So here it is, as promised, my brand new story in my Lovejane series. So can Jess bring our favourite couple together? And what will happen when she meets Jane's family in Scotland? Well go on, read on to find out ;)

October lurched into life with a bang for Jess, Jane and Lovejoy, with all three working hard, well Jane and Jess at least, on a barn conversion for their new client. As Jane had predicted, Jess had taken to interior design like a duck to water, and Jane loved teaching her new skills. And as Lovejoy had predicted, Jane was back in command of most of her business. She was as hands on now, if not more so, as she was ten years ago, tiling, plastering, wallpapering, you name it, she was doing it. She even had Jess doing a lot more than she thought she was capable of, but Jane was a very good and patient teacher.

'Is this alright Janey?' Jess asked as she slopped around some plaster in a bucket, letting it drop off the edge of her trowel, and looking most unconvinced.

'You've done great Jess, don't look so worried, it just needs a little more plaster powder, as it needs to be a bit thicker,' Jane explained as she dumped another couple of handfuls of white powder into the black bucket, and stirred the mixture vigorously, splattering them both with tiny little flecks across their overalls. 'Do you want me to show you how to put it on the walls evenly again?'

'No thanks, I think I can manage that,' Jess smiled as she took the bucket back from Jane and began to plaster the wall on one side of the room, whilst Jane went back to the other and looked through her book of wallpaper samples, occasionally holding one up against the currently blank wall.

'Jess what do you think of this one?' She asked after a short while, trying to decide between two. 'I hate it when clients ask me to choose,' she muttered as Jess joined her side.

'Why do you hate it? You have fabulous taste and know what works well, it shows that they trust you,' Jess replied warmly. 'I like the blue striped paper, it's subtle in comparison to the red one.'

'Good choice Jess, that's the one I was favouring as well.'

Jess then went back to her plastering, and smeared the mixture onto the wall exactly as Jane had shown her, and despite her reservations about her abilities, she was actually quite good at it. She learnt well after being shown how to do something, she rarely had to be shown more than once.

'Janey, where did you learn to plaster and tile? It's not exactly the sort of thing that they would teach you at finishing school,' Jess said with a mock posh voice, resulting in a cheeky giggle from Jane.

'I didn't go to finishing school thank you very much, although Prue did, I got married instead. No, I learnt this sort of thing when I worked for a company called Hawkes and Draper. I was hired by them as their interior designer when I first qualified. They were a very old company, who didn't really approve of women in the workplace much, but they liked my work. However, it wasn't hands on, not as I like it anyway. They used contractors for all of the manual work, but I would visit the sites and some of the men showed me how.'

'Janey you rebel you!'

'Hello Lovejoy!' Jane and Jess both said in unison as Lovejoy climbed the ladder.

'I'm glad that you're here Lovejoy because I have got a bone to pick with you!' Jane said with a tone of annoyance and a furrowed brow, just as he reached their level and he placed a loving kiss on Jane's cheek.

'Uh-oh, what've I done now?' He asked with a cheeky wink at Jess and pretend worried expression.

'Actually, it's what you haven't done that's annoyed me. You promised me a spiral staircase, remember?' Jane said as she began to advance slowly towards him. 'You said that you knew just where to get one,' she added moodily, which made Jess giggle.

'Shit! Janey I'm sorry, but I do know exactly where I can get one, and I can get it today for you. Just give me an hour, or maybe two, and it'll be yours,' he replied with a boyish, mischievous grin.

'Oh alright then, you've got one hour!' Jane gave in, wrinkling her nose playfully. Despite her tone, she wasn't really cross with Lovejoy, and Jess knew that.

'Right you are,' he replied as he was just about to leave, but he quickly stopped when he saw Jess' plastering handy work. 'Say Jess, that's looking pretty good! You'll make an interior designer of her yet Janey.'

'And I'll make mince-meat out of you if you don't get a move on and get that staircase,' Jane said firmly, making Lovejoy retreat very quickly. 'Although he's right Jess, you are doing marvellously. You're a very fast learner.'

'I always am Janey, I always am,' Lovejoy shouted up from the bottom floor, making them both laugh.

'Aw thank you Janey, but you are a very good teacher. '

They chatted happily whilst they worked, about all sorts, including the possibility of commissioning Jess to paint some landscapes to be included in the artwork for the room. Their working time together passed quickly, during which time Lovejoy managed to return, within an hour, with the cast iron staircase he had promised Jane. She was very impressed, but she didn't want to let on to him that that was how she felt.

'Well, are you impressed?' He fished.

'Well, I will say that you have stuck to your end of the bargain I suppose,' she said, trying her hardest not to smile in gratitude, 'and I suppose that does mean we will be able to meet our deadline.' Her resolve faltered and she gave Lovejoy that broad grin that he loved. 'Thank you Lovejoy.'

'Not a problemo madam,' he said as he grabbed her hand and placed a playful kiss to it.

'Oh Lovejoy,' Jane blushed a tapped his arm as he then moved to sit on the table from which the girls were working.

'So we can all go to Scotland together then?'

'We can, but only if you still really want to come Lovejoy. I don't want you to feel that you have to come, but what with Mother there, and Prue and her family, I just thought that it might be nice for Jess to have a familiar face to turn to. Not that I'm saying you'll need it Jess, but…'

'It's OK Janey, I understand. But I don't want you to fret so much, in fact, we don't have to tell your family anything if you really don't want to. I'd actually be alright with that. If meeting Alexander has taught me anything, it's that I don't actually care who knows now, because you are the only important one, and you know, so I don't feel like I'm living a lie if no one else finds out. Does that make sense?' She explained animatedly, barely taking any breaths at all.

'You know Jess, you confuse the hell out of me when you babble so quickly like that,' Lovejoy joked.

'No Jess, of course I want them to find out, and I will tell them. If you meeting Alexander has taught me anything, it's that I honestly don't care what anyone else thinks either, but I'm tired of living a lie. And besides, they don't know that Alexander and I are…well, unattached, and they'll want to know why when I do tell them. I don't want to come up with some lie, I want to be honest and tell them exactly what happened.'

Putting down her bucket and trowel, Jess ran over to Jane and threw her arms around her in a warm loving hug, one that Jane really found comforting. Although she wouldn't admit to it, she was very nervous about speaking to her family, especially her mother. What she had just said to Jess was absolutely true, she had no intention of hiding Jess' identity, and she intended to tell her about Alexander's involvement, but the thought still unnerved her. And if Jess was honest with herself, she was very nervous too, but she knew that, despite what Jane was saying, that she was unnerved by it all as well. However, what did excite both Jane and Jess, was that Lovejoy was going to be there too.

'Right Lovejoy, tomorrow I am trusting you and Jess to the auctions to find me these…' Jane said once she released Jess and took out a list of items from her pocket and handed it to Lovejoy.

'I think we could manage that; what do you say Jess?' He asked as he took the list from Jane, and placed his arm around Jess, who snuggled into his side lovingly.

'Oh think that should be fairly easy,' she grinned. She loved the idea of spending some time with just her and Lovejoy.

'We'll have to be off early in the morning though. There's a few showrooms we'll need to visit.'

'What are you going to do tomorrow Janey?' Jess asked.

'Well if we can finish the plastering tonight, then it'll be dry by tomorrow morning so that I can start on the first coat of paint. I'll also get on to the contractor just now and get him in to fit the staircase.'

With their plans made for the next day, Jane and Jess worked hard into the early evening to finish plastering the walls, and the walls that were already dry, Jane managed to get ahead of herself and added the first coat of white paint. So that night, when they eventually finished and returned home to Felsham Hall, they were both exhausted, but happy, as they tucked into their simple supper, whilst the dogs all laid out in front of the fire.

'I can't believe that you're going to be twenty in a few days Jess,' Jane said.

'Don't! I can't believe it either, but I'm really glad that I'm going to get to spend it with you and Lovejoy.'

'Have you thought about what you would like to do? I know that it's the day before we head to Scotland, but we can still do whatever you'd like.' It felt very important to Jane that she celebrate Jess' birthday, but Jess felt uncertain.

'I don't really want to do anything if I'm honest, just spend some time with you.'

'There isn't anything you'd like to do?'

'Well Janey, I'm not sure if I really want to celebrate it. It's the first birthday since mum died and my first celebration with you, but I just feel so conflicted,' Jess explained with sadness.

'Oh sweetheart, I'm sorry to have been so insensitive!'

'No you haven't been insensitive at all. We've been through so much together that it's time we found things to celebrate, it's just that I feel...I don't know, strange I guess,' Jess tried to make Jane understand exactly how she felt, even though she didn't truly understand it herself.

'I usually hate this time of year. Before you came back, I could just about force myself not to think about you for most of the year, but then the time around your birthday would come, and that I couldn't shake...' Jane broke off as she began to cry.

'I'm sorry Janey, I didn't mean to upset you,' Jess said as she moved closer to her mother.

'It's not your fault, don't apologise. I do look on your birthday as something happy, because I got to spend that day with you after you were born. But it is the day after that I find most difficult, since that's the day I lost you.'

'I can't even begin to understand what that must have felt like for you Janey. But I promise that my mum always made my birthdays fun. Before she got sick she used to make my birthday cakes every year and used to invite my grandparents down. I have really good memories.'

Jane smiled. Although it pained her to hear how her daughter had a good childhood with someone else, it healed some of that pain at the same time, to know that her sacrifice was for Jess' benefit.

'What sort of cakes did she make you?' She asked with a gleeful smile, which was returned by her daughter.

'I have pictures if you want to see?'

'I'd love to.'

Jess ran upstairs to her bedroom and over to the bookcase where she housed several of her photo albums, and grabbed a red leather bound book, thick with memories.

'I haven't looked at these in a while, so it'll be nice to share them with you; although I feel sorta cruel for doing it,' she said as she joined Jane again.

'It's not cruel Jess, I want to know and I want to share your memories,' Jane replied.

Jess flicked through several pages which showed her as a baby shortly after she was adopted, and then onto her toddler years. Her third birthday showed her blowing out the candles on a bumblebee cake, her little face was illuminated by the light from the candles and with excitement for the sugary treat.

'I think you've already seen this one from my fifth birthday, from when you and Lovejoy came to the house,' Jess said as she showed Jane one of the pictures.

'Oh yes! I do remember seeing this one,' Jane beamed, feeling genuinely delighted at the pictures, much to her surprise. 'It was just before your dad died wasn't it?'

'Yeah it was.'

'Do you remember him at all?'

'Not really. He was away a lot before he died, but I vaguely seem to remember us having a barbecue one summer, but it was raining so me and mum stood in the kitchen and watched him standing under a brolly,' Jess giggled. 'I remember we had really hideous banana leaf type wall paper in the kitchen and it was bright lime. It's funny the sort of things you remember.'

'Oh I don't know; I like to think that's the interior designer in you,' Jane giggled.

'What's your mum like?' Jess asked. She had never properly asked about her other family before now. Jane had mentioned them from time to time, especially in recent weeks, but Jess was never certain if she wanted to know more.

'She was a very hands-on mother actually, we still had a nanny to help look after us but Mother always made sure that she was around. She raised us the way that she was raised; although my grandmother was raised in an aristocratic family, she didn't marry into one and led a more upper-middle class lifestyle, and that's how she raised my mother.'

'Really? I didn't realise that. I always thought aristos married each other,' Jess said with surprise. 'Sorry Janey, you must think that a horrid thing to say,' she grimaced as she realised how insulting that must have sounded.

'Not at all, you're right to be honest. But my grandmother was…interesting, to say the least. She didn't like all the pomp and ceremony that went with aristocratic life; she'd been given a taste of non-aristocracy during the war when she worked as a nurse, so that was that. She caused a bit of a scandal when she married my grandfather, since he wasn't an aristo, but they loved each other, that's all that matters. They were married for just over sixty years when my grandfather died, and then my grandmother died within six months of his passing.'

'That's really romantic, but sad too.'

'It is; I always hoped that Alexander and I would be live that you,' Jane replied sadly.

'I'm glad we can be together now, without hiding from him, but I wish I hadn't made you sad. I know you miss him.'

'I do, of course I do; we were married for quite a long time, but I have more love for you than I ever did for my marriage, which is something that Alexander could never understand,' Jane said as she ran her hand through Jess' long hair and cupped her cheek. She loved her daughter more than anything else.

'What do you think your mum's going to say when you tell her about me?'

'I think she's going to be hurt, and I think I'm going to have a battle on my hands to try and make her understand, but she will come round, and she is going to absolutely adore you, I just know she will,' Jane said as she hugged Jess closely.

'What about your sister?'

'Prue will be much easier to bring round. She wasn't particularly fond of Alex, and she's often asked me why we hadn't yet had children. In the early days I would just brush her off with some sort of excuse, but then one day I tired of lying to her, relatively recently actually, and I told her that Alexander didn't want children and that that was that.'

Jess and Jane chatted a lot more about Jane's, and now Jess', family and the childhood that she'd had. Jess was fascinated to learn more about her family history and felt excited, although a little apprehensive, about meeting them. Jane picked up on her apprehension, but assured her that no matter what happened, they would love her.

'Just be yourself, you'll be great,' Jane said, before they had bid each other goodnight.

Over the next few weeks, whilst completing the barn conversation, they talked tirelessly of Jane's family and their plans for Scotland and what Jess wanted to do for her birthday as well. She had come to terms a little more about celebrating her birthday, but still wanted to only do something small and something she had never really done before. The barn conversion was completed, just before Jess' birthday, and two days before they headed to Scotland. When the final pieces of furniture went in, chosen by Lovejoy and Jess at the auctions, the place finally had a warm, homely feel about it, and when the client came to inspect it, he was thrilled and amazed.

'Well, it's my daughter Jess you've to really thank, she's my apprentice, but she's done a lot of the work,' Jane said with pride as she showed Brendan Chisholm, a very wealthy businessman from the heart of London, around his new home. He was a little older than Jane, with peppered hair, a smart suit and a smile that could melt the coldest of hearts. He was quiet spoken, with a north London accent, not too dissimilar to Jess'.

'She obviously takes after her mother,' he flirted a little. 'Is she not with you today? I'd like to thank her personally.'

'No she's not with me at the moment,' she replied. 'We're going away for a few days to Scotland now that we've completed your house, so she's at home packing I suspect.'

'How old is your daughter? If you don't mind me asking that is.'

'I don't mind at all. She's just about to turn twenty.' Jane felt delighted and proud to be talking about Jess, and feeling like a mother, although it felt very strange at the same time.

'Wow, you certainly don't look old enough to have a twenty-year-old daughter, that's for sure,' Brendan replied with a deep, seductive tone.

'Thank you,' Jane blushed. 'Although I'm probably a lot older than you might think,' she mumbled as she fiddled with her hair and bit her bottom lip. 'Let me show you the kitchen next.'

She quickly led him into the kitchen through an archway that she had built, leading into a very spacious dining and kitchen area, with a rustic country house feel, just as Brendan had wanted.

'The agar also provides heating to the rest of the house and heats the water as well,' she said as he looked round in amazement.

'My, my Jane, you certainly have a talented bunch of workmen working for you,' he said as he admired the tiling.

'Actually most of the work has been done by myself and Jess. I don't use contractors these days, not if I can help it.'

'Well, when I was advised by a friend of mine to hire you as my interior designer, I was told that you were the best in the area, but I never thought that someone as talented as you would see to my work so personally. I appreciate all of the detail that you have put into it.'

This flirtatious exchange of compliments continued throughout the tour of the conversion, with Jane becoming more and more hot under the collar. She thought Brendan was very attractive, and found him to be a perfect gentleman.

'Do you have any questions about anything we've done?' Jane asked as she finally finished the tour.

'Actually, yes I do have one question; would you like to come for a drink with me on Friday night?' Brendan asked boldly, leaving Jane to feel quite taken aback.

'Oh, I, I'm flattered…'

'But that's a no…' he replied awkwardly and shyly, trying to hide the flush of colour that had come to his cheeks, which made Jane adore him just a little bit more.

'No, no I'd like to, it's just that Friday is my daughter's birthday and…'

'You and your daughter are very close, it's nice to see.'

'Do you have children yourself?'

'Yes, a son; I don't get to see him all that often these days,' Brendan replied sadly.

Jane felt sorry for Brendan although she wasn't certain why, and she wasn't really certain if she was ready to go on a date yet. Since she and Alexander parted ways, she'd discovered a great deal of male acquaintances who had decided that now she was single she must be interested in them, but Brendan didn't seem like that, for which, she was greatful.

'We're travelling up to Scotland on Saturday, but we'll be back in about a week. Perhaps we could meet up then?' She asked tentatively, making Brendan smile broadly.

'I would love that.'

Jane then grabbed the rest of her equipment and headed back home to Felsham Hall, where Lovejoy and Jess were already waiting for her. She heard them laughing excitedly as soon as she walked in and it was the best sound she thought she'd ever heard. Now that Jess was back for good, and Alex gone, she realised that this was what she had to look forward to for a long time to come; the only problem with that was, did she really want to ruin it by inviting a man into the equation? And did she want just anyone in her life, or was there really only one man for her? The thought came to her just as she got to the billiard room, where Lovejoy and Jess were playing, and he was losing. As she stood and watched them together, she thought for a few moments about him and her, the kiss that they had shared that night, a few weeks earlier, and how much she loved him, but was that enough? He was sweet, kind, thoughtful and generous with Jess; he had filled the role of her father very easily, but he was also very irresponsible, a womaniser, bad with money and constantly in trouble!

On seeing Jane standing in the door way Lovejoy looked up from his concentration of the cue and the white ball and smiled broadly at her. Ah, damn it, there is was, that smile that hit her every time and made her fall in love with him every time.

'Janey, you're just in time to see your daughter kicking my ass; it's the third game in a row she's won!' He said despondently.

'Now, now Lovejoy, don't be a bad loser,' Jess' reply was mischievous, with a twinkle in her eye and a wrinkle of her nose. 'Do you want a shot Janey?' She asked as she handed Jane the cue, just as Lovejoy missed his shot.

'Alright,' she said as she began lining up her shot, wiggling her bottom slightly in Lovejoy's direction, an opportunity that he didn't fail to take as he stared at her, making Jess giggle seeing as he wasn't very discreet about it, yet Jane was oblivious. As she concentrated hard on lining up her shot, he walked up behind her and knocked the cue, just as she was about to take her shot.

'See now Janey, that just goes to show, you should never rush a shot,' he said mischievously, as Jane stood up and faced him, just inches from him.

'Oh is that what happened?' She retorted softly, with a brief, seductive raise of her eyebrow. It didn't seem to matter how much she resisted him, he always seemed to bring out the flirtatious side of her.

'Oh gimme a break,' Jess playfully muttered under her breath with a role of her eyes, taking her cue and potting a few balls.

'I thought it was my turn?' Jane said.

'Ah, but you missed…' Jess replied as she potted the final few.

'Actually Jess, where did you learn to play so well?' Lovejoy asked as he helped her to tidy away.

'Woodgreen Youth Club. I used to go every Thursday and hang out with all of the lads, I was much more the tom-boy so preferred pool, football and video games to dolls, make-up and fashion; although I of course loved art. That's actually where I first discovered I could paint properly. When mum became ill it was a way for me to escape.'

'Well, you've got a wonderful talent Jess, I'm glad that you discovered it, I'm just sorry that you discovered it the way you did,' Lovejoy said as he placed a fatherly arm around Jess' shoulders and a gentle kiss to her forehead. 'So what do you want to do on your last night as a nineteen-year-old?'

'Can we just go down to The Ploughman's for a drink?' Jess giggled.

'What an excellent idea,' Lovejoy replied, 'no doubt Tinker will already be there and will already have a few under his belt before we've even said hello to the barman.'

'Probably, but he's like everyone's favourite uncle,' Jess laughed.

She loved going to the pub with Lovejoy, Jane, Eric and Tinker, the people she loved most in the world and happy to call family. Eric and Tinker had really taken to Jess, and she them, so the idea of spending the night before her birthday with them seemed very fitting. It didn't take long for them to get ready and arrive at the pub, and just as Lovejoy had predicted, Tinker was sat in their usual corner, slightly worse for wear, joined by a slightly less inebriated Eric.

'Hello boys, mind if we join you?' Jane asked with a smile.

'Jane my dear, lovely to see you,' Tinker replied.

'Hello Tinker,' Jess said as she placed a kiss to his cheek, making him blush furiously. 'And Eric, what's up, you've got a face like a smacked arse,' she added on seeing Eric's less than jovial expression.

'He's depressed,' Tinker filled in.

'What the hell have you to be depressed about Eric?' Lovejoy exclaimed.

'Lillian, that girl from the post office, she's dumped me.'

'I didn't realise you were even going out,' Jess said as she approached the bar, buying the first round of drinks. She'd spent so much time with them all that she didn't need to ask them what they were drinking, she knew their favourite tipples off by heart.

'What can I get you?' The barman said.

'One scotch, a pint of lager, a pint of beer, a cabernet sauvignon and a rum and coke please.'

As the barman then placed the drinks in front of her, one by one she passed them to their grateful recipients, before joining them. They were laughing raucously at some predicament Eric had gotten himself into, and it was one of the best starts to her birthday she'd ever had.

They'd spent the entire evening together, laughing and chatting and talking about their upcoming trip to Scotland, before retiring home, with Lovejoy joining Jane and Jess for a night-cap at Felsham Hall. Being slightly tipsy meant that Jane wasn't quite in full control of her inhibitions, which made it even harder for her to resist Lovejoy's flirting.

'Right I'm off to bed,' Jess said, slightly drunk and very sleepily, but in a very good mood. She walked over to Lovejoy, who was sat next to Jane on the sofa. Jess had noticed that, since they'd returned home, Lovejoy and Jane had been getting closer and closer to each other on the sofa, which made Jess giggle. It was as clear to her as it was to everyone else how they felt about each other, and it was frustrating her that they weren't getting the hint about being with each other.

She hadn't pressed the matter since the day she had confronted Lovejoy about it, because she knew that he had been right about Jane needing time to come to terms with everything that had happened; even though she hated and despised Alexander, Jess appreciated that Jane had been very much in love with him, and she understood that her separation from him came as a shock to her. However, Jess now felt like it was time that they all started to look towards their future together, and if she had her way, that future included Lovejoy firmly in it.

'Goodnight Lovejoy; see you in the morning,' she said as she kissed him on the cheek and gave him a hug.

'Yeah goodnight Jess. Don't let the bed bugs bite,' he replied as he hugged her back tightly.

'Night Janey,' she said as she then turned her attentions to her mother, whom she hugged even tighter and lingered just that little bit longer. 'Love you,' she added in a whisper, which flooded Jane with emotions.

'I love you too,' she whispered back, and as Jess left them, Jane had tears in her eyes.

'Are you alright?' Lovejoy asked her after a few moments.

'Yes, yes I'm fine,' she said as she wiped her eyes and blinked a few times. 'I just still can't believe that she's here sometimes, and that she's mine,' she added, just as Lovejoy placed his arm around her shoulders and gave her a little kiss to her forehead, something she didn't pull away from.

'I know, and tomorrow is going to be very special, for the both of you.'

'Thank you Lovejoy. You really have been great with her you know,' she replied, feeling aware that he was very close to her.

'Well she's a really great kid Janey, she reminds me a lot of you.'

'Does she? I sometimes wonder. There's this look that she gives sometimes, I don't even think she's aware of it, but I swear it's just like looking at Alexander,' she explained sadly, as she nervously took a sip of her drink.

'Janey, are you having second thoughts about you and Alexander?' Lovejoy asked sharply, feeling a little hot under the collar.

'No, no of course I'm not, but I want the best for Jess, and right now what is best for her is that she has stability and the right sort of guidance…'

'The right sort of guidance? What the hell does that mean?!'

'I didn't mean anything by that in particular Lovejoy…'

'Well you must have meant something Jane!'

What had started out as a conversation of avoidance was fast turning into a full blown argument, which was the last thing she had intended, but she couldn't allow herself to be vulnerable with Lovejoy, because she knew exactly where that would lead to, and she still hadn't made up her mind whether or not he was who she wanted to be with or what it was that she wanted.

'Forget it Lovejoy, I didn't mean anything by it; I'm sorry,' she moved quickly away from him, and sidled to the other end of the sofa.

Lovejoy couldn't quite fathom what had just happened. She infuriated him sometimes, because one minute he thought that he might be within a chance of being with her, and then the next she would back away from him.

'I just feel a little, preoccupied this evening, I am sorry.'

'So what's brought this on?' He asked, trying to make sense of her, but his tone of annoyance was still very clear.

'Brendan Chisholm has asked me out on a date. He wanted me to go with him tomorrow night but I told him that I couldn't because of Jess, so we're going out when we come back from Scotland,' she said quickly as she grabbed the empty cups and glasses and walked briskly into the kitchen, followed closely by Lovejoy.

'Hold on a minute Janey! I'm sure he's a nice enough guy, but we know nothing about him, he might be an absolute sleaze!' He said as he tried to find an excuse to give her, afraid to properly say what he really wanted to say to her in case it pushed her further away.

'Well Lovejoy, Alexander and I have been separated now for a couple of months, maybe it is time that I moved on…'

'Janey, I can appreciate that in your semi-detached state that you're needing a meaningless fling, I just think you need to be careful, that's all…'

'Lovejoy, your concern is duly noted…' she began to say just as the clock in the hall struck midnight, '…but I think it's time I went to bed.' She quickly walked out of the kitchen and turned out the lights. 'You're welcome to stay if you want to.'

'No, no thanks Janey, I think I'll just go home.'

'But you didn't bring Miriam with you.'

'It's fine, I'll walk; the fresh air will do me good.'

He disappeared into the dark night, tightly wrapped up against the cold, but his anger was enough to keep him warm. He hadn't even said a proper goodnight to Jane, and he knew that that had hurt her, like she knew that telling him about Brendan had hurt him. As she closed the front door and locked it tightly, she rested against it for a few moments and gave a big sigh. What a mess she was in. Thankfully her morning got off to a much better and happier start.

As she sat in the kitchen waiting for Jess to come down, she lightly thumbed the carefully wrapped present that was sat waiting in front of her, and smiled lightly at the thought of it. She wasn't sure if she'd done the right thing by giving her this, perhaps she wouldn't understand it's significance, but at least it was something vitally important to Jane.

'Happy birthday sweetheart,' Jane said as Jess bounced into kitchen.

'Thank you Janey,' she said with a broad grin as she placed a kiss to her cheek.

'Have a seat and I'll get you breakfast.'

'That's alright mum I'll get it,' Jess replied as she walked casually to the cooker, but her use of the word mum had brought tears to Jane's eyes. It was the first time Jane had heard Jess call her mum without being half asleep or under the influence of a fever.

'Jess,' she said as she rushed towards her daughter and embraced her tightly. 'I love you, I hope you know that.'

'I know; I love you too. I can't wait for us to spend some time together in Scotland,' Jess replied as she held Jane tightly. 'Now let go of me and I'll make us some breakfast,' she added with a giggle.

Jane smiled tearfully, 'alright, what do you fancy?' She asked as she watched Jess mulling around.

'Nothing complicated, just beans on toast, with a side of banana pancakes,' Jess said as she took out a pan from the cupboard.

'Ah, well I know how they're your favourites, so I already made you some; they're in the oven keeping warm.'

'You are the best!'

Jess shared her pancakes, toast and beans with Jane, who enjoyed her breakfast and coffee with her daughter, as they sat at the table with the sun streaming through the French windows. They chatted awhile about what Jess wanted to do for the day, before Jane gave Jess her present.

'You do realise that I didn't expect you to get me anything you know,' Jess said with a flush to her cheeks.

'Well of course I was going to get you something; although this is something I bought for you a very long time ago,' Jane explained apprehensively as Jess slowly and carefully pulled at the red ribbon holding together the neatly folded gold wrapping paper to reveal a small, white knitted blanket with the letter J embroidered into one corner. 'I had no idea what I was going to get you for your birthday this year, since nothing seemed special enough, but then I remembered that I had this and I wanted to give it to you…'

Jess was speechless and felt her eyes begin to sting as she realised the significance of the gift.

'Janey, this…this is beautiful,' she whispered as she pulled it out and held it close to her.

'I wrapped you up in that as soon as you were born. Alexander thought I'd gotten rid of everything pertaining to you, if something hadn't gone with the social worker, he gave it away to charity. I was only able to keep this and a couple of outfits that I'd bought for you.'

'It's weird, I never once even considered that you might have kept something back, I don't even think I ever considered what you had bought me before I went away. This means a lot.' She gave Jane the most loving hug that she could muster and both were close to tears, but neither wanted that today.

'I got you something else as well, although I should have perhaps talked it over with you first,' Jane explained nervously as she handed Jess a card. As Jess opened it a certificate of some sort fell out, which Jess quickly unfolded, wondering what on earth Jane had done.

'This contract confirms and certifies that Jessica Carter is now a signed partner in Felsham Interiors…You made me a partner in your business?!' She exclaimed as she read the document aloud.

'Yes I did. I also want to add you to the name of the business, I was thinking Felsham and Carter Interiors, what do you think?'

But Jess didn't get the chance to respond as Lovejoy walked in looking very pleased, carrying a small gift wrapped box, which he placed in front of her before giving her a hug.

'Aw thank you Lovejoy, but you shouldn't have!' She replied as she then unwrapped his present, which was a beautifully wrapped jewellery box, with an ornate design on the lid and when she opened it, it played the most beautiful piece of classical music.

'I remember that you said weeks ago that you always wanted one of those,' he said as he walked towards Jane.

'Aw I really love it. Thank you guys for such wonderful gifts,' she said as she hugged them both brightly in turn. 'I'll take these upstairs and throw on some clothes,' she added as she then skipped out of the kitchen, leaving Lovejoy and Jane to awkwardly look at each other.

'Lovejoy, about last night, I'm so sorry for the way I spoke to you…'

'Jane, you've nothing to apologise for. I just want the best for you and I want you to be happy. I overacted last night and I'm sorry,' he replied as he kissed her forehead, and then looked lovingly at her, a look which made her stomach fill with butterflies.

After a short while, Jess came bounding down the stairs again, where she found Lovejoy and Jane sat at the table in gentle conversation. As per usual she was wearing her favourite bright coloured clothing, which matched her ecstatic smile.

'Jess, are you sure that this is what you want to do today, we can go to the auctions anytime,' Lovejoy asked.

'I know, but I love going to the auctions with you both, it always feels special, like it's our little thing,' Jess explained.

'Well if you're sure that's what you want, then I'm happy to oblige,' Jane smiled.

'Although there's a car boot sale on in Bury St Edmonds that I'd like to go to first.'

'I've never been to one before,' Jane said, much to the surprise of both Jess and Lovejoy.

'Really Janey? You're missing out. It's great what you can find in a car boot sale, you pick up some real bargains,' Jess explained as she grabbed her coat.

They all walked out to the range rover together, but Jess was a little preoccupied as she got in. Jane sensed that something was playing on Jess' mind, but wasn't sure what.

'Is everything alright Jess?' She asked as she rested against the open car door.

'Yeah Janey everything is fine, it's just that…well…I was just thinking about the partnership…' she said with a slightly worried tone.

'I knew I should have asked you about it first. If you don't like the idea…'

'No, no, it's not that at all, I love the idea and I feel honoured that you've done that for me, really I do…it's just the name, Felsham and Carter Interiors, it just feels a little too impersonal, as if it doesn't reflect the relationship we now have; so how would you feel about changing it to Felsham and Daughter?' Jane was speechless. That was definitely not what she had expected Jess to say.

'Felsham and Daughter?! Jess, I don't know what to say…well except yes of course,' she stammered to a gleeful and relieved looking Jess.

'Congratulations you two, now we have something else to celebrate,' Lovejoy grinned, as they climbed into the car beside him and then Jane began to drive out of the driveway.