Savannah

3

Detective Baker, sat down beside me, he had a sombre look in his eyes, as he rubbed a hand up and down my back, trying to comfort me.

"I'm sorry if I upset you"

"It's fine, I just" taking a deep breath, shaking my head, and glancing at the kids "he really put someone in the hospital?"

"Yes, I'm afraid he did"

As I opened my mouth to reply, the side door slammed open, with a loud bang, as it crashed into the wall.

"Get your fucking hands off my girl asshole!"

Detective Baker stood up, but he didn't move away.

"You need to calm down, son" Constable Hayes said, as he walked back over towards us. He put himself between Blake and Detective Baker.

"Don't, call me, son," looking my way Blake, seethed "Give me the keys Savannah, we're going, now" Shaking my head. Blake walked over and pulled Willow from the chair she was sleeping in, carrying her towards me, he yelled "Savannah NOW!"

Standing up, I walked towards him. I had a choice right now, I could do as Blake said, like always, or I could finally take a step towards being me. The me that I've longed to be for forever. But I had to make the choice now. I had to speak up.

"Put my daughter down, Blake, please"

Grabbing my arm, Blake, got right up in my face "Savannah, you don't tell me what to do, were leaving, right this instant"

Willow was awake now and crying.

"I wouldn't do that, Put the girl down and let go of Savannah's arm" Constable Hayes said looking between myself, Blake and Detective Baker.

Blake tightened his grip, before letting go, and pushing me away with force, stumbling over my own feet, I hit the floor. He put Willow, down and got right up in Detectives Baker's face.

"I beat your ass once, I'm not afraid, to do it again"

Shaking his head, and turning away, Detective Baker extended his hand to me. "Here let me help you up"

Mumbling my thanks to Detective Baker, I grabbed hold of his hand and stood up.

"Mr Foster, your free to go, I'll get another officer to take you home" Constable Hayes was looking at Blake, as he told him to leave. Blake, looked at me and then at Detective Baker, who was standing, next to me still holding my hand. Blake glanced at the kids, before storming, past us and knocking into Detective Baker, he slammed out the front doors.

"Savannah, are you ok?" nodding my head, I let go of his hand, scooping Willow up, hugging her towards me.

I was going to pay for this later. He wasn't going to let me forget it. But I felt good about taking a stand for myself. My first stand.

Dad limped, over towards us, his face was covered in bruises, his cheek, had a nasty looking gash, and his shirt was ripped.

"Good morning, Savannah, thank you for coming to pick your old man up" Shaking my head at him, I couldn't believe this guy. I was so sick, of his smug face, smiling like he didn't just watch the scene unfold with Blake.

"what else was I supposed to do when I get a phone call at 3am from the cops" I spat at my old man.

"now don't be like that darling, we were just having some fun." Spinning around I looked my father dead in the eyes.

"Fun Dad, FUN! Are you serious right now, you have responsibilities, hell you both have responsibilities, when are you going to wake up? Start acting your damn age, when are you going to be a god damn, father? You have a ten-year-old son, who needs his father" Why I could spit the truth and act this way with my father but not Blake, I had no clue.

Bev, walked over, at this moment, handing me a cup coffee. "Here you go love, I think you could use another one of these" she said.

"Thank you, Bev,"

"No worries, love" Bev was here every time I had to come here. She did the night shift on reception and handled most the calls that came in, she was usually the one to ring me, when I was needed to come in. We would often sit down and have coffee and gossip. She was one of my only friends.

"Now, you have more caffeine in your system, Savannah do you think you can calm down and be reasonable?"

Take a deep breath in and out. Don't jump down his throat. Calm.

"I had to get the kids up, at 3 am, to come here and deal with this shit. I've had to wait, for hours. Don't tell me, to calm down, and be reasonable, you're a fifty-year-old man, who goes out drinking and starts fights, while I stay home, and raise your son" I said through gritted teeth.

"I'm sorry to interrupt, Savannah, but I need to talk to your father for a minute" Constable Hayes, said.

"Take him, Lock him back up. Next time, please don't ring me till a decent hour. They can sleep in a cell from now on"

"Savannah, you won't leave me here all night. I'm your father"

Turning away, I sat back down next to Willow. I watched as Detective Baker walked over and knelt down in front of me.

"Are you alright?" Detective Baker asked.

"Yes thank-you," looking at his face I ran my hand down his cheek, where the cut was "did they do this to you? I'm sorry"

"Thanks, but it's not your fault, I probably shouldn't have stepped in to break them up but I couldn't just stand there and watch"

"No probably not such a good idea"

He was smiling now as he took my hand in his "Im Clay by the way"

"Mummy can we go get breakfast, my tummies hungry"

"Yes, baby we can go and get breakfast" smiling with huge sparkling eyes, an fluttering eyelashes Willow turned all her charm on Detective Baker,

"do you want to come eat pancakes too? Mummy takes us for pancakes when daddy and pa mess up and we have to sleep on these chairs" kids never know when to shut up.

"Willow Detective Baker might not want to eat with us he might have other plans"

"Savannah its ok, hey Willow, I'm Clay, I'd love to come and eat pancakes with you but I have to stay here and do some work, do you think we could get a rain check?"

Willow smiled happy with his answer she nodded her head.

"Thank you for letting her down gently"

"Savannah I'd of been happy to go to breakfast with you and the kids but I really do have to work, but what do you say to a dinner date?" looking between Kaden, Tyler and Willow I didn't know what to say, could I go on a date with this man? Would the kids be ok with this? I should say no, I shouldn't do this. Blake would go completely nuts if he found out. I really need to stop thinking about what Blake would want.

"Savannah"

"What sorry, umm I don't think" It should be about what I want "actually Yes I'd love to do dinner with you"

Smiling Clay handed me a card with his number on it.

"Text me, we'll sort out a time and date alright, I look forward to hearing from you Savannah" turning and walking away, I smiled. Flirt Savannah.

"Hey, aren't you going to ask me for my number?" Clay stopped and turned around with a huge smirk on his face.

"Ok Savannah, may I have your number?" pulling his phone out of his pocket as he spoke.

"sure 0428572641" I rattled off my number, never looking away from him.

"I'll talk to you later" with that he turned and walked away. Going through the side door he stopped and turned around, looking back at me he smiled. I waved back and with that he was gone.