Alex had decided to go ahead with the paternity test. That had been a few days ago and they were now awaiting the results. She was in the kitchen feeding baby Gina when the letter box rattled.
Smithy was now on holiday for a few days. He trotted down the stairs and stopped at the front door mat, picking up the post on his way.
"Bills, bills and…" He stopped and looked at a brown official looking envelope addressed to Alex.
"Is everything alright Smithy?" Alex asked as she made her way into the hall.
"Yeah, I think this might be your test results." He said as he held the envelope in front of her.
Alex swallowed hard. She was really nervous about the results. She past baby Gina to Smithy and took the envelope from him.
"Hello you, how's my favourite little girl?" Smithy said as he bounced her up and down.
"You can be such a softie when you want to be." Alex commented.
Smithy had fallen into the role of 'Dad' quite easily to Molly and baby Gina. Cara looked up to him as a handy man and problem solver. They enjoyed arguing over which football team was better, him being a West Ham United fan, and Cara liked Chelsea.
Alexs' hands shook as she slowly prized the envelope open. She read what the letter said, then re-read it again and again. Smithy looked at Alexs' reaction, his expression changed as he looked at her. She had gone white in the face and she was staring blankly at the sheet in front of her.
"Alex, are you alright? What does it say?" He asked.
She didn't say anything to him, but handed him the letter. She finally found her voice to say something.
"Davey is my real Dad." She said quietly.
She couldn't believe it. Would this change anything?
"Listen, I need to go and talk to Mum. Do you mind keeping an eye on the kids for me? I won't be long." She kissed him goodbye and walked next door.
As she opened the front door to Ginas' house and walked into the hallway, there was no sign of Gina.
"Mum?" Alex called, hoping Gina would hear her.
"Up here." Came the reply from somewhere above her.
Alex walked up the staircase, feeling her stomach turning summersaults. She walked to Ginas' bedroom door and knocked lightly on it. Gina looked up from where she was sat on her bed reading the paper.
"Hi Mum." Alex said weakly, and held the test results up for Gina to see.
Gina felt nervous about what was coming. She looked at Alex and then took the sheet of paper from her. She read the results and felt her voice catch in her throat.
"If you had have known before, would it have changed anything?" Alex asked.
Gina didn't say anything at first. She wasn't sure what to say. Finally she was able to speak.
"I don't know. It probably would have done." She said.
"How exactly would it have changed?"
"I don't think I would have given you up. When I found out I was expecting you, for a while I thought through lots of options. As I said before, I had considered telling Davey. If I had have known then what I know now; I would have told him and we could have given you the life I wanted most for you. What I wanted most for you, was a family who didn't have the problems mine did. But I also wanted you to have a Dad. Davey and I had intended on moving to another part of Canley around that time, so we could have been ok." Gina explained. Her eyes stung as she tried to blink back tears.
Alex gave up trying to blink hers back. She let them flow freely down her face.
"Sorry Mum. I don't know why I feel so upset; you would have thought I would have been happy. At least this means I'm not Jack Marshalls' daughter." She tried to smile but only managed a tired and weak half attempt.
Gina grabbed a couple of tissues from the box next to her bed, passed them to Alex and then hugged her tightly.
"I'm sorry darling, I really didn't know." Gina tried to comfort her.
They talked for a while about Gina and Davey, their relationship and what they should do next. Alex didn't have a clue what to do or what she wanted. She did feel curious though about Davey.
"You don't have to have a father, daughter relationship with him; but you could get to know him, find out more about him and about yourself." Gina said.
"You're right. I guess it's quite a shock for us both and might take a bit of getting used to, but I'm sure we'll manage." She smiled.
Suddenly she felt a sharp jab in her stomach. "Oh." She said and her smile broadened. She placed her hand on her extended stomach.
"Are you alright Alex?" Gina asked feeling concerned.
"Yeah, somebody just kicked." She replied as she placed Ginas' hand over the area where one of the twins had just kicked her.
After a couple of seconds the baby kicked again. This time Gina felt it. She smiled and remembered the first time she had felt Alex kick. They talked for a little bit longer and then walked back next door to Alexs' for lunch.
That evening, Alex walked round to the pub where Davey worked as the pub landlord. She walked in and was greeted by noise, smoke and the smell of alcohol.
She walked up to the bar and a young woman in her late teens approached her.
"What can I get you?" She asked.
"I'm looking to speak to Davey Philips please." Alex replied as she peered round for him.
At that moment Davey noticed her standing at the bar, and pushed past his bar staff to see her.
"It's ok Mandy I'll take it from here thank you. Come round here and we'll talk upstairs." He said to Alex and led her upstairs.
He took her into a small living area that they used as a staff room. They sat down and Alex looked at her 'new' Dad. Davey sat opposite her in silence. He didn't know what to say, and neither did she.
After a couple of seconds of awkward silence, Davey finally plucked up enough courage to speak.
"I would have stood by her you know. I would have stood by both of you if I had have known." He explained.
"I know you would. I don't want you to think badly of Mum. She didn't tell you for a reason, she really didn't believe you were my Dad." Alex said.
"Well if she didn't think I was, then who did she think was your father?" He asked.
Alex thought for a second. She felt that Davey should know the truth but she didn't want to betray Ginas' trust.
"If I tell you the truth you have to promise not to let on to Mum that you know. It's something very hard for her to talk about so don't ask her about it either. Ok?" Davey nodded his head in agreement. "Gina didn't believe you were my father because she was… how can I put this?... forced, by someone who worked for her Dad." Alex said. She felt guilty for telling Davey about Marshall but she knew she had to.
"Who was it?" Davey demanded.
"I don't know if I should tell you that." Alex replied calmly.
"Who was it?" Davey repeated with more force.
Alex sighed, "Jack Marshall. Mum didn't tell you because she was trying to stop you getting hurt by the truth, just like me. That's part of the reason she gave me up for adoption." She explained.
"It wouldn't have mattered to me. I still would have taken care of the both of you. I don't think Gina knows just how much I cared about her. I have never stopped loving her and I was devastated when she ended it." Davey said. He genuinely meant it.
Alex smiled and could see from Daveys expression how much Gina meant to him.
"So what did you do after she left you?" She asked.
"I moved to Wales. There was a pub that needed a Landlord so I took the opportunity and left. I didn't see any point in staying in Canley; Gina had made it clear that there was no future between us." He explained. "That's where I met my wife. We lived in Wales until quite recently. We moved back to Canley a couple of months ago."
"So do you have other kids then?" Alex asked, curious to find out more about her family.
"Yes, we have three daughters and a son." He replied proudly. "What about you? Is this baby your first?" He asked, gesturing to her large bump.
"No, I have three other daughters from a previous marriage and I'm expecting twins with my new husband." She told him.
"How long have you been married?"
"We got married at Christmas."
"You said you were married before, what happened? Does he still keep in touch with you and your girls?" He asked.
"Paul died last year. He was murdered by a suspect. Smithys' girlfriend died last year as well so we were helping each other through our grief. One thing led to another and we started seeing each other. We haven't been together long but we've known each other for years. What about you, how long have you been married?"
"Trish and I have been together almost 30 years. I haven't told her yet about you." He said.
"What do you think she'll say?"
"Depending on what we decide, depends on what we tell her. What do you think?" He asked.
"I don't know. I mean, no offence but I don't really know you. It was different with Gina. I've known her for almost fourteen years, so when she found out a few months ago that she was my mum; it wasn't such a big jump. She was already like a Mum to me. I would like to get to know you, but I can't promise that it would be as my Dad." Alex explained.
Davey didn't say anything. He understood how she felt but couldn't help feeling disappointed. Alex saw the look on his face, she felt guilty for making him feel like that but that was how she felt.
"I'm not saying no, it's just not a yes either. I want to find out about you and your family. Who knows, I might end up liking the idea of having a Dad again." She smiled.
"Again?" He asked, confused by Alexs' last statement.
"My father past away about five years ago, due to a heart attack." She explained. Looking at her watch she was shocked to see the time.
"I'd better be heading home, got a family to feed and a husband who'll be sending out a search party." She joked.
"I hope to see you again soon Alex. It would be really nice if we could, but it would be when and where you want to." He said as he showed her down stairs.
"I would really like that." She replied.
The journey home was a blur to Alex. She kept thinking about Davey and how much she was looking forward to seeing him again. She smiled happily as she parked her car in her driveway, walked into her house and was greeted by her family.
