Fresh Starts//Cheradine

Doorstep Shock

Nadine had only managed to get a few hours sleep, Kimberley's phone call still playing in her mind paired with Anaiya wriggling around the whole night made for an unsuccessful night's sleep. 

It had gotten to ten o'clock in the morning before she had finally managed to wriggle out from under Anaiya's firm grip without waking the young girl up. 

Nadine had only just finished pouring herself a cup of tea when the doorbell went. Rubbing the sleep away from her eyes, Nadine glanced down at her pyjamas that consisted of a large baggy top and an old pair of Jason's shorts and prayed it was either her parents or Jason at the door. 

Trudging to the front porch, Nadine could see silhouette of a short women standing outside. Thinking twice about answering the door, the doorbell went again. Not wanting whoever it was to keep trying and possibly wake up Anaiya she quickened her pace before slowly pulling the door back revealing the last person she expected to see on the other side.

Opening and closing her mouth trying to formulate some kind of greeting, she was beaten to it by the little boy she assumed was Cheryl's son waving at her shocked face. 

"Hello!" Nadine could already hear the slight Geordie twang in the toddlers voice, his toothy grin was infectious as she smiled down at the young boy. 

"Sorry, I didn't know whether you still stayed here or not. I know it's early but I didn't have your phone number to see if you were up or not with the jetlag and all that... I can come back another time though if you're headed out?" Cheryl felt like slapping herself as the words came out of her mouth in a nervous rush, watching as Nadine lifted her eyebrows at the rambling. 

Opening the door wider, Nadine stood behind the door to let Cheryl inside the house. Holding Bear's hand, Cheryl let the young boy walk in front as she took in Nadine's appearance properly for the first time since arriving. 

"Did I wake you up?" Cheryl asked guiltily, following after Nadine who lead them through to the kitchen. 

"I've been awake for hours actually, didn't manage much sleep last night. Have a seat." Nadine admitted, motioning towards the kitchen table as Cheryl and Bear stood awkwardly in the doorway. 

"Thanks. So is your daughter here too?" Nadine leant against the kitchen island, choosing not to sit down just yet. 

Watching as Cheryl glanced around the room as though expecting Anaiya to appear out of nowhere, Nadine took her chance to look over the Geordie women. One thing was for sure, the older women certainly hadn't lost her good looks with age. If anything she was even more gorgeous than when Nadine had last seen her. 

The young boy sitting on Cheryl's lap was the double of her, the matching dimples making sure of that. Nadine felt as though she must still be sleeping, Cheryl's appearance completely blindsiding her but the least she could do was be a gracious host even if she was utterly exhausted. 

"Still sleeping off the jetlag. Can I make you a cup of tea? Anything for the little man?" Nadine moved around the kitchen counter, already pulling a mug from the cupboard before Cheryl replied knowing fine the women never refused a cup of tea. 

"A cuppa would be fab. I've got a cup with orange juice in my bag for Bear but thanks." The silence that came over the room as Nadine moved around the kitchen to make the cup of tea turned painfully awkward. 

Everything Cheryl came up with in her head to start a conversation she thought sounded stupid and so the only noise in the room was Bear mumbling away to himself along with the sound of the teaspoon hitting the side of the mug.