Proud - Keep You

Chapter 13

Stepping off the plane, I knew Marvin would be waiting for me in the VIP lounge as he said he’d meet me there over text about an hour ago. As I stepped off the plane, bodyguards guided me over the airport and into the VIP lounge; there Marvin was sat on the sofa waiting for me.

“Ah! You’re back, great... Wanna start heading home?” He asks as I smile up at him “hey! You’re smiling, first time since- Actually, I’m not gonna mention it,” his eyebrows dip and form a frown. “It’s alright mate, but I’m getting somewhere now,” “oh really?” He asks, his voice his happy, as we start to head our way to the front of the airport to the car park. “Yeah, I asked the hotel manager to keep the hotel room, where (Your name) was, locked until I go back over there, and he said he would, plus I’ve got the police going over there too... I’m planning to do finger print stuff over where Kevin and his crew may have touched and hopefully get some information there,” I explain to Marvin as we are now (at least) half way through the airport. “Oh great, hopefully she’ll be back with us soon. Oh this is good-” “Aye! Don’t get your hopes up... It might not work,” I sigh depressingly “no... You aye! Don’t be so negative, maybe we ARE gonna get her back, and she is gonna love you FOREVER when she finds out that you are doing all of this!” “As if she’s gonna know that I’m doing all of this-” “The group is gonna tell her... We’ve planned on a day we’re gonna break into your house and celebrate her comeback...” He says as I chuckle at the thought of the group breaking into my house. By now, we’ve just stepped outside and are now making our way over the road to the entrance of the car park. “By the way, Ivy is still singing “Proud” she told us you wanted her to sing it... And so she is. She sings it every night and sometimes during the day,” Marvin says quietly, as I take in what he’s just said. “She uses it like a prayer... She misses (Your name) so much... I’m gonna let you in on a little secret, that she told me to keep. Yeah, she told me not to tell anyone, but as you are her dad I have to tell you,” he chuckles as I smile.

I put my suitcase into the boot of his car, before clambering into the front passenger seat, where Marvin is waiting in the driver’s seat. As I put my seat belt on, he starts up the engine and starts to pull out the car park. “What was I gonna tell you? Oh yeah, Ivy’s secret,” he chuckles as I smile “you see my phone there,” he says as I see his phone in a cup holder by the handbrake “yeah,” I say, picking it up “look at the lock screen,” he says as I wake up his phone and have a look at the lock screen.

An A4 piece of paper, had Ivy’s drawing of me and (Your name) holding hands with love hearts all around us. The drawing was done in crayons and at the top, she wrote:

[Together forever... Mummy and Daddy]

I couldn’t help but titter at Ivy’s cuteness. “I caught her putting it on her bed and she begged me not to tell anyone... Although, when she wasn’t looking, I took a picture of it. I thought it was too cute for you to miss it,” he chuckles as I grin “she’s a sweetheart,” I grin at the thought of Ivy. “You know mate... I’ve had Ivy at my house for a week now, and she’s made me want a child,” “really?” “Yeah... She’s so cute and sweet, and now I just want one,” he sighs as I frown “haven’t you asked Jasmine to marry you yet? I mean, you two have been together for about a year now and it’s crystal clear that you two love each other... She’s there for you and your there for her. If you want, I can help you buy an engagement ring,” I say quietly, but as I do; small velour box catches my eye. “Looks like you’ve beaten me to it,” I say as Marvin chuckles “how long have you had that for?” I ask, picking up the box and opening it up to see an engagement ring with the price label still on it, and looking at the price tag, it then soon become of knowledge that this ring has cost him over twenty thousand pounds. “As the price tag is still on this, I take it you only bought it today,” “about an hour ago,” he says suggestively, as my eyes widen at the honesty. “How long have you thought about this?” “About a month, but I thought I’d come to you because you’re already married and you have gone through the whole thing,” he says, but I chuckle “that must be a first for someone to come to me... I would have expected you to go to JB for this,” “I know... I surprised myself,” he laughs as I laugh with him.

We are soon at my house and Marvin drops me off. Walking into my house, I see that Claire is sat on the sofa watching TV. “Claire,” I call her softly, as she looks at me and her face brightens up straight away, before she gets up and runs over to me and jumping onto me; her legs wrapping around my waist taking me surprise. “Someone’s missed me,” I chuckled as she giggles, but then she presses her lips against mine, “I’ve missed you a lot,” she giggles as I chuckle, before capturing her lips against mine. Although, during the kiss I set her back down on the floor, and then take her hands in mine as I pull away from the kiss. “Remember I need to talk to you,” I said quietly to her “oh yeah, what did you want to talk to me about?” She asks, as I then lead her over to the sofa, my hands still connected to hers. “Babe, this is a lot to ask from you, and if you do this... It’ll help me; you’ll be doing me a favour even!” “Okay, what is it?” She smiles “I- I... I need a divorce,” I say quietly as she freezes. “What?” She asks quietly “babe, I haven’t been with you for the past month and this marriage is drifting apart... I don’t wanna be a horrible husband and not be around my wife... Think about everything you could be doing!” I try and convince her, but she looks lost and out from this world.

“Honey,” I say quietly “you- You... SO THIS WHOLE MARRIAGE WAS A LIE,” she suddenly screams taking me back, “no! I swear-” “YOU’RE DIVORCING ME BECAUSE YOU LOVE (YOUR NAME) AND NEVER ACTUALLY WANTED ME,” she screams as she makes her way to the living room archway “no babe-” “DON’T BABE ME,” “Claire! Claire, I promise... I do want you, I just don’t want you by yourself,” I exclaim, but she sticks her middle finger up at me before moving off into the kitchen. Now she has pissed me off, there was no need for that! “OI CLAIRE,” “DON’T OI-” “SHUT THE FUCK UP,” I scream “I DO LOVE YOU... BUT IF YOU FUCKING LISTEN TO ME, THEN YOU’LL UNDERSTAND THAT THIS DIVORCE IS AN ADVANTAGE TO YOU,” “HOW? YOU DON’T FUCKING LOVE ME,” “I’LL PROVE TO YOU RIGHT NOW THAT I DO,” I scream at her, as I march her backwards so that she is pinned against the breakfast bar, “how?” she hisses “I’ll make love to you on this breakfast bar... And right around the house,” “you don’t have the guts to-” I interrupt her by pushing my lips onto hers.

I was about to make love to Claire all around the house.