“Megan.” I hear Mia bellow as she walks into the house.

I stand up from the sofa, turning myself around to see where her voice is coming from. Who let her in? Luke has been gone about thirty minutes.

“Sorry. I let myself in,” she says, hurling towards me.

“Oh.”

“Why did you leave?” she asks, standing in front of me with her hands on her hips.

“John,” I reply in disgust.  Even his name makes me cringe.

“What about that wanker?” she enquires. 

“He said I had to choose either Mark or Lucy. I can’t lose my daughter. I don’t want to lose Mark either, but I have no choice,” I whisper.

“Why didn’t you tell Mark?” she asks.

“I couldn’t and it was killing me. I didn’t want to leave. I want Mark. I can’t imagine my life without him.” I slip down on sofa, lowering my head as a tear rolls down my face.

“If you explain everything to him, I’m sure he would understand,” Mia says in a comforting voice. I feel her hand rubbing my knee and look up to see her on her knees beside me.

“I can’t lose Lucy though,” I state.

“I understand. Isn’t there something you two could work out? I mean, stay apart until you have Lucy and then get back together?” Mia suggests.

“I hope we can, but I can’t get back with him until I know my daughter is safe, and the courts and everything else is over,” I respond.

“You need to talk to him, Megan. He has been smashing things inside the house. He is heartbroken,” she informs me in a pained voice.

I reach for my mobile from the glass coffee table. This doesn’t fit in with the rest of the décor of the room. I do like the style; I bet he had some posh designer decorate the house because I can’t imagine Luke doing this. The house is located in Yorkshire and is perfect for his style. It definitely suits the man I know. 

I type a comforting text to Mark.

Mark, I love you. Don’t smash things up. John said it was you or Lucy. You know that I can’t pick you over my daughter. I don’t want you out of my life. XX

“I have always wanted to have a look in this house. Luke is like super famous,” Mia states, standing in front on the window and rubbing her hands up the curtains. They are black with red circles. I would hate to see the curtains closed; they would be really alarming. 

“How did you know where Luke lived?” I ask with an inquisitive look.

“I know those kinds of things. Don’t forget I love his movies. Oh, and his arse, too.”

“Mia!”

“What?” She pauses. “I’m being honest.”

I can’t believe that. I know she loves the men. Well, she loves the attention men give her, but really? Luke is sort of a friend. I would never look at his arse.

“Anyway, why did you get changed? You were in a dress,” I ask. I want to know because she spent time getting changed when I needed her as an extra set of eyes to help me look for Lucy.

“I didn’t think it was suitable for the day. I looked out of the window and saw the dark clouds, then when you asked about Lucy, I knew I had to dress sensibly,” she replies, shrugging her shoulders.

Why is time going by so slowly? It seems like hours since Luke left, but it’s only been about fifty minutes. I can’t stop looking at my mobile. Every little noise I hear makes me check it. I need to make sure I don’t miss anything from John. I can’t let him mess me around; he has hurt me too much today. He has destroyed by life. There is no way he will ever be able to fix this. 

I’m pulled away from my thoughts at the sound of an incoming text from Luke.

Hey, babe. I got the money. On way back. XX

Thank you, Luke. I will owe you for life. XX

I walk over to my bags in the dining room. When I arrived, Luke placed my bags there out of the way. I quickly search through my bag, taking out my mobile charger. I can’t have my mobile go dead. I need to contact John.

I have the money. Now what?

I go into the kitchen, finding the nearest outlet. I have some charge, but I’m not going to risk it. After placing my mobile on charge, I sit at the bar.

“Natasha is here,” Mia bellows as she comes walking back into the room. I have no idea what she is doing or where she has been. I will find out when I have both the time and energy to care about her.