A few days later..
It was Diana's first day at the knight nursery as a deputy manager, Marjorie showed her to her office and talked her through the basics- the shift pattern, and how to use her laptop.
Reece and autumn were in the office, autumn was busy typing on her computer while Reece was stood staring at Diana from afar.
"What are you staring at?" Autumn asked.
"The new deputy manager, I recognise her." Reece said.
"What's her name?" Autumn questioned.
Reece shrugged. "I don't know, Marjorie won't tell me."
"Mhm." Autumn hummed in response. "Marjories been acting awfully strange lately, don't you think?"
Reece didn't want to admit it.. but he knew autumn was right. "She has." He sighed.
"Have you asked her what's wrong?" Autumn asked.
Reece shook his head. "No, it's almost like she's hiding something from me.."
Autumn stood up and walked over to Marjorie's desk.
"What are you doing?" Reece asked.
"I'm going through her drawers, she's clearly hiding something, and I'm going to find out what it is." Autumn said sternly as she opened Marjorie's top drawer.
She pulled out the cheque which Roger had signed. "Why is father paying her fifty thousand pounds?" Autumn asked.
"I don't know." Reece shrugged.
"Do you know anything!?" Autumn asked. "Make yourself useful.. get looking!! We need proof."
Reece rolled his eyes. "Whatever."
Reece pulled open another drawer, he immediately spotted a piece of paper with his name on. He picked it up, and unfolded it. He gasped as he read it.
Reece,
I heard that you're settled down, that you met the love of your life, and you're married now. I'm beyond happy for you, but I'm so sorry I couldn't be the mother that you so desperately needed. I know I let you down, but I'm sorry, please forgive me.
- mum.
"What have you found?" Autumn asked.
Reece didn't say anything, he didn't know how to react.
"Reece?" Autumn snapped.
"T-this.. I-it's from mum.." he stuttered.
"Are you joking?" Autumn asked.
Reece shook his head, he clenched the letter in his hand, a mix of anger and confusion flew over him. "I'm not joking, aut. This is from mum."
"Why has Marjorie got it?" Autumn asked.
"I don't know." Reece sighed. "How did she get this? And why's she hiding it from me?"
"She obviously knows something." Autumn said. "Maybe it's about time you speak to her."
"I-I don't know what to do.. I can't believe this." Reece's heart sank.
"I'm going on my lunch break, I'll see you later." Autumn smiled slightly.
"Alright- bye." Reece said bluntly.
As autumn left the office, Marjorie walked in. She smiled at Reece. "Hey darling, you alright?"
"Marjorie, is there something you'd like to tell me?" Reece asked.
Marjorie laughed. "No, why?"
"I've had enough, you've been acting really strange over the past week, you're hiding something." Reece spoke sternly.
"Reece- I don't know what you're talking about." Marjorie lied through the skin of her teeth.
"You can stop lying, I've got the proof right here." Reece raised his voice slightly.
Marjorie noticed the note, and cheque in Reece's hand. She couldn't lie her way out of the situation. "I fucked up. I'm sorry." She said shyly.
"What do you know about my mum?" Reece asked. "Be honest with me,"
"I know where she is." Marjorie responded.
"And how did you get this note?" Reece asked.
"She gave it to me. I was supposed to give it to you- I was going to.. but I didn't get the chance." She reasoned.
"Marjorie- I can't believe this. I don't even recognise you right now.. I've wondered about my mother my entire life, and you knew.. how did you know?" He asked. "And why is my dad paying you all this money?"
"I accidentally overheard a conversation, a few years ago, and Roger paid me, to keep the secret." Marjorie said. "He threatened me,"
"So you'd choose money, over my happiness?" Reece asked, his eyes were full of anger.
"No." Marjorie said, her voice was breaking. "Of course not. Don't you trust me?" She asked.
"I don't know." Reece replied.
At that moment, Marjorie felt her heart shatter into a million pieces. "I did this to protect you."
"You did this to protect yourself." Reece argued. "You're selfish,"
"Reece, I'm sorry." Marjorie spoke.
"Sorry isn't going to cut it." Reece responded. "Where's my mum? Tell me." He demanded.
"She's here." Marjorie said quietly.
"She's what!?" Reece responded.
At that moment, autumn walked into the office, fighting tears as she'd overheard the whole conversation. "What's going on?"
"Aut, mums here." Reece said softly.
"S-she's here?" Autumn asked.
Reece nodded.
Autumn turned to face Marjorie. "I can't believe this, Marjorie. You've known all this time, but you haven't told us?"
"I couldn't," Marjorie reasoned. "But she's here now, I can call her in if you'd like."
The three were interrupted by Diana walking into the office.
"Too late." Autumn replied with her arms crossed. "Hello, mum."
"Autumn? Reece?" Diana spoke.
"Hey." Reece smiled slightly.
"My gosh- you're both grown up." Diana giggled.
Marjorie grabbed her phone and rushed out of the office, and called Roger.
"What is it now, Marjorie?" Roger rolled his eyes as he answered the phone.
"Reece and autumn know the truth- I'm sorry, I tried." Marjorie spoke.
"You told them?" Roger asked.
"I had no choice." Marjorie snapped.
Roger was unable to control his anger. "You will pay for this- watch yourself." He hissed as he hung up.
Marjorie clenched her phone in her hand and wandered back into the office. Surprisingly, autumn and Diana had disappeared, it was just Reece who stood there alone.
"Where's Diana and autumn?" Marjorie asked.
"They're in the staff room, I think my mum owes autumn a little explanation." Reece said dryly.
"Can we go home?" Marjorie asked.
"I'll meet you there later." Reece snapped.
"Fine.." Marjorie sighed as she left the office.
-
Hours had passed, Marjorie was waiting for Reece, he hadn't made an appearance. When he finally did arrive home.. he didn't join her upstairs in bed, he slept on the sofa. Marjorie glanced at him, fast asleep on the sofa and came to realise that she'd messed up big time.. would they ever be the same again?
To be continued.