Chapter 2

…

Lou opened her eyes expecting the light to hit her but was surprised to find it still dark outside. She rolled over to look at her mobile to find that it was only 5am. She realised Joy was no longer lying beside her as she sat up and brought her cardigan around her as she made her way through to the kitchen, she could hear the clatter of cutlery as she entered the room to find Joy standing looking out the kitchen window. She walked up behind her and placed a hand on her shoulder causing her to jump.

"Jesus Lou, don't sneak up on people like that." She grumbled.

"Sorry, I didn't mean to scare you. What are you doing up, we have hours yet before we're due in."

"Yeah I know…I couldn't sleep." She said, turning to face Lou."

"Stella?"

"Yeah." She said, unsure.

"What is it, is there something else?"

"I'm just not sure if last night, what happened between us should have happened."

"Oh I see, why?"

"Well for one, you work for me."

"Not exactly a major issue….what else?"

"Oh come on, what do you think people would say…you and me. We'd be laughed at, Sylvia would certainly be the first one to go and tell everyone."

"So you're embarrassed by it."

"Lou, this isn't me. I'm not gay and neither are you for that matter. I mean I know you tried it on with me when we first met but…"

"I was just messing around when I started."

"Okay and now….are you still messing around. I'm not the touchy feely type, what the hell would possess you to make any kind of a move on me if not for a laugh."

"The truth?"

"Why not."

"Alright, well firstly I'm not messing around here. You're right, I'm not gay and neither are you and yes I joked around when I first came but I'm not joking now. Last night, when you were telling me about Stella…your feelings about her. How depressed you've been about her transfer, I finally got to see the real Joy Masterton…the Joy who does have feelings buried deep inside and I don't know….I felt something in that moment and yes…I kissed you. I don't regret it, I hope you don't?"

"If it got out about you and I then…."

"Nothing would happen, they can't fire you over it. Sure, people will gossip behind our backs, so what's new. If we stick together, we can handle it."

Lou moved to put her arm around Joy's shoulder as they leaned on the counter, waiting for the kettle. She leaned in and placed a small kiss to Joy's cheek, smiling as she felt Joy leaning into the touch.

"What do you say….you willing to take a chance?"

Joy turned to see Lou smiling at her as she took hold of Lou's hand.

"It won't change the way I treat you at work you know."

"I wouldn't expect it too…so?"

"We'll see how it goes."

"Why don't we go back to bed for a bit, you look exhausted?"

"I think the hangovers kicking in."

"Well you only have yourself to blame….come on."

…

As they lay in bed, Lou curled up beside Joy. She looked up to see that something was bothering Joy.

"Hey, what's wrong now. You're not still worried about…."

"No, it's not about us."

"So, what is it."

"I was thinking about visiting Stella in prison today."

"Oh Joy, that sounds like a really good idea." Lou smiled.

"Do you think she'd agree to see me?"

"Well, I don't know. She was pretty mad about the transfer."

"She hates me."

"Hey come on, she doesn't hate you. You're her Mother, she's just angry right now."

"How the bloody hell did this happen, a few weeks ago my life was easy, next thing I know Stella's arrived telling me she's my Daughter, I get rid of her and you and I end up sleeping together."

"Well, not all bad then." Lou joked.

"It's not funny."

"Oh come on, I'm only mucking around. Look, go and see her and apologise and for god sake mean it."

"Well of course I'd mean it."

"I know it's hard and she hasn't exactly make it easy for you but just remember she's been through a lot in her life, put up with a lot."

"So it's my fault."

"Lou quickly sat up and moved to bring Joy closer to her.

"That's not what I'm saying, but let's be honest…she hasn't had the best upbringing has she. Alcoholic parents, didn't her foster dad hit her a lot."

"That's what it said in her file, yes."

"So she has a good reason to keep her guard up, she's certainly your Daughter that's for sure."

"It is all my fault, if I'd tried harder when she was born she wouldn't have ended up in that family unit, she might not have ended up in prison."

"You can't change the past but you can move forward and try and give her a better future. You're scared, aren't you?"

"Terrified."

"I'll go with you if you want."

"No, thank you but no. I need to see her alone and I don't want her knowing about us just yet, just incase."

"Incase on what?"

"Things might not work out, we don't know for sure."

"Ever the optimist, aren't you."

"I don't mean to sound harsh it's just…."

"It's okay, I get it."

Lou got out of bed and started to get dressed and then throwing things into her bag.

"Where are you going?"

"We have to be at work soon, I need to go home and shower and change. Wouldn't be good to turn up to work with yesterday's outfit, people might talk."

"Don't be like that."

"Like what, you're the one convinced things will inevitably fail."

Lou quickly put her jacket on before coming around to Joy's side of the bed and leaned down so that they were inches apart.

"But for your information Joy, this will not fail. You and I, we're going to work hard at this and I'm not going to let you run away when problems arise. I won't give up on you….on us. I'll see you at work."

She gave Joy a deep kiss and smiled before pulling back and walking out the room, leaving Joy speechless.

…

To Be Continued…