Life with the Livesy-Walshes – Chapter 2
-O-
DISCLAIMER: I am not connected to Emmerdale and its characters, which belong to ITV
-O-
"Oooh, my head!" Aaron tried to focus on his surroundings. He did not recognise the bedside lamp that came into his blurry view; then he realised that he was in a bedroom at Home Farm.
"I did warn you to go easy on the champagne!" Jackson spoke from the other side of the bed, "It creeps up on you like a silent killer!"
"Why can't I be as perfect as you?" Aaron sounded indignant, although Jackson knew that Aaron was only blaming himself for the state that he was in; even if he was having a dig at him.
"Good party though, wasn't it?" Jackson mused.
"Yeah...what I can remember of it! Did I really snog Harry Styles?"
"It wasn't Harry Styles!" Jackson insisted, "He was a look-alike!"
"He had a 'One Direction' t-shirt on!"
"You are a div!"
"Anyway, he looked like Harry Styles!"
"Well...he would!" Jackson rolled his eyes, "That's why they're called look-alikes!"
Aaron was starting to feel better and he smirked, "You're just jealous 'cause he fancied ME and not YOU!"
"As if! Anyway, after that, I could divorce you!"
"On what grounds?"
"Going off with 'pretend' boy-band members!"
"I didn't go off with him!" Aaron protested, "It was only a kiss! Anyway, I was pissed!"
"Oh!" Jackson frowned, "That makes it alright, does it? So, you don't fancy Harry Styles if you're sober?"
"I don't even like One Direction!" Aaron said with a grimace.
"So, I don't need to divorce you, then?"
Aaron smiled at Jackson; his headache was receding a bit, "Anyway, you needn't worry about me showing you up last night! What was your mother playing at?"
"Don't remind me!" Jackson moaned, "I went as pink as that prawn cocktail when she grabbed that waiter! The poor lad looked mortified!"
"Yeah! He didn't know that 'fending off Hazel' was in his job description."
"She never could handle champagne!" Jackson chuckled, "I think it interferes with her hormones...or something!"
"I expect that lad has recovered by now! Otherwise, Brett's going to get a resignation letter from one of his staff already!"
"I'll apologise to Brett again later!" Jackson said.
"Why should YOU apologise?"
"Well, we all feel a bit responsible for our mothers, don't we?"
"I don't!" Aaron stated, matter-of-factly.
"Sorry!" Jackson raised his eyebrows, "I was talking about the rest of the human race!"
"Oi!" Aaron slapped Jackson's arm; but only playfully.
"That's it! I've got more grounds for divorce now...physical abuse!" Jackson pretended that he was mortally wounded.
"Div!" Aaron replied as he climbed out of bed to answer an urgent call of nature.
xxxxxxxxxx
In the weeks following the restaurant opening, Aaron and Jackson vacated their doomed apartment, put most of their furniture into storage and moved into Home Farm with Brett and Mason. They again occupied the bedroom that they had used on the night after the party. Jackson found the quiet surroundings in the house a bit strange at first; having been used to the 'hustle and bustle' of Leeds city. However, he did not spend a great deal of time at Home Farm, because, when he was not visiting the TV studios, he was busy supervising the build of his and Aaron's new house on the outskirts of the city. Not that he was an idle onlooker; as he 'mucked in' with the other lads working on the project, most of whom were his old mates from his days on the construction sites. Meanwhile, Aaron was kept busy at his garage in Leeds, so he was also missing from Home Farm during the daytime. Brett and Mason still had their house to themselves for much of the time!
Before long, it was time for Brett and Mason to travel to the Middle East and Aaron and Jackson found that the house was very quiet without their two friends constantly popping in and out. Most nights, they would go into the village to spend an evening in the Woolpack, just like old times, but some evenings they fancied a quiet night in just watching a DVD, snuggled together on the sofa. On such nights, they were grateful that Brett and Mason would not come barging in to interrupt them as they enjoyed themselves; usually sharing a drink and a box of chocolates!
Aaron was in his office one afternoon, checking his client file on the computer, when his mobile phone rang. Looking at the screen, he could see that it was Jackson calling him. He smiled as he held the phone to his ear, "Hi babe!" he said, cheerily.
"Hi gorgeous!" Jackson sounded a bit stressed, "Listen, we've hit a bit of a snag with the electrics! I'm just waiting for 'Phil the spark' to get here, but he's going to be late as he's on a job somewhere else. So, I'm going to be held up here until late."
"Won't you be home for dinner?"
"I'm not sure; that's why I'm ringing. Can you sort yourself out for dinner and don't worry about me! I'll grab something later, when I'm finished with Phil. I'll see you at home later, OK? Love you!"
"Ok, babe, don't fret! I'll see you when I see you. Take care; love you too!"
It was dark by the time Aaron arrived home after he had eaten a meal at the Woolpack; Marlon had insisted on cooking him something hot and he had accepted the offer of a steak pie with new potatoes, which Chas would not take any money for! As he approached the front door of Home Farm he immediately realised that something was wrong. He had taken his key out to open the door; but it was already open! He assumed that Jackson had already arrived home, yet there was no sign of his car. Aaron felt his hackles rise! He pushed the door open and entered the hallway quietly. He could see the light from a torch glowing dimly in the dining room! Without making a sound, he walked through the door and flicked the light switch on. A young man in a hoodie top leapt from behind the sofa and made a dash for the door! Aaron grabbed him and tried to rugby-tackle him to the floor. As the thief fell, he banged his head on the corner of the coffee table. Stunned, but still conscious, the intruder jumped back onto his feet and fled. As he did so, Aaron caught sight of blood running down the burglar's forehead.
Aaron went to give chase, but the thief was too quick and he escaped. Aaron was going to chase him down the driveway but, in the panic of the situation, he was unsure what to do next. He was suddenly concerned that the thief might have some accomplices, so he did not want to leave the house unsecured. He decided to call Jackson.
"Hi babe, what's up?" Jackson's warm voice soothed Aaron's frayed nerves.
"We've had a break-in!" Aaron's voice was full of woe.
"Oh God! Are you OK?" Jackson's only concern at that moment was for his husband's welfare.
"Yeah, I think so; it was a bit of a shock, that's all."
"You'll have to call the police!" Jackson said.
"Do we have to involve Mr Plod?" Aaron had little time for the law.
"It's Brett and Mason's house," Jackson replied, "We must report it as a crime. We are supposed to be keeping an eye on the place, after all!"
"OK, if you say so!" Aaron had never been a big fan of speaking to the police, but he knew Jackson was right on this occasion.
The police were at Home Farm when Jackson arrived home. He immediately checked again that Aaron was OK; then spoke to the investigating officers. Aaron gave a statement of his version of the evening's events and the police investigators confirmed that the intruder had forced the front door; they also took a sample of the blood on the coffee table for analysis.
Later, when the police had gone, Jackson set about fixing the door. After he had made it safe, he joined Aaron on the sofa for a well-earned cup of tea.
"I guess I should call Brett," Jackson said, "He needs to be told what's happened!"
"That's gonna put a dampener on his trip!" Aaron replied.
"I hope he's insured! Are you sure the thief didn't take anything?"
"Not that I can see! Maybe the little toe-rag didn't manage to nick anything before I arrived."
"Well, that's something, at least."
Aaron and Jackson had phoned Brett and Mason to break the bad news; their friends were very concerned for their welfare and seemed more worried about Aaron and Jackson than their property! After the call, they turned in for the night. Once they had climbed into bed, Aaron hugged Jackson to him and snuggled down to rest. Jackson could almost feel Aaron's angst; for all his bravado and 'tough guy' act, Jackson knew that his husband had been unsettled by the earlier incident with the burglar and he stroked his short hair, trying to soothe away his stress. Aaron felt safe in Jackson's arms and; despite everything, he drifted off to sleep.
xxxxxxxxxx
The next day, Jackson was bricklaying at the new house when his mobile phone rang. He saw that it was his husband calling him, "Hi babe!" he answered.
"I've got great news, babe!" Aaron sounded excited, "The police called to say that they've arrested the scumbag that did over Brett and Mason's place!"
"That was quick!"
"Yeah, I think they traced him through the DNA sample they got from the house; seems he's got form! The police said I'd probably have to give evidence in court."
"You OK with that...with your history in courts, I mean?"
"You make me sound like an old lag!" Aaron quipped, "Yeah, its cool! I'll be only too pleased to help the little toe-rag get sent down!"
Jackson had to smile; it did not seem that long ago that Aaron would have sided with a wrongdoer! Now, he was a respectable member of the community; willing to do his bit for law and order!
xxxxxxxxxx
That evening, Aaron and Jackson were sitting in the kitchen at Home Farm, eating a pizza that they had warmed up in the oven.
"So, do you reckon they'll lock that little low-life up?" Jackson asked as he chewed on his slice of pepperoni.
"I should think they've got enough evidence," Aaron replied, "Like I said, he's got form; sounds like he's turned over other houses in the area."
"Yeah, but they only try someone for one offence, don't they? I mean, other crimes are not revealed when someone's being tried for an offence."
"Hark at you!" Aaron scoffed, "Suddenly, you've become a legal eagle!"
"I went to court once!"
"Yeah...I remember!" Aaron frowned.
"No; not when you were in court...actually, that makes it twice! I went once before when I had to be a witness to a bag-snatching in Hotten."
"You've lived such a glamorous life!" Aaron winked at Jackson, which made the older lad chuckle.
"Well, you know what life is like in the fast lane!" Jackson joined in with the banter; it was something which made them 'fit' as a couple.
"Do you want ice cream for afters?" Aaron rose from the table and headed for the freezer but, before he reached it, there was a knock at the front door.
"Typical, just when we're having our meal!" Aaron scowled and went to answer it.
A few seconds later, an apprehensive looking Aaron reappeared with two uniformed police officers.
"What's up?" Jackson asked.
One of the policemen, completely ignoring Jackson's question, looked at Aaron and spoke, "We've had a complaint from a Dirk Lawson; he claims that you assaulted him!"
"What?" Jackson could not believe his ears.
"That little scumbag who broke in here? What's he talking about?" Aaron looked at the policeman with a shocked expression on his face.
"Would you accompany us to the station, please?" the other policeman said.
"No, why should I?" Aaron was turning angry.
The first policeman spoke again, "OK, have it your way; Aaron Livesy-Walsh, I'm arresting you on suspicion of assaulting Dirk Lawson. You do not have to say anything..."
As the policeman was reading Aaron his rights, Jackson was trying to drown out the words with his own voice, "This is ridiculous! He's done nothing wrong! It was this other scumbag; he's the criminal!"
Jackson knew his protestations were falling on deaf ears as the policemen took hold of Aaron and led him away!