The Gift Of Life

[jessi]

It is, but gran had seven kids. Some times she has to let her kids cry cause she was attending to another. It was just her way. She was a wonderful women though, despite that. Dont get me wrong, we all miss her, but she just made some bad calls at times,.

[valda]

that was a bad call Jessi but omg Wow 7 kid`s ! now I understand why Gran let her kid`s cry now and again

[jessi]

After every thing that had gone on. It seemed only right that the McDonalds found a way of celebrating there daughters recovery Jim and Liz thought. At first they were going to try and go on holiday but they really were strapped for cash at the moment. With neither patent having really been working lately, it wasn’t an option.
But when Emily bishop had suggested perhaps a small christening it had seem the perfect way. It was going to be as party, something they could remember and share there joy with all there neighbours and friends. It seemed a good idea.
They had always planned to do it, but they guessed every thing had been moving so fast that they really hadn’t been able to think straight. If they had been of them would have thought of it they were sure.
It was the big day. The big day of course, being the christening.
Today Katie officially joined the McDonalds in the eyes of god, and whilst that wasn’t important to Liz, she knew it meant a lot to her husband.
So, dressing both herself and her daughter up, she went down stairs to see her husband and sons, all in suits, and not a court case coming up.
“Well don’t they all look handsome?” she said to her daughter who looked at her bewildered.
“She looks so pretty,.” She Steve a bit sloppily who went over and took his sister from his mum, giving her a hug. “You ready?” he asked the little girl in his arms. She just looked up.
It was strange he thought. They all spoke to her as if she was going to reply at any moment already.
Andy looked at her smiling, her little face alight.
Jim could think of nothing else but what a little princess she looked in her christening robe. The long white dress went to well beyond her tiny feet.
“I hope she behaves her self in church.” Liz sighed as she got her daughters bag ready. Nappies, milk, a bib…
“Of course she will. My little girl always behaves her.” smiled Jim.
“Not what you were saying at three o’clock this morning.” Teased his wife.
“Good point!” He had to agree.
They still had to get her to grasp the concept of a good nights sleep. He didn’t know what she had against it.
There was a knock on the door at that point, and Bill Webster and Deirdre Barlow came in.
“Is our little god daughter ready for her big day?” asked Bill proudly.
“I think so,” said Liz as she looked at her daughter.
“Every thing in the bag?” asked Jim as he picked it up.
”Pretty much.” She smiled as she went over to the door to get a light jacket. It was June, so there wasn’t really a need, but still. Just in case.
“Lets go troops.” Said Jim as he led his family out of number eleven.
The family was pleased to see a good turn out for the christening. In fact, most of the street had come.
The pride Liz felt in her little girl as every one watched her get baptised was mad. She had come through so much in such a little space of time. And yet she was so beautiful, and she had such spirit.
As the water was poured on her head, instead of crying like a lot of babies did she laughed and smiled, gurgling in delight, as the priest baptised her.
“I baptise you Katherine Elizabeth, in the name of the son, the father and the holy spirit.”
-
Every one who had been at the church went back to the Rovers; where Katie was parched round like pass the parcel till she went to her god father.
Bill who had seen quite a bit of the girl since she had been born was some what familiar to Katherine who hanged on to him as others came to take her.
“Give her a break!” said bill to any one who tried to take her, as long as they weren’t related to her. Katie was hot and bothered, probably tired too. She has had enough of going round.
That day was the first time Katie met her Irish relatives too.
“She is a beautiful wee lass son.” Jim’s father said to him and his mum beamed as they watched her sit quietly with the Webster’s.
“She’s a bit of a bleater, aint she?” he asked as his wife came to his side.
“You ok?” he asked as Liz put her arm round Jim.
“Tired, been a long old day hasn’t it?” she asked the three of them,.
“Oh yes. But a wonderful one.” Said Maisy to her daughter in law. “She is so sweet Liz.” She complimented her grandchild.
“I know. We wouldn’t change her for the world.”” she said. “Nothing about her,” she smiled.
“No one would. You couldn’t ask for a better temperament in a baby. I know you were awful when you were her age, so Liz she must get it from you.” She teased her son.
“Thank you mother.” Said Jim.
The party was a real success, but at seven Elizabeth was thinking about getting off, so that they could get Katie to bed.
“Maybe you should say something,” she told her husband. Not a huge speech, and as soon as a few of the people who had been standing round them heard her make such a suggesting it was thought a good idea by most people.
“Well,” he said as the pub feel quite, once bet had rung the bell. “I wasn’t expecting to say any thing so first off me and Liz wanna thank yer all for coming terday. It means a lot ter both of us to have all our mates and family round us.
“There was a time when I am sure you all know, me and Liz thought we weren’t going to get here. When we thought we were going to lose our little girl. In fact she even had a small Christening the day we took her back in with just me, Liz, and the twins there,” he remembered and tears clouded his eyes as he remembered. But he blinked them back, “but here we are and I just wanna thank Katie really. It’s her day and she made it possible by being so strong, these pass six months. She is a diamond, and she’s me little princess, I don’t care what any one else says. She the most beautiful girl in the world. I’m proud she’s my daughter.” he said as he raised his glass. “To Katie!”
-
“You did so well.” Sisal Liz as she came back down stairs. Her sons were still out and it was just her and Jim for a change. There daughter was stairs, happily asleep after her day.
“So did you.” he said as he took her hand and pulled her close to him.
“Not as well as you. Nearly made me cry what you said.“ she said as he kissed him
“All of it truth. But I forgot to thank you. For giving her to me. So I’ll do it now. Thank you Elizabeth!” he said as he kissed her.
“I couldn’t have don’t it with out you.” She said as she sat on the sofa next to him and snuggled it to his embrace which was warm and tender by nature. “I seem to remember you playing a part in it.” she smirked and he gave a light hearted chuckle.
“Yes, me too.”
He smiled. He didn’t think he was ever going to be happy like this again. Not once he had left the army. But he was
“Liz?”
“What is it?”
“you are happy, aren’t you?”
“Of course I am darling. I have got you, the twins, and now Katie. What more am I ever going to need?”

[valda]

bless her behaveing so well , Lovely one Jessi

[jessi]

Thanks:)

[jessi]

Chapter 8

Katie was turning one already.
Jim couldn’t believe how fast his little one was growing up.
But was she really?
It was just her age that had really changed.
He remembered when he had been told there was going to be side affects, but seeing them was more painful than he had thought it was going to be.
She was a year old but the boys had been much more developed by now. He remember when he came home he had been shocked by how much they had come on.
They had been practically walking, yet she was only just crawling, slowly and awkwardly at that. Where as Andy and Steven had nearly been talking yet she was still babbling.
“She is pretty happy though isn’t she?” said Deirdre as she held her niece in her arms. “Hey aren’t you?” she smiled as the baby looked at her mother.
“Yeah she is.” Liz smiled back at her.
“And you?” she asked. ”are you still happy?”
“Yeah I guess. Pretty happy just like her but it is half hard some times. Being an older mum and dad,” she said to her. “Especially an older mum.”
“She is a bit of daddy’s girl isn’t she?” Deirdre asked.
“Every time Jim walks in her face lights up.” sighed Elizabeth. “He encourages her no end.” she sighed. “Not easy when it is me who has to look after her all day but there we are.”
“She doesn’t know any better.” sighed Deirdre.
“Maybe not but he does.” she said to Deirdre. “And I guess I am just a little bit jealous buoy it to. I always thought if we had a girl she would be a bit of a mummy’s girl.”
“Men go potty for little girls and they like it. I wish I had been able to give a dad to Tracy when she had been Katie’s age.”
Liz nodded. She wouldn’t really change it, but her daughter could be so awkward when her father wasn’t there. Still she supposed when she had been ill it had always been him who had been with her. She had always had her daddy. She must have got used to him when she was that little new born in the incubator. It had been him who had always been there to hold her when the nurses and doctors had been poking and prodding her. Liz had wanted to kill them for touching her baby girl. He had been a lot cooler. It was strange to see what the street had done to them. She would have thought it would have been the other way round.
“I guess you can’t fault him at father hood this time.” she said. “Better a daddy too caring and doting then one who isn’t enough.”
“I could not have said it better myself.” said Deirdre as the door opened.
“Steve you better not be coming in if you don’t have a job.” his mother said to him.
“I am working on something, so I am,” he said taking the mick out of his father.
Sweeping down he took his sister in to his arms, he smiled. He had adjusted and he had got to be a better big brother as time went on. “You’re glad I’m home aren’t you?” he asked and she gurgled. “See, at least some one loves me.” he teased.
“I do love you darling, I’d just love you with a job more.” she said making her friend laughed.
“Well I better be off Liz I have to go and get the dinner ready for Tracy.” said Deirdre as she got up.
“Right you get off love I better do the same, and this one will want feeding in a bit.” she said as she stroked a hand down her daughter’s hair. She had turned a bit more blonde than she had when she had been a new born, but to Liz she was always going to be the image off her father.
Opening the door, Deirdre smiled and walked out as another came in.
“You alright Deirdre?” asked Jim and she nodded.
“Yes, but I got to get off now so I’ll see you later.” she said and he nodded.
“Have a good day darling?” asked Liz as she went over to him and gave him a cuddle.
Dropping a kiss in to her hair before turning to his squirming daughter, trying to get to him desperately.
“Hey has some one kissed her daddy?” he asked soothing as he took her in to his embracing. “’Cos I’ll tell yer some thing lil’ un I missed you.” he said laughing at her alight face.
Liz smiled at them. They were her life as well as there sons. And if Katherine was happiest when she was with her daddy then so be it.
“I’m going to do bangers and mash tonight. You go get ready,” she told Jim before going in to the kitchen,.
It wasn’t just the fact her daughter had no favour in her that was getting to the mum.
Liz was restless. She had always enjoyed the time when she was with her daughter on her own. When Jim was not there she was fine it was when he was there that she played up.
But she needed her life back. She had to get back to work she thought if she stayed home all day a lot longer, she was going to go mad.
Even if it was just a shift at the Rovers every other night it was going to be ok, better than it was. She needed adult company.
“You ok?” she heard a voice ask her. It was Andy. “You look very thoughtful” he observed.
“I will be, but I need to talk to you and your brother and father at dinner.” she said to him.
It was true.
So she did the dinner, and the boys got Katie in her high chair, and Liz feed her ever tiring daughter. That was another concern. Katie tired a lot easier than the boys had,
“I want to go back to work,.” she said to them.
“But mum if you do then who is going to have Katie?” asked Steve and Liz knew by the look on Jim’s face he was not in favour of such a idea.
“It wouldn’t be in the day.” she said to him. “Just a shift sat the pub at night or some thing.”
“I don’t think you should.” said Jim. It was a fact.
“I knew you wouldn’t. But I need time out. If I stay in lot longer, then I am going to go mad.” she said to him.
-
That had b en the day the problems in the McDonald marriage had come back. Whether it was because he was so possessive of her or because she had gone against him Liz was never know but things were deteriorating between them.
“What’s going on here?” she said to him two months later.
It was a Sunday morning. Time they had traditionally always had together with Katherine. But today when she had risen he had not been there with their baby in his arms, in bed with two cups of teas fereshly made on their bed side table as she had been expecting and as she got down stairs, she found him putting a quiet Katie in to her buggy.
“I’m taking my daughter down to the duck ponds, that’s what.” he said as he got his jacket on. It was a fresh march morning.
“Well wait a sec I can change and come with you.” she said to him but he shook his head.
“I want her to myself for a bit.” he said to her.
But he was always having her to himself now. Every other night. She was never going to understand him.
“Ok, well have a good time.” she said to her daughter who waved back at her., but the feeling of rejection hurt her, as it begun to linger in her stomach.
“Come on then princess.”
Jim didn’t know why he felt such resentment towards Liz for the job. He had just liked it when he had known she was at home he guessed. When he had known no other man was looking at her.
Known she wasn’t going to get in any mischief.
“What do you think wee lass? Is dad being silly?” he as asked her. Jim had got her out of the pram and Katherine was standing up on shaky legs, clinging on to him, babbling on happily, making nonsense noises as he sat on a bench in the park with her.
“Just what I thought so it is.” he laughed at her.

[valda]

Excellent Jessi well done , yes I know that feeling well Liz my daughter was a daddy`s girl too at her age lol

[jessi]

Chapter 9

Summer had come and it had gone already unfortunately.
Liz was still working, and Jim was still unhappy with it but she was sure he was going to get over it soon. Hopefully.
But the twins knew they were getting more irritable with one another again.
It was like it had been before they had had the baby, when they had actually been thinking of separating.
Steve hoped they didn’t. Not for his sake but his sister’s. He could understand it. But whay was she going to think if one day she woke up and mummy or daddy were gone.
Especially daddy cos Jim sure as hell was not going to let her go with out a fight. It could get messy.
Katie was relatively unaffected by it though. She had no idea the struggles her family were going to and as long as she got lots of cuddles, at her age, she didn’t care.
Her vocabulary was finely beginning to come together. ‘Dada’ and ‘mama’ were her first words with in a week of each other and ‘Eve’ for Steve and ‘Dy’ for Andy were now common.
No and yeah were also regularly used by her.
Crawling was getting faster and she could raise her self to her feet but walking seemed a mystery to her still, She couldn’t get the hang of it.
Lying in to her father one night she seemed particularly grizzly. She had a hot fore head.
“I don’t think she’s very well. Why don’t yer stay home with me and her tonight Liz?” he asked.
She shook her head. Any excuse…
“Cos I hare a shift to do at the pub. I am sure you two will be fine.” she stroked a hand down her bays beck and Jim was right. She was hot. Too hot.
“I’m going to book her a doctor’s appointment in the morning, she isn’t right.” Liz observed.
But Jim wasn’t sure it was going tot wait till the morning.
What if she had meningitis again>?>
When he had come in she had been crying, but now she had stopped. She was too tired. She was just moany
“Dada…” she said in to him as she buried her face in the well known jumper.
No way he going to get her to go to bed tonight. She was so clinging, even more so than she was usually, and he was going to be happier holding her when she wasn’t right.
But as the evening progressed Katie got worse. She got more unsettled and unable to relaxed. Her too hot body made it hard for her to get comfortable in any position and the baby was unbeknown making it harder for herself. No matter how her father tried to comfort her, it didn’t work. Every time she got worked up she had a coughing fit and he once again felt useless. All he could do was wait for it to pass before he held her again.
“Dad is she ok?” asked Andy when he and his brother got in.
“No, she isn’t.” he told them as he gave her hot skin a kiss. It was too hot.
“Mama,,” she moaned. She wanted Liz for once, though Jim was sure it was just to hear the comfort of her voice for she wasn’t trying to get away from him. She wasn’t pushing him away.
“Maybe we should get her down the hospital dad. She ain’t right. She needs checking over, dad. Just in case.” said Andy and his father nodded in agreement. He had been trying to not admit it to himself. He didn’t want her to be... she couldn’t go through it again.
The lad was right.
“Ok,” said Jim as he gave in. He had been thinking it for a while. He just hadn’t faced up to it. “Its ok darling I’m here.” he whispered to complaining daughter. The usually happy baby wasn’t her self by a long shot.
“Should I go get mum dad?” Steve asked.
“If yer want to.” he said bitterly. He had had a feeling that Liz should have stayed but she was so pig headed/ just like him.
Rushing out of the house once he had wrapped his daughter in her pink blanket, Jim carried her to the car.
He had to get her to the hospital.
-
Liz was shocked when she saw her under aged son in the pub,
“You out!” she said to him before she saw the worried expression on his face.
“Mum its Katie. Dad’s took her to hospital.”
-
“You did the right thing Mr. McDonald.” said to doctor as he stood over Katherine’s crib. For Jim it was all too familiar.
He remembered like it was yesterday how it had felt to stand over her crib, trying to will her to stay with him. Of course this time she was in not so much danger. But she was ill. And she was going to be in for a few nights.
Still they had been told her immune system might be low. She had had a few colds already and she had suffered quiet a bit with them, but nothing like this.,
“When will she be able to come home?” he asked. That was all Jim cared about.
“The end of the week as long as she picks up, there is no reason why she shouldn’t.” the doctor smiled as the door opened.
Liz was there, and she looked distressed.
“I’m Katherine’s mother.” she explained as she came in, rushing to take the position on the other side of the crib to her husband,.
“How is she?” she asked desperately.
“She is ok.” said the doctor comfortingly. “Or she will be. But she has a chest infection right now, and she is going to have to stay in for a bit. Just till Sunday.” he said to her gently.
Putting her hand on the baby’s fore head she sighed.
Her poor little girl. “You ok baby?” she asked, but Katie was asleep. She was so peaceful. Liz just wanted to hold her. So reaching in she prepared to take her in to her arms, till her husband protested.
“I just settled her Elizabeth, don’t.” said Jim to her, with anger in his voice. He had had to look after her and she just came in and took over when he had been the one who had had to comfort her and hug her and lull her in to sleep. He had to watch the nurses and doctors all over her like a rash again. He jujstw anted to let her be now.
When the doctor had left the room Liz retaliated.
“She is my child.”
“Not that any one would know by the way you act, if yer catch what I’m saying.” he said to her.
“That is not fair him. I look after her all day. I work nine hours a week, a lot less than you do.” she pointed out.
“At least I do it begrudgingly. Because I need too. You do it cause you want to!” he said to her angrily.
“And with the way you are with me right now is it any wonder I want to get out of the house for a bit Jim? The only one who listens to me is Katie and she is a baby. What does that say about this family right now?” her eyes glimmered with tears as she looked down. She couldn’t remember the last time he had made her feel desired or loved.
-
Katherine had been knocked for six for that illness and recovery even when she was home was slow.
Where she had been sleeping through she again woke twice a night crying out for comfort from her parents which did not help the uncertain grounds that the marriage they had was based on now, and only decreased there energy levels which were low as it had been.
They were tired, they were even more irritable than before and the only one it didn’t seem to flare at was their daughter.
It was the middle off the night in November. Three weeks had passed since her daughter was in hospital and here Liz was, up again, given her daughter a bottle.
“Come on you, enough crying., go back to sleep.” she tried to soothe her.
And even though Liz knew it was terrible it was nights like these that made her question her choice, now over two years ago.
What if she had had the termination. Would she and Jim be on better footing? Would it have been better if she had simply got rid…
How could she even think that? She thought as guilty hit her.
“I’m sorry baby” she whispered gently. “Come on shh,” she said her voice laced with affection. She wouldn’t be with out her…not really.
Sitting on the sofa she cradled the tot tenderly. She was trying, just right now life was so hard. For the entire family.
That was when she heard some one coming down the stairs.
“What ever way you look at it it’s either too early or to late to row. Go back to bed if that’s what you’re after Jim.” she said to her husband as she sighed exhausted. She couldn’t fight him right now.
“I’m not here to row Liz, I’m here to look after my girls. Both of them” he told her as he sat by her side and opened his arms to her. “I’m sorry.” he said to her.
Moving next to him she put her head on his shoulder as he gave her a kiss on the top of her head. Normally she’d make him apologize more but she just wanted him. Like they had been when they had just had their boys. So in love that the world stopped just for the,. “I’ve not been treating you very well have I?”
“Its not all you. I haven’t made matters easy.” she smiled at him. “Me too, I’m sorry,” she said as she pushed her lips against this before turning back to their little girl who had fallen asleep.
“Let’s start again yeah, I think we need to start treating the lads better too. Andy and Steven…”
“Are nor on there best behavior.” she said to him. It wasn’t only them who had been making things hard. The boys had had a right cob on with there parents.
“When are they ever? Things aren’t ever going to be easy for us. Not the way we work is it?”

[valda]

it`s still great Jessi keep it up ok , if your baby is ill you don`t put work ahead of your child at least I don`t ,what is wrong with Liz when she done that? older kid`s normally do have a cob on with their parent`s it`s part of growing up ;p lol, I,m pleased everything was ok in the end though

[jessi]

Chapter 10

Katie looked at the arm chair determinedly. Reaching up and taking the arm in her tiny hand she stood up on her unsteady feet and caught her balance. Then came the hard bit.
Letting go.
One hand at a time she did so till she was standing unaided. Then the really tricky part.
She had seen her big brother, her parents and all there friends do it so much and her parents words of encouragement told her what to do.
One in front of the other.
But that meant nothing to the tot.
But finally just a month off her second birthday it looked like Katherine was going to get this walking stuff.
Taking a foot off the ground she quickly moved it foreword. Too quickly,.
A second later Katie was back where she had started. On the floor looking back up at the arm chair.
“She’s trying so hard ‘ent she?” Steve said to Andy as they watched there sister start all over again.
Andy nodded. Katie was. Any one could see it, he thought as he went over to her.
”Don’t pick her up Andrew.” he heard his fathers voice say from the table.
Jim could see his daughter was fine. She just needed to be left to her own devices. If they didn’t fuss then she was going to get it in time. She had to be independent of them. As long as she could see a friendly face then she was going to be ok.
Andy nodded, but sat by her and watched as got her balance. If she had a target then it was going to be easier for her.
“Come Katie, come here.” he said to her. His father couldn’t have a go if she went to him and it gave her more of some thing to aim for.
She did as she did before only this time instead of falling to the floor she fell in to her brothers arms, before sitting contently.
“Yer should have left her so she could have had more of a play.” said Steve.
“No she couldn’t. Its bath time.” said Liz as she came out of the kitchen. “Come on darling.” she said as she took her daughter in her arms and carried upstairs.
Katie was good in the bath and as long as it was the right temperature she seemed to quiet enjoy splashing about. Liz liked it too. It was one of the times in the day she got little peace.
Bathing her daughter Liz found was the best bit of the day. It generally took twenty minutes till the bath water made her sleepy, then wrapping her daughter in a warm sleep suit made her tired before a bottle of warm milk finished off them job. She was no trouble to get to sleep normally, though sleeping through was still difficult for her.
-
By Christmas Katie was walking. New year came and it went and life as it always did took over.
1995 was a messy year for the family. Andy got a girl friend, Anne, and Steve as ever went one step further and got married.
And as usual the strain on their mum and dads marriage increased, with here boys growing up and there daughter keeping them up at night. Not what either of them needed.
And by March 1996 every thing seemed to be going pear shaped.
“Steve,” the younger of those twins heard an innocent voice ask as he sat in the café.
“Oh hey Katie.” he said as he pulled her on to her lap, smiling as he looked up to his mother with her.
“I’m going to get a cuppa love do you want one?” his mum asked.
”yeah alright,” he said as he held his sister.
“Steve can I ask you a question?” she asked him looking up with here innocent eyes at him.
“Of course you can .” he said as he had his toast.
“Why don’t mummy and daddy like each other no more? All they do is argue and when me and you and Andy do they always tell us off!”” she protested.
Steve smiled. His sister had a lot of knowledge. Too much for one of her age.
“Mum and dad do like each other, I promise but you know some days you just don’t want to be with some one or some one annoys you - like Andy.!” he said making her giggle and laugh. “Well you two sort it out don’t you ?” she nodded. “Then so will mum and dad. Don’t worry,”
-
One month later.
Andy and Steve sat in the living room with Anne and Vicky. It was eleven and the four of them had been baby sitting together and the boys had there arms round the girls. It had been a good night. Katei had gone to bed at eight (when she should have been asleep by seven thirty) and it had been pretty smooth ever since.
Just then thought the good times really did end. And the bad times rolled in.
The door opened sharply and then slammed shut just a fast.
“Welcome home dad.” said Andy under his breath.
“Where’s mum?” asked Steve as he held on to Vicky.
One thing was clear. Jim was in a temper. A really bad one.
“Jim?” asked Vicky backing up her young husband.
Her father in law made no mends to talk to either of them but he went through to get a drink.
Gods knows he needed it…
How could they.
Johnny and Liz? Two of the people he had trusted must in his life and they had, they had - betrayed him in the worst way they had been able to.
“Dad.” he heatd Andy say but he was not in the mood and so taking the scotch he had just poured for himself he went upstairs. He just wanted to be by himself.
Going in to his room he turned on the light and he sat down.
He couldn’t believe it. It was just such a shock. He had found out then he had just sort of lost it. He knew he had hit Liz and then he had left her. But where he didn’t know where, how long it had been since.
Slowly the door opened timidly.
“Go away!” he said roughly.
“But I had a bad dream daddy!” said his daughter.
It any one was blameless in what had happened it was her. And if she had had a bad dream then she wasn’t going to sleep. It was strange. He had been furious. Yet he couldn’t take it out on her. Probably the only person he couldn’t.
“Alright wee lass. Come here and tell your dad what happened.” he said as he picked her up and put her in his lap.
“Mummy didn’t come home. Where is my mummy daddy?”
Oh crap.

-

It was the early morning when Liz got to Deirdre’s . Her face was painful and it was bruised. She had always known her husband had had a vicious temper but she had never before seen him like he had been last night.
Knocking on the door she sighed. That had been the worst night of her life and she just wanted her children but they were with him then she couldn’t get to them as she was petrified of Jim right now.
But what if he was taking it out on them?
Her friend was sympathetic and gave her a home for as long as she need it.
“But it isn’t going tot be just me Deirdre. As soon as I can I am going to go and get Katie. I am not having him with her right now.”
“Of course she can come and stay with her aunty Deirdre. It will be nice to have a child about the place. I am her godmother.”

[RitaLittlewood]

I'm all behind on this one. I'll need to catch up.

Patsy

[jessi]

Chapter 11

She had waiting in the flat wall morning.,
Liz had waited till she had seen her husband go out before she had gone over to number 11. She had to be fast. She had to be safe.
The boys had been so revealed when they had seen her, but upset when they had seen her black eye. There father could be such a brute at times and it was then they didn’t like him at all. Even though they never showed it a lot they loved her so much. It killed them to see her so hurt.
“I can not believe he has done this to you mum.” said Andy.
“Neither can I love.” she said as he shut the door.
From upstairs Steve came racing down to his mother and as soon he saw her he held her tight.
“I’m ok, I promise you both I am ok. Where’s your little -!”
“Mummy!” she heard a cry.
Her face had clearly disturbed her little girl. While the boys were old enough to have a bit of an understanding of what had happened Katie didn’t. Her father had never shown his anger in front of her. Liz was sure he had made sure not to do so. It was a shame he had not thought of the lads that much when they had been her age. They had been exposed to his rage when they were four. Katherine’s confusion was written on her face. And who could blame her? Mummy doesn’t get home with daddy then she is so hurt?
“You ok baby?” he asked and Katherine nodded.
“I was upset when you didn’t come home.” she admitted to her mum after a while.
“Well that’s ok now, because I am here but mummy is not going to be home for a while, she is going to be staying at aunty Deirdre’s.” she explained.
“I want you here though mum.” Katie protested. ”I want us to be together.” he said.
Liz knew she was going to well up if her daughter didn’t stop soon. She had to make this easy.
“Then why don’t you come with me and us and your aunty Deirdre can have girly sleepovers.;” she asked.
The boys looked at each other.
There father was going to be furious if he came home and he found his daughter missing. But right now where they meant to deny there mother of the small comfort of caring for her daughter.
Beside after what he had done last nigh Jim was not fit to be Katie’s father.
“Yeah!” said her daughter.
“Right go on then darling, you go get your bits together baby.” she said to her.
Katie ran upstairs and Liz looked at her boys.
“I am so sorry boys I know this is going to be hard for you when your father finds out he is going to be anger, but she is my little girl. I need her.” she said.
”Mum we know don’t worry. It think it is best she is with you,” said Andy as he and Steve made a bit of a fuss of her.
“Thank you boys.” she said and with in five minutes Katie had a few toys and clothes together.
“Come on then darling.” said her mum as she took her head.
She had to do this. She knew it was going to be hard on him but she had to do it.
“Bye mum.” said Steve and she nodded as she led her daughter away.
The flat was a lot smaller than what Katie was used to she released when she and her mummy got there.
It was strange not being with her brothers and dad. She missed them.
She wasn’t sure she liked it, but she knew her daddy had been bad. She had to stay with mum.
-
“Katie wee lass come on dinner!” Jim called up to his girl. He had been in from work for five minutes and the boys hadn’t told him yet. They didn’t know how to. Too tell a man his daughter was gone. He was going to take badly to the news.
Looking guiltily at him both the twins felt there stomach flip. He was going to go mad when he found out. Seeing his sons were actually kind of distressed, Jim begun questioning them.
“You two alright lads?” he asked. There was a pregnant pause.
“Dad you better sit down.” said Andy to him gently.
“What’s going on boys” he asked as he sat down. T here was no movement from upstairs yet.
“Katherine come on!” he yelled and the boys looked guiltier. “What is it?”
“Mum came over tonight.” said Andy. “She took Katherine.”
-
“Once upon a time, in a far away land…” read Elizabeth as she settled her daughter in to bed. It was not going to be easy for her to settle away from number eleven. Liz wanted them both there too. It had been home for so long. Them being here it was like telling her daughter some thing was wrong. They had tried to shield her for so long and now they had to admit it. Her marriage was over. That which her daughter had depended on when she had been so scared. It had been made ok by the fact both mummy and daddy were there to hold her tight. Now it was just mummy.
Deirdre was sitting in the living room; she heard a knock on the door. It had been a nice night so far. She liked having people staying. Her god daughter was no trouble at all. Or she hadn’t been any way, and she was going to get on with her best friend fine. She had got lonely alone. It was good to have guests.
Getting up she sighed and smiled as she looked In the little spare room Katie was going to occupy where the girl was looking so content in here mothers embrace.
When she got downstairs and opened the door, she wished she hadn’t .
“Where are they?”
Jim pushed past Deirdre. Right now he didn’t want Liz but no way was she keeping his daughter. That was not, it just wasn’t never going to happen.
As soon as she heard h is rough voice Liz knew what Jim had come for.
“Give her back to me Elizabeth.” Jim demanded before turning softer as he saw his daughter, but Liz had a tight hold on her.
“You ok my darling?” he asked Katie, who turned her head in to her mother. “Come on sweet heart, its only daddy. I miss you baby.” he said to her. “Come to take you home to bed.”
”No you did a bad thing to mummy. I want ter stay with mummy.” she said as she clung to Liz.
“Jim please I am trying to get her to bed, go home!” Liz said to him.
“She’s my baby. I always give her her story before she goes to sleep so I do.” he insisted.
“Go home, please. We’re tired.” she insisted.
Getting up off the bed, Liz stood between her husband and her daughter.
“GIVE HER TO ME!” he demanded. He was shaking in his anger as he reached out his hands to take his baby daugher. It felt so wrong for him to be parted from her. She was his little rose. No one as ever going to keep them apart. It couldn’t be what she wanted.
“Mummy, daddy’s scary make him stop it..” That had been enough.
Jim had sworn he was never going to scare her. That had been the one thing he had sworn he was never going to do that. And yet he had.
“I’m going.”

[valda]

good one Jessi Jim has flipped in a way I can,t blame him though, it,s wrong to hit women even Liz:( but it,s good that Katie is gettng through to him.

[jessi]

Yup, she is....

Chapter 12

Liz had never released it was going to so be so hard on her own pretty much. She had Deirdre but she wasn’t another parent to Katie and it meant that now her daughters care was pretty much all up to her. She wasn’t going to let her husband in her life again for a very long time in fact if she had her way. That meant he was also not going to be in Katherine’s.
It was as if he had become obsessed with her and she was now considering her last resort and restraining order. She had to keep him away from the two of them some how.
Had she been on her own she was sure that she would have done it already but she did have Katie to think of and as much as she had been on her mum’s side to begin with the cracks were showing.
Katherine was missing number eleven. She was missing her brothers but above all else she was missing her daddy. It was no surprise to her mother. Katie and Jim had always been so close. It couldn’t have been easy for her daughter to leave him to begin with.
When ever they went passed the garage on Cororantion Street (which was every day as Liz had to get Katie to the health centre crèche) Katie was always looking for her father just in case. If he was there he would wave and she would look at her feet. As much as she did miss him desperately there was no doubt in Liz’s mind he had petrified her that night when he had come too clamed her back as his own, she had never heard him like that. Her wonderful protective strong daddy had turned in to a monster before her eyes.
But for Katie the flat was so small. She was used to having there entire house to platy n. It was so hard for her to adjust.
“Deirdre, we are going to be late back tonight.” Liz said as she realized the day.
It was time for Katie physio therapy.
The doctor at the hospital had been right when Katherine had been young. She did have aside affects of her illness, mainly her hand eye coordination. It made her rather shaky and made things harder for her.
“Come non Katie.” she said as she called to her.
Running out of her room with her trainers in her hands Katie got them on but was visibly tired which wasn’t good if she was tired the therapy was going to be harder than normal.
“Mummy can I go see daddy today?” she asked.
That had been the first time she had actually asked out right to see Jim. Liz knew that her fear wasn’t going to last. She always had. The girls love of her father over powered it.
“Not today sweet. You have play group and mum has work and then we have physio , and we are already late.£” she sighed as she brushed away the question and helped her daughter put her coat on.
“But mummy -”
“No Katie love, come on say good bye to your aunty Deirdre and lets be having yer.” she sighed and she went over to give her aunt a cuddle.
“Have a good day sweet heart.”
-
Number eleven felt cold. It didn’t seem like much of a home right now.
Jim was so ashamed of what he had done. But he paying for it now. His sons had never been so cold with him and he had never thought it was possible to miss any one as much as he did his wife and daughter. And the thought of that night when he had scared her was haunting him.
Steve and Andy couldn’t stand the sight of him either.
Leaving the house before there dad got down the boys watched as the mum and sister walked down the street.
“You alright Katie?” asked Andy.
“Yeah!” she smiled as she run up to him.
“You got play group now?” he asked.
“Yeah, then I got physic later on.” she said as she hugged him.
“Do you? Why don’t I met you there then I can go with you.” he smiled.
“Daddy’s normally comes.” Katie pointed out.
“I know he does.” said Andy. “But he cant today.” he sighed. “So I am just going to have to be good enough.”
-
That had been twice Katherine had mentioned Jim in one morning, thought Liz to herself. She was clearly missing him now to the point when she was getting upset over it.
“May be dad can take you next week katie.” said Liz as she pulled her attention off her brother. “Well see you there son.” she sighed and he nodded.
Well Liz had to say the results of Katherine’s abilities had been set back by the uprooting affects of the past week.
“Mum have you thought about may be coming back to the house yet.” sighed Andy. He knew she was punishing his dad and she had every right to do so. If it was him he might do the same but it wasn’t fair on his sister. “for her sake”
“No Andy. We are going to be staying put. You and your dad are just going to have to get useed to the fact me and your sister are not going to be there any more.” she sighted. She wished she could be there for Jim but it was to hard now when she had a little one to protect. And she was stills ore. He had had no right to hit her like he had even if she had slept with Johnny. It had been a mistake. One stupid mistake. And you think she wasn’t paying for it? She had lost her home, she had lost her man, she wasn’t with her sons as much as she wanted to be, it was not just Jim suffering.
“but mum it isn’t far I on -”
“Any of us.”
-
Jim followed Liz in to the pub,
This was getting silly now. he was following e her every where and it was scary.
He kept telling her he just wanted it to make it up to her, but she didn’t see how he could till he gave her a bit of space. And so maybe she was just going to have to force that on him…
-
Dear Mr James McDonald.

I am writing tot inform you that a restriction order has been placed on you by Elizabeth MacDonald, and so by extension also Katherine McDonald….

That was as far as he had got with the letter till he had been to fuming to go on. He had agreed that she could stay with her, but no way could she get the law on her side so he was even unable to go near his girl!
He was not going to let this happen.

[RitaLittlewood]

Don't blame him.

Patsy

[jessi]

Thanks for the comments

Chapter 8

It was a breezy day in April. The residents of the street went about there business like normal mostly. Mostly… Jim followed Liz to the crèche and he watched with jealousy as his daughter took her mums hand and they walked down the road together. He made sure he stayed out of Liz view but he knew as well as she did that she knew he was there. He was looking round for him,

“And we did finger painting today.” said Katie.

”Did you?” ask Liz trying to hide her fear that they weren’t by themselves. Why wouldn’t he let them be? She wished he would just go, she couldn’t go on hiding in every corner from him.

“Yeah.” she said.

As they neared the Rovers, Jim came out from where he had been hiding he had to talk to them. He had to check Katie was ok.

“Elizabeth.” he said as he ran up to them.

Liz was on the defense as soon as she heard his voice. Lifting her daughter up in her arms she walked on.

“Mummy, stop its daddy. Let me see daddy.” she begged herm other desperately.

“No Katherine.” said Elizabeth. Just because the bruising on her face had gone down didn’t mean that the pain inside was gone and she wasn’t ready to forgive.

Opening the door in panic she walked in to see Jack and Vera there.

“Can we go in the back?” she asked her employers desperately.

“Course go through,” said Vera as she watched Jim come in.

“Just talk to me Elizabeth I am begging yer, let me see me little girl.” he begged.

”Jim lad come on,” said jack as he tried to calm him done,

“Yer don’t know what its like Elizabeth! Let me see her!” he fought.

-

Elizabeth was so upset by all of this. Katherine was looking at her with shock that she was doing this to her.

Picking up the phone Liz knew what she had to so.

She had taken out the restriction on her husband so he wouldn’t come near her. So he would be out of her life. Now he had broke the bonds that protected she and her daughter.

She picked up the phone.

-

The twins watched as there dad came in. He seemed less angry now but just plainly distressed that he was being kept from his little one.

Katie was his world and they knew it.

“Dad I am so sorry.” said Andy who was beginning to think his father had at last been punished enough. It was time that their mother gave way now. She could see that there dad was sorry.

“So am I lad, so am I. Brought it on me self.” he mourned.

“Some of it maybe. But mum is going over board now.” Andy told him. “No matter what you did it is time she let you see Katherine. Dad she didn’t do so well in the physio this week. It isn’t right her being at the flat, she needs to come home, things tot be normal again.”

“Yer don’t have to tell me that son. I know it, its your mother that is going to take the convincing.” he sighed. He had been the biggest fool.

Just then there was a knock on the door.

“I’ll get it.” said Andy to Jim

He watched as he walked to them door his fathers distress deepening. He probably shouldn’t have told him that Katherine’s progress was differing for the split of her mum and dad. It wasn’t what he needed to hear.

“Hello.” he said as he was shocked to see a copper At the door.

-

Liz took her daughters hand walked out Rovers. Hopefully he was gone by now, but she had to get her daughter home to get her dinnered, bathed and ready for bed.

Going in to the street though she wished she had waited just a bit longer. Jim was just going out with the police and he was distressed. More so then he had been before.

Every thing had got to much for him and he had begun crying well before he had seen his baby daughter. Knowing that she missed him as much as he was missing her had been too much for him and he had just broken down.

Then he saw her. Liz had not been holding on to Katie enough and the minute Katherine saw her father being taken she made a bid to run to him and was quite successful.

For the first time in what felt years, even though it had been only weeks, Jim held her in his arms. They were taking him to prison and he knew it. But he had to hold her first. He had to make sure she knew he was going to be ok

“I love you Katie.” he said to her as she made a desperate attempt to brush away her daddy’s tears which were following like a river, as were her own by this point.

“Give her back to me!” Liz demanded as she caught up with her daughter which only prompted him to hold on to her tighter.

“I love you too daddy.” Katie said to him ignoring her mother.

”Dad! Dad, what’s going on?” asked Steve as he got back to the house. His sister was balling her eyes out in their fathers arms and from were he stood in the door way his brother looked like he had just had his heart broke.

His mother, whom he had lost all respect for when she had taking out the restraining order on his dad , was also upset, but his main focus was his dad.

“Why are they taking you.” he asked. He didn’t want his dad to go.

“I did a bad thing.” he sighed as he kissed his daughters brow, and gave her to her brother or tried to Katie. Katie clung to Jim as if he was her life line. Residents of the street had stop to look at her as Jim tried desperately to do the right thing and give her to her brother.

“Be a good girl for me wee lass. Daddy will be home soon.” he said as he finally prized her off himself.

“DADDY!!” she cried over and over again in to Steve as he tried to hold her but she was so scared. His mum had had no right to do this. Steve had never seen her so upset. She was panicking. It was like she was having a panic attack.

Andy came out of the house and went to Katie rubbing here back soothingly.

“Boys come on,” said Liz as she tried to regain possession of her youngest, “give her back.”

But Katie wasn’t listening.

“Don’t take my daddy.” she said quietly as she watched the car her father had just been put in to drive out of the street.

“no.” said Steve to his mum as she took his sister in to number eleven. If his dad had to do time for what he had done, surely for what she had put his sister through Liz deserved too as well. So he took her in.

Andy seemingly understanding what he was doing followed them in and slammed the door in his mums face. The twins had custody of there sister now.

When they had found out what the boys had done, Anne (Andy’s girlfriend) and Vicky where both shocked though not necessarily in agreement.

Both knew deep down all Jim cared about was the well being and happiness of his kids. When he had not been allowed near Katie he had been so upset. The love he felt as a father was undeniable. But now it was deniable as a husband.

But the one upset now was Katie her self. As much as she was enjoying being back home with her big brothers as her main guardians she missed her father so much. It didn’t feel right him not being at home with her. He had always been here.

The boys finally grasped all the stuff there mum and there dad had had to do for them when they were young for now they had to do it all for Katie. No wonder they had been stressed with the twins when they were young.

Also it helped them get a grip of what there sister’s illness was.

They had always known she had had problems but now there was not one bit of it hidden from them. Ignorance had been bliss.

They were concerned for her that was for sure. they had always known her to be quiet., but neither realized how thoughtful she was before they had had her to themselves.

Just because she needed a lot of help didn’t mean she was stupid. She was very intelligent. She worked things through in her mind and she reached her own conclusions (which ere generally more intelligent than thosethe adults in her life).

“We got a visiting order with dad today.” said Andy to Anne.

“You going to take the little un?” she asked.

“Well yeah I mean she us missing him like crazy. She needs to see her dad.” he told her.

”But darling, to make her see him in there, don’t you think it might be too much not just for her, but for him too.”

“No the order said Steve, Andy and Katie McDonald and we have told her she is going now, me and Steve can’t let her down.” he said to her.

“I am only trying to think of your sister. I mean come on she is a four year old girl.”

“Anne don’t tell me how to look as after my sister,. I am doing the best I can right now so stop telling me where I am going wrong all the time,” Andy said exhaustedly. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to snap-“

“Its ok. I understand. But I am only trying to help.”

-

Liz was going mad. How could her sons put there mum through this? They knew how much she thought of that little girl and yet they had taken her away.

Maybe this was some sort of revenge for what she had done when she had kept there dad away from Katie but when she had done it he had deserved it. She didn’t. What had she done to make her boys do this to her?

“Deirdre can they do this?” she asked.

“I don’t know.” she said. “I wouldn’t have thought so, not legally.”

“No, but I cant seen my own lads to jail. I just couldn’t.”

-

Jim went in to the visitors room. He missed his family so much when he had been in the cells. He needed them.

“Kids.” he said as he went down to the table where they all embraced.

His sons gave him swift hugs, whilst his daughter clung to him, and when he sat down he settle her in his laps. God he had missed this. He had missed her.

“Yer right lass?” he asked as she snuggled in to him. He had missed holding her.

“Yeah but I missed you daddy.” he said to him , “I’m sorry about what I said to you when you came and saw me with mummy. I’m not scared of you daddy,” she promised him. She had been trying to think of why he might have gone away from her, and why her mummy had done what she ha, and she had begun wondering if it had been some thing she had done.

“I know your not wee lass.” he said to her.

Turning to his sons he and the boys started talking. Katie paid no attention but just stayed close to her dad. Being this close to him again felt right, she had been lonely when they had been apart.

He had been feeling down too. In the time when she had been kept from Jim , he had got so low. Every time when she been little and she had been sick it had been him, not his estranged wife who had sat up with her. Who had been the one who had taken there daughter to the hospital a stood over he day and night till she was better.

It had been him. And him alone. And she was his daughter. And she was not going to feel alone ever again when he got home. They were not going to be kept apart ever again. He was going to make sure of it.

“How long are you going to be in for dad,” asked Katie.

“Just three weeks princess. Then I’m going to be home.” he said to her.

“And me too. So we can live together again?” she asked.

“of course we can darling. Just me you and the boys.” he said to her. There was going to be no more mummy at number eleven.

-

Vicky looked at her husband she helped with the tea.

“So she is going to be here when he comes home.” she shook her head. “I do think its weird babe. I mean Liz was so pepsinate that she was not going to see Jim and yet the minute you and Andy take control she gives up.” she sighed.

“Maybe she has seen the bad in what she had been doing to her family. I mean we had to take charge of everything,, it isn’t a good sign is it?”

“Well I guess it was just got so out of hand. Some times things do go rotten and we have to handle it.” she pointed out.

“And this family has.” he said as he pushed a kiss to her lips. “In a few days my dad will be home with us where he belongs and then we can get back to normal.”

“And liz? When are things going back to normal for her?” she asked.

“When she says sorry to me dad for what she did.”

“Babe what she did was wrong yes but you have to look at the bigger picture. What Jim did was hardly right, was it?” she asked.

“I guess not.”

Ok he knew it. His fathers actions towards his mum had been barbarian. There was no question a out that. But she had hurt Katie, not his dad, and that was the hardest thing for the protective big brother to forgive.

[RitaLittlewood]

Ooh. Another excellent part there, Jessi. Poor little Katie.

Patsy

[jessi]

Thanks!

[jessi]

Chapter 9

Jim was at last home.

Walking in to number eleven, with Steve who had picked him up he surveyed the house. It was a bit of a tip. But he had been expecting that with just the two twins to keep it in order.

A little flash of blonde hair ran in to his arms. Catching Katherine happily as she flung herself in to his arms he picked her up and kissed her. She was so trusting. She had simply known he was going to catch her, he thought to himself. But what if one day he couldn’t?

“It is so good to have you home dad!” she said to him as she rested her head in the groove of his shoulder.

Resting his head on her he nodded.

“It is good to be back wee lass.” he said as he held her. “So it is.” he added, as he looked for his eldest son who was coming out of the kitchen to greet him.

“Yer alright son?” he asked and Andy nodded, as his father slapped him on the back in greeting.

The twins of course by now were far to old at twenty two to run in to there fathers arms and greet him, showing them there happiness in his return as there baby sister could but they smiled nodded the less. It was good to have their old man home.

Later that night to celebrate the kids and there dad got a curry in.

Anne and Vicky came over to welcome Jim back and join them for dinner. It was a nice night, and drink flowed, as did laughter as the family sat round the table.

It was rare they had such a good time at the moment.

“I’ll get it.” said Andy as the door knocked upon.

Opening it he was shocked to see who it was.

“Mum!” he said, letting them all know Liz was there.

Tighten his hold on Katherine (who had been sitting on his lap most of the night cuddling him) Jim stood up. He was furious of the treatment she had given him still.,

Entering the house she looked at him.

“I only want to talk.” she admitted to him.

“I wanted to talk to.” he reminded her. “That was all I wanted.”

“And now? Do you still want that?” she asked him.

“Yeah.” He sighed. He knew they had too. “Boys, clear the table, girls can yer do the dishes please. Katie, go upstairs and get your pajamas on please love,” he said as he put her down.

Giving her mummy a small smile for the first time in days she did as she was told and ran upstairs.,

The other four went in to the tiny kitchen and shut the door so they had room to talk,.

“Why did you do it? Why have the order taken out against me? I love you more than…any thing, any thing in the world. I did love you back then.” he reminded her.

“You hit me. I never thought you’d do that. “ she said to him. “You left me in the middle of the night and I was scared. I didn’t know what you’d do - I thought you were going too - !” she said as she begun to fill up with tears.

“What? I’d kill you? Dint be silly Liz. Your mother of my kids and I will love you for giving me the twins and Katie no matter what.” he said to her.

If he had killed her then he automatically killed his relationships with the kids too. It wasn’t worth it.

“You were crazy that night and then we were at Deirdre’s. For gods sake Jim you were stalking me and Katie.”

“Because she is my little girl and I wanted to see she was ok -”

“She is mine too. I was never going to let her get upset or hurt.”

“Then why did she have a rough week at physio?” he asked. Both of there tempers were rising.

“I didn’t come here for fight.” she said to him.

“Then what did you come here for. Make sure I hadn’t killed the kids,” he asked sarcastically.

“To see if you were ok. To see if we could try and sort this mess of a marriage out, to see if we can sort out Katherine’s care and where she’s staying.”

“here.” he said simply. “This is Katie’s home and this is where we are going to bring her up. Or at least I am.”

“It was never going to be any good trying to talk to you tonight?”

“No. I came home for a nice night getting back and catching up with the kids. I didn’t need this tonight.” he sighed.

“Fine then I am going to go, and I will come back in the morning and see if you aree in a more civil mood.” she said as she turned and went out of the door.

That went well…

-

“We’re going to get a divorced. Me and your mother, well we think it id for the best so we do.” Jim announced to the kids.

“Best for whom? For you and mum yes but what about the three of us?” said Andy.

His mum and dad had been separated for two months only. And they had been apart that long before and they had not divorced, so why were they this time?

“Dad no please.” said Katie.

To her young mind, divorce was an evil. In all the stories when people got married it meant they got to live happily ever after. The prince and princess…

Wasn’t her daddy her mummy’s prince?

“Kids it’s the right thing to do. That way we can go on and we can sort things out for you three with out worrying over our marriage.”

It was the right thing to do he had convinced himself. If he had no wife then he could devote himself to the kids and there needs.

Well Katie’s at least the twins didn’t seem to even need dad any more.

But Katie didn’t seem to take it very well. She wanted her mum to come home. For things to be as they were. As they had been…

Tears filled her brown eyes, and she ran to her small room upstairs.

-

“But daddy I thought it was always just going to be the five of us.”

Jim held his daughter as he had been for the past two hours whilst she had been crying her eyes out. She needed both of them. Her mum and her dad.

“So did I wee lass. I wanted it to be like that, so I did, but baby things change. We are going to go on and we are going to adjust.”

She nodded sleepily. Time for bed thought Jim. She’d sleep it off.

But that night a new problem develop.

In all the upset of the past few weeks were always going to be unsettling. But he hadn’t been expecting it.

When he went in to her room the next day, Jim went to make her bed when he saw some thing. A dark patch.

Her bed was wet.

-

Katie sat at nursery miserably.

When she had woken to fine the bed wet when she had got upset. Only babies wet themselves.

And she was four!

The nurses who looked after her saw the change in her daily. She became with drawn. Quieter. She didn’t seem to want to talk. Or play. She just seemed so vulnerable.

Finally one o’clock came.

It was Monday and Liz came up to the door to collect her, as she now had her alternate afternoon with her mum and dad and then every other Saturday.

All the others times it made sense for her to be at home. That was what she was used to after all. It was where she wanted to be, with her daddy and brothers.

“You ok baby?” she asked as Katie came out.

What if her mummy and her daddy had been talking? What if they got mad at her like they did at each other? Surely they were going to understand that they hadn’t meant too. She just hadn’t waked up. She had been so tired after she had been crying.

Yyeah.” she said as she took her mummy’s hand.

Passing the garage on there way down to the flat where they were going to go have some lunch before they went swimming, for the first time Katie didn’t even look for her dad Liz noticed. She was quiet, far too quiet.

“Are you ok baby?” she asked.

“I think I did a bad thing mummy. Then I didn’t tell dad. I didn’t mean to mum.” she said to her, as she looked up, eyes brimming with tears.

“Oh Katie, what is it?” said Liz as she picked her up and she begun to cry.

“When I - I woke up this m-m-morning I got u-up and my b-b-ed was wet,” she said. “And now daddy is going to be mad at me case I know I shoulda waked up but mummy I didn’t and I didn’t me to neither but,” she said as she burrowed her head in Liz’s neck.

“It isn’t your fault if you didn’t wake up baby.” Liz said soothingly. You heard about it all the time didn’t you? Kids wetting the bed…it was common. And it was nothing to be ashamed off.

Suddenly there was another figure with hem.

“Is this about what I think it is wee lass?” Jim asked.

“I think it is,” replied Liz.

“Daddy I didn’t mean to -” she said but he shushed her.

“It wasn’t your fault love,” he said as he took her from her mother. “You didn’t mean it, did you lass?” he asked as he gave her a cuddle.

“Then your not mad at me?” she asked innocently.

“Of course I’m not sweet heart, so you just go and enjoy your swim with your mummy, and then I will see you when you get home “ he smiled as he gave her to Liz as she calmed down.

“I’ll bring her home bout six.” she said to him still fearfully. The beating had been terrifying. Even if he wasn’t going to touch the kids, he might her. She hated the fact that she had succumb to her son s. But she just had been unable to hurt them by taking there sister.

Jim wasn’t going to hurt Katie. He wouldn’t…he wasn’t capable. Not of that.

-

“So what if she does it again tonight” asked Andy.

“Then I am going to have to have to get up and cha ge her sheets and then go back to bed.” Jim sighed.

“I can’t believe she thought she was going to get in trouble for it.” said Steve.

“Is it really a surprise? I mean look at the way us lot have been fighting these pasts few weeks “ Jim assigned. “Especially me and her mother. TYhings will get better.” he said as he poured him self a whiskey.

”How is that going to happen?”

“By having a break from the street. Me and Katie are going to go over to your granny Maisy’s for a bit. She isn’t to well and she’s asked to see me and Katie’s never been to Ireland before so it might be a good chance to give her a bit of heritage. Show her where her dads comes from.”

“Sounds like a plan to me.” said Steve. If he could get the time off work then he would go too but he couldn’t.

“Yeah, but I am going to have to tell your mother. Time me and Elizabeth started building beiges and making our peace again so we can get on, so we do.” he sighed

“That might be a good idea. She needs us as much as you do.” Andy said as the door knocked.

“Speak of the devils.” sighed Steve as he got the door.

”You alright sis?” he asked as Katie ran in, much happier than she had been when she had gone.

“Yeah, we had a really good time didn’t we mum?” she asked.

“Yeah well, she did. She kept dunking me.” sighed Liz as she winked at the twins, making it clear she had played along with her daughters little games.

“alright then you little pest’ go get your hands washed before dinner” said Jim as he directed her to the stairs.

“Mummy, can you stay with us for tea?”

Liz and Jim looked at each other, neither knowing what to say.

“Aunty Deirdre’s going to be cooking my tea, I’ll see you in two days time baby. “ she said as she kissed her fore head. “Be good for your daddy, ok? You to boys!” she said as she went to the door.

“See you later mum.” Steve nodded.

“See ya Liz,” said Jim.

“Yeah, later on.” Said Liz

“Oh I need to talk ter yer. I was thinking about taking the little to Ireland for a few days.” he said. “See my mum.”

“Yeah that might be a good idea.” Sighed Elizabeth. She wished she had been able to take her away from all this but she couldn’t. She hadn’t the money. And he did.

“Then when you get back we can start getting the divorce under way.” she sad and he nodded. He didn’t really wanted too. Twenty two years down the drained. Not what he had wanted. Ever. He had meant every word of his vows to her. And he was going to miss her. He already missed her.

[valda]

omg Jim and Liz are going to divorce poor little Katie she is takeing it hard :,( good one Jessi

[jessi]

Chapter 10

“Granny Maisy can I go in to garden and play?” Katie asked. Running in to the kitchen at her grandmothers Irish home, in her dungarees and blue top, smiling. She didn’t have a garden at home and she wanted to make the most of the time she had in her Gran’s in the week she had with her.

“Not for long darling, I want to go in yer town terday but till we go, ok.” said her father as he sat in his old house where he had been raised with his other three brothers.

It was good to be home, he had missed it. He didn’t understand how much till he got back.

Watching her only grand daughter run out to play Maisy sighed.

“She has grown up so much. Even since the last picture. I can’t believe that she is going to be five next year. Then again I don’t believe the boys were twenty two in July. It doesn’t seem so long since I was walking in to the army barracks. Elizabeth laid up, you running about after them, all three.”

“It doesn’t. I remember getting the news in Hong Kong that I was father to two boys. Never cried so much. Never drunk so much.” he laughed.

“We were all very proud. Still are. There good lads, your two” she said proudly smiling at the thought of her precious grand sons.

“I know. They try there best, all we ever asked.” He sighed in despair. Maybe that was true o dandy but he still despaired in Steve at times.

“You have three wonderful kids. There mothers has a good heart too.” she said.

“I know, she beautiful our Elizabeth. I loved her some thing rotten.” he sighed as he drunk his tea”

“Loved, you say it as if you don’t still love her.” she leagued.

He opened his month too protest.

“Don’t lie to me son. You know that you never could. Even when you tried to tell me it wasn’t you who hide your fathers slippers it didn’t work.” she sighed.

“He gave me a bloody good hiding with em when I owned up didn’t he?” Jim nodded.

“He was a good man your father. I miss him very much.” How could she say that?

Jim remembered when he saw his father hit his mother for the first time. He had been furious. He had fought back. He had put his own sons through that anger. That pain. And he had never wanted them to feel it. Yet he had brought it on them.

“I know. I miss her. She ent even dead.” he sighed.

“What happened between you two. Together for so long. Raised a wonderful family.”

“That was her doing. I was never there for her when we had the boys. All her doing.”

“Then what happened son. Why isn’t she here with her daughter and husband?” she asked.

“Because I - I was too much my fathers son, so I was.” he sighed as he drunk his tea. He had been the biggest fool.

“Oh James - tell me you didn’t hit her.” Said a shocked Masiy.

“I wish I could. But you know what my temper can be like.” he told her. But he knew it was no excuse. There was no excuse for what he had done. At the route of it all he had been the one, who had broken his family, and now Katie was wetting the bed every night, and the boys were in the house with out there mother. He had got it so wrong.

“Your father should have hit you harder boy. You never ever hit a woman. You know that was how I raised you.” She told her son horrified. Her eyes strayed to the little innocent flower in the garden. What was she going to think of him when she got older? For her, it was all my daddy the hero, she thought the world of her father but what about when she understood the full extent of the truth?

“Ma I know. But I was so angry. Blinding by bloody rage. Then when I tried to talk to her. She was too scared to even talk to Me.” he sighed. ”Tried to take my Katie from me. I couldn’t have that.” she sighed.

“She is her mother.”

“And I am her father. And I know what they say about the bond of a mother with their child but what about a father. Ma, who was it who held her in their arms when she nearly died. It was me. It was me all the time up with her in the night, standing over her crib when she was in hospital.” he sighed as he held his head in his hands trying to shake the awful memories from his head.

“And how do you think she feels, not knowing if she is ok.” she asked.

“Ma of course she is ok. She’s with her daddy, so she is. I am not gonna let nothing happen to her.”

“Oh and I suppose Elizabeth would when she has devoted her life to raising your kids.”

“Ma- “

“James, she loves you and she loves your kids,” she sighed. “She has made a lot of mistakes. But so have you. And a four year old girl needs both her mummy and daddy. Baby, just try. Don’t give up. That women is the love of your life, you have told me enough times.” she reminded him. “you have been through to much together. Don’t give up.”

-

Jim sat on the bear garden of a pub he had found watching his daughter play on the swings.

She had grown so much since that little girl who had been in the incubator.

She was a proper little girl now. And she had thoughts, real feelings and she could put them in to words and tell him how she felt.

And maybe he and Liz should be listening to them he thought as he watched her.

He hadn’t been doing a lot of that,.

It had just been a case of Liz and him both wanting sole custody and not caring what she wanted, she had been used as a weapon. And that had been wrong. She hadn’t deserved it.

She smiled at him innocently as she enjoyed her spring break, doing all the stuff she wasn’t allowed to when she was at home. She respected and loved him, and he knew it. And that was what made what he had done so awful.

She had been staying up later, getting up later, swimming every day (or at least playing in the little pool) swimming wasn’t exactly mastered yet.

But they were going to get there. They were. He was determined of that. He was going teach her. And start being the father she deserved.

Of course she wasn’t sleeping right thorough the night.

She was still wetting half way through. Every night now, she’d get up, find the spare bottoms and top that had been laid out for her the night before and crawl in to his bed with him where she’d sleep till morning came.

He was worried. She had never done this before the separation. Maybe it was the worry he was causing her. Maybe he had to try and make the best of a bad situation.

Maybe try and get back with Liz...

Butt he didn’t want to make it work if Liz wasn’t happy with it and at that moment he knew she was not going to take him back. It was harsh, but Katie was just going to have to get used to her mummy and daddy not being together any more.

Jim and Katie were home.

Liz was in the house and she had been waiting most of the day with anticipation for she knew she was going to get to take her daughter for the night.

As Jim and she came through the door he wasn’t shocked to see the state of the house.

He always knew it was going tot be like this when he had left his twins in the house.

“Welcome home you two.” said Liz as she came out the kitchen.

”Mummy!” said Katie as she ran to her.

“Hello sweet heart, did you have a good time with daddy?“ she asked with less fear than she had when she had looked at Jim last time.

“Yeah we did loads,” she said to her as Katie settled on as her mother picked her up.

“I took loads of photos so you can see what we got up too!” he said to her.

“Good.” she smiled as she held her daughter. “Why don’t you go and get some bits together for tonight.” she said to her daughter unable to wait to take her home.

“Alright.” Katei said as she run up to her room. Liz was going to have to check she had every thing but Katherine could get the basics on her own.

And then suddenly Jim was alone with Elizabeth for the first time in a long time.

“I have to talk you “ he said. He had been thinking a lot on what his mum had said to him. He didn’t want to give her up. “To tell you what a fool I have been” he tried to explain. “I need you.” he sighed.

“Oh Jim.” she said as she shook he head.

It was a nice to think that they might get back together. But that was all it was. A thought. She couldn’t tale him back. Not after what he did to her.

“You can’t do it, can you?” he asked in despair.

Gently she shook her head.

“We have been together since we were sixteen Jim. We need to play the field; we need to live different lives. We’re always going to care for each and we will always have the kids but you can not ask me to come back. You know I can’t.”

His pride was hurt. And as much as he knew he shouldn’t do what he did next. He couldn’t help himself.

“Well perhaps you should go then.” he said to her.

“Well I cant, not with out Katie.” she told him.

“She’s has a few long days. She needs her own bed.”

“No Jim.” Elizabeth said to him seriously. She had been so looking forward to having her daughter for the night. “You can’t.”

“Get out Liz.” he said to her angrily. He had tried to say sorry. She had had no right to knock her back.

“Not with out my daughter, you are not keeping her when you are in this kind of mood.” she said and what he did next caught her off guard.

Taking her by the arm he through her out of the house.

“Jim please, just let me have her don’t do this!” she begged as he opened the door and through her out before shutting it.

“Katie!” she said as she looked up to the house. “Katie!”

Katie ran down stairs when she heard the commotion.

”Dad, where’s mum?” Katie had been exciting about seeing her mum despite the fact that she had had a great time with her dad.

-

Steve and Andy didn’t believe it. There dad had been home two minutes and he had had a fight with there mum already. That had to be a record, even for them. Trying to ignore that fact and just welcome there sister home, they smiled through there concern at the parents ever rocky relationship.

“So how was our Gran,” they asked.

“She isn’t very well lads.” said there father. Though Maisy had been able to conceal it as much as she had been able to from her grand daughter, her son had seen the spirit which had been so large when she had been young grow smaller day by day. And it had hurt him so much.

He knew he wasn’t going to get much more time with her.

And that made him think, he couldn’t take the time his kids had with there mum away. Liz wasn’t always going to be there.

So going upstairs he got his daughters sleeping stuff together and took her to her own mother.

“I am sorry for what I did and said earlier. You didn’t deserve it Liz. I just have to learn to deal with the fact we’re not together any more.” he said to her.

“Thank you Jim. I know that took a lot for you to say. Thank you for bringing her.”

“I shouldn’t have kept her in the first place. I knew it was wrong. I didn’t want to hurt you. Never. And if I did, then I am so sorry. It was never what I wanted.”

“I know darling. I know.”

-

Jim got back to the house and he had to say now he was relieved of being a father he was going to have a nice quiet night.

But how ever when he got there he saw he wasn’t going to get that.

Tears were falling down both his sons faces.

”Dad its Gran - she’s gone.”

-

“I am so sorry Jim.” Said Liz as he delivered the bad news to her.

It was the next day and Jim sat in the flat Liz and Deirdre shared with his wife. The events of the previous night had been forgotten, his cruelty of her yet again, forgotten.

“Its ok. I don’t want Katie to come back to Ireland with me though. Funeral is no place for a little girl like her. But I have to tell her.” he sighed.

Katie was in the room she shared with her mum when she was there for now but it wasn’t going to last and Jim knew it. She’d hear his voice and come out. Then she’d have to know.

“I can do it if you want. You need to deal with your own grief.” she said as she hugged him. She knew it was slightly unfair to hold him right now. She didn’t want to give him the right idea, but she had to hold him. He felt so alone and she knew it.

Just because she didn’t want to be with him, didn’t mean she didn’t care, because she really did. She was always going to be there for him.

“I have to be there for her and the boys. I am their father.” he sighed.

“And I am there mother and I am still your wife.” she said to him.

“for now.” he pointed out.

She nodded.

“Why don’t we have a talk. Katie happy enough playing for now and I think we need it. Or we can just sit,. What ever you want. Just don’t go when you need some one.” she begged. She knew he did.

He sat back on her sofa and nodded, but by the time she got back with the mugs of coffee, he was asleep.

[valda]

Great one Jessi omg Poor Jim :,( its great Liz and he are still together as a family though as she can help him

[jessi]

Thanks Val! Heres the next part!


Chapter 19

Jim went back and returned home in which time Katie was in the care of her mother. The trip to Ireland with out her was harder, especially as neither of the boys came either. Andy had volunteered but he had said to the lad no. he had his studies to think of and his exams were coming up. He had to focus on them. So he guessed really it had been his fault he had been on his own when he had been saying bye to his mum.

The little girl went form pillar to post with her mum and dad and she was unable to work them out. One day they were loving and caring the next they were rowing.

However her mum and her dad were not the only couple she knew who had split that year.

Vicky and her brother had not been able to work out the problems they had began having and in the same year that Liz left her husband so did Vicky. Everything was sliding away from the youngest member of the family. Every thing she knew to be good and true was gone.

Steve didn’t seem to grieve for too long though, and he fell straight in love again. This time with hair dresser called Fiona. She was a nice person who quickly got the families approval even if Katie was fin ding it hard Vicky being gone. she had been as a sister to her and she was going to miss her very much.

She was alright as far as Katie was concerned.

But it wasn’t like it had been when she had been with Vicky. She had been there for her since as long as she could remember and now just like her mum she was gone.

How ever the romance no matter how smitten by this women didn’t deem to last very long, and a man named Alan ’stole’ her from him.

Was that like in the stories, when the ogre tried to take the princess away Katie wondered to herself. She was learning to soon that real life was not like fairy tales.

Not one bit.

In the adult world, which was generally kept as far away from Katherine’s innocent eyes as it could be, life was complicated. It was cruel and harsh. Things happened that weren’t fair and one day she was just going to have to deal with that fact.,

In the time that she had been with her brother Fiona had got close with his father Jim. He was a good friend to her and most certainly some pone she confide in.

But in a single night all of that changed.

Fiona had been upset of the way that Alan had been treating her. She had turned to him for comfort and

She had got a lot more than she had looked for. And she hadn’t said no

-

It was the morning after the night before, and having snuck in the middle of the night Jim had not seen Katie the night before. She came bounding down the starts and seven ready for the day at nursery.

She was a signet there this term and he couldn’t believe min September she was going to be going off to school then she really wasn’t a baby any more.

“Where were you last night dad?” she asked as she have him a hug.

Her brothers came down stairs, and grinned like cherish cats at there dad. He had given them so much to work with when he hadn’t come home.

“Good night dad?” asked Andy as he laughed.

Jim shook his head. Couldn’t they wait till Katie was gone to start?

“It was very satisfactory son.” he said as he got his daughter cereal.

“I bet it was,” teased Steve,

“Will you two leave off?” he said as he went in to the living room. “Come on eat up Katie,“ he said as he sat down with his own breakfast beside her.

“Whose picking me up today daddy?” she asked.

He sighed. Well it was meant to be him but he had to catch up with Fiona now and make sure she had no regrets.

“Mummy is.” he told her. Liz was always after more time with her she wasn’t going to mind.

“Ok.”

“But dad it’s your day to pick her up.” said Andy.

“Yeah but he had to go and see his fancy women.” Steve said teasingly.

Andy hoped not. He didn’t relish in the thought of her being put behind a women in his dads lists of priorities, he thought to himself.

“Dad cant I? Me and Katie can go and get a burger to celebrate my exams as we didn’t get out the other night.” he said and she smiled.

“Please daddy!” she said to him. A burger was going to be well good.

“Alright you two” he said.

-

Liz was walking home from work when she saw her daughter and son get off the bubs, hand in hand.

They had had a great time and both looked like they had.

She had been thinking a bout going over to the house tonight. She had begun to get lonely now. And she wanted to go home. Jim had learnt his lesson. And she missed them being together, not just the kids. She missed the passion they had together.,

Going over to met them Katie as ever flew in to her arms.

“Where have you been?” she asked.

“Dad couldn’t do pick up today so I did then we got a burger for my exam results,.” he said to her.

She looked puzzled. If ever there was a day one couldn’t do normally Jim or her rang the other to sort it out.

Still if Andy had wanted to there was no problem she guessed.

In his heart though Andy knew what that had just been a good bye meal with his sister. She didn’t know of course. No one knew he was going.

But he had felt he had to say a good bye to her properly. She was a bout the only one in the family who had any sense and she was only four. But he had to get out. He couldn’t cope in the nut house anymore.

“Me and Andy got a burger.” she said as she gave her mum a hug.

”Did you that must have been good!” she said to her.

“Yeah it was.” she said as she hugged her.

“So what you been up to mum?” Asked Andy as she realized she had been walking over to number eleven.

“I thought I might go and see your father,”

“Well we are on our why home to watch Pocahontas, so if you want to join us while you wait.” he offered, and she nodded.

“With an off like that what women could ever refuse.” she said as Katie took her hand.

She was glad she had gone. It was good to be home in number eleven.

It was nice just to be home with the kids.

-

Jim came home sighing. It had been a long day and he hadn’t been able to see Fiona so when he came in to see his wife soon to be ex, on the sofa with his daughter he was shocked. Liz had never said she was going to be coming over.

As soon as Katie saw him she got off the sofa and ran in to his arms. If nothing else, he always knew his girl could put a smile on his face.

“Yer right Liz?” he asked.

“Yeah. Just wanted to spend some time with the kids. Hope you don’t mind.”

“Not at all, not at all Elizabeth.” he said as he watched Andy come out the kitchen.

“Where’s Steven?“ he asked as he kept his daughter in his arms.

“Don’t know.”

-

The next day Katie and Jim got home from nursery for the very last time.

He had been proud when he had seen her pass out, so to speak. And now she had six long weeks off.

“We are going to do so much this summer kid. Its gonna be great. I’m going to take yer to the sea side and we are going to go on lots of days out,” he promised her.

Going in to the living room smiling, she headed over to the table to sit down and do some drawing.

“Dad there’s a letter for you on the table.” she noticed.

Jim McDonald.

“Alright darling, go and wash your hands for lunch.” he said as he sent her upstairs.

Taking the letter in his hands he realized he knew that had writing. It was Andy’s. So why had he written his name so formally.

Opening it, he got the shock of his life.

Dad,

I am so sorry.

-

“He’s left?” asked Liz as she sat on the sofa.

She shook her head. He was her baby. And now he had gone off in to the world with out so much as consulting her. Or Jim.

“Wall I guess we should be thankful he left the letter.” she said to Jim. “Do the other two know yet.” she asked.

“No. I couldn’t face telling Katie. I dropped her off to Judy and Garry and came straight over.” he said to her. He had felt she had had a right to know first.

“We are just going to have to get him back.” she said but he shook his head. He knew it was going to be no good. He remembered what it was like being that age. You were no longer a boy, but no one saw you as a man and that was what Andy wanted.

Not his mother babying him.

“But we can’t just leave him out there.”

“No Liz. You’re wrong. That it the only thing we can do if we want to keep our relationship with our son.” he said to her emotionally. He felt the loss just as much as she did. If it had been Steve then yes he’d go after him. He didn’t know how to watch his own back, but Andy was smart and he’d be fine.

Her eyes were filming with tears as he told her what was going on and he felt a strange sympathy for her. She had never been split from her son, with such a gap between them.

“Come here.” he said as he embraced her for the first time in months. God she was going to miss him so much.

“Is there nothing we can do to bring him home.” she asked.

“No. We have to let him go. Its time he found his own place in the world.”

-

“So Andy isn’t going to come home tonight,” asked Katie as she looked at her father with a confusion in her eyes.

But her brother had always been there. He always came home. Steve didn’t because he was off with girl’s but Andy…well he was the smart one. He always did and she didn’t see why he wasn’t going to. She didn’t get it.

True enough, when he was there all he did was wind her up but she didn’t see why he had had go away. He was her big brother!

Looking at Jim knew she wasn’t going to take it well. She had tears in her eyes, but she was silent. A tear dribbled on to her cheek but she made no nose. It was just like it had been when she had got her leg trapped. He had never wanted to see her so hurt again.

He moved his hand to cheek to wipe it away but she pulled back angrily.

“Katie?” he said to her. Never before had she resisted being comforted.

“I want Andy.” she protested before storming up upstairs.

He had to say he could see her point. She was a little girl who had never had a loot of luck in the way of family and it hadn’t been easy with the two divorces going through. He hadn’t been to shocked he guessed deep down at his sons decision to go. No doubt if his daughter could go, she would right now.

He was just glad he had left Katie here with them. He knew if he had been Andy he might not have done that, left her. It was hardly the best environment for a girl of her age.

Putting he head in his hands he didn’t know what to do. Everything had changed so fast and he hadn’t settled her from it And now Katie didn’t want him at all.

-

Steve looked at Fiona as they left the flat together.

He had been trying to get back in her good books for ages.

“Do you want to go for a drink tonight?”

She shook her head. How could she. It wasn’t that he didn’t want to but she had been with his dad now too. It didn’t feel right to her any more, but she did care for him. And then there was Alan..

“Steve I have some thing to tell you.” she said as they stood face to face. This was so hard for her. He was every thing she knew. He loved her, but it was safe for her to love him in return she felt. She’d get hurt.

“What?”

“Me and Alan. We’re going to be trying to get it together again.” she watched his face fall.

“Bur Fiona.” he begged her

“No Steve I mean it. I’m -in love with him. That changed every thing.”

But some thing else that was going to change every thing for her in the middle of that August. She learnt that she was going to have a baby. She had a bun in the oven.

And weather it was Jim or Alan’s, she had no idea.

-

“I was thinking we are going to have ter get Katie some uniform this year. I cant believe she is going to be starting school.” Liz said to Jim as she picked her up.

“I know. It doesn’t seem right that she has got so big so, I remember when she was a baby. Might as well as fitted in ter the palm of my hand she was that small.” he reminisced with her.

“I do remember Jim.” she said to him smiling.

How was she ever meant to forget. They were so happy when she was a little girl. When she was their baby. That tiny little one who’d brought them so close.

“Jim I was thinking. Why don’t we go out for a few days spoil her together a bit? I know she misses us both being with her together. She wants to know daddy and mummy are friends.” she suggested.

“Of course, might be good for her to have us together.” he added. “After Andy left and every thing…” he trailed off in thought. He had had a phone call that day. His son was doing well. But it didn’t stop him being missed sorely by his family.

“yeah.” she nodded. “I know it hasn’t been easy.”

“It hasn’t. For any of us of us.” he said as his daughter came up to him having just come down stairs.

“Right sweet have a good time.” he said as he gave her a hug.

”See you later daddy.”

-

As it was his night off from having Katie Jim went to the pub. He was anxiety to see Fiona. They had to take about it, they had to make it work. He wanted her.

But when he saw her walk in he was less than happy who she was with: Alan.

They were there to announce there engagement.

[valda]

great one Jessi I don,t know who to feel the most sorry for Katie or Jim and Liz :,(

[jessi]

Thanks Val!


Chapter 12

A rainy day had come to Weatherfield and as the tired Head of the McDonald family lay on the sofa he was sure he couldn’t feel worse. He was sure he was literally sick with love for her and there was nothing worse than being in love alone. Yet here he was. While he worshipped Fiona she felt nothing for him.

She was getting married.

And he loved her. And as much as he tried to get that massage across to her she just refused to let him and it was killing him. Fiona wasn’t even letting him talk to her. She had completely with drawn her friendship from the family.

That one night of romance which they had had together had sparked something in him for the first time in a long while. He hadn’t felt like that in years.

But in the mean time life progressed and he had to keep moving on as he was about to learn time didn’t stop due to his depression….

-

That summer went fast.

It was the fifth of September when Liz arrived early to help her daughter change in to her uniform and get her breakfast. Jim and sorted her out together, and had a good morning. It was dun dare she think it.

t was like they were a family again.

“Mummy are you going to come get me too?” she asked as she sat at the table having her cereal.

“Yup I will see you at lunch time.” she smiled. The firsts year class only had to go in till mid day as it was their first day so she would see her then.

“Come on sweetie, eat up you don’t want to be late on your first day do you baby?“ she asked.

Katie shook her head and ate up.

But as she got in the car she got more and more scared. The further are she got the more she wanted to go home. The more she wanted Andy.

Getting to the class room just like all the other kids her mum and dad came in with her and found her peg and her desk with her, just like all the other parents.

They sat her down and both gave her hugs.

“I’m so proud of you lass, you know that don’t you?” asked Jim.

He remembered when he thought he was never going to get this. First day at school. Five years had gone so fast.

”Daddy stay today. Don’t go.” she said and he saw her chin wobble.

“No, none of that baby, I will see you at twelve. You’re going to have such great day baby. I love you!” he promised he kissed her.

She was going to be just fine.

-

At break time Katie sent out in to the play ground. It had been a good morning sand she had been sat next to a girl named Mandy and they had made friends and they were going to be doing math after break.

Going out she heard two voices call her.

“Katie over here!” she heard and turned to see David and Rosie from the street.

They invited her and Mandy to play with them and it was great. This school thing wasn’t so bad.

Before Katie knew it the day was over. Far too quick. She wanted to play all day.

Katei struggled little with the math. She got to grips with it rather quickly.

“Mrs Smith can’t I stay here a bit longer.” she asked as the king first year teacher helped her put her jacket on.

“I wish you could as well Katherine but, no sweet, it is time for you to go home to mummy sand daddy.” she smiled.

“Just daddy… mummy doesn’t with us any more.” she explained to her teacher.

“Oh I am sorry about that.” she said giving Katie a sympathetic look as she turned to the rest of the class. “Right get in to pairs please children.” she said . That way it was going to be easier for her to get them out.

Mandy went over to Katie and the two girls walked out together, rather pleased with how day one had gone.

-

Jim and Liz walked out in to the play ground together, walking quickly to get to there daughter. What if she had been bullied or she hadn’t been able to grips with the work or what if she had been - any thing could have gone wrong.

But as soon as they saw there daughter’s face came in to view they saw that she had had a great time. She was beaming with happiness, all the mornings worry gone.

As soon as she saw them though she came running over, and straight in to her fathers arms and all the way home she went on about what a wonderful day she had had to them both. School ruled!

“Cant I go back yet, do I have to wait till tomorrow?” she asked said as they got home.

“Yes now upstairs to get those hands and washed up for dinner.” said her dad as he pointed her upstairs and she tore off to do as she had been told.

“Well it does look like our little girl is all grown up.” said Liz as she smiled at him nervously. That was a horrible thought for the both of them. Where had five years gone?

“Yeah it does. Scary but I’m chuffed. So proud of the way she handled today. I wasn’t sure she was going to cope.” he admitted to her.

“I think I always knew that she was going to be ok, because I have always known that she has had her daddy’s spirit. You always went through with the important things and so has she.”

He was shocked by her saying this. It had been a while since they had complimented one another and he found himself with a smile on his face.

“Yeah well with her mothers looks no one was going to pick on her. She’s too pretty.” he said and watched her blush. “You got plans for dinner?” he asked.

“Me, Deirdre and a microwave meal.”

“Well I hardly know if me, Katie and a bag of chips is any better but…”

“Jim, if it’s an offer, I’d love to.”

“Aye, it is.”

-

Katie who had never had a lot of confidence in her self found that her self belief was growing each day she was at school,

Even though she missed all the friends she had made at nursery she didn’t dwell on it. She wanted to play all the time. She was just such a little spirit and Liz saw that growing. Day by day it grew…

How ever one day something happened to make her confidence hit all time low, and her love of school end for a time.

She and Jim had always been self absorbed at times but she never though he would forget about her.

The more he had to get on with life, the more he had to get over her, the more he had been unable to forget Fiona and one day it hit its head in the worst way.

He had just been so distracted that when three o’clock had came and it was time to pick up his daughter he had forgot to.

Four o’clock.

Four thirty.

-

Liz had been at home relaxed when she had got the call from the school.

She had never been so furious with her ex! She had never thought he would forthright forget about his precious girl when he had nearly lost her to his ex wife once before.

Welt his time she wasn’t going to give her back.

Taking the girl in to her arms as she got to the school Liz had not seen her daughter so worked up in such long. And who could blame her. The little one must have been scared.

“Its ok baby I’m here, I’m here mummy’s here.” she said to her.

“Mummy where’s my daddy I want dad.” she said told her.

Liz was shocked, after all this was the girl still so blind to her father. Was she still so blind to her father or was she still going to see him in rose colored glasses. How could she still want to be with him?

“Come on sweet come home with mummy for a bit!” she said to her.

Taking her daughter back to the flat Liz did fish fingers, and chips.

But the minute she was done she just wanted to check her dad was ok.

0-0

Jim’s head hurt ass he woke up. He had drunk so much that day. He hadn’t drunk like that since he had been in the army and it had felt good. Till now.

Opening his eyes, the first thing he saw was the clock. It was seven.

He had to make Katie a bit dinner.

Katie…KATIE!.

”Oh my god baby.” he said as he jumped up. He had to get to her he had to make sure she was safe. Oh my god where was she! He was such a idiot. God, god, god any thing could have happened to her! Please be ok, be ok…

Opening the door the first thing he was relived to see was her.

Katie wrapped her arms round her dad as she saw him open the door.

“oh my god baby I am so sorry baby I didn’t mean to god, daddy is so stupid, I am so sorry sweetheart” he said as he held her in his arms as Liz had earlier that day.

He hadn’t meant to go to sleep. “I am so sorry sweet,” he promised.

Tears slip down her cheeks as she stayed in his arms happily. So much had gone through her head when her had not turned up.

“Its ok daddy it is.” she said as she tried tot forget the events of the day. He was there now. It was all ok…

“I want Katie with me tonight Jim,” said Liz. He wasn’t surprised if she had done the same then he would have been the same with her.

“No mum I want to be with daddy. Please don’t make me go back to the flat, daddy!”

“You can stay baby, don’t worry.” he said as he soothed her. If she wanted to stay then she could. .

“Oh Jim I do not believe you. Why do you always over ride me where she is concerned?” Liz asked. Her frustration with him never ended. And why was it their daughter always forgave him. She knew that Katie didn’t understand what had gone on. She thought he had been working or he had been going some thing important, or even worse, hurt. That was just her way. She thought the better of every one. Especially her dad. She thought he was made of gold or some thing.

“Good bye Elizabeth.” he said as he shut the door.

That was not going to going to help Katie the two of them arguing.

“Sweet I am so sorry.” he said to her as he kissed her again on the fore head. “Daddy didn’t meant to - not on purpose baby.” he couldn’t say he forgot. He’d lose her for sure.

But she didn’t seemed concerned with his reason at all as long as they were together then and as he held her he released he had the most loyal little friend in his daughter.

-

“Daddy I don’t feel well.” complained Katie as she got up the next day. She knew it was wrong to lie to him but she didn’t want to go back to school. What if it happened again?

“What’s wrong lass?” he said as he looked at her.

“I got a belly ache.” she complained.

He looked at her. She didn’t appear unwell but she wouldn’t lie to him he knew it. Either that or she was and she didn’t want to in. Understandable after the day before. She hadn’t had a day off yet. One wouldn’t matter.

“Ok, well if you belly’s sorer then you can’t go to school then can you little one?” he asked. She shook her head.

“Why don’t you go and lay down on the sofa and then we can try make you feel better love?” said Jim and she nodded.

So he rang school to tell them she wasn’t attending that day and he rang Kevin too explaining he needed time off.

“Mate we have so much going on right now I need you in, can’t she go over to Elizabeth?” he asked.

“Pleas,e Kev she wants her dad right now. You know what it is like with girls, yer’ got two of your own. I’m going to be back tomorrow, and I‘ll do some free over time.” he said as he watched his daughter get comfortable on the sofa.

“Oh alright.”

Through the day the daughter and dad just watched films. Katie didn’t seem unwell. She was just quiet. She was eating ok. She was chatty. Just some thing was worrying her. That was it, and he knew it.

had the days before events had an effect on her more than he had known?

“Come here lass.” he said as he moved her in to his lap. “Katie, you would never lie to your daddy would you baby?” he said to her.

She shook her head but couldn’t met his eyes. That was a yes…

“Cause you know you can talk to me and I can talk to you. We’re bests friends right? Daddy’s never let you down has he?” he asked. Except yesterday…

She shook her head.

“Then why are you lying to me now?”

”I’m not dad.” she said.

“Katie I know your not unwell.”

She fell silent. She wasn’t denying it anymore. “You’re not in trouble. Yesterday scared you didn’t it baby?” he asked as he run his hands through her hair.

“I thought - dad I didn’t know if you were coming - and I thought bad thoughts - I didn’t know - daddy!” she pleaded as she turned in to him.

“Katie if you ever feel like this don lie to me kid. Talk to me. I’m your dad I am here to be spoken to a bout this stuff..” he said he said as he hugged her. “I swear yesterday was a mistake. Never again.”

-

“This is right thing to do.” said Liz as she sat down to dinner.

“With out a doubt!”

Elizabeth was on a mission after yesterday.

“He has had his last chance as far as I am concerned. It is my daughters best interest for me to have custody of her full time.” she said to Deirdre.

“But I thought you wanted Jim back.”

“So did I, but then I saw him for what he is and that is not the man I want or the man I want to raise my baby girl. No she has to be with her mum. I have to know she is safe!” said Liz.

She was doing the right thing by filling for custody.

“I know this is not what you want hear but what if she doesn’t want to come with you?” she asked.

“She has to no choice in the matter, and it not like she doesn’t know who I am. I am her mum and she knows I love her no matter what. I am only doing what best for her.”

But Deirdre still remained unconvinced. Up till now her god daughter had been settled had happy. And they didn’t want a repeat of two years ago. That really shouldn’t happen. It’d hurt Katie so much just as it had before. And Deirdre hated to say it but they all knew who Katie was happiest with. Even if he was a self absorbed arrogant pig…

-

Katie was clearly in a state of panic. It was the day after the she had skived off and she was feeling sicker now than when she had fooled her father she was ill. He had made it clear the night before when the bell went for class she was going to be there.

“Dad please, don’t leave me here!” she begged clinging to him as he took her to school.

“Katie, baby, you know I have to. I love you so much and I’ll promise I‘ll be back later.” he said as he put her down put it didn’t put an end to her tears.

Mrs Smith who had seen her come in went over and took her hand to led her in to class but even as he walked away Jim could still hear her crying. It was only getting louder.

He had never felt such guilty. This was all his fault. If he hadn’t have got drunk then she’d be ok. He had got her in this mess. Up till now she had loved school. She had enjoyed the learning, her friends and he felt like he had taken that from her. For that he felt as if he was the worse father in the world. Now he had to go and talk to Liz. It had been two days since they had spoken and he had been so rude to her. He had just been so happy to see Katie safe. Good he was such a fool.

They had been getting on ok again.

Why was he so stupid as to mess it up …again…