#the script danny

“Mumma, where we go?” “On a big plane Pai, we’re going to see Dan” “Aww yay, I miss Dan, we go see Dan and I give him hugs Mumma” “You can give him as many hugs as you want baby girl, now have you got your peppa backpack?” “Yeahp!” “Alright munchkin, let’s go meet Aunty Mel downstairs!” “Mumma?” “Yes baby?” “This like an adventure!” “Sure is sweet pea”

“Call me when you land?” “Of course, see you soon… Paisley say bye to Aunt Mel” “Byeeeee” “Bye sweetie!”

Once Paisely and I were settled on the plane, I finally process what we’re actually doing. Basically I’ve just packed my daughter and I have gotten on a plane, and are flying to a foreign country, the whole time I’m wishing and hoping he’ll forgive me for ignoring him and hoping this big mess will be over by the time I leave. So many things ran through my head, what if he didn’t want to me, what if he was still so angry at, me and what if i had really fucked things up? Only time would tell really.

“Mumma how much more?” “Only one more hour” “And then we see Dan” “Maybe not straight away Pai, he doesn’t know we’re coming” “So he be surpised?” “Yes Pai, he’ll be surprised” or really mad. “So when I see Dan I shout SURPIRSE and he gets scared?” “Maybe”

I’m starting to wonder whether bringing Paisely with me to London was such a great idea. On one hand, I didn’t want to leave her with friends and on the other I didn’t want to drag her into the middle of my relationship problems. Paisley is too young to understand, she’s already attached to him, what if he does get really angry and kicks me out… How do you explain that to an almost three year old?

“Ladies and Gentlemen, we are making our descent into Heathrow, we ask that you please take to your seats and fasten your seatbelts, we hope you have enjoyed your flight and enjoy your stay”.

“We’re about to land Paisley, you need to sit in your seat” “No mumma, nooo” “Paisley let g….” “Nooo mumma peassss” “Why are you crying… Pai, what’s wrong?” “It’s it’s so-aarrrr” She was holding her ear, and immediately I knew that the change in altitude was having an effect on her tiny ears “It’s going to be OK Pai, just keep opening and closing your mouth”

45 minutes later and we had made it through customs, we hauled our luggage to the taxi rank and hailed a cab. This was nothing like New York, everything was so… organized? Unlike me, I had nothing organized, nowhere to stay, no idea where to go, the only thing I had to give me the slightest indication of where we might be headed was his address which was scribbled across the back of an envelope which he once sent a love letter in.  So off we go, hand in hand, into the cab and onwards into the unknown.

 “Mumma, Dan here?” “This is where he lives… I don’t know if he’s home but.” “Well we knock then mumma” I take a deep breath and then together we approach his front door. My heart is in my throat and I’m not sure how I’m able to walk or if I’ll even be able to talk when that door opens, but regardless we make an approach… it’s go time.

“Go ahead then Pai, give it a nice big knock”

  Danny:

The last two days have been a disaster, I’ve been trying to not ring Evie, if she doesn’t want to talk to me then maybe I should take a hint and move on. Mark, Glen and I booked a studio and have been ripping up a few tracks for the new album. It’s been a good distraction, but at the same time it’s been absolute shit because all I end up writing are stupid sappy love songs. Today we’ve decided to give the writing a break and just relax, kick back with a few beers and watch the game. It’s half time and I’m headed towards the kitchen to restock in the alcohol department when there’s a knock at the door. Who the fuck could it be right now?

“I’ll get it” Mark’s the first one up, knowing whoever is at the door is in safe hands I continue to the fridge.

“Did ya check the auditions for XFactor last night? Man they sure get some tone deaf mules on there!” “You talking about the judges or the contestants, because to me they’re one in the same” Mark returns white as a ghost “Hey Dan, might wanna go to the foyer, yeah? There’s a special… uh… package” “What the fuck are you talking about mate, you sure do say some stupid shit when you’ve had a few” “Come sit down have another beer” Glen’s trying to palm off a cold one “Na seriously Dan, go see” “Ok but if there’s no one there I’m going to come and put you to bed” “You’re the one that’s gonna need the bed mate” Sometimes Mark can be so weird and cryptic it’s hard to comprehend whether he’s being serious or not, regardless I give him the benefit of the doubt and head to the foyer. I’m about to turn the last corner when out of nowhere “SURPRISE!” “Woahh” No it can’t be “Paisley? OH MY GOSH what are you doing here?” I’m down at her level and her arms are immediately around my neck, she’s holding on like a clip on Koala and I hug her like she’s just woken from the dead. I spin her around, and she breaks out into a fit of laughter. “Dan, I missed ya” “I missed you to, how did you..” And there she is, three meters away, in the flesh. She looks tired and sad, almost like she hasn’t slept since I’ve last seen her. “Paisley, how about you come with me and we go get ya a drink?” Mark’s been standing behind me obviously knowing that Evie and I have a lot to talk about he takes Paisley away “Thanks” We stand there for a minute just staring at each other before she breathes in and out really deeply and goes to talk, before she can say anything I cut her off.