Christian
Tom and Molly left for the bank almost an hour ago which means they should be here any minute, not a minute too soon if you ask me. I pace along the long driveway as I anxiously wait for them to get here with the money for Amy. "Chris, your going to wear a hole in the ground if you don't stop soon." Jack grabs hold of my shoulders bringing me to a sharp stop. "It's going to be ok, Chris we're almost there."
I give him a nod as I will my body to stay still but it's a struggle, I feel like I have way too much energy and need to burn some of it off which is hilarious considering I didn't even get a wink of sleep last night and I haven't sat down since the kids got up at 5,30 am. Thinking of Sophie and Brody brings a smile to my face. My Mom asked them if they wanted to go to the movies today to see some new Disney film that's out and between that and the promise of popcorn and candy, I'm pretty sure that they were close to exploding with excitement and it was the cutest thing to see.
I was also insanely grateful for my mother offering to take them. I think she knew that I wanted them away from everything today. They are too young to know about this, and kids being kids they will ask questions especially Brody and I already know that there will be questions that I won't want to answer.
After Tom and Molly left for the bank I got them both dressed and my Mom left with them with an added promise that if they were good that she would take them out for ice cream after the movies. Once they were gone I got ready to head for the farm and was insanely grateful when Cal, Jack, Zack, and my Dad were all outside by the trucks when I came out to leave. I hadn't asked any of them to come with me as they had already been doing so much for me over the last few days and I didn't want to add more on to them or for me to ask and have them feel like they couldn't say no.
Of course, I should have known that they would be there for me and have my back because they always do and I'd do the same if it was any one of them. We took two trucks and got to the farm at 10 am, Amy had told me that she would hand Katie over to me at the farm but she never said what time she would call, it's now 11.55 am and I'm starting to get nervous.
"Where is she? Where is Tom?" I grunt as I kick the dirt on the floor covering my boots in dirt. "They will be here son both of them." My dad steps up to me before pulling his cell out of his pocket and handing it to me. "Call Tom and see where he is. You don't want to use your phone in case Amy calls but maybe hearing him tell you where he is will help calm you down a little."
I nod grateful for him as I take his phone and waste no time in calling Tom. Thankfully it only rings a couple of times before he answers, the echoing on his end telling me that his phone is connected to the truck.
"Hey brother, everything ok?" He sounds fairly happy which instantly has me relaxing a little.
"Where are you, Tom?" I try to sound calm but I doubt he believes it.
"Im almost at the house, just a few seconds away from the drive. In fact, you should see me any second now." As he finishes speaking I see his truck turn onto the driveway and I relax even more.
"Did everything go ok at the bank?"
"Yes, of course, the money is here ready and waiting to get us our baby girl back." His words make me smile for the first time in hours.
"Is Molly with you?" I can't resist asking even if I would find out the answer in just a few seconds.
"Yes, she is. Is that ok?" Before I can answer her angel voice comes through the phone causing my heart to once again thud harder than normal.
"If it's not ok for me to be here I can leave Christian, it's no problem I really don't mind." I can tell she's being honest but the truth is I want her here with me, I need her here with me.
"No, of course, it's fine, Molly." Before I can say anymore my own cells starts ringing and I'm relieved when I see Amy's name flash across my screen. "It's Amy. I have to go." I end the call before they have said anything and quickly answer Amy's call.
"Hey, Christian." She sounds so happy and it instantly makes me feel sick but I have to be nice... we'll at least until I have Katie with me and full custody of all of them. I put her on speaker phone because she just can’t be trusted and I want my brothers and dad as a backup to any shit she may say.
"Hi, Amy. How is Katie?"
"She's fine. just watching some cartoons. You have my money?" She isn't wasting any time but that suits me, the quicker we get this done the better.
"Yes, I have it. What time do you want to meet at the farm?" I don't want her to know I'm here yet because I don't trust her one bit.
“I'll be there in fifteen minutes. Don't mess me about when it comes to the money and don't be late I will only be staying there for five minutes if you are late then I'll take her and she'll go to the next loser that wants her.”
She hangs up the phone without another word leaving me rooted to the spot in shock. “Please tell me she didn’t just say what I think she did? “ Jack's voice sounds as shocked as mine.
“Fucking motherfucking bitch! I’m gonna tear her a new asshole when I get my hands on her!” I snap my head to my right at hearing Tom's voice I hadn’t even realized that he and Molly were by us yet. “Fucking dog!” He’s clearly bypassed shock and gone straight to anger.
“I’m gonna murder her I swear. I’ll do time for the Bitch I don’t care!” Molly's angry voice seems to shock everyone as the chatter stops and everyone turns to face her. I’m slightly shocked at her anger but more than anything I find her outburst fucking cute and a huge turn-on. Fuck I know it’s not the time for it but apparently, my dick isn’t willing to listen to reason right now.
“That’s my girl “ Tom winks at Molly before giving her a quick hug looking like a proud parent and I have to admit that despite me finding her cute when she’s angry it’s easy to see that she has a hard-ass side to her and wouldn’t be afraid to stick to her word either.
“Ok let’s all go up to the barn so she doesn’t see us. We’ll keep looking out for her arriving and then Chris can come back out yes?” Everyone agrees and starts heading for the barn but I head towards Molly who has her back to me and once I reach her I take hold of her hand and give her a gentle squeeze. She looks at me and graces me with that gentle smile of hers that I love so much but she doesn’t say anything just lets me gently tug her along with me making my heart melt even more than it already is for her.
Exactly fifteen minutes later I see Amy’s old beat-up car arrive on the farm and I head out of the stable with Tom tagging along holding on to the money. I only take a few steps before I stop and watch her.
She gets out of the car and opens up one of the back doors and I’m instantly angry. There’s no child seat in there. She has Katie sitting up in the back seat with just a standard seat belt for fuck sake! Tom gives me a knowing look showing me that he’s noticed too and we both work to keep our anger buried…just until we have Katie back anyway.
Amy picks her up and sits her on her hip as she heads toward us and the sight of her just makes me want to be sick. She’s got a torn stained shirt on and denim shorts with way too many rips. She’s lost a shit loss of weight and her hair is so messed up that it could be mistaken for a bird's nest.
I swallow the bile down that’s trying to rise up my throat and look at my baby girl. Well, she doesn’t look the cleanest but she doesn’t look hurt so for that I’m grateful. I don’t give a shit about bathing her but her being hurt would be a whole different story.
The moment she sees me her face lights up like a Christmas tree and I swear I feel like my heart is going to burst. Jesus I love her so much and there’s nothing that’s going to stop her being with me. Nothing!
Amy stops a few feet away from us and just says one word “Money?” She is something else I swear, not even a thought about any of her kids just herself and the money. I don’t even know if I’m shocked, to be honest.
Tom opens up the bag flashing the money her way. “It’s all there don’t worry, I watched it all get counted at the bank.” Tom is trying to be polite but it’s not hard to hear the underlying anger.
“I believe you.” She steps up to me and hands me my little girl and I swear the moment she is in my arms I just want to cry like a baby. I honestly couldn’t imagine not having her and I will forever be grateful to Tom for what he’s doing. Amy quickly grabs the bag before stepping away from us not even giving Katie a backward glance.
“That’s the £50,000 you wanted. I’ll be in touch with you once the solicitor has the paperwork ready and once you have signed it then you’ll get the rest of the money.” Tom left the rest with my brothers in the barn because she can’t be trusted to see it.
“I've been thinking?” She has that cunning look on her face and I know it means more trouble for me. “I think three kids is worth much more than a measly one million, Christian.” For fuck sake!
“What do you want Amy?” Tom spits out. She taps her chin with her nail-bitten finger giving me a slimy grin.
“Another one hundred thousand should do the job.” She's got to be fucking kidding me!