Chapter 21
Cheryl's POV
I gulp as a knock sounds through the house. Lola is still asleep in me arms and me nerves build as I head for the door. I open the door slowly, hiding me body behind it. I raise me finger to me lips as Lily's face appears and murmur "Shh." "Why?" She whispers back. I take a deep breath before stepping from behind the door and into view. "Oh." Lily murmurs, a bewildered look on her face. "Who's this?" She asks as she gestures to Lola. "Lola." I state. "Lola?" She questions. "Shall we sit down?" I ask. "Err, sure." She replies as she kicks her heels off and heads for the living room. "So, Lola?" Lily says questioningly as I sit down beside her. "She's a friends daughter." I say confidently. "Ah, right. So, why do you have her?" Lily asks. "She's poorly and me friends at work, couldn't get a day off so I offered to look after her." I reply. "Right. Which friend?" Lily pushes. "Don't go mad at us." I mumble as I avert me eyes from Lily's. "Okay." She replies slowly. "She's a fan." I mutter. Lily gasps beside me. "What? Cheryl you know that's dangerous territory." She says gently. "I know, I know and you know I never befriend fans but, she's different Lils." I mumble back, me eyes fixed on Lola. "How?" Lily asks sincerely. "She's not like me usual fans. She's a twenty two year old woman, she has a daughter. We met and just one thing led to another and she's turned into a really close friend." I say. "Do you trust her?" She asks. "Like really trust her." She adds. "Yes." I reply immediately. "Then I guess i'll have to trust you on this. I just hope you know what you're doing." Lily replies. "I do." I say quietly. "I just don't want to see you get hurt ya'know. I don't like being a *Female Dog*." She laughs. "Lily, you're not a *Female Dog* and I really appreciate you looking out for us." I say as I finally look at her, a smile making it's way onto me face. "Come 'ere you." Lily exclaims as she pulls us into a rather awkward hug thanks to Lola being tucked up in me arms.
"So what dates did you want to run by us?" I ask as I pull out of the hug. "Oh yeah. They're not really specific dates but, Hilary wants to start meetings again in March and is aiming to get you back in the studio by the end of March, beginning of April." She replies. "Okay, sounds fine to us." I smile. "Great. I'll tell Hilary that's okay then and ask her to get me some specific dates as soon as possible." She replies. "Sounds good to us." I smile. "God, how would I get on without you?" I ask. "You wouldn't." She winks as she climbs up from the sofa. "Right, i'll leave you to look after this cutie." She says as she runs her fingers over Lola's cheek. "Thanks for coming over Lils. I'll see you out." I smile as I carefully get up from the sofa.
Lily's been gone a while when Lola begins to stir and fidget in me arms. "Mummy." She whimpers as she grabs me top in a light fist. "No babe, it's Cheryl." I say gently. "Where's Mummy?" She asks with a slight cry. "She's working babe. She'll be back soon." I coo. "Belly hurts." Lola moans as she begins to cry. "I know baby." I say quietly as I hug her close. "Let's get you some medicine." I add seeing that it's four. I feel her forehead as I head for the kitchen, she's still boiling and her cheeks are still as flushed as they were this morning.
Once i've given Lola the calpol she buries her face in me chest, as she plays with the tips of me hair. She sighs contently as I run my fingers through her hair. "Will you lay down with me?" She asks quietly. "Course I will pet." I say as I head for the living room. I lay down on the sofa, placing Lola down beside me gently. She instantly cuddles closer to us and I wrap me arm around her. "Cold." She murmurs after a few minutes. I pull the blanket from the back of the sofa and gently drop it over the two of us. "Better?" I ask. "Mmm." She mumbles as she runs her fingers up and down me arm. I gently kiss her head and run me fingers through her hair softly. After a while she begins to drop to sleep.
Kimberley's POV
I lock the door of the studio and head for Cheryl's car. The driver's side back door is open with Cheryl stood on the inside of it. "Hey you two." I say as I reach Cheryl's side. "Just one." She laughs. "Lola's sleeping." She adds. I peer over Cheryl's shoulder to see Lola fast asleep, a blanket carefully draped over her and Cheryl's fingers running through her hair. "How's she been?" I ask as I rest my head on Cheryl's shoulder. "She's slept most of the day. Got a bit teary the few times she woke up but I gave her a cuddle and she was fine." Cheryl smiles. "Thankyou, again." I say quietly. "Like I said, anytime. She's really no trouble at all." Cheryl replies.
