Doing it For the Kids

Doing it for the kids - Chapter 14

He led them slowly into the lounge, then sat pulling her onto his knees. As she wrapped herself around his neck, he sighed, loving the feel of her in his arms again. But he had to help her out of this.

When she was ready to speak, he stroked the hair from her face.

"What did he say?" she finally asked.

"He's shocked; he didn't know about your mother, he wants to do the right thing by the twins. I told him there was a lot to take on board, we can meet him tomorrow, we'll speak to Hodgson, he'll know more about our rights."

"I'm all they know..." she looked up from teary eyes.

"I know, but he is their father, they have a right to know him, you can't be a father to them."

"They're almost eight! They've never seen him!"

He took both her hands in his, and smiled "I know that, you know that, and so does he, hell even the kids are fully aware that they must have a father even if they don't know him. He can't take them away, I'm sure of that. But you need to speak to him. Deal with it; you can't brush it under the carpet."

He handed her her phone, "call Mr Hodgson, meet him, find out your rights."

She looked up at him, her eyes red, "If I lose them, I've failed her Hendrick."

His heart bled for her, the strong independent woman was gone, and here he had a shell, a sad, forlorn and needy person. He ruffled her hair, "hey, you have not failed your mother, not for a second. Those kids are a testament to everything you've done for them. They love you, and you've been a dependable force for them."

"But he's their father."

He nodded, "wait until you speak to your lawyer, don't start panic about things you can't predict. Ok?"

She tried to smile, "I think I've just realized how much doing everything for them has helped me ignore what happened."

"And now the raw wounds are right back open?"

She nodded, "sorry I need to pull myself together. Sorry to land all this on you."

He was loving having her in his arms, but not stupid enough to think that this was him forgiven, he was just grateful that when things had got out of control, she'd called him. 

"It's not a problem V, I promise, when are the kids back?"

"I said I'd pick them up later, 

"Do you need a lift?"

She shook her head, "I'll be fine, thanks."

He stood, letting her down onto the sofa, but she rose to stand next to him, "I'm around for a week or so. If you need me."

She still couldn't smile, but she tried a watery grin, "I still...."

He held up a hand, "You've made me realize wait a bastard I've been Violet, I don't deserve your time, I'm just glad we may have some form of friendship, however fragile that may be. If you ever think you could forgive me, that what happened in South Africa meant enough to work things out, I'll be waiting."

She gulped, rather ungraciously, not expecting such frank honesty. But as she tried to formulate a response, he handed her a card with a neatly printed address.

"This is where I'm staying. You've got a lot on, and we need to talk when you have less to worry about. I can wait forever Violet, the kid's need this sorted now."

Violet nodded, and watched as he left the house, without as much as a look back.

****

Over the next two weeks she met with Nathaniel regularly trying to work out what was best for the children. It seemed that Michael Fogarty was full of remorse for the eight years he'd spent living and working overseas, now he was here and wanting to make amends for all that time.