Every time you make a move

The Kindness of Strangers

This chapter contains racial themes that in no way reflect the author's beliefs

Nighttime, Logan place

Monica switched her car engine off with a huff once she was suitably parked, and slumped into her driver seat, having had what seemed like the worst day at work.

"And to think that I have to do it all again in the morning" she stared ahead, past the windscreen as the indoor lights above her head faded, leaving her in the cold darkness of her Austin Maestro as she wanted nothing else other than to forget.

She turned her key forward to turn the electrics on and see what time it was on the car monitor.

"20:30pm," she muttered, then slipped her keys back out, "They should both be in bed by now, all being well" 

And fortunately for Monica, all was well... by Freddie's standards, of course.

She got inside out of the cold and into the warmth of Garden Lodge's central heating to find Freddie and Johnny and Roshni, all in their pyjamas and nestled close together under the cashmere blanket on the Louis XVI sette in the middle of the warmly lit piano room.

"How peculiar," She stood at the doorway, mooning at the tender sight, "They never want to settle down and watch anything with him"

Their sleepy eyes were glued the television that appeared to be playing The Wizard of Oz, so mesmerised by Judy Garland singing Over the Rainbow that they didn't hear her step into the room.

"If happy little bluebirds fly... beyond the rainbow," Dortothy Gale lamented as she stared at the sun rays breaking through the clouds, "Why, oh why can't I..."

She finally made herself present when the song was over, softly clearing her throat to catch their attention before speaking, "My my, I remember you singing that to them when you came home with the moustache for the first time!"

Their heads darted in her direction. Johnny and Roshni got up off the sofa and ran to her, their eyes lit up with glee,"MUMMY!" 

"Well, you two seem happy to see me" Monica giggled as she bent down and hugged them back, the smiles on their little faces making her troubles temporarily melt away at that moment.

She noticed that her daughter's grip on her was a little tighter than usual as she tried to pull away and stand back up, but before she could even ask if Roshni was alright, a hyperactive Johnny excitedly gushed, "Daddy says we're not going to school anymore!!"

"No more school? Why?!" Baffled, Monica lifted her head from him to look at Freddie for an explanation.

But the man bugged his eyes and stared back as he sat under a throw on the sofa by the lamp light, put on the spot.

"Oh god, I'm fucked" he felt his insides churning as Monica's angelic features twisted into a deadly scowl, her steely blue eyes narrowing.

Phoebe emerged from the kitchen doorway, "Alright, who wants some microwaved Nesquick and marshmallows?"

Johnny and Roshni simultaneously cheered as they ran to him, careful to dodge any of daddy's antiques displayed across the large space, "I do! I do!!"

"What's all this?!" Monica pointed to the half-empty tubs of ice cream amongst the movie casette boxes scattered across the coffee table once they were left alone, "They're already pumped full of sugar!"

"Never mind that, darling," Fumbling, Freddie shuffled out from underneath the throw and went to the television set, "I need to speak to you about this school thing that Johnny just said"