Molly
Room 309 of the highland motel has been my home for the last week. After the fire, I spent a week in the hospital, and by the time I got out I was allowed back in the house to get my stuff but it's not safe enough to live in and quite frankly I don't want to be there nor have I been back since that night
.I try and shake myself off the memories but it doesn't matter what I do they continue to haunt me every single day and night. I head inside the bathroom, switch on the shower and quickly strip off before stepping under the steaming hot water hoping and failing to wash away this pain.
Once I'm washed and dried I put on my pajamas brush my teeth get into bed and take out my cell to start my usual nightly routine. My cell was destroyed in the fire but by some miracle, my memory card survived, and for that, I am seriously grateful as I have a lifetime of photos and memories on there that I can't replace.
I always kept a copy of my pictures on my laptop but I didn't think about what would happen if we had a house fire and is safe to say that my laptop didn't survive the fire and so the pictures on my phone are currently the only ones I have left.
I finish looking through the photos just in time for Thomas to arrive. He has been with me every single night since the fire. When I was in the hospital he would come in the night and stay until the morning and he is still doing the same now even though I'm in a hotel now he still won't let me spend the nights alone and in all honestly, I'm grateful for it.
Thomas wasn't just Archies best friend he's mine too. I met them both on the first day of high school and It was the three of us from that very first day. I was new in town and I didn't know anyone, didn't have any friends but Archie and Thomas never left me be alone and 13 years later it's still the 3 of us, well now it's just the two of us.
Mine and Archies friendship developed into more when we were 16 and he's been the love of my life ever since. We got married at 18 just before he and Thomas joined the army and I was allowed to move with them and live local to their base because of our marriage, of course, Thomas lived with us too but we wouldn't have had it any other way.
Both of them re-enlisted twice but eight months ago when it was time to decide if they wanted to reenlist again they both decided it was time to leave and start their lives. Archie and I both wanted kids and at 26 and after being married for eight years I was ready to start a family and Thomas was ready to meet the man of his dreams.
Archie wanted to move to Florida, his family moved here three years ago and he wanted to be close to them and I was more than happy to follow him here. In all honesty, I would have followed him anywhere because he was my whole world and there isn't anything I wouldn't have done for him which is why I'm doing this... and despite Thomas's family living in Texas he wanted to come with us and we were honestly thrilled, after living together for so long I couldn't have imagined being in Florida without him.
The door creeks as Thomas lets himself in and as always he greets me with his warming smile even though I know he's hurting underneath. He's been trying to stay strong for me this whole time but I know that underneath this is killing him we both loved Archie and we're both lost without him.
As soon as he comes in he goes into the small closet that we are sharing and brings out a large duffel bag and puts it down on the floor and I'm instantly confused. We both lost all of our clothes in the fire so Tom went shopping to get us a few basics but I'd never noticed the duffel bag before.
"What's going on Tom?" he walks over to the bed and sits down next to me and a strange feeling comes over me.
"When we first arrived in Florida Archie and I got talking about what we wanted from life. we had spent so much time being told what we could do and huddled up in awful conditions. Arch, he knew he was ready to start a family with you and I knew I wanted my knight in shining armor." he winks at me making me smile before he carries on.
"Anyway as I said we knew what we wanted but after everything, we felt like we needed something different first and so we got these." He hands me an envelope looking a little nervous while I know I look confused.
"They are tickets, tickets to travel around the world. They leave tomorrow and return in one year, he planned on surprising you on your anniversary but then he..." I nod knowing what he means but completely shocked at what he's just given me.
"How the... What the... Huh?" I'm completely speechless right now which is a first for me.
"I've thought about this trip a lot over the last few days and I decided that I wouldn't go but the more I thought about it the more I realized that he would kick my ass if he thought I wasn't going because of him!" For the first time since his death, I laugh, a real laugh because I know he's right.
He's been one incredible friend to both me and Archie since the day we meet but he's also been my lifeline since Archies death and I'd be lying if I said that I'm going to be lost without him. I'm not even sure how I'll cope but I won't let him know that and I won't stop him from going because he deserves this more than anyone else I know.
Thomas is without a doubt the kindest guy that I know, he always puts everyone before himself and I know that if I asked him to stay he would without a thought or care for himself, and that among many other reasons is why I won't ask him to do it.
I shake my head to bring me back to the present and feel the tears prickle at the back of my eyes at the thought of not seeing my best friend for a whole year but I push them back because the moment he sees them he will drop all his plans and I won't be responsible for keeping him from this once in a lifetime experience.
"He definitely would do that and you are right you have to go Tom. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and you'll regret not going, I know you will." He nods agreeing which I'm glad for.
"Molly... I want you to come with me."
Molly"Molly... I want you to come with me.""Huh, you what now?""I want you to come with me. You me and the whole world at our feet." He's smiling at me but I'm pretty sure I look like a goldfish right now."But why? This is a once-in-a-lifetime trip and you need to make the most of every moment. The last thing you want is a grieving widow stuck to your side.""I want you with me, baby girl. I want to experience every moment with you. I want to make Archie a part of this trip and I want to do it all with you at my side. Please say you'll come?""I don't know, Tom.""Molly, I don't want to sound mean but what do you have to stay here for now? You are on your own. You have to start your life again so why not take some time away from here before you do that huh? ""Your right and I know you are but I have to start my life over no matter what I do, whether I stay here now and do it or come back in a year and do it.""That's where you're wrong my little bubba. You see we'll go away and
Christian"I'm going out!""Where are you going now?""None of your business, don't wait up!" The front door slams with such force that I swear the windows shake as my wife hurries off dressed to party while I sit in the house with our two children.I've never been against her having a night off or blowing off steam, I've always encouraged her to do it, nor have I ever minded the nights where she's been out so late that she ended up staying over at one of her friend's houses but lately it seems to be her only interest. I don't remember the last time that we went on a date night or even cuddled up and watched a film once the kids in are in bed."3... 2... 1" My brother Jack sings out and on cue, Sophie starts to wail, her mothers show of slamming the door once again waking her up. I let out a sigh and run my hands through my hair. She does this every time she leaves not giving a fuck that it wakes our daughter every goddam time!"I've got her." Jack quickly gets up from the couch and h
Christian1 year later"Where the fuck is Jack? It's almost 10!" My brother Callum grunts out, he's been in a shitty mood all morning and our youngest brother isn't helping things."I haven't got a clue but he wasn't in his room when I went to wake him at 7.""Been out getting his dick wet no doubt!" Callum grunts out while rolling his eyes.I chuckle at his response "Wouldn't be surprised!""Christian there's a phone call for you!" My mother Ruby shouts across the field to me. I love my mom with all I have but Jesus that woman has a bell in every tooth, then again raising 6 kids including 5 boys is bound to do that to you."Pull Star in and start washing her down and I'll be back to do her shoes." Callum nods before heading outside for one of the new additions to our horse family and I quickly run towards the house."Hello." I pant into the phone out of puff from running so fast."Hello is this Mr Bowen?""Yes, it is. Who is this?""This is Miss Thomas from Blossoms pre-school. I'm c
ChristianI swallow back my anger and focus my attention on the sight that's in front of me. The sink is full of dishes and I'm pretty sure I can see flies swarming around them. There are clothes scattered across the kitchen floor and empty food boxes are littered across the breakfast bar.I look around the living room but it's no better, there are clothes scattered across the cough and the floors are littered with toys and empty goldfish cracker wrappers. All the surfaces are caked in dust and I swear the carpet hasn't seen a vacuum in a good while.I knock on the window and Brody quickly turns to look at me his little face looks so relieved that it tugs at my heart. I knock on the window and point to the door but he shakes his head."Brody open the front door, son," I gently call out to him but Inside I'm starting to panic and get insanely angry once more. We have been here a good five minutes and while I'm at the window Jack is still knocking on the door but there's no sign of Amy
Christian"Hey princess!" Jack chuckles as he catches Sophie after she runs to him and he just about manages to stop himself from toppling over. He looks at me and he must see the anger on my face as he quickly sets her down before standing up."Hey, Buster why don't you show Sophie your dinosaurs, I'll just be in the kitchen with your dad ok?" Brody nods before gently pulling Sophie into his side and Jack's in front of me in seconds."What's going on?""I don't know but look at her!" I turn Katie around and open up the blanket so he can see her back and he now looks as angry as I feel."Fuck she must have been in that diaper for hours!" I nod before turning my attention back to my kids that are giggling away on the floor. What the fuck is going on here?"Brods where are Katie's diapers?""I don't know Daddy I tried to find some so I could change her but there wasn't any." He looks sad like he's done something wrong but I can't help but feel proud of him. I don't know what's going on
Christian1 hour later, all the kids are fed and dressed and Katie is now cleaned up and in a new diaper although I think I'll bathe her again when I get her home. Cal turned up with the horses just as the kids were finishing up their food and Brody got on Nemo with him while Jack and Sophie rode Elsa.And now I'm on my way to the school with Katie as Amy still hasn't turned up, not that I want her around any of the kids right now. I know I won't be able to control my mouth, and that's not what the kids need to witness right now including Katie. still, I have called her and messaged her but there's been no answer and the longer time goes on the less surprised I am becoming.I pull up outside the preschool and gently take a sleeping Katie out of the car seat, I lean her across my chest, and as she tucks her head into my neck and rests her arms on my chest my heart tugs. Fuck I love this little girl so much and I'd be lying if I said that there hadn't been moments where I wished she was
Molly"Welcome to Dallas/Fort Worth international airport the local time is 8.30 pm. For the safety of the passengers please remain seated with your seat belts on while the seat belt light remains on. Please take caution when removing any overhead luggage and please make sure to take all of your belongings with you. On behalf of myself and the cabin crew, we wish you a great time here in Texas and we hope to see you soon.""I am so tired!" Tom groans as we stand ready to get off the plane. After almost 16 hours of flying, I'm with the guy, it's been almost 19 since we left the hotel in China and I'm fucked but luckily Tom's home is only 30 minutes from the airport, and boy am I glad for that! "Food, shower, and sleep are all I'm doing as soon as I get home!" He groans again."Tom, are you sure that your parents don't mind me coming with you? I can find somewhere else to stay I don't mind.""I've told you before and I'll tell you again my parents are excited to see you again and more t
Christian "Unkle toms back!" Sophie calls out and before I can say a word both she and Brody are already running for the door. "Be careful!" I shout out to them but I doubt either of them is listening. I pick Katie up from the floor and head for the door to see my brother, I've barely seen him over the past 7 years since he joined the army. Even after he left the army he went to live in Florida with Archie and his wife Molly so I didn't see him much even then. Yes, we had the odd visits from him and spoke a few times a week over Facetime and whenever I had the kids but it still hasn't been the same. Sadly Archie died last year in a house fire and so Tom and Molly went on an around-the-world trip that was already planned, don't get me wrong I'm glad that Toms got to live his dreams of going in the army and travelling the world but I'll be glad to have him home I've missed him! Before they left for their trip Tom phoned my parents and told them that he wanted to ask Molly to move h