Molly
"Amy?" She gives me a nod and a smile that seems genuine which is worrying in itself. "What are you doing here, Amy?" Ruby comes to stand next to me looking seriously pissed and I don't blame her, Amy has tried to destroy her life in more ways than one. I'll give it to the girl, she has some serious balls to come back here after everything that she has done.
"I know I shouldn't be here but there is some stuff that I need to say to all of you and I really hope that you will allow me to, even if I don't deserve it." She looks like she's being genuine but I really don't trust her. “Why should I let you anywhere near my family?” Ruby moves so that she's pretty much standing in front of me and covering my body with hers. Which brings her attention to my stomach.
“You're pregnant!” If this was anyone else the look of shock on her face would have me laughing but as it is I just want to hide my baby bump from her. I nod but don't say anything. For a moment a sad look covers her face but then she masks it with a smile. “That's amazing! Chris really is an incredible dad, he'll never do your baby wrong.” Ruby snorts before shaking her head. “It's a shame that you didn't think that before!” She's right and clearly, Amy agrees as she nods her head.
“Just leave Amy!” She takes a step back but makes no move to leave. “Please, Ruby. I know that I don't deserve it but I promise I only want to talk... talk and apologies. I'm not here to cause any trouble. In fact, this is my final stop and then I'm leaving Huston." Ruby gives me a look and I instantly know exactly what she's trying to say. While she talks some more with Amy I pull my cell phone out of my back pocket and send a text to the family group chat. Chris is down at the bar and will need some time to get back but I'd like someone else here with us especially with me heavily pregnant and the girls in the house so hopefully one of the others is free.
Me
"Amy has turned up at the house insisting on talking to everyone. It's only me, Mom, and the girls here."
Christian
"Don't let her in! I'm on my way. xx
Jack
"I'm on the farm. I'm on my way with Hunter."
John
"I'll be home in five minutes."
It takes a panting jack less than a minute to appear on the porch with Hunter behind him. "Get away from my house." He steps up to Amy looking pissed and he quickly makes it clear that he's not going to take any crap off her. "Please Jack, I just want to talk to everyone. I need to say some stuff, I need to apologize." He doesn't seem convinced and neither does Hunter as he steps around Jack and comes to stand in front of Ruby and me.
"Momma, I have juice peas?" I feel my whole body tense as Sophie grabs hold of my leg. "Of course sweetheart. You go back in the lounge and I'll bring it to you. "Ok. Fanks Momma." She goes to run back through the house when she notices Amy on the doorstep and I feel like my blood runs cold. "Who's that?" She points to Amy while Amy has a strange look on her face, one that I can't describe. She smiles down at Sophie and then leaves me shocked by her next words. "Hi, there, my name is Amy, I'm a friend of your Momma." She gives Sophie a little wave which Sophie repays with one of her own while inside I feel a huge amount of relief.
"Come on Miss Sophie, I'll get you some juice." Hunter picks Sophie up and throws her over his shoulder making her squeal with laughter. I turn to look at Amy and have to hold back a laugh at the look of shock on Jack's face. I don't think any of us expected that kind of response from her. "Where are Katie and Brody?" I'm hesitant to answer at first but quickly realize that it doesn't matter if she knows or not because either way she's not getting her hands on any of them. "Katie is in the house and Brody's at school."
She nods while wrapping her arms around her body. "That's good. Katie won't remember me but Brody will and he doesn't need to see me, it will just stir up feelings that he doesn't need reminding of." I go to speak but I'm rendered silent when a sharp pain rips across my entire stomach stealing my breath for a moment. "What the fuck has happened to you? You have never been this nice!" Amy laughs at what Jack says while I gather my bearings and let out a breath when the pain settles back down. What the hell was that?
A truck door draws our attention to the driveway where both Christian and John have just parked up. Chris is out of his truck in record time and John is not far behind. "Get away from them Amy, I mean it!" Chris is clearly pissed and I don't blame him after all that she has done and yet there's a part of me that whats to hear what she has to say, how fucked up is that? "I just... there's stuff that I need to say. It's the last thing on my list of things that I need to do before I leave Huston."
"What do you mean leave Huston? How come you're here anyway? I thought you were still at the institution/rehab place." he asks as he comes to stand next to me and wraps his arm around my back. "I was in there but I was released yesterday. I am six months clean and my bipolar medication is working well so I was able to leave. I have to have regular checkups ups and I will attend weekly AA meetings but I was taking up a space there that someone else in need could use so I left. I've taken care of a few things and this is the last on my list. I'm flying out to Africa tomorrow. A friend of mine is volunteering in Africa and I'm going to help while I figure out what to do with my life next." As much as I don't want to I have to admit that I do believe her.
Chris squeezes my hip and when I look up at him I can see the question in his eyes, Should he talk to her? I give him a nod and a small smile trying to encourage it. Maybe I'm stupid for it but I have a feeling that she is being honest and I think that it will be good for Christian. Since the moment she left the kids alone in her house he has had so many questions that only she could answer so maybe by talking to her now he can get some closure on what he needs to know.
"Fine, Amy, you have 10 minutes but that's it and any funny business and the cops will be removing you because I'm not dealing with any of your bullshit anymore!" She nods seeming happy. "I’ll be upstairs with the girls," Ruby says looking unimpressed with what's happening. "I'll come with you," Hunter says to her as he walks towards where the girls are playing. "We'll be just over there." Jack points to a massive tree just off to the side of the drive.
"It's far enough away that we can't hear you but close enough for my liking." Amy nods at him as both he and Hunter step out of the porch. "I'm going to go find Tom." Chris leans down to kiss me. "OK sweetheart, but don't go too far ok?" I nod loving how much he cares then I nod to Amy before leaving the porch and heading for the fields.
Christian
Once everyone has gone I turn to face Amy. She looks so much different, she looks like the Amy I met and it's nice to see. Witnessing her downfall over this last year or so has been awful, she became a shell of herself and a fucking awful human and it's not something I want to relive again. Still, I don't trust her. How can I after everything that she has done to me, my family and more importantly my kids? “ Amy, what are you doing here?” She gives me a small smile. “Could we sit down I’m tired it’s been a long day. hell, it’s been a long few months, a long year even!”
I take a moment to look at her face for the first time since I got here and I can see how tired she truly looks. She looks sad and worn out and it’s not nice to see. However, one thing that I do notice is that she looks clean and sober and it’s been a long time since I’ve seen this version of Amy. “Sure, you're not coming inside the house but we can sit out here.” I point to the corner of the Porch where we have outdoor chairs and a small coffee table. She nods with a small smile and then walks over.
She may look and even be acting like the Amy I once knew but I still don’t trust her, I can’t, not after everything she has done. I walk behind her sneaking a glance behind me to see both Jack and Hunter sitting on the grass by the edge of the driveway, They are talking to each other but I can see them constantly looking over at us. I look up the field and catch a glimpse of Molly up the top of the field then I take a seat across from her any happy that everyone is away from her.
“So what do you want Amy?”
“We’ll mostly I want to apologise to you and your family for everything I have done but first I want to ask you something. Is… is that any chance of trying again, Chris? I miss my family and I want you all back.”