Chapter One
August 2009. Emmerdale village bus stop and a good looking boy with short spiky blonde hair steps off the bus, no older than 14 he casually makes his way to the local cafe. Matthew had grown up in a care home since he was 5 years old and his mother committed suicide and since that day he had become obsessed with finding his real father. Taking a seat in the cafe Matthew winked at a pretty brown haired teenage girl who was sat on the table opposite. Victoria Sugden looked at him half amused and half disgusted
"Can I help you" Viv Hope asked Matthew suddenly making him jump slightly "Or are you going to sit there all day harassing my customers"
"I was harassing no one" Matthew argued back "And I'll have a sausage and bacon sandwich with a bowl of chips and a coke please"
"Got the money to pay for those have you" Viv asked him in a almost accusatory manner. Matthew did not like her one bit
"No I thought I'd pay in you in air" he said sarcastically making Victoria giggle to herself on the table opposite
"It'll be ten minutes" said Viv clearly furious that someone as young as Matthew had shown her up in public. Matthew smirked to himself and began to read a local newspaper that had been left on the table, not that he was in anyway interested it was just something to do whilst he waited. Viv left the cafe to go and serve someone in the adjoining post office so Victoria used this opportunity to get Matthew's attention
"You're right gobby you aren't you" she asked as she sat down next to him as Viv re-entered the cafe followed by farmer John Barton
"How that bag keeps in buisness when she talks to her customers like that" said Matthew making a face at Viv as her back was turned
"Well this is the only cafe for miles" said Victoria, still laughing at the boy whom she was finding bizarre but charming at the same time
"Yeah it was quite remote around here innit" said Matthew looking around the shop "You're not all inbreeds are you?"
"No" said Victoria laughing "Why? You a city boy or something? I've never seen you round here before has your family moved here or something"
"Well they do live here" said Matthew "But I don't know them; I grew up in care you see. My mum died when I was five years old and they couldn't trace my dad. I wouldn't expect you to understand"
"Oh I would" said Victoria "My mum died when I was about six and then my dad raised but he died earlier this year". Matthew felt horrible now
"Oh I'm really sorry" said Matthew and Victoria gave him a look that made him know it was ok "Anyway, the people at the home don't know who my dad is but I know his first name because it's my middle name. It's the one thing I remember my mum telling me – that my dad's first name is my middle name. Obviously I know my last name so I just did a bit of research and bam here I am"
"Wow very resourceful" said Victoria "So then; I might know who your dad is then. I know everyone in this village. Look, I live in the pub across the road why don't we go their instead of here. Because this place is well boring" she finished speaking loud enough so Viv could hear her
Making their way over to the pub Matthew bumped into a teenage boy only two or three years older than himself
"Watch it" the chavvie boy snarled as he made his way down to the local garage
"Aint he a delight" said Matthew as he and Victoria made their way into the pub. Victoria chucked "He was my ex-boyfriend" she said. Matthew couldn't believe it and laughed out loud
"Vic, you could do a lot better than him" he said as they entered the bar. Matthew looked around; it was a very big pub bigger than the grotty one's he'd grown up around. A friendly woman aged around 55 greeted Victoria who whispered something to her. Diane Sugden nodded and followed her step-daughter and Matthew into the back room. Matthew flopped on the sofa
"Oh, make yourself at home why don't you" said Diane taking a seat next to Victoria "Now, my name's Diane and I am your lovely friends stepmother"
"Nice to meet you" said Matthew getting up and shaking Diane's hand. She was impressed by his manners
"So then" said Victoria keenly "I'm dying of curiosity here, what's your dad's name"
"Cain" said Matthew "His name is Cain Dingle". Victoria and Diane looked at eachother completely shocked.
"Is that a bad thing?" Matthew asked
"That'll be for you to decide" said Diane getting up "Vic, tell him about the Dingles. I've got a pub to run"