjama shorts and top with a baggy jumper of her own.

'Do you want me to take you to the stables Saturday morning? We can ride together. I can see how your doing?' He suggested looking for a way of bonding with Evie.

'Mummy said she'd take me. She said your too busy looking after the babies' Evie says rolling her eyes.

It was true that John had already committed to looking after the kids Saturday but that was the afternoon so he was free in the morning.

'Do you want me to take you or not?'

'No not really but you and Mummy will just argue about it so whatever' she said rolling her eyes just like her mother.

John followed her down the stairs and watched as she started scrolling through the channels on the telly and sat next to Avia as Poppy came and poked her on the cheek.

'Daddy showded me how to throw the flowers correctly' she said proudly, as I walked into the lounge.

'Good for you'

'Enough with the attitude Evie. Now get in the kitchen the pair of you and help Lilly lay the table' I said pointing at the door as John picked Poppy up into his arms and she started playing with his hair.

'Do you think we spoil her? Do you think that's the problem?'

'Probably half of it' I said with a nod then looked at Poppy who looked innocent and cute just like they once used to be. 'Now... Shall we have dinner and then we can pack your school bag' I grinned.

'I have homework daddy. Will you help?' She asked just like Evie and leaving it until the night before.

'Homework? Why didn't you tell me before?' I scoffed as she took John's hand.

'I need a picture of my Mummy and my Daddy and my brother and my sisters' she said in a sentence. Then looked at John. 'Can you find me one?'

'I think I can little one' he chuckled running up the stairs as I got into the kitchen and found Evie still stropping and throwing cutlery on the table and close to breaking the plates.

'If you don't pack it in - you'll be in even more trouble than you are now' I said with threshing eyes.