Jeff woke up when his alarm went off, he still didn't know why he had set it as he didn't need to be anywhere, but, old habits die hard. It was starting to get colder now that October had begun, so the little bit of morning sun was still a good sight to wake up to, he nearly came so close to never seeing it again. Considering the date, he had slept surprisingly well, he had thought he would have had nightmares and flashbacks to the explosion, but, he didn't. In fact, he couldn't remember what he had dreamt about, but, he was sure it was of his wife and some exotic beach somewhere.

Getting up slowly, Jeff glanced down at his phone; 07:30 Sunday 4th October 2015. One whole year. A whole year had passed since that life changing event, a whole year of appointments, operations, and counselling sessions, assessments, grieving and talking. His life was never going to be the same again. It really was a life changing event, an event that made Jeff see things differently, he had made mistakes in the past and now was the time to start to put them right and do what he wanted to do.

Jeff stretched on his way into the bathroom and got into the shower. The warm spray hit his skin as he started to wake up and get ready for the day. He didn't know what he was going to do with himself, but, he was certain he would find something to do, or, more to the point, he would be given a list of things that needed doing. Shutting off the shower, Jeff stepped out onto the bathmat and reached for his towel looking at his reflection in the mirror. The scars were still prominent on his face, upper body and legs. He had undergone months of plastic surgery and skin grafts to get him to where he was now and although he looked different, he was still the same Jeff underneath. At least she saw that if no one else did. The scars would heal over time, but the mental and psychological ones would take longer to heal. Jeff was grateful that he got away with his life no matter how he looked, he was still alive.

After he got dressed and made the bed, Jeff picked up his phone and noticed a text message had arrived. He swiftly tapped in his pin and unlocked the screen clicking on the envelope to open the message. He read the number and froze. It was a number he recognised. A number he knew. A number he had not seen for a year now. He had deleted the contact at the start of the year, he didn't want to remember what she did to him, and how she behaved and left him so he opted for a clean break. Why after a year and today of all days would she be texting?

His eyes glanced down:

Hi Jeff. This is really hard to do but I hope you will read it. Can we meet please? I think it is about time we spoke and time I explained my reaction. I am back in Holby for a few days.

Jeff didn't know what to do. Should he respond and tell her to do one, should he arrange to meet or should he delete it and pray that he doesn't bump into her again? He sank back onto the bed for a couple of minutes. His head was going around in circles, how can a text from that number affect him so much? He took a few deep breaths and started to think about it. What should I do? Jeff thought about all his options, but he knew he had to do one thing and that was to tell his wife. They agreed after the accident that their marriage should be honest and they should talk to each other about anything no matter how small but they should always talk. He was never much of a talker especially when things were bothering him, but, now, he had been given a second chance and talking things through helped him.

Jeff thought about the woman that he called his wife for a moment, she didn't go anywhere, she stayed put and supported him and here he was, married and expecting a baby with her. He had come a long way since the accident, the doctors and everyone were so impressed with his resilience and progress that the Ambulance Trust had agreed to take him back on at the start of December on a part time basis to see how he coped being back out there.

Jeff locked his phone and headed downstairs, he was going to show her the text and talk through what he should do with her. Would she agree with him? As he walked into the kitchen he saw his wife loading the washing machine and making a tea.

'Good morning babe.'

'Hello Mr Collier, how did you sleep?'

'Surprisingly good. You?'

'Yeah, not too bad, for the moment.'

'And how is my little bump? Did you behave yourself for Mummy?' Jeff spoke to her belly as he stroked it and kissed it tenderly.

'Charming, is that how it is going to be? You kissing the baby before me?'

Jeff smiled and pulled his wife close to him giving her a kiss on the lips before letting her go to finish making the tea.

'What's for breakfast?'

'Cereal'

'Fair play? Shall I get the stuff ready?'

'Yes please.'

The pair of them got their bits ready for breakfast and were eating in a comfortable silence, she knew something was on his mind, she could tell. She watched him stir his cornflakes around the bowl for the tenth time before she decided to speak.

'Jeff, what is it?'

'Huh?'

'What's wrong? You have gone all silent and you haven't even touched the sports section yet.'

Jeff put down his spoon and reached for his phone placing it on the table before looking his wife deep into her eyes.

'You know we agreed that we would always talk to one another and be honest?'

'Yes'

'Well, I need to show you something and you need to promise me not to overreact.'

'Jesus, you haven't checked the bank statement have you?'

'Ha, I know we are overdrawn babe, so what's the point. I tell you not to spend and you spend!'

'I know, but things just jump into the trolley.'

'I know they do, like that super-size carrot cake? Anyway, I want you to read something that I received this morning and tell me what you think I should do.'

Jeff passed his phone over and watched as she tapped in his pin and went to his messages. It didn't bother him that she knew his pin, he knew hers, they had nothing to hide.

'Is that the number I think it is?'

Jeff nodded.

'Bloody cheek. What is she doing texting you after what she did? After how she reacted? How she left you? She hasn't been in contact with you for a whole year and now this? She has some nerve.'

'Babe, calm down and read it.'

'I have read it Jeff, she wants to meet with you to explain. What a load of rubbish.'

'We don't know that though do we?'

'Jeff, be serious about it, you gave her so much and what did she do? Left you.'

'I know and it was for the best that she did otherwise we wouldn't be together now nor would we be expecting our baby, but, there is a part of me that wants to know why she did it.'

'We have spoken about her and this time and time again Jeff.'

'I know, but, all we have done is surmise, we don't know for certain.'

Passing the phone back, she let out a long breath before looking at Jeff. 'Do you want to know?' She said quietly.

'I think I do. Don't get me wrong, I am happy, we are together, you are expecting, I have moved on from the accident and what she did, but, I guess seeing her, listening to her will just, y'a know, help somehow.'

'You have to do what you think you need to do Jeff. If you want to see her, she could come here and you could talk that way, if it all gets too much for you, you could go upstairs or ask her to leave.'

'No, I don't want her near our house. If I am going to meet her then we will meet in town. Richendo's have a nice quiet area downstairs we can meet there. But, I want you there too.'

'Why? Wont that make it slightly awkward considering.'

'Why would it? We are married and she needs to see that I have moved on from her. I want you to hear what she has to say, I want you both to hear what I have to say and I want her to hear what you have to say. We are in this together.'

'Only if you are sure.'

'I am.'

'Right, well, not quite what I had in mind for today, but, this is more important that washing and shopping. Text her back and tell her we will meet at 10.'

'Does that give you enough time?'

'You cheeky git.'

Jeff smiled leaning forward to give his wife a kiss, she knew just how to make things better before reaching for his phone again to type the reply.

Hi. Meet you at Richendo's, go downstairs if you are there before us. We will be there at about 10.

Locking his phone and moving to help with the washing, Jeff wondered if he had truly done the right thing. They had about an hour and a half to wait before they would come face to face with each other again. He needed to be prepared, to know what he was going to ask her even if he knew what he was going to tell her. Was it the right thing to do, or should he just have told her to do one? Either way, he had spent a year going around in circles as to why she left him the way she did, now was the time to find out and close that chapter in his life once and for all, just as the new one was about to open.