I tried to ignore the knock at my door in case it was another development in the ever changing drama that was my sisters' lives. All I wanted to do was get up, go to work and come home to a quiet, calming environment; but those two words were pretty much banned in this household. Against my better judgement I got up from the sofa I was, until just a few moments ago, happily lounging on, in an effort to answer the door.

I could already here Jim's sloping vowels, or Paul's harsh accusations filling up my head space with unwanted weight and confusion; sometimes I really wish I was an only child. Worst of all would be another relative materialising wanting food and shelter, sorry mate, no more room at the inn!

Upon opening the door I was struck with two ice blue eyes, downcast, but not so much so that I couldn't see the expression of my visitor, I couldn't bare the sadness etched in his face.

"Doug hey, what's the matter? Are you okay?" I said, I didn't really know where we stood after everything, but what I did know was I wanted to help him be happy again.

The sudden need to cheer him up caught me by surprise, but I didn't suppress it.

"I…I don't know who to believe, She's my best friend, and I can't just leave her, but what…what if…." He stuttered through the beginnings of sobs.

"Oh Doug…Come here," I reached out, wanting to offer what little comfort I could supply. He accepted my embrace and, although he tried to hide it, he sobbed quietly in to my shoulder.

I had completely overlooked what Doug must be going through right now, I had registered that he knew that girl Texas and of course knew Leanne, but I hadn't really thought that it would affect him so much which of course it would. I invited him in, made tea and talked to him about it. He told me about Leanne's plea hearing and all the suspicion surrounding it. How Doug was sure Will was up to something, which I found hard to believe as he was the dead woman's husband! But there was something about Doug's conviction, his whole expression, which drew me in and I entirely believed all his beliefs as if they had been my own.

We stayed there the rest of the night, my sisters and mum came and went but we stayed put chatting, I had forgotten how he talked.

I awoke to sounds of my family rattling around the house, day was definitely here again. I sat up and rubbed my eyes, an attempt to wake myself up. It wasn't until I was back inside my own room that I realised Doug had been there before I had fallen asleep. I went to get my phone to ring him but instead found a piece of paper, I smiled as I unfolded it and read the two words scrawled there:

Thank you xx