The Ties That Bind

Ties That Bind- Chapter 2

Tiffany grabbed my hand and started pulling me towards the kitchen door when a different hand came to stop me. I turned around and frowned at the expression on Liam’s face. “Tiff, you go, I’ll be right up.” I told her offering her a smile. She nodded and skipped away humming something that was probably owned by Disney.

“Annie, you know I’d never ask-especially today,” he started, his tone deadly serious, “but I have somewhere I really need to be.” I raised my eyebrows questioningly.

“Hmm, explain.” I said slowly, I’d cover for him but I didn’t want him to think I’d give in so easily. Then he’d ask me to cover all the time and I really can’t handle the stress and paranoia that comes with covering someone else's arse.

“I will when I get back. Promise,” he mumbled before adding, “I have to go though, I have to do this.”

I nodded, “Okay, I’ll cover for you with Matt and Jo but keep your phone on and get back before three.” He nodded fervently in response.

“Yep. Promise,” he smiled, “Loveya sis.”

I nodded rolling my eyes and smiling at him, “Love you too, Lee.” I muttered begrudgingly as he grabbed a set of keys before making his way quietly out the back door and into the garden. I watched as he exited the side gate, he turned and winked at me before closing it behind him.

I sighed, now I had to do Cee’s chores, mine, Lee’s and Paul’s. I wondered if this was how Mother Teresa started out. I shrugged; if Lee got caught it would be his head on the chopping block. Brave, brave boy I thought. The wrath of Jo and Matt combined was not exactly a picnic.

“Annabelle? Where’s Liam? What are you doing down here still?”

Damn it! Already?

I looked up into Jo’s slightly suspicious eyes and rearranged my features into the perfect picture of innocence. Or at least I hoped so.

“Err; he said something about wanting to get Paul’s chores done as soon as humanly possible if he wanted a life.” I answered but it came out as more of a question. But that was something Lee would say... sort of.

“Oh, okay,” Jo replied, obviously buying it as she piled the whites into the washing machine, pulling out the Daz from the cupboard next to it. I nodded as I moved to make a move on clearing the playroom and get Lee’s task out the way.

“Oh, Belle?” Jo said, stopping me, “Make sure you get this to Lee. I have my hands full here,” she said handing me a pale yellow envelope, “he won’t trust that with anyone else.” She added smiling at me. She had always thought that my brother-sister relationship with Lee was cute. I smiled back and nodded as I looked down at the envelope in my hands. It had to be something big... something interesting. I shouldn’t say that-it might be serious-but still.

“And come see me when you’re done.” she said with a huge smile on her face. I nodded, not really dwelling on it as thoughts of Liam’s envelope filled my head instead as I left her with the washing.

I sighed looking at the mess in the playroom. “Kids...” I muttered under my breath, shaking my head as I pulled my iPod out of my pyjama pocket. If I finished Lee and Paul’s chores right now then I could just say mine were taking longer. I smiled at my master plan and popped my headphones in my ears and switched my iPod on.

By the time Liam, Paul and Cee’s chores were done it was almost eleven. Yeah, they owed me, I thought bitterly as I made my way up to the attic bedroom I shared with Tiff to clear up. Everyone else was already done and off doing whatever kids did nowadays. Probably making more of a mess than they originally started off with. I could hear the girls watching the TV in the living room and prayed they didn’t actually mess it up again and got to work immediately; exerting myself more than was necessary.

When everything was quiet like this it made me think. And today, I couldn’t do that. I didn’t want to. It’s kind of funny how when you’re younger, everyone would worry about your mental health and ‘scarring you for life’. But eventually, you’ll run out of people caring and you start to wonder how. How can they just turn it off? Like a switch. I shook my head slightly, I’d like to think I couldn’t ever do that.

I sighed, and put my iPod on shuffle and laughed as James Blunt’s song Stay The Night came on. I smiled at the uncommonly happy song; you know when you consider the fact that practically all his songs are depressing. Beautiful, but depressing. Maybe it was a sign or something philosophical.

To test my newly found theory, I shuffled the songs again. Beyonce’s If I Were A Boy came on. Yeah... maybe not then. Unless...nope. I got nothing. Not even going to entertain the idea. My eyes drifted over to the pale yellow envelope Jo handed me earlier that was now lying on my vanity table.

If it’s something only Lee would trust with me then it’s got to be huge. But then again, if Jo had it then it’s either connected to life in care or school. I doubt Liam seriously cares about school. So that only leaves... but no. It couldn’t be. But then it couldn’t be anything else either.

It must be from his dad I concluded. He left when Liam was a toddler and when his mother died, Liam’s father sent him straight to care. Not even bothering to try looking after him. He only ever came out the woodwork for money. I had the sudden urge to open it but I couldn’t do that. Could I? No! I couldn’t.

I guess I could always ask him. We evidently have a lot to talk about anyway.

I rolled my eyes, that boy. Honestly, you’d think he’d learn after all these years but I couldn’t help but smile. Mothering him made me feel wanted...no, needed.

I mean, Liam did still need me right?

Beep Beep

I followed the sound and opened the newly received text message.

I’m in deep shit. Meet me at the old park. Don’t bring anyone-Lee

Yep. He definitely still needs me.