Love the life you live

Mum Knows Best

Heather had cried herself into a restless sleep. After what felt like hours she woke up and clicked her phone noticing she had only been asleep for an hour. She stood up and headed to the loo. On her way back to her room Heather felt a weight hit her from the back and she fell to the floor, she was about to throw a punch but stopped herself when she realized it was Jess.

"Hez, you're back! When did you come home?"

"I came home a couple of hours ago. But I fell asleep that's why I didn't come to see you guys. I'm sorry."

"It's ok, I forgive you. But only if you read my bedtime story tonight."

"Ok, deal," Heather said with a laugh.

They both stood up and headed for Jess' room. Jess put her PJs on and climbed into bed with her Olaf teddy, Heather tucked her in and lay beside her.

"What kind of story would you like tonight?"

"One of yours!" Jess said excitedly.

"OK. Once upon a time, there was a little girl called Jessica..."

Half an hour later and Jess was sound asleep. Heather was deep in thought still lying beside Jess watching her little innocent face dream away all of her little worries.

Heather startled slightly when she heard her mum enter the room.

"She's asleep already?"

"Yep. Has been for the past twenty minutes. She looked wiped out." Heather said standing to put the nightlight in.

"What's up?" Jayne asked noticing the distant look on her daughter's face.

"Nothing that can't wait until morning."

"Please talk to me Heather. I hate it when you bottle things up, you know what happens when it eventually all explodes."

"Ok, fine. Just not here. I don't want to wake Jess." Heather said walking to her own room.

~ ~ ~

"Is it because dad doesn't see art as a real career opportunity?" Heather asked sitting on her bed.

"What? Of course not! How can he think that after the career he has had? Skating is a form of art and just like you, he had to be the best to be able to get where he wanted to be. We both did."

"Then why is he treating me as if I'm dishonoring the family? He is more than happy to let Jack go off to... Nottingham..." Heather stopped as a wave of realization hit her. "It's not what I'm going to do, it's where I want to do it that bothers dad, isn't it?"

Jayne didn't answer but just slightly nodded her head preparing herself for the questions that were to come.

"Why?" Heather asked. "Surely he doesn't think I would do that to him."

"I don't know what he thinks Heather. Just this morning he was telling me not to worry about the very same thing." Jayne confessed.

"You think the same? You really think I'd stab you both in the back and go look for my real parents? How can you think that?" Heather cried, fresh tears running down her cheeks.

"Deep down I don't think that. I know you wouldn't do that. But, you are of legal age to find out who your biological parents are if you want to. And there is nothing your dad or I can do about it if you do want to know them," Jayne said, tears threatening to fall.

"I can't believe you have even an ounce of doubt. You are my mum. Not giving birth to me doesn't mean anything," Heather said deflated.

"Hunni, I'm really sorry. I just love you so much that I don't want to ever lose you," Jayne said hugging her daughter.

Heather was too exhausted to argue anymore and decided it was time for bed. She also didn't want to have to face her dad before bed.

"I love you too mum, and I'm sorry for upsetting you. If you really don't want me to go to Glasgow just say and I'll pull out." Heather said.

"What?! You will do no such thing! You are going and you will be fantastic and in ten years you will be one of the most famous photographers in the country." Jayne exclaimed.

"Thank you mum," Heather smiled

Heather went to bed and fell into a reasonably easy sleep knowing she had cleared everything up with her mum. The conversation she needed to have with her dad could wait until tomorrow.

~ ~ ~

Once Jayne had left Heather's room and checked on all of the kids she headed back downstairs to her husband.

"How is she? Did you speak to her? Does she want to speak to me?" Chris asked standing from his chair.

"I think it would be best to just leave it tonight. Heather is exhausted from traveling and everything that happened tonight."

"What did she say to you?" Chris said sitting back in his seat.

"She's devastated that we could think that of her. She's willing to pull out of her place to make us happy," Jayne said sitting beside him.

"Really? She would be willing to do that for us?" Chris asked surprised.

"Yes. And before you say anything else, no we are not asking her to drop out. This means far too much to her." Jayne said sternly.

"I wasn't going to say that!"

"Yes, you were! I know you far too well Chris. Now, are you coming to bed or staying up?" Jayne asked changing the subject.

"I'm coming to bed. I've got a lot to think about."

Jayne and Chris headed to bed together. Jayne fell into an easy sleep fairly quickly. Chris, on the other hand, had what felt like, a hundred and one things running round in his head. He eventually fell into a deep slumber an hour or so later.