Stepping up to the Plate.

Lorna could only sigh, who wanted to be a mother of teenagers? These two of hers were hers alone, she had been raising them by herself for years. Their father had been one of the rat department, leaving his family in the lurch. Lorna, Tahlia and the younger one, Shelby, did not care if he ever came near them again.

Tahlia was Lorna's dahl, but Shelby was starting to have her moments. Tahlia had led the way for passing her high school and her course at a local college, subsidized by Lorna. Lorna was still slaving at a lower-class job, as a daily caregiver for older people. Lorna had scrimped and saved to barely get by all these years. Now Tahl the dahl was heading off to share a flat in the city, with a glamorous job and starting salary.

Shelby had been upset, as she had long wanted to leave home and be rich somehow. Home was a rather run down small house on a street of similar homes and flats, mistakenly named, "The Boulevard." Despite Lorna's best intentions and life-coaching, trouble was looming here in their home. Shelby was more than envious of Tahlia, and had stopped trying at school. Trouble came in the shape of Kyle, a sort of good looking young dude, with a hot car and a very loud muffler.

Shelby was only fifteen years old, but was already sassy and making the most of her first crush. At least that was what Lorna hoped it was, that Kyle or Shelby would soon dump each other, and that would be that. As the mother, she was ready to mop up the mess when Kyle found somone a bit more mature. Lorna was used to being the one who always stepped up to the plate, telling herself, "I didn't have choice."

Daily life went on, Tahlia left home, and their small family was disrupted Lorna could not even begin to imagine how much Shelby wanted to unite her family, but that was not practical. Shelby turned more and more to Kyle, always searching for some comfort in a man, as she had never had a male figure while she matured.

It was school holidays for Shelby, she refused to get to work with Lorna, but said she was staying home. Lorna hopefully said, "Here are some chores and washing you can do." Shelby merely rolled her eyes, turning her cheek as her mum bravely attempted to kiss her. Lorna had read that her teens would grow up and come back to bonding with her again, some day.

Lorna's day was her usual routine of showering her clients, driving them to their medical appointments, doing their shopping, listening to them as she cleaned their houses. Like Shelby, she too wished she was rich, but that was not happening, only in their dreams. She texted Shelby a couple of times, but as normal, all she got was a message bank.

Her house was unusually quiet when she arrived home, back aching. The usual household mess was still there, the washbasket overflowing. Lorna put on a load of suds, and prepped a meal, wondering where Shelby was. By ten pm, suspicion was growing. Should she phone Shelby's friends from school? Maybe she was having a hissy fit, and staying with one of them. This situation was not about Lorna, it was about a missing teen, underage and jail bait.

Lorna phoned Shelby's phone, left messages, then called Tahlia. Her older teenager was not much support, she said what Lorna was dreading. "She's run off with that Kyle, silly cow!' Lorna did not know whether to summon the police, she did not know his last name or car ID. Kyle had cleverly dodged any personal queries. She decided to wait till morning.

The next morning dawned, grey and sombre. Lorna was exhausted, but phoned the cop shop as soon as she could. Shelby's bed was empty, her hoodie and bag were missing. The police were concerned. A pair of constables came over that morning, asking Lorna for a photo of Shelby. Inquiries were made, Lorna and Shelby's friends were very worried. But daily life in The Boulevard went on, bills arrived, Lorna had to get on with her routine. She was never quite free of wondering what Shelby might be going through.

Nearly a year went by, not a word had Lorna heard from Shelby. She had no idea where she was living. Lorna's hair was grey by now, she had no money or even energy to do a rinse of get to a beauty parlour. Then one afternoon in Spring, walking from the bus stop, she noticed a strange car in her driveway. Maybe it was Tahlia, visiting. Tahl was her darl, as Shelby had been too. Still was, still was.

Indoors, surprise. Shelby was sitting in her old armchair, with Kyle next to her. Both had their arms crossed. Shelby looked about nine months pregnant, and was. Lorna had to bite her lip to stop herself saying anything too bad, only remarking, "Shelby, you've always got a home here!' Shelby nearly wept, but Kyle was defiant, telling Lorna that he and Shelby were planning to get married when their son was born. Shelby had wanted to come home, she had hated living up north.

Lorna's grandson arrived from the stork in the usual way, a delightful babe. The little family had taken over the master bedroom, cramped as it was. Tahlia was a bit catty, but did visit, bringing a baby blanket from a top quality infant supply store. The washing machine was always flowing now. Shelby had never realised how much work a baby could be.

Lorna kept up her daily routine. Kyle had finished an apprenticeship and found a job, but this was family first. Shelby looked bloated, her once bouncy hair do was always messy. She was just too tired and unkempt to look after her own looks now.

Lorna zipped her lip on a daily basis, and tried to coax Shelby to take the baby in a sling or the old pram round the park in sunshine. Shelby had wanted to leave The Boulevard and its routine of living in her childhood home, but escape now seemed a hopeless dream. Lorna kept on stepping up to the plate, battling all the baby gear and sleep deprivation, while keeping her older clients going. She took photos of the baby in its luxury blanket, sending some to Tahlia. There was even a smiling photo of Shelby, home again, after stepping round the park.

Tahlia was very smart. She posted some of the best photos of the baby and Shelby on social media, with the caption, "Baby Born!" Shelbly started making regular digital updates of her daily battle with her baby belly and feeling tired all the time. Tahlia was right behind her for once, turning the posts into winners. Shelby became an influencer, measuring her success and progress in the steps she was taking, still in this family misery. She even got some sponsorships from manufacturers.

Kyle did the 'right thing', a wedding was arranged. Lorna was totally blown away when Shelby asked her to give her away in marriage. Lorna had been a father and mother to both her lassies, and was there as the loving Grandma as well. She even got a makeover, her hair styled and tinted .They all looked very pretty. Shelby could afford a home cleaner by now, but Lorna kept on working, it was her identity. She was not quite ready to retire. Life kept marching on, she had stepped up to the plate.