Hope Springs Eternal
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DISCLAIMER: I am not connected to Emmerdale and its characters, which belong to ITV
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Marc Silcock reprises his original role in Emmerdale, as Josh Hope.
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One afternoon, Brenda was just serving Rodney when a stranger with a backpack walked into the cafe; a young, slim man who instantly reminded her of the late Jackson Walsh; except he had lighter-coloured hair and was clean shaven. Rodney paid for his coffee and bun and Brenda then turned to the young man.
"Can I help you?" she asked, politely.
"Yes," replied the young man, "Is Bob Hope around?"
"He's not at the moment; he'll be in later though. Is it to do with the cafe?"
"No, I was hoping he'd be in, that's all," the young man looked disappointed.
"You know him, do you?" asked Brenda.
"You could say that. I'm his son, Josh."
"Oh!" Brenda looked surprised, "Sorry, I didn't know."
"No reason why you should!" Josh grinned, "I might as well grab a coffee while I'm waiting, I expect he'll turn up at some point."
"Sit down, I'll bring it over," Brenda said, helpfully.
"Thanks..." Josh looked at Brenda quizzically.
"Brenda!"
Josh extended his hand and shook Brenda's, "Nice to meet you."
"You too!" Brenda smiled at Josh.
Later, Bob arrived, carrying a large cardboard box which concealed his forward view. He awkwardly manoeuvred through the door and up to the counter where he set the box down on the floor.
"There's somebody here to see you," smiled Brenda, nodding towards the young man, still sat on the sofa. Bob looked across the cafe and set eyes on his son.
"Josh!" he cried, "What are you doing here?"
"Well, I've had better welcomes!" Josh grinned and rose from his seat; he crossed the floor to meet his father.
"Sorry," Bob apologised, shaking Josh's hand, "You took me by surprise, that's all."
"I know, I suppose I am a bit of a bad penny, turning up like this!"
"No, not at all; it's great to see you."
"I'm sorry to hear about Viv," Josh turned serious, "It must have been a shock for you."
"Thanks, son. Yes, it was. We lost Terry, too, you remember Terry, don't you? I see you've met Brenda; she and Terry were a couple."
"So, you've both lost someone close," Josh looked sad, changing the subject he said, "We haven't seen each other since you married Viv. How are the twins?"
"They're fine thanks. It will be nice for them to meet their big brother; I assume you'll stay long enough to meet them?"
"Actually, that's something I want to talk to you about. Would you be able to put me up for a couple of nights?"
"Of course I can, can't see my son out on the streets, can I?"
Bob was aware of Brenda answering the telephone in the background. She asked the caller to hold the line and addressed Bob, "Sorry to interrupt, but that cake supplier is on the line, have you got time to speak to him?"
"Yes, of course," answered Bob, then, turning to Josh, he said, "I'll have to take this call. Take your stuff upstairs and I'll be up when I'm finished."
Josh looked relieved, "Thanks, Dad."
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Aaron was working on a car at the garage when Rodney appeared, "Aaron! Is Debbie around?"
Aaron lifted his head from under the bonnet of the car, "She's had to go and collect Sarah from school. Anything I can help with?"
"It's just the car needs a service, I wondered when you could fit it in."
"There's not much booked in for tomorrow. Will that suit?"
"Fine," Rodney replied, "By the way, I've just been to the cafe. Bob's son Josh is in the village, have you met him?"
"Don't think so, why?" Aaron looked puzzled.
"Let's just say, if you do meet him, be prepared for a bit of a shock!" Rodney was referring to Josh's resemblance to Jackson, but Aaron still looked bemused.
"How do you mean?" Aaron asked.
"Let's just say," Rodney answered, "that he will remind you of someone!"
Aaron was still none the wiser after Rodney's cryptic comment, but he was intrigued. After work, he headed for the cafe to see what Rodney had been talking about. However, Josh was nowhere to be seen, so he asked Brenda about it, "I hear Bob's son Josh was in earlier."
Brenda looked at Aaron with suspicion, "Why do you want to know?"
"Just asking," Aaron said, defensively, "Rodney said he was here and I might get a shock. But I don't know what he meant."
"I think I do," Brenda began to piece things together, "Josh looks a lot like Jackson, I suppose that's what he's getting at."
"Oh!" exclaimed Aaron, "I see."
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Josh and Bob were sitting on the couch in Bob's living room.
"So," Bob began, "has your mother thrown you out?" He meant it as a joke, but Josh looked serious.
"No, she wouldn't do that!" Josh looked thoughtful, "It's my new stepdad, Stan. We had a falling out."
"What about?"
"Well, he offered me a job with his company; but I told him he could stuff it!"
"Why?" Bob asked.
"I am still studying at college," continued Josh, "so I can't work full time. He only tried to get me to work for him as I am not contributing to the housekeeping. He called me a 'sponger' and accused me of taking him and my Mum for a ride!"
"Is that why this Stan threw you out? I've a good mind to go round there..."
"No, Dad! He didn't throw me out; Mum wouldn't let him, anyway. After the latest row, I decided I'd had enough and I left. I didn't know where else to go."
"You know you're always welcome here, son. I've got a lot of making up to do, not only with you, but with all my kids. You can stay for as long as you like." Bob smiled at Josh fondly.
"Thanks, Dad. I'll kip down here until I can sort myself out."
"There's no rush! Are you hungry? I'll make us something for tea."
"I don't want you to go to any trouble on my account."
"Nonsense! It's no trouble. I've got to get the tea on anyway; one more mouth to feed is no bother!"
"Well, I am pretty hungry as it happens!"
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Later that night, Aaron was sleeping in his bed. He often found it difficult to get to sleep; and when he did, it was fitful. He tossed and turned; his dreams a jumble of images. Suddenly, he was on a beach in Lanzarote with Jackson, he often dreamed of this holiday; his one vacation with Jackson; one of the happiest times of his life. He was laying on his front and Jackson was rubbing suntan lotion into his back; Jackson's fingers gently caressed his flesh, it was the first time in his life that he felt the soothing touch of someone who was in love with him. He moaned softly in his sleep; for a few precious moments, Jackson was there again; his one and only love; his soul-mate. Suddenly, black clouds formed on the horizon, Jackson's fingers turned icy cold; he looked round to see Jackson's face, but all he could see was a hooded figure; with a black, empty space where his face should be.
Aaron came to with a start. He sat up, peering into the gloom and the tears started; that damned dream had haunted his sleep again. Why did it always end that way? He turned on the light and climbed out of bed; he knew, from previous nights, that it would be difficult to get back to sleep again. He missed Jackson so much; he almost wanted to jump back into his dream so that he could be with him again. But, he was afraid of the shadows in the darkness, for the dream always ended the same way; he had lost Jackson again, just as he had done for real.
Paddy was already in the kitchen the next morning, when Aaron appeared.
"Good morning!" said Paddy cheerily.
"Is it?" replied Aaron.
"Somebody got out of the wrong side of the bed this morning! I heard you last night; are you still having those nightmares?"
"Sorry if I woke you."
"No need to apologise. Why don't you see the doctor; maybe some sleeping pills would help."
"No, I don't want pills, Paddy. There's only one thing I want; and that's something I'll never have again."
"I know," Paddy felt really upset for Aaron; knowing how much he cared for Jackson and how much he missed him since his death.
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Josh had eaten his breakfast in the cafe and decided to head home to pick up some more of his things. He was walking towards the bus stop when he saw Aaron coming in the opposite direction. Aaron immediately realised what Rodney had been talking about; Josh could easily have been Jackson from a distance. He decided to strike up a conversation.
"Hi!" he greeted Josh when they were only a few feet apart, "You're Bob's son, aren't you?"
Josh stopped to speak to Aaron, "Yes, that's right! News certainly travels fast round these parts! I'm Josh!" He put out his hand to greet Aaron.
Aaron shook Josh's hand enthusiastically, "I'm Aaron, I work over there," he said; gesticulating towards the garage, "Are you staying long in the village?"
"For a while, Dad's offered to put me up for the moment. I'm just heading home to get some more of my gear."
"I'd better get to work," Aaron said, "Cain will have my guts for garters if I'm late."
"Cain Dingle?" Josh asked.
"Yeah, that's right; he's my uncle, do you know him?"
"Not really; well, we have met. He came out with us on my Dad's stag do at a casino, before my Dad married Viv."
"Oh, right! Anyway, I'd better be off. Maybe I'll see you in the Woolpack later?"
"Yeah," Josh smiled, "I'd like that!"
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Aaron and Adam were sitting at a table in the Woolpack that evening when Josh walked into the pub. Aaron saw him come in and beckoned him over.
"This is my best mate, Adam," Aaron told Josh.
Josh shook Adam's hand, "Nice to meet you," he said, politely.
"So, you're the famous son of Bob!" Adam laughed.
"Yeah; one of many!" Josh joked, "Can I get you guys a drink?"
"We'll have a couple of lagers, ta!" Aaron replied.
After Josh had settled down at the table with the two other lads, they engaged in some small talk.
"I asked Cain if he remembered you," Aaron addressed Josh, "he said they had a laugh about you trying to chat up some girl at the casino!"
"God!" Josh looked a little sheepish, "Trust him to remember that!"
"He said things didn't go that well! I expect you've had more success since though!" Aaron chuckled.
"Not really," replied Josh, "How about you? You got a girlfriend?"
Adam butted in, "That's not really his scene!"
"Adam!" Aaron chastised his friend.
"Oh, I see!" Josh took the hint, "So are you two...?"
"Hell, no!" Adam defended himself, "We're best mates, yeah, but I'm straight."
"That's right, Adam here likes girls, well, women; all ages, he's not fussed!" Aaron joked.
"Oi!" Adam said, giving Aaron a dig in the ribs.
Josh laughed; he felt comfortable with his two new friends, "So, what do you do for a good time in these parts; seems pretty quiet round here."
"We sometimes go into town," replied Aaron, "you should come with us next time."
"That would be great," replied Josh, "but I'll have to take a rain check for now; until I've managed to make some money! I'm at college, but I'm looking for a part time job. You don't know of anything that's going, do you?"
"Can't your Dad give you some shifts at the cafe?" asked Aaron.
"I haven't asked him," replied Josh, "but it's a thought."
"Most people round here tend to join the family firm," said Aaron, "I work with my uncle and cousin and Adam works on his family's farm."
"I'll ask my Dad if he needs any help," said Josh, thoughtfully, "it would be handy if I could find something on the doorstep."
"So, you're staying there for a while then?" asked Aaron.
"Looks like it! I can't see me moving into a penthouse flat with no money!"
"You want to take up with some rich old bird, isn't that right Adam?"
Adam jabbed Aaron in the ribs once more, "Will you stop going on about that! You know it's all over, anyway."
Josh wondered what the two friends were talking about but, as they had only just met, he did not feel comfortable asking them about it, so he let it pass.
"Anyway," Josh followed up on the earlier invite to join them on a night out, "when I do get the necessary funds together, where will we go when we hit the town?"
"Aaron here likes to go to Bar West," Adam answered, "That is, as long as you don't mind going to a gay bar!"
"No, I don't mind," Josh replied, looking at Aaron, "In fact, it might be very interesting!"