The Dilemmas of Living Together
Chapter 1:
Bridget and Declan are having fun spending time with their daughter Annie.
Miranda watching the young couple have family time with Annie.
"Wish I had another child, but how can I?" Miranda says to herself.
Miranda has been offered a fantastic job opportunity but it requires moving if she does get it.
During the evening at dinner
Miranda was excited that she actually got the job and wanted to tell Steve, Bridget and Mickey while Declan works a late shift at Lassiter's.
"How are they going to take the news?" Miranda says to herself.
"How was your day?" said Steve.
"Well it turns out, I got the job." said Miranda.
"Where's the job?" said Bridget.
"Perth, where Ned and Kristen are." said Miranda.
"How do you expect us to move away, I got my job here?" said Steve.
"I got my friends here and I actually got a life here with Declan and Annie." said Bridget.
"I have my family up there so I'm okay but I will really miss my friends and I don't know if I can leave." said Mickey.
"My new job is such a good opportunity." said Miranda.
Bridget walks out angrily.
"Where are you going?" said Miranda.
"Away from you." said Bridget. "It's always about you."
Lassiter's Hotel
Bridget finds Declan at Lassiter's front staff door.
Declan notices Bridget's tearful face and asks her "What's wrong?"
"Nothing." lies Bridget.
"There must be, you wouldn't be so upset." said Declan.
"Miranda's got a new job and wants us to move away." said Bridget.
"How selfish of her trying to ruin our life." said Declan.
"Who do you think you are to say that?" said Bridget trying to defend her mother.
"She's trying to ruin our relationship." said Declan.
"I'm sorry, I was confused because I have been stressed lately." said Bridget.
"What are we supposed to do?" said Declan.
"Let's make a promise to not let anyone get in between us even my mother." said Bridget.
"Do you really promise?" said Declan.
"I really promise to not let bad things in our way." said Bridget.
"I love you Bridget." said Declan.
"I love you too." said Bridget relieved.
"Are you okay now?" said Declan.
"I am now knowing that you're in my life." said Bridget.
Next Day
Bridget wakes up to see the entire family having breakfast.
"Why didn't you wake me up?" said Bridget.
"You were so peaceful that we didn't want to interrupt your sleep." said Steve.
"Can we have a nice family breakfast before we start talking?" said Bridget pleading for a nice morning.
"Of course we can have a nice day." said Mickey.
Erinsborough High
Declan talking to Zeke and Ringo about what happened last night.
"What happened?" said Ringo.
"Last night Bridget and I had a small argument." said Declan.
"What about?" said Zeke.
"Nothing, it was just a small argument." said Declan.
Zeke thinks there's more to it than meets the eye.
"What's up." said Donna approaching Sunny-Lee and Bridget.
"Nothing much." said Sunny-Lee disheartened that Zeke didn't contact her.
"I had a stressful night." said Bridget talking over Sunny-Lee.
"Why?" said Donna.
"I had a small argument with Declan." said Bridget.
"Why?" said Sunny-Lee annoyed that Bridget always tries to be the centre of attention.
"Nothing too bad because we made up after." said Bridget brightly.
During the evening
Bridget is thinking some things to herself.
"We need to talk." said Bridget.
"Why?" said Declan.
"Where were you last night?" said Bridget angrily.
"I had to work a late shift at Lassiter's, you know that and please calm down because Annie is asleep and we don't want to wake her up right now." said Declan.
"I feel like I'm doing everything in this house." said Bridget.
"Don't be silly, how would we have any money if I didn't work and we need the money to survive and feed the family." said Declan.
Bridget walks out of the house angrily.
"Where are you going?" said Declan confused.
"Out." said Bridget sharply.
Declan thinks to himself "We have had lots of arguments lately, what's going on?"
Next Day
Bridget had a restless night with Annie because Annie was crying all night.
Declan says to Bridget "Aren't you ready yet for school?"
Bridget snaps back "I was the one who was up with Annie all night while you had a good night sleep, thanks for your help not."
"Give me a break, I did it the night before, after working all evening be fair Bridget." pleads Declan.
Bridget shoves Annie into Declan's arms and storms off to the shower calling out "I'll be ready in a minute."
30 Minutes Later
Bridget and Declan walk in to school late only to be confronted by Dan and a lecture on tardiness.
As they walk off together Declan is fuming that the whole morning consisted of putdowns.
During Class
Declan's shocked when in one of their joint classes he witnesses Bridget back-answering the teacher.
After class Declan confronts Bridget demanding to know what her problem is.
"You need to calm down." said Declan firmly.
"Don't tell me what to do you're not my father." snaps Bridget.
The bell rings for the next class as Declan calls out to Bridget "We need a serious talk tonight."
After School
As Declan walks to the coffee shop he sees an old friend looking in a shop window.
Jay notices someone familiar staring and suddenly he knows who it is.
"Declan is that you?" said Jay.
"Jay good to see you." said Declan.
"How have things been lately?" said Jay.
"Good, I have a daughter and a girlfriend. How have you been?" said Declan.
"Good." said Jay.
"Where are you working now, last I heard you were working in security." said Declan.
"I got an exciting job now, I'm running a detective agency." said Jay.
"Wow that's great." said Declan.
Suddenly Jay's mobile rings and says "Excuse me a moment, I got to take this call, I'm actually on a job."
After the phone call, Jay has to excuse himself telling Declan "We should catch up soon but I got to go, I'm about to pick up a mate called Clive to take photos of a naughty husband." laughs Jay.
"See you later." said Declan thinking he must have an interesting job.
During the evening
Declan's getting worried that Bridget hasn't arrived home yet.
After getting no response from her mobile, he decides to go to Lassiter's hotel.
He bumps into Jay at Lassiter's hotel.
"You seem real down tonight, are you okay?" said Jay.
"You know just woman problems." said Declan.
"If you need to find answers, give me a call and because I deal with this sort of thing all time, you would be surprised at how many men hire me to investigate or find out if their girlfriend or wife is playing around." said Jay.
"Is that why you're over here tonight?" said Declan.
After a good chat with Jay, he decides to confront Bridget in the morning.
He decides to stay over at Jay's.
Next Morning
Declan arrives on Bridget's doorstep at the crack of dawn determined to find out what's going on with their relationship.
Miranda lets Declan in and Bridget comes out of her room in a dishevelled state.
"Where were you last night?" said Bridget sarcastically.
"Where were you last night?" said Declan. "I tried your mobile, well!"
"Oh Dec, can't a girl spend time by herself." said Bridget pulling her hair into a ponytail quite unconcerned he'd stayed away last night.
It only took Declan two seconds for his eyes to notice a slight purple marking on Bridget's neck.
It only took Bridget two seconds to realise the look in Declan's eyes.
"Oh Declan, it's not what you think, Mickey's dog nipped me yesterday." said Bridget quickly.
"What were you doing last night, we were meant to meet up for a talk last night remember." said Declan.
"I'm just finding hard at the moment so I just need some space everyone's harassing me, mum, you, Mr Fitzgerald and Annie needs me." said Bridget.
Suddenly feeling sorry for Bridget, Declan backs down and says "Sorry Didge."
"That's why when mum offered to baby sit Annie, I wanted to have some time to myself." said Bridget.
"All right Bridget you get ready for school." said Declan.
Over the next few hours
Bridget seems back to her old self.
While enjoying a snack at the coffee shop Bridget's mobile rings while she's in the toilet, Declan sees Josh's name flash on the screen.
Suddenly all of Declan's insecurities resurface.
Bridget comes back but only to see the shocked look on Declan's face.
"Why was he ringing your mobile?" said Declan.
"What are you talking about?" said Bridget.
"Why is Josh's name flashing on your mobile?" said Declan.
"It's a free country, I can talk to who ever I like." said Bridget.
"Declan, you're always causing the arguments." said Bridget storming out.
Donna witnesses the argument from the counter deeply disturbed by what's going on with them two.
"Looks like Declan needs a friend." says Donna to herself.
"Are you okay?" said Donna to Declan concerned.
"It's her moods Donna, one minute she's happy, the next minute she's moody, I just don't know what's going on." said Declan confused.
"Why don't you get someone to follow her?" said Donna.
"Actually I have this buddy Jay, I'm sure he'd help me." said Declan.
"Who's Jay?" said Donna.
"I knew Jay when I was living at Bendigo, he was my next door neighbour and also a personal investigator he deals with people who want to check on their partners." said Declan.
"That might be a good idea Dec." said Donna.
Suddenly Declan's mobile rings and flashes Jay's name on the screen.
"Speak of the devil, I was just talking to Donna about you." said Declan.
"When are we going to catch up for a drink?" said Jay.
"Saturday 1:30pm at Charlie's." said Declan.
"See you then." said Jay.
"Ok, Bye." said Declan.
Declan closes his mobile and says to Donna "Sorry about that, it was Jay on the mobile."
"That's alright." said Donna.
"Donna, would you like to come and meet Jay on Saturday with me?" said Declan.
"Sure I would like to." said Donna.
"Great." said Declan.
Two Days Later
Jay is waiting at Charlie's for his mate Declan.
Jay is surprised when Declan arrives with Donna.
"Hi Jay." said Declan.
"Hi Declan, who's your friend?" said Jay.
"Hi, I'm Donna."
"Nice to meet you." said Jay.
"What are you going to do about your problem?" said Jay.
"I was wondering if you can investigate where Bridget has been disappearing to." said Declan.
"Sure can." said Jay.
"When can you start investigating?" said Donna.
"How about today, I'll get right on it." said Jay.
"Great." said Declan.
"Give me a photo and some details, then I'll see what I can do." said Jay.
"But remember she can't find out about this." said Declan seriously.
"Okay, where's that drink you promised me?" said Jay.
Next Day
Jay receives a call from Declan.
"What's up Declan?" said Jay.
"Bridget's gone out to see her friend Mary but I'm thinking she's visiting Josh her ex-boyfriend, she's been talking to him a lot lately and I think something suspicious is going on." said Declan.
"Sounds like I need to get some photos, I'll call my friend Cameron, he's pretty good at getting pictures for evidence secretly without being noticed." said Jay.
"I'll let you know if I find out anything in a few days, if you find out she's going out, let me know or otherwise I will ring you Wednesday." said Jay.
"Thanks." says Declan.
Jay calls Cameron.
"Hi Cameron how would you like a small job?" said Jay. "Because I need your photography skills but you have to be discreet, it's important."
"That sounds interesting, give me the details." said Cameron.
"The people I need you to photograph are Bridget Parker and Josh Taylor." said Jay.
"What are the descriptions of those people and is anything else that I should know before I start investigating?" said Cameron.
"Josh is quite tall with brown hair and Bridget has black hair with the curls and the average height." said Jay.
"Josh is Bridget's ex boyfriend and the reason I need the photographs because I can show as evidence of where Bridget's been disappearing to in her spare time and what's she been doing. I have my suspicions that my friend's girlfriend Bridget maybe cheating with Josh."
"I would be happy to help as long as I know I'm safe and there will be no violence come from this if I found out she's cheating." said Cameron.
"I can't guarantee about no fighting but I can promise, I won't throw the first punch." said Jay jokingly.
"I'm happy with that, call me when you want me to start." said Cameron.
"If it's ok, I would like you to start immediately, lets meet tonight at Ramsay Street so we can see where Bridget has been going to meet a certain person." said Jay.
"No worries mate." said Cameron.
Few Hours Later
Bridget meets up with Josh at Josh's place not knowing the photographer Cameron is following.
"Hi Josh." said Bridget.
Josh leans forward and kisses Bridget passionately on the lips.
From a distance Cameron smiles to himself "Bingo." as he takes the shot.
Preview of Chapter 2
A big secret that will shock Ramsay Street.
A couple will split up because of the cheating.
Does the one who get cheated on spiral into deep depression?
What long-standing relationship will fall apart?