Angels With Dirty Faces

VIII

And they all lived happily ever after”

He closed the book looking at Ruby’s happy face, he swelled with pride, she had adapted so well since Scarlett’s accident, reprimanding Kevin when he made a mess,

“It’s got to be tidy for mummy!”

She would scowl, he often found it difficult not to crack a smile, with her hands on her hips and a frown on her face, she was the double of her mother, the only feature she shared with her father were his dark eyes, she had Scarlett’s thick tresses and the light dusting of freckles across her nose,

“Shall we get ready to go to Nanny’s”

He asked stroking her hair, she nodded as he scooped her up and carried her through to her bedroom, he smiled at the photo on the wall, She was only a few months old Laying in her fathers arms, her mothers hand lovingly sweeping her hair from her forehead, Ruby’s eyes transfixed on the shiny buttons of their formal uniforms, Kevin’s eyes transfixed on Scarlett, he sighed,

“Not too much longer”

He thought to himself as he rooted through his daughter’s wardrobe.

--

She walked in to the locker room, wrenching her locker door open and thrusting her bag in, Bay leaf looked over his shoulder at the sudden noise,

“Where’s Kev?”

“Why would I know?”

Bay leaf sighed rubbing his temples,

“What’s up Dolly”

“He raised his bloody voice at me because I didn’t agree with him, It’s stupid but I’m so angry with him, how dare he!”

As if on cue Kevin walked in to the room,

“You don’t have to stop chatting on my account” He grunted “Scarlett? A word?”

“Arse? Was that word okay for you?”

She replied indignantly, He folded his arms his eyes bore in to her, Bay leaf gave her shoulder a reassuring squeeze before walking away, turning as he got to the door,

“I’ll keep the others away for ten minutes but don’t le sub or Tate catch wind of this”

“Thank you”

Scarlett smiled before turning her attention back to Kevin,

“What are you doing here?”

He questioned,

“Working Kevin what else would I be doing here?”

“Granted I shouldn’t have shouted, but you shouldn’t be taking such a big risk!”

“Kevin! Have a bloody day off will you! It’s not even a poxy baby at the moment!”

His expression turned icy,

“Fine do your job, hurt yourself, hurt the baby!”

She shook her head at him, refusing to respond, she walked away, making her way to the mess room.

Shift end rolled around, Tate poked his head around the door of the sleeping quarters, glancing around, looking through all the movement until he spotted her, removing her tie ad placing it on the end of Kevin’s bed, Kevin looked over his shoulder at her emotionless, Tate narrowed his eyes,

“Drummond a word!” She threw her head back sighing out loud, Kevin watched her as she walked out of the room, he knew he was in for a bollocking when she found out. She followed Tate to his office, he closed the door behind them, she felt the atmosphere soften “Take a seat love” he motioned she furrowed her brow sitting down opposite him, “This is never easy, especially not with such a mustard fire woman, but I’ve had reports that you’re,” he paused thoughtfully “With child? And its confirmed that Fireman Medhurst is the father”

She closed her eyes, putting her hand to her face and taking a deep breath,

“Yes, sir it’s true”

Nodded slowly his hands weaved together in front of him,

“Given the nature of the job, it would be dangerous for you to carry on, I’m sorry Fire woman Drummond but I’m suspending you on full pay until further notice”

She sighed her eyes brimming,

“Yes Guv”

She whispered as she stood, she shook his hand, he pulled her in to a quick hug,

“Take care of yourself love”

He smiled reassuringly.

She marched in to the locker room grabbing Kevin’s wrist and dragging him towards her,

“Happy now?”

“What?”

He looked at her disinterested

“You know exactly what! I’ve been reported and suspended until further notice and you were the only other one who knew!”

The other boys looked over at the couple confused,

“Knew what”

George dared to ask,

“Well it’s going to come out soon, so shall I tell them Kev or do you want to do it?”

He remained silent, his face fixed in to a scornful expression,

“I’m not saying a word”

She giggled

“Okay then, fine, have it your way” she playfully patted his arm, her voice dripping with sarcasm, she turned towards the rest of the crew “Casanova got me pregnant!” she watched their expressions change “So now you’ve heard It from the horses mouth! I can’t wait to see what rumours you come up with!”

Kevin grabbed her forearm

“That’s enough, Move now!”

He attempted to push her towards the door, in a sudden outburst, she span quickly to face him,

“Don’t touch me!” she spat “I don’t want you to touch me”

“Well maybe you should have thought about that eh love? Then you’d still have your bloody job!”

Her face turned to a snarl, she spluttered a laugh before grabbing her bag and leaving the station.

A heavy silence swept the room, the rest of the crew stared at the father to be, their expressions ranging from shock to dismay,

“What?”

He shrugged making his way out to his car.

--

He stepped in to the small side room, a nurse stood sorting the night stand out. He looked over to his wife, her hair fanned out on the pillow, she slept peacefully, the nurse turned to him,

“Hello Kevin, she’ll probably wale up soon, she’s been asleep for a few hours now”

“Any wonder she sleeps at night!”

He chuckled making her eyes flutter,

“Kev”

She looked at him beaming, sitting herself up she pecked him on the cheek,

“Alright Love? You’re happy, have the doctors been? Have I missed something?”

She shook her head,

“Nothing I can think of”

He shrugged as a doctor strolled in to the room,

“Ready for physio Mrs Medhurst?”

She nodded, Kevin stood to help her off the bed, she batted him away, pushing herself forward with a small groan, she smiled as the chill of the floor touched the soles of her feet, she stood next to him, smiling as his face broke in to a smile, he stuttered as he reached out for her,

“Scar...You’re…Look at you”

He beamed, pulling her in to his chest, he felt his chest tighten and his stomach knot for the first time in nearly a month he was holding his wife close to him, holding her in his arms, she nuzzled in to his chest stroking her thumbs either side of his spine, she had waited for this.