Eliza was busy playing with her cousins. Her squeals were heard throughout the house as Charlie, Tommy and Grace's boy, Karl, Ada's boy, and Bobby, one of John and Esme's boys. The giggles and squealing could be heard throughout the manor, the padding of each child's feet hitting the floors could be heard in each room, and the relaxing sigh of their parents could be heard in a small dining room, where Dottie, Ada and Esme whilst Grace waltz around the small room with a small glass decanter in her hand. She leans over the table, filling up the women's glasses and filling up her own before she takes a seat.
"So Reggie," Ada starts, her glass in front of her. "He didn't write to you? Not once?"
Dottie shakes her head, downing her drink in one as Esme scoffs.
"Fucking men," she grunts, "I swear to fuck, the world would be so much better run by women."
Dottie nods, half agreeing as Grace goes to pick up the decanter. She shakes her head.
"No, no more, thanks."
Frowning, Ada hesitates, before she speaks, "no more? Is this the same Dottie who drank the Garrison empty with Arthur?"
"I can't do that anymore, Ada. I've got a little girl to think about—"
Grace chuckles, a light-hearted sound irrupting from her mouth. "We've got maids, Dottie. The maids can look after Eliza, they look after Charles when Tommy and I can't."
Dottie tilts her head, frowning slightly as she looks down at her empty glass.
"Besides, I'm sure Eliza will pass out tonight. Charles certainly will, it's been a while since a girl has chased him round the house. Esme's girls are too old for that."
"I didn't hear the end of it last time," Esme grumbles causing Dottie to frown.
"The last time?"
"When we're all together, the kids go mental," Esme explains, "you've got Katie and Martha, the oldest two, and then Charlie, the youngest, and he loves playing with the girls, but they hate running around, prefer playing with their dolls."
"They won't allow Charlie to touch their dolls," Grace says with a small smile on her face, "says his fingers are always sticky, no matter how many times we wipe his hands."
"Ah," Dottie says, lifting her head with a small smile, "Eliza's like that. No matter how many times I clean her, I turn around and she's dirty, or she's pulled her hair out, or she's got some food down her. Does my heading."
Ada chuckles.
"One Sunday after church, I turned my back to talk to the pastor, and she went to play in the fields with the other kids. Came back and her Sunday dress was ripped, ruined beyond belief. Rosemary did—"
Dottie stops talk, feeling slightly lightheaded. She shakes away the thoughts, trying to remain calm. She goes to open her mouth to speak when she hears car tyres squeak against the stones and pebbles of the path. Her curiosity gets the better of her. She finds herself standing at the window, looking down at a black car.
Dottie watches by the window, moving the curtains out of the way, to take a look at whoever arrived. She can see Tommy welcoming the person. Her breath stops when she's Reggie's face. Her stomach drops as he looks up at the house.
"Reggie's here." She announces, walking out of the room without anyone else's voices coming to light. She walks through the manor, following the giggles and squeals of the children.
She finds the children in a spare bedroom upstairs. She creeps in, finding Eliza giggling with Charlie as Karl shows them a game.
"Is everyone alright in here?" Dottie asks quietly, stepping further in to the room.
"Mama!" Squeals Eliza, jumping up on to her feet, "look! Look!"
Dottie peers over at the board game, she gasps. "Wow! What are you playing?"
Karl looks up at Dottie, "checkers. Mum got it for me for Christmas," he says, almost in a proud manner. He then begins to pout, "they won't play with me. Keep knocking the checkers off."
Kneeling down, Dottie smiles sympathetically, "I think they're a little too young to be playing a grown up game like you," she says, trying her hardest not to sound snarky. "Maybe me and you can play?"
Karl's face lights up, he grins and he nods. "You promise?" He asks, holding out his hand whilst extending his pinky finger.
"I promise." She confirms, holding out her pinky finger and wrapping it gently around Karl's much smaller one. "I have to steal Eliza now, her daddy is here. Is that alright, Karl?"
Karl nods, happy sign his promise with Dottie, and Dottie smiles, kissing him on his cheek before extending her hand to Eliza. Eliza backs away.
"Eliza, someone's downstairs for you," Dottie tried to bargain, however all the girl does is back away, further and further from her mother.
When Dottie stands up, Eliza bolts, and Dottie thanks herself for shutting the door earlier. She's quick to catch Eliza, who eventually trips over her own feet and lets out a cry. Dottie picks her up, easily cuddling the young girl.
"What did you hurt, baby?" She asks in a sympathetic voice.
Eliza looks at her mother, her bottom lip puckering and her large eyes threatening to spill some tears.
"Was it a big shock, baby? Hmm?"
When Eliza nods, Dottie coos, cuddling the girl closer to her chest and kissing the girls cheek.
"Are you tired, sweetheart?" Dottie asks as Eliza screws up her fists and pushes them in to her eyes. She wearily nods and Dottie kisses her head, wiping away any sweat and any hairs from her face.
"Alright, my darling girl, why don't you go to sleep, hmm?"
"Okay, Mama," Eliza mutters, resting her head against Dottie's chest.
Dottie looks back at Karl and Charlie, "boys, your mums are in the dining room downstairs if you need them, okay?"
Either one answer as both are totally engrossed with the checkers, Karl frustratedly trying to teach Charlie, whilst a Charlie flicks them off the board. Dottie chuckles watching the pair before she leaves, making she short distance downstairs.
Dottie heart stops ad she sees Reggie whilst walking down the stairs. Reggie looks up upon hearing a set of heels on the floors. His perfect eyes burn in to hers, his hair brushed and gelled to perfection. He has a suit on, one that contours his every muscle.
"Hi." Dottie says slowly as she reaches the bottom of the steps.
"Hi," Reggie replies, just as awkward as Dottie's interaction.
Tommy clears his throat, "I'll be in the office, Dots," he announces, rubbing his nose before leaving, much to the ignorance of Dottie and Reggie, who continue to stare at each other.
If it wasn't for Eliza, then there would have been silence hanging between the two adults.
"Mama!" She says, pulling her head away from Dottie's chest and tilting it, looking at Dottie like a puppy.
Dottie shakes her head, plastering a small smile on to her face as she looks down at Eliza. "Yes, baby?"
"Food, Mama?"
"No, not right now. I'll get you some food in a bit, but first..." Dottie pushes away a few strands of Eliza's hair and she turns side on to Reggie. "Eliza, meet your daddy."
Reggie grins, he bends down slightly and gives Eliza a small wave. "Hi, Eliza, I'm your daddy."
Eliza scowls, glaring at the man. "You hurt Mama!"
Dottie freezes, as does Reggie.
"Eliza, honey, what do you mean?" Dottie asks, moving away so Eliza can't see Reggie anymore.
Eliza looks down, her grasps hold of Dottie's dress collar and fiddles with it.
"Can you tell me, hmm? I won't be angry with you, sweetheart."
"He hurt you, Mama," she says quietly.
Dottie ducks her head down, "who told you, sweetheart? Who told you that?"
"My dreams, Mama. I sleep, and I see him. Hurting my mama!"
Dottie nods, trying to find the words to console her daughter. Her eyes dance over to Reggie, who has heard every word, and who's eyes linger on her.
She closes her eyes, cuddling her daughter tight to her chest. Trying to ignore the glare emitting from Reggie.
The same glare he used many times as he pummelled a fist in to her face.