Unexpected

'Second home'

"Hey Carly" char smiled.

"You alright char? Marjorie, and you are?"  Carly asked.

"My names Ivy, nice to meet you"

"No need to look so confused Carly, Ivy's my daughter." Marjorie said and Carly's jaw dropped.

"Your what now?" Carly was lost for words

"Oh sh- you didn't know did you?"

"No I didn't know. Explain, someone?" Carly complained.

"Charlotte will tell you. Later." Marjorie said as she moved closer to Ivy.

"Okay. I can't get over how similar you two look..!!" Carly laughed.

Ivy looked over at Marjorie "I'm gonna have to go, my mum will actually kill me if she catches me anywhere near you"

"That's fine darling, ring me later, Carly do you mind walking Ivy to the door?" Marjorie asked.

"Yeah sure, come on Ivy." Carly smiled at her.

"Yeah I'll call you later mu- Marjorie. Love you."

Carly and Ivy both left the staff room, they were destined to get on like a house on fire. Marjorie and char were left alone eating their lunch together.

Charlotte could sense that Marjorie was yet again, anxious about being away from Ivy "Marjorie she'll be okay, like she said.. she will call you later."

Marjorie sat clicking her knuckles "I know.. I know, I just want to keep her safe, that includes keeping her away from that awful mum of hers.. but I can't, I feel helpless"

"You're not helpless though, you've already made such a big impact on Ivy, she adores you.. and watching you two hug earlier was the sweetest." Charlotte comforted Marjorie.

Carly came bouncing back into the room. "Oh my god!! Me and Ivy are literally going to be best friends I already know it!! She's so nice and like really really pretty!!" Carly giggled as she took a seat with Charlotte and Marjorie at the table.

"Good to hear that you two get along, I know you're waiting for Charlotte to explain the whole situation so I'll leave you two to it..." Marjorie left the room.

Later that day, Marjorie and Reece were sat together in the office until Marjorie's phone rang.

"Who is it?" Reece asked "let me guess.."

"Ivy.." Marjorie responded and picked up her phone. She answered. "Been expecting your call.." Marjorie giggled until she heard a few sobs on the other end of the phone "oh my darling, what's happened, why are you crying?"

"Can I come to yours? I'll explain then" Ivy asked.

"Yeah, yeah of course I'm just leaving work now I'll be home shortly."

"Okay" Ivy hung up.

Reece looked slightly concerned "what's happened?"

"I don't know, she's sobbing her little heart out, somethings happened we need to go home Reece."

"Right, yeah, course come on.. I'm driving."

Within ten minutes Marjorie and Reece were home, Ivy was stood at the door waiting for them to arrive. Once Marjorie was out of the car, Ivy ran to her and threw her arms around Marjorie as Marjorie whispered "we really should get a key cut for you, how long have you been stood here for?"

Ivy responded, pulling away from the hug "not long, I'm just glad you're here."

Reece unlocked the door, all three of them went inside and took a seat on the sofa, Reece looked really worried, and so did Marjorie.

Reece asked "what's happened then? You can talk to us" he smiled.

"It's my mum.. she refused to give me dinner, she said I'm gaining too much weight lately, then she starts telling me she wants me out of her sight for a few hours because all I do is 'cause her stress and mess everything up' so I thought I'd come here.."

Marjorie kissed her teeth "sounds a little like something my mum would've said, are you hungry then sweetheart?"

"Yeah"

Reece interrupted "I'll go and throw something together, don't worry."

Marjorie looked at reece lovingly "thankyou darling."

Reece left the room and began preparing his ingredients while Marjorie sat in the living room comforting Ivy.

"Does your mum say silly things like that often?" Marjorie asks

"Most days."

"Lucky for you, you have me and Reece, any time you feel like you need to get away, give me a ring my love, okay?"

"You've been a massive help, I can't thank you enough mu- Marjorie." Ivy looked as if she was on the verge of tears.

"Mum is fine." Marjorie smiled. "You can stay the night if you want, it's completely up to you though."

Ivy looked up at Marjorie "really?"

"Really." Marjorie nodded. "Consider this your second home"

"I dream of calling it my first.."

"I mean, that's a big ask my sweet, we've just gotta keep in mind that technically me and Reece aren't your parents.. it pains me to say but it's true."

"Don't remind me." Ivy looked upset.

Reece walked back into the room with a plate of his infamous homemade pizza and handed it to Ivy "pizza for you kid, enjoy."

"Thank you Reece, you seriously are a good cook" she laughed.

Marjorie and Reece sat cuddling in the corner of the sofa while Ivy enjoyed the food Reece had prepared for her. She looked up at them both "you guys are actually so perfect for each-other." Ivy laughed.

"I knew that the second I laid eyes on her." Reece said in a flirtatious tone.

Marjorie hit Reece gently on the arm "not now Reece!!" She snapped.

The evening went by rapidly, the three watched a few movies and snuggled up under blankets