(a/n – this is an idea I had that wouldn't let me go. It is a break from my usual style so I would appreciate nicely constructed feedback. Also, I've tried to be as accurate as possible regarding the timelines before this fic becomes canon divergent, but there may be some minor errors. I've not seen any of the pre-Bernie arriving episodes, though maybe one day I will. Please do let me know what you think.)
No Man's Land
Chapter One
There are many people Jason likes. There are a few that he dislikes. Jason interacts with those he likes, and ignores those he dislikes. It's just that simple. Well, nearly. He likes Mary Beard and Gary Lineker but he cannot interact with those in person because they are famous and he is not. Instead he records their shows. He does not record the shows of people he does not like. This includes, but is not limited to, Deal Or No Deal, The Only Way Is Essex and Eastenders. The other exception to the rule are those people Jason really likes. Some might even say adores. There aren't many of those. But his Mum is most definitely one of them.
Jason loves his mother. She's a blackbird with her lovely laugh and song and personality. She works in the newsagents at the airport and lets him read the magazines. He especially likes the ones about true crime and the ones about transport. They're his favourites. If she needs to unpack any boxes of new products he carries them for her and acts out World's Strongest Man. When his mum has finished work for the day they go home and eat their dinner together, which his mum will take from the correct freezer drawer depending upon which day of the week it is. It is Jason's idea of perfection. He loves his mum, and she loves him. And every night as they go to bed she promises that she will never let him down. She promises that she will be the best mother he could ever have. Jason reminds her that he only ever will have one mother, and that's her. She smiles at him and he smiles at her, and Jason sleeps happily, his model tanks keeping guard on the shelf at the end of his bed.
Jason wakes up and reaches out for his bedside lamp only to find the comforting orb in the shape of a globe is no longer there. He wakes up a little more and stabs himself in the eye with his glasses trying to put them on in the dark and calls out for his Mum because it hurts a lot and she will be able to make things better. All he gets in response is an angry shout from the room next door telling him to shut up whining because it's four in the flipping morning. Well, the exact word used is a bit different, but Jason's Mum hates him swearing so he doesn't do it. It registers that there shouldn't be anyone next door, and that's when Jason realises where he is and remembers what's happened. He's been living in this new place for a week and a half now since his Mum's funeral, which was nearly a month after she died because the hospital kept her body and then there was nobody except Jason to claim it and he was too sad to do that. Everything is different and everything is uncomfortable and everything is wrong because he needs his Mum and she just isn't there and Jason doesn't know what to so he rolls out of bed and wraps his arms around his head and rocks himself back and forth on the tiny floor space available in his tiny new home.
At 9:18 the next morning Lynn finds him on the floor and wakes him gently. He thinks she's his mother at first and when he realises she's not he lashes out in terror, his right fist connecting with her cheek with a resounding crack. That makes him feel guilty because he likes Lynn, she's nice and has been sorting out everything since his Mum died. On the whole, she's not done anything wrong. Except put him in his current accommodation. Lynn smiles through the pain and guides him into the shower, tells him that she'll pop by later on to chat with him. Jason asks what time that will be. She tells him it will be between three and four. Jason would like something more specific but understands that she is busy and not everyone keeps to a schedule as well as he does. He sits by himself in his room as the hours pass by, with only a cereal bar and a three week old copy of BBC History Magazine to keep him company. He's read it cover to cover four times now, but now Mum doesn't work at the newsagents anymore, he doesn't know where to get a recent copy unless he asks Lynn to buy it like she got him this one. But this current copy was a present and he knows he would need to buy the recent copy all by himself. The thought of going into an unfamiliar shop without his Mum scares him a little bit.
Lynn returns at 3:29 with another person who she introduces as Katrina. Katrina is one of Lynn's work colleagues, and she's going to help Lynn and Jason to find Jason a new home. A new home with a new person. Jason is confused, and they explain that they think he might enjoy some company from another adult who can help him with things he finds difficult. Jason tells them he is not a child. They explain that they understand that, but want him to meet some of these people anyway. Jason decides that a house with satellite television sounds much better than his current lodgings, so agrees to meet some new people.
First, he meets Sally. She seems okay and they talk about films for a while but she likes soppy romantic movies whereas Jason likes ones based in the past like Schindler's List. Sally tells him that's a bit of a sad film and maybe he should try a happier film like Despicable Me. Jason tells her that he's seen it and he hated all the yellow things because they don't exist and also the tall man in it was no substitute for the mother of the children and Sally flushes a little bit. Jason tells her as much, says her pink skin looks silly with her awful shade of lipstick and that's when Lynn and Katrina decide that's enough for today and Sally can leave. Jason tells them he liked Sally, but she seemed stupid. Lynn smiles.
Next, he meets James. James is nice and knows a lot about the Premier League so he and Jason get on just fine. They have two meetings in Jason's room with Lynn and Katrina present, which seem to be successful. On their third meeting, Lynn and Katrina take Jason to the park to meet James for a game of football. When they reach the park, James approaches them with a brown dog at his heels who he introduces as Lulu. Lulu is a chocolate Labrador and is very friendly, James says. Jason bends to say hello to Lulu and she licks his face, which disgusts Jason. Her breath smells. Still, he likes James so he lets that slide. Then Lulu joins in with football, and because she is a dog she cannot play properly and ends up being more of a trip hazard who Jason spends his time desperately trying to avoid. Jason thinks he is clumsy enough as it is without adding an unpredictable dog into the game. Jason leaves after half an hour, and tells Lynn and Katrina that Lulu is too scary and he does not want to see James again.
Lynn and Katrina wait a few months before telling Jason that they think he might like to meet Alan. Jason asks if Alan has a dog. Lynn says he doesn't. Jason agrees to meet Alan. Alan is nice. He knows a bit about history, though it is less war and more Ancient Rome but that's okay. Jason has been to the local museum enough times to have a sufficient knowledge of Ancient Rome based upon their small collection of artefacts. He also remembers a piece in BBC History Magazine and a Mary Beard documentary on the topic. Jason meets Alan three times and is very excited because he thinks that maybe he will get to move in with Alan soon. Move out of his horrible dwelling. Then Lynn turns up unannounced and tells him that Alan will not be able to see him anymore. She tells him that she is very sorry but Alan has had a stroke. Jason narrows his eyes in thought and tells Lynn that she should not be sorry to him, she should be sorry to Alan because Alan is the one who is ill. Also, he tells Lynn, she should call it ischaemia because that is its proper name. Stroke is what you do to cats or dogs which are friendlier than Lulu. Ischaemia is a serious medical problem. Lynn agrees and asks Jason if he has made any friends since he moved in. Jason says no. The person next door swears too much and the person across the hall spends their time delivering icing sugar in little bags to people but would not share with Jason when he wanted to make a cake for what would have been his Mum's birthday. Lynn makes a note of something in her pad and Jason is about to ask what she is writing when Katrina arrives.
Katrina apologises for being late, tells Lynn she was held up trying to find someone for Berenice Wolfe to accommodate. Lynn sighs knowingly and before Jason can ask who Berenice Wolfe is they both turn to him and ask him if he is happy. He tells them he is not and he wants to move out and he wants his Mum and asks why everyone he likes becomes sick. They tell him that isn't true, but then Lynn also gently tells him that there is nobody else he could move in with at the moment. She asks if he could reconsider his judgement on Lulu. Jason tells them no, and then tells them they are lying because Katrina just said Berenice Wolfe had spare accommodation. They share a glance at this and Katrina says Berenice might not be the best person for Jason. Jason, however, will not take their excuses. He has decided that he wants to move out and if this Berenice Wolfe has room, it makes logical sense for him to see if he likes her. Lynn and Katrina agree, and tell Jason that all being well Berenice will accompany them to see him at 11am on Friday. Jason smiles happily.
It is immediately apparent that Berenice is not like the other people Jason has met. Jason realises this as soon as he sees her. He immediately asks why her arm is in a brace across her chest and Katrina tells him that is not an appropriate question. Berenice, on the other hand, tells Jason that it is because it is injured and is taking time to heal. Jason tells Katrina it was a valid question. He then asks Berenice how she injured her arm. Berenice explains that she was in an accident in her previous job, one which has left her left side a little worse for wear. She has to use a cane when walking for extended periods, and cannot currently use her left hand. Her bruises and surgical scars are starting to heal. Jason listens carefully, and is annoyed by the fact that Berenice has not yet said what her job was. He asks her. Berenice tells him she was a surgeon in the military. Jason grins.
The required meeting goes on for longer than scheduled, but Jason finds he does not mind. He would much rather talk about the ins and outs of tank engineering through the ages with someone who can actually drive one. He would only have been sat rereading his history magazine otherwise. It turns out Berenice is a Major, and was blown up by an IED, and likes to be called Bernie. Jason nods at this and asks her more questions, an endless stream of them crossing his mind. Eventually, Katrina interrupts to say that the meeting is going to have to end because she and Lynn have a schedule to get back to. Jason wants to ask if Major Bernie can stay while they go but she is already standing and accepting a lift home. As she leaves, Jason shouts after her. He asks if she has a dog. Major Bernie laughs for the first time all afternoon and tells him that she does not have a dog. Katrina leaves with Bernie, and Jason stops Lynn from following for a few moments. He tells her that he likes Major Bernie, and asks to move in with her. Lynn smiles and tells him that he still has to have other meetings with Berenice first to be absolutely sure. Jason frowns, and asks her to make sure the next ones are as soon as possible. Lynn tells him she'll be in touch.
The second meeting takes place the very next week. Major Bernie has brought some of her medals with her because she thought Jason might like to see them. He smiles brightly. He does like seeing them. Major Bernie explains how she earned them and Jason tells her she is possibly the bravest person he has ever met. She says that's probably not true but Jason says his Mum used to say that anyone who could continue working after seeing so many of their friends die had to be brave. Jason says that's why he didn't join the military despite wanting to. That, and the fact he thought he would miss his Mum. He goes quiet for a bit and tries to battle with the loss which he knows has happened but he cannot quite get his head around. He doesn't see Bernie raise a hand to stop Lynn from cutting in. She reaches across and pats his shoulder gently, tells him that he wouldn't have liked the army because he is clearly a young man who is very intelligent, and there are not many chances to catch up on Mary Beard out in the desert. Jason asks if she likes Mary Beard. Major Bernie says she does but she has to catch up on all of the ones she missed whilst serving. Jason looks at her and asks if she's ever been to Holby City Museum. She tells him she has not, as she is new to Holby since her medical discharge. Jason thinks this is outrageous and says as much. He asks if she would like him to show her round the museum sometime because he knows every artefact they have. Major Bernie tells him she would like that very much.
The day of their trip to the museum, Jason gets up very early. He sets his alarm an hour earlier to allow time to shower and practice tying his tie several times before he decides it is perfect. Today he is going to make a brilliant impression on Major Bernie. He is going to dazzle her with his knowledge of Holby City Museum and its artefacts. He is going to make her want to live with him. As he is leaving, he sees some people at the doorway across the hall. Two of them are police officers. Jason shrugs, and waves to Lynn who has just parked up outside.
It takes a whole day to get round the museum. This is down to Jason's thorough explanation of absolutely everything, and Major Bernie's physical handicap. While her leg is much better than it was, she says she still struggles with extended periods of time. Especially in a building as old as Holby City Museum which has many steps and few lifts. Jason doesn't mind. Usually he hates dawdlers who take up the pavement when he needs to get past. But Major Bernie is a veteran and also Jason likes her, so he helps her down the steeper stairs. He feels useful, like when he used to carry his Mum's shopping bags and she'd call him Holby's Strongest Man. He likes feeling like this.
Lynn and Katrina left them to it a while ago, promising to arrive back at the museum for 5pm to pick Jason up (and Major Bernie if she likes). Jason enjoys it being just the two of them, he thinks that Major Bernie feels more comfortable when they're not sat around. Jason wonders if this means she likes him enough to want him to move in with her. They're looking at some taxidermies when he decides to ask. He likes the stuffed birds and assorted British wildlife, but is far more interested in the historical exhibits. Major Bernie is reading a factsheet about cranes when Jason asks.
"Why don't you want me to live with you?" Major Bernie stops and turns to him.
"What makes you think I don't?"
"Lynn and Katrina haven't mentioned it to me so you mustn't have said you liked me."
"I like you very much Jason." She seems confident in this.
"So why am I not allowed to live with you?"
"I think the problem is more me being allowed to live with you, Jason." Major Bernie sighs and stares the taxidermy crane in its glass eyes. Jason is confused. She continues. "I'm disabled. I have physiotherapy every Monday at 5pm and counselling every Wednesday at 10am. I struggle to get around the house sometimes, and can barely make a cup of tea for myself nowadays thanks to my blasted arm." Her voice trails off and she looks sad. Jason doesn't want her to be sad.
"That's okay because I can add them into a schedule because they're the same every week. And I'm excellent at making tea. My Mum always said I was the best tea maker in the world. Though I doubt that because there are billions of people in the world who never made my Mum a cup of tea so she couldn't have judged properly. And if you're struggling I can lift or move things or help you!" Jason realises he's breaking the quiet of the museum so lowers his voice again. "You help me when I have my hard times and I'll help you, Major Bernie. Please can I live with you? I really don't like my current home."
Major Bernie looks away from the crane and back to Jason, lips twitching.
"That sounds like an excellent plan, Jason."
Bernie is a cripple. She hates herself. Once upon a time three months ago she was suturing wounds and amputating legs in the back of jeeps travelling across the desert. Now her left arm is strapped to her chest, she needs a cane to walk to the supermarket and if she rolls onto her left side while she sleeps it takes a week to recover from the pain. And, to make things even worse, she has to get a job. The government will not give her any aid while they deem she is fit enough to have a job. Bernie has no problem with getting a job, if that job is trauma surgery. But no. Her options are limited, with her therapist recommending that from her very limited options she becomes a carer for a while in order to ensure she stays social. Bernie has absolutely no intention of actually taking up a position. She vows she will sign to the agency then resolutely decline every offer by being as difficult as possible. This will be the only time she uses her current disability to get out of a terrible situation. Bernie is not going to look after anyone when she can barely look after herself.
Then she meets Jason. She turns up to the meeting ready to smile and nod and never see them again. But Jason is bright and sparky and there's just something about him that chips away at her war-hardened heart. When Katrina from the agency calls and arranges a date for a second meeting, Bernie is aware that if she agrees she's making the option of becoming an actual carer more realistic. She finds she doesn't care and instead slips her medals in her bag to show him. It is when he invites her to the museum with him that Bernie knows that she wants to look after Jason, come hell or high water. She likes him.
Katrina seems worried, and Bernie gets it. They want to make sure Jason doesn't end up in a worse situation than his current one. And Bernie is a grumpy old war veteran who had to retire before her time. It seems implausible that she would be a suitable carer for vulnerable yet strong Jason. But they seem to get on well. They both want to trial a care period, and the agency therefore nod and put the motions in place, informing Bernie that Jason will move in to her bungalow for a six month trial period. If they are successful, Bernie will go down as Jason's designated carer on official documents, and she will be in full time employment again, as it were.
The trial period is a success, on the whole. For six months Bernie manages to not screw up too often and Jason manages to learn how she takes her tea. Every Monday and Wednesday they visit Holby City Museum or the local library, where Jason remains while Bernie gets the hospital shuttle bus to her appointments and back. Jason becomes enthralled by the two koi carp Bernie has in the pond in her back garden. She tells him the splodged one is called Cameron, and the entirely golden one is Charlotte. Every evening at 7pm sharp they settle down with cups of tea and watch Mary Beard followed by World's Strongest Man. Bernie had never seen the show before she met Jason, but is now an expert on the many events. She is also flattered by how well Jason seems to think she would do, if she weren't so badly injured.
It isn't perfect, but Bernie thinks this is probably what having a child is like. Sometimes she forgets to do the washing meaning Jason doesn't have the right socks to wear on a Saturday. Sometimes Jason doesn't remember to write milk on the shopping list so when the supermarket delivery comes they still haven't got everything in. They learn to live with one another and help one another and tolerate one another. Having Jason around certainly passes the time she would have otherwise spent wallowing, Bernie thinks.
After the six month trial is past and Bernie is cleared and officially Jason's carer, they both begin to really settle down. The dusting gets neglected because there aren't fortnightly visits from the blasted agency people anymore. Bernie never saw the point of dusting. She'd slept on desert floors covered in sand and muck and blood, so what did a bit of her own flaked skin matter in the scheme of things?
Bernie realises that Jason gets bored around the house, and she herself is a bit too now she is recovering well. She sees a leaflet on the noticeboard at the hospital one day and boots up her laptop when she gets home, asks Jason to have a look. He loves the idea. The local college do adult classes ranging in a wide range of qualifications. Theoretically, Jason could study there for two years and come out with qualifications in history and general science. The courses are have adapted teaching, suited towards people with additional learning needs. Jason loves the thought of being able to have qualifications in the things he loves. Bernie likes seeing him so happy, and also thinks that she can get a gym membership and go during his college hours. They book themselves a meeting with the college to enrol Jason for the oncoming year.
It soon becomes apparent that the idea was an excellent one. Every day at 8:30 Bernie and Jason get off the bus outside college and Jason enters while Bernie crosses the road and on every day except Wednesday walks the short distance to the fitness centre, where she spends the morning working out in the gym and attending the yoga class her physiotherapist recommended. She finishes feeling sweaty and sore but has a large bowl of pasta in the café afterwards to make herself feel a bit better. She then spends the afternoon reading at home, or going to her physiotherapy appointment if it is Monday. She can feel herself getting stronger, and relishes the motivation she has to get herself back walking without needing a cane. She's got a secret desire to take Jason to Stonehenge over summer, but knows she needs to be confident in her physical shape before she reveals the plan to him. She'd hate to disappoint him.
By winter, Bernie is confident that she will be able to tell Jason of her plans by March. That would give them enough time to plan and go in July. He's loving his courses, and frequently tells her fun facts he's picked up about German Blitzkrieg or Stalin's bunker. One especially chilly Monday in January, Bernie is coming out of the hospital after her physiotherapy appointment. Her left hand side is feeling even achier than usual due to the cold, so she is trying very hard to walk properly. She's just walking past the Wyvern Wing when her right foot comes into contact with a patch of black ice, and her left gives way in shock as she tries to lean her weight on it.
She wakes up to the harsh glare of hospital strip lighting and Jason's voice yelling her name from somewhere. She pulls herself up on the bed and smiles as he walks briskly across the ward to her, taking note of the signs saying not to run. He sits beside her and tells her he had been waiting at home for an hour and a half before a nurse phoned to say that she'd been taken up to the Acute Admissions Unit. Bernie assures him she's fine and asks a passing doctor when she will be able to go. The bald headed man smiles at her, his glasses shining. He looks at her chart and says so he'll go and find her the discharge forms. Bernie turns to Jason and asks if he would be kind enough to go and find her a wheelchair and also the location of a phone so that they can call a taxi. He nods and exits the ward. Bernie is thankful that she never brought up her plan to go to Stonehenge. That's going to have to be pushed back now. Stupid, crippled leg.
A brunette appears at the foot of her bed and smiles kindly. Bernie feels something she thought she'd never feel again ignite ever so slightly in her stomach. She's not felt this since Alex back in the army before that fell to pieces. Before that, there'd only been Marie in university. This woman is very pretty, and explains that the other doctor – Bernie forgets his name – has been called away so she'll do the forms instead. Bernie nods mutely, trying to drink in the sight before her. The woman is one of the finest Bernie thinks she's ever seen, or ever will see. She's probably the best thing about Bernie having slipped. Their eyes meet as Bernie is formally discharged, and Bernie is sure time stands still, just for a moment. But all too soon the bleeping of a pager sounds and the woman dashes off towards theatre. Jason arrives soon after, and helps Bernie into a wheelchair down to the entrance where they get their taxi home.
Bernie is grumpy. She's fed up of being back where she started. It'll take her another year to get back to where she was before the stupid black ice accident occurred. She's snappish and moody and Jason tries very hard to be accommodating, but Bernie fears he might complain about her and the agency will take him away. She couldn't bear that. Jason arrives back from college one day to find her cocooned on the sofa, empty chocolate wrappers scattered around her. He sits in the armchair and looks her in the eye.
"Major Bernie?" He still calls her by her proper title, and Bernie has learned to accept it.
"Yes Jason?" She hopes he isn't going to ask if they can watch Match Of The Day, then feels guilty because it is his house too.
"I was talking to Amy today who was saying that her Mum fell down the stairs once and had her leg in plaster. I asked what she did and she said that she did what her Mum asked but also so did her Dad." Bernie isn't sure where Jason is going but listens as he continues. "So I think you need a husband." Bernie feels herself flushing. She had vowed that she would tell Jason about her romantic preferences someday, but this is not how she imagined it going. She coughs slightly.
"I don't think it works like that, Jason."
"What about a boyfriend then?"
"It doesn't work that way because I don't like men Jason."
"I'm a man. Don't you like me?" He looks hurt. She corrects herself.
"Sorry Jason that's not what I meant. What I meant was that I am not attracted to men." Jason nods.
"That's alright then. You need a girlfriend." Bernie isn't sure what to say so she says.
"And how would I go about getting one of those while I'm like this?"
"Good point. I'll keep a lookout for you." Bernie just nods. Somehow she isn't sure Jason will be the one to lead her to any future partners she may have.
For the past few years, Serena's life has definitely taken a turn for the worse. Her daughter has moved to university, and Serena is lucky if she gets a call once a month with an update as to how her daughter is doing. She has a feeling that she is being used as a money tree at times. She has no idea what a foam party is but what she does know is that her daughter needs money to buy clothes and drinks for one that is coming up. Serena doesn't dare ask what a foam party is because then she might be treated to the patronising tone her daughter only uses when trying to emphasise how old and out of touch her mother is in comparison to Edward's embryo of a, like, totally-hip and cool wife. Not that Serena cares.
No, Serena thinks. Edward has his darling child bride Liberty to put up with his drinking and cheating and snoring. Serena has had many satisfactory partners since then. Angus the most boring board member ever to grace Holby City Hospital. Shauna the regional manager for a beauty company who Serena met at that makeup party in Stepney. Berenice, the smouldering woman with an injured leg who Serena unfortunately had not managed to date but has thought a lot about all the same. Serena's post-divorce romantic life hasn't exactly been bleak. All in all, Serena thinks, she should be more grateful for what she's got.
Except she's really not. Her mother is ill and watching her decline into a state where she can only call Serena by the name Marjorie for some reason is not something she ever saw herself doing. But she does. She cares for her mother whilst being deputy CEO of Holby City Hospital whilst running the Acute Admissions Unit. Sleep is overrated, anyway. It hurts to see her Mum so ill. She knows that she and her mother have never really been close, Serena is the first to admit that she was a daddy's girl through and through. But her mother had always been a strong and proud figure who Serena held as an icon of just what women could be capable of. Adrienne McKinnie had fought hard for Serena, through French summers and Harvard winters. If Serena had needed her mother, then her mother would have tried her damned hardest to be there. Serena hopes Elinor sees her in that way some day.
There's another problem. She's not yet told Elinor about her grandmother. The girl is far too caught up in her studies and it is upsetting to see Adrienne in such a way. Serena ignores the scars littered across her back and shoulders from her mother's rings, and tries not to dwell on the bruising Adrienne has got when she lashes out at Serena. All in all, it is a terrible situation to be in. But Serena tells herself that she is strong, and she will cope.
Serena is accused by those she holds dear – Raf and Fletch – of abusing her mother. The truth comes out about just how poorly her dear old Mummy is. Adrienne dies. Elinor accuses her of not being open enough. Serena gets drunk and scatters her mother's ashes in the peace garden. It isn't the most dignified she's ever been, but she can't find it in her to care. She knows she constantly walks a dangerous line between sad and depressed, and tries hard to stay on the easier side. She doesn't want to go back to where she used to be.
Serena meets Robbie. Robbie the Bobbie, as Fletch lovingly calls him. He's strong and he's loyal and he's more than passable in bed. He's not exactly the London New Year's fireworks display but Serena doesn't mind, tells herself she can and will settle for the local park bonfire night display instead. He treats her nicely and helps her to forget about all the bad things going on in her life, just a little bit. He brings her pastries and takes her for weekends away and surprises her with flowers. On the whole, he's one of the better partners she's had. He understands shift work because of his job in the police, and has a stable pension plan lined up for when he retires. He's a very sensible choice of partner. Serena is beginning to realise that when you're at the stage of life which she is – divorced, overworked and menopausal – the options really are rather limited. Robbie can and will have to be enough. Who is she to tell herself that she deserves better?
She thinks that her mother dying is nothing to worry about as time goes on. But it turns out that it is. It turns out that Adrienne had an entire secret side to her that nobody knew about. Serena has a big sister and the thought thrills her. She's always been an only child, and had always dreamed of having another child to keep Elinor company, though it never came to be. She wonders what her sister is like. She wonders if they'll have a lot in common. She hopes so.
Robbie tells her that he can ask his friend to do some digging on her sister, and Serena isn't sure. It all sounds a bit odd and she's also a bit nervous about the thought of meeting someone who shares her mother with her but didn't know. It's like a whole new part of the jigsaw of her life has been added, but she's not sure how the pieces fit together to make it all work again. In the end, she relents and lets Robbie speak to his friend. She thinks he's harmless enough, and it really is quite charming that he wants to help her to come to terms with everything that is going on. She lets him do his thing and then forgets about it as she goes about her work.
Marjorie Haynes is dead. Serena's sister who she hasn't even known about all that long is dead. It figures, she thinks. Just another person to add to the list of those who make her feel lonely. Robbie takes her to the grave, and they find a card written by someone called Jason. Marjorie's son Jason. Serena has a nephew, and she has no clue how old he is but she can already feel her heart expanding and making room for him inside. She knows before she's even met him that Jason will be something good.
The only problem is that she has no way of contacting Jason, isn't even sure if she can. Waiting around a cemetery for him to appear seems odd. Besides, he is probably with his Dad, grieving. Serena succumbs to the fact that Jason will have to be another person who makes her feel lonely, another person who she can't get close to no matter how much she wants to. Robbie tells her his friend has managed to get a contact email address for Jason, and he gives it to her. She looks at the paper for a long time before thanking Robbie for his troubles. He smiles smugly. She knows he expects a reward, and she makes a note to try and make an extra effort next time she goes to his place. She'll act like he's doing more than scratching her itch. If she can meet Jason, it'll be worth it.
On an otherwise dull morning, after a nudge in the right direction from Fletch, Serena composes and sends and email to Jason Haynes. For the first time in a long while, Serena has the feeling that she might not be as lonely anymore.
To Be Continued…
