Let's All Make Believe - Oasis

Chapter 53

Our time without Peggy went by quickly filled with all the games, music and art we could manage. Not only was I trying to prove I could parent alone, I was also trying to distract myself from waiting for Noel's decision.

An older me would've found a babysitter so I could thrill seek with someone else to pass the time. It was the kind of relationship I had in mind with Lydia but I didn't even try to call her.

Peggy came back telling us all about how much she'd enjoyed spending time with family she didn't see nearly enough.

"I don't know how I managed while you were in Liverpool, I missed the boys so fucking much." she exclaimed as she went to fuss each one of them.

"We missed you too." I insisted. "We'll be there next time."

"Don't make promises you can't keep. I've already told them too much about my grandchildren, they need to see them."

"I know. I just don't know how they'll take it, they're half brothers, half cousins, what if they hate me for creating such a messy family?"

"As far as they know, they're both Noel's boys, like everyone else."

"I don't wanna lie."

"So ya don't say anything. People know only what you want them to."

"I'm not sure that's how it works, it certainly didn't before the contract."

"They don't read any of those rags, they hardly believed my boys got famous."

"Me neither and I was there, just about."

"They want to see you, you're family and you always will be, no matter what happens."

I nodded. "I know. Thank you."

"If you knew, you wouln't have stayed in this fecking house making excuses."

"One day I'll go, a united front with Liam."

"You don't need to wait for him or Noel or anyone, we're already by your side."

"I know."

"Have you spoken to your parents lately?"

I sighed heavily. "Not so recently but we're getting better."

Since Liam had gone, I hadn't even thought about contacting them. Even though I had spoken to Noel as they asked, I didn't want to try without Liam there for support.

...

While waiting for Noel I started to dream/ fantasize about my family. It wasn't what I could have but I clung to it. A version of me that was living a perfect life with a perfect marriage and perfect kids. I'd be at home with the boys, making a meal for my birthday, waiting for my husband to come home so we could celebrate together at the end of the day.

Sometimes it was Noel, sometimes it was Luke. Either way both came with a surprise present, delighting me.

Noel wished me a happy birthday and insisted I unwrap my present immediately. He took me away from my cooking to show me a big cardboard box, like a moving box."

"We're not moving?" I guessed.

"No, you hate moving, that'd be a shit birthday present."

"I wouldn't mind moving away from Supernova Heights, maybe somewhere north." I tried to hint, knowing he wasn't half as into this house as he used to be. "Closer to our family."

"We get it, you love the north. Open it."

"You could've wrapped it." I joked. "Give it a nice bow and that."