Threes a crowd. - Now Complete.

Part 33

"PLEASE LEAVE US ALONE!" Jane shouted as she fought her way through the reporters."Please let me get into my own home!"

By now Mary was screaming, the shouts of her mother and the reporters terrifying her. Once inside the safety of home, Jane tried to soothe her daughter tears and calm her down.

"Want daddy." Mary sobbed. "Daddy make the bad man go."

"They bad man has gone now sweetheart." soothed Jane softly, "Mummy made them go away. Mary safe now."

"Want my daddy! Daddy gone!"

"Daddy is working with Uncle John Mary love." Jane stroked her daughters soft red mop of hair out of her eyes. "But Mummy and Mary can ring daddy on the telephone later. OK?"

Mary looked up at her mother and nodded.

"Shall mummy and Mary go and get a drink sweetheart? We could make some lunch too?"

Slipping down of her mother's knee, Mary waited for Jane to stand up before taking her hand and walking into the kitchen. Jane lifted Mary into her high chair, and handed her a soft toy to play with whilst she made lunch. She chatted to Mary as she made them both a sandwich and a drink. Jane was just about to carry them to the table when suddenly Mary gave a piercing scream and began sobbing.

"Hey, Mary what's happened?" Jane rushed over to the little girl in panic, convinced she was hurt in some way. "Come on Mary," she urged gently, "tell mummy what's wrong!" She picked the sobbing little girl and hugged her close. 

Leaning over her mother's shoulder for comfort, Mary gave great hiccuping sobs as she began to calm.

"Tell mummy what's wrong Mary love?" she tried again.

Suddenly Mary began to scream again.

"Man!" she shouted,pointing to the kitchen window. "The bad man is there!"

Jane turned, just in time to see a photographer snapping a picture of her and Mary in the kitchen. Pulling Mary closer, she fled into a different room and closed the curtains before sitting down and rocking the sobbing toddler to sleep. Eventually Mary dozed off, exhausted. Jane continued to hold her daughter, silent tears now rolling down her own face.

Paul opened his eyes with a start. He paused for a moment, trying to work out what had woken him. He heard it again. The phone was ringing. He was up and out of bed very swiftly...so few people knew the number for the flat.

"Hello?"

"Paul?"

"Jane? What's wrong?" He could hear panic in her voice.

"I need you to come here now!" Jane began to cry, "Please Paul....it's Mary!I can't get her to stop crying!"

"Is she ill?"

"No! We've had press hassle. It's really scared her!"

"Where's Mary now?"

"Upstairs. Please Paul. I don't know what to do! Paul..."

"Jane, go back to Mary. I'll be there in a few minutes."

"Thank you!"

"Go to Mary.I still have my key. OK?"

"OK."

Jane hung up and went back upstairs to Mary. Mary was still crying. The moment she saw Jane she clung to her and wouldn't let go. 

"Hush now." she soothed softly, "Mummy's here and daddy's coming too."

"Want my daddy now."

"Daddy here soon Mary. Mummy and Mary have a hug now?"