Keeping the Memory Alive – Chapter 2
-O-
DISCLAIMER: I am not connected to Emmerdale and its characters, which belong to ITV.
-O-
As she stepped out of the taxi, she looked around the village to see the familiar houses with their neatly kept gardens and at the centre of everything: the Woolpack. Nothing had changed since she was last here. She looked across the street to see Dale Head cottage next to the garage, just as she remembered it...and a little pang still clutched at her heart as she recalled the most painful event of her life which had taken place within those four walls.
Hazel Rhodes had a tear in her eye as she headed down the street towards the B&B. She had booked ahead after returning from one of her travels. She had come back for a special reason: she needed to visit the spot where her darling Jackson had been laid to rest. She was anxious to go to his graveside, but she needed to go to her room first and freshen up. There was also someone that she needed to see: Aaron Livesy. The boy was like a son to her and it had been a long time since she had seen him. She had heard that he fled to France but was now back in the village and she wanted to check on him. She knew how much Aaron had loved her son and how devastated he had been when they lost him. Little did she know the heartache that he had experienced since then.
After leaving her luggage in her room, Hazel left the B&B and walked towards the cemetery but she was spotted by Bob Hope who was unloading supplies from a van.
"Hazel!" Bob gagged in surprise.
"Hello Bob," Hazel smiled and was immediately pulled into a bear hug.
"I didn't know you were back in the village," Bob had the broadest of smiles on his face.
"I've only just got here," Hazel replied, "been all over Europe these past couple of years...you know me, always the globetrotter."
"Well it's lovely to see you back," Bob could not disguise his delight, "Come in for a cuppa and we'll have a catch-up."
"That's very kind of you Bob, but I want to visit Jackson's grave just now, I'll pop along to the cafe when I'm finished."
Bob understood perfectly, "Okay, I've got to get this stuff inside anyway: I'll see you in a bit."
Hazel continued her journey to the cemetery and did not meet anyone else on the way. She brushed away a tear as she looked at the headstone, which had been kept spotlessly clean. She laid a bunch of daffodils on the grave and noticed a single red rose which had been carefully placed there. She knew who had put it there: the lad who still loved her son more than life itself.
Bob talked non-stop when Hazel called into the cafe later and she found out about Aaron's business partnership with Adam and caught up on other events, such as Katie's death and the Whites' purchase of Home Farm. When the cafe became busy with customers and Bob had to give Ruby a hand, Hazel made her way to the Woolpack. She was hoping to see Aaron but he was at work, but Chas and Diane were pleased to see her and Chas invited her into the back room for a chat.
"How's Aaron these days?" Hazel asked.
Chas looked uncomfortable, "You don't want to know, Hazel."
"Yes I do! That's why I'm asking...is he in trouble?" Hazel could sense that something was not right.
Chas was squirming in her chair, she wanted to make out that everything was fine but she knew that, given Hazel's close relationship with Aaron, she needed to put her in the picture. In any case, she was getting tired of shouldering the burden all by herself, "He's had an affair with a married man."
Hazel did not look that surprised, "That's our Aaron, complicated as ever! Is that it?"
"No, that's not all of it," Chas seemed reluctant to continue.
"Go on," Hazel encouraged her to carry on.
"Well, you know that Katie died?"
Hazel started to piece things together, "You're not telling me that Aaron killed her, are you?"
Chas looked shocked, "God no!"
"Well, what's Aaron got to do with it then?"
"He was there," Chas continued, "Katie found out about the affair and I have my suspicions that this bloke killed her. He says this other man didn't kill her and it was an accident, but he could be covering for him...we do that for the people we love, don't we?"
Hazel now looked surprised, "Are you saying Aaron actually loved this bloke?"
"He says he did."
"Well, you still need to go to the police if you think Aaron's boyfriend murdered her."
"That's the trouble, Hazel, if I go to the police then Aaron will get dragged into this too, as an accomplice. Even if it's true that it was an accident, Aaron still covered up for him, so he'll be for the high jump too. I don't want him to get locked up, or start the self-harming again."
"My word," Hazel looked at Chas steadily, "our boy certainly gets himself into some scrapes, doesn't he? It was bad enough when Jackson was alive, but he never changes, does he? Do I know this married man?"
"I don't think so, although you'll have heard of him."
"Is he local?"
"You could say that...he lives up at Home Farm."
"Home Farm?" Hazel was piecing together the information that Bob had given her.
"Yeah, you know it's under new ownership now?"
"Bob told me. But who is at Home Farm that Aaron would get involved with? There's only an old bloke and his daughter and grandson and the daughter only just got married..." light suddenly dawned for Hazel, "you don't mean...Andy's brother?"
Chas could see no point in covering up the truth, she just nodded.
"My God!" Hazel exclaimed, "I always knew that Aaron had the capacity to amaze me, but I'm shocked."
"Tell me about it," Chas grimaced, "Robert Sugden...who once had a fling with Katie, years ago. I think that's why Katie became so obsessed about him and was determined to find out that he was having an affair, but everybody thought she had a screw loose! If only I'd believed her..."
"Don't beat yourself up, Chas, no-one could have seen this coming! Would you like me to have a word with Aaron?"
"If you like, though I don't see what good it would do."
"Contrary to popular belief, he does listen to me," Hazel smiled encouragingly, "Maybe I can calm him down, I've done it before."
"Anyway, I'm forgetting my manners," Chas realised she hadn't enquired after Hazel's welfare, "How have you been? What have you been up to?"
"I'm fine, thanks," Hazel replied, "Been travelling all over Europe and ended up in The Netherlands."
"The Netherlands?"
"Yes, I've got a sister, Rose, who moved there some years ago and I finally caught up with her and her son. We had a big falling out before she went as I found out that she was having an affair with my husband Jerry, which was one of the reasons why I divorced him. Anyway, Rose and I have patched things up now. Mind you, I nearly had a heart attack when I saw my nephew for the first time!"
"How's that?"
"He reminds me of Jackson...he's not identical but there's a striking resemblance and his mannerisms are the same...even his voice. She fell pregnant with Jerry's child and she scarpered to The Netherlands and had the baby in secret. I found out since, of course, but I'd never met Jenson before."
"Jenson?"
"Yeah, that's my nephew's name. Anyway, Jenson's catching a flight tomorrow as he wants to visit England, so I promised to meet him at the airport and show him around while he's here. I might even take him to Bar West during his stay."
Chas asked the obvious question, "Oh, so he's gay then?"
Hazel chuckled and had a mischievous twinkle in her eye, "I think Jerry will go ballistic, knowing that he had two gay sons! I can't wait to tell him." She loved to wind up her ex-husband at any available opportunity.
Chas realised that she had missed having Hazel around and she was glad that she had returned.
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Hazel went in search of Aaron at the portacabin. She found him sorting through some pieces of metal in the yard.
"I hear you've become an entrepreneur since I've been away," Hazel said, just as Aaron spotted her.
"HAZEL!" Aaron cried in surprise. He threw his arms around her in greeting.
Hazel was taken aback with the display of affection, "My, you've changed! When I first met you, it took me six months to even get a handshake from you."
"I've moved on since then. Come in and I'll make us a brew."
Aaron showed Hazel into the cabin and made them cups of tea.
"So," Hazel said as she accepted a digestive biscuit, "I hear you've been having an affair with Robert Sugden," she was always one to get straight to the point.
Aaron looked a little ill at ease, "Who told you that?"
"I called into the Woolpack and spoke to Chas."
"She had no right to tell you about my private affairs," Aaron looked mortified.
"Don't worry love, it won't go any further. She worries about you, you know."
"Well, she needn't bother...I can look after myself."
"You never change, do you?" Hazel smiled, "How serious is it with this Robert?"
"It isn't," Aaron replied, "I gave him the elbow. He's married you know?"
"Yeah, I heard all about the wedding...and about what happened to Katie."
"How much did my mum tell you?" Aaron looked concerned.
"I know she thinks that Robert killed her and that both of you will get into trouble if she goes to the police."
"I don't know why she doesn't just report it all in the Hotten Courier and have done with it," Aaron rolled his eyes skywards.
"I know she won't drop you in it, don't fret."
Aaron looked pensive, "I might drop myself in it."
"How do you mean?"
"I can't stand it anymore Hazel, the feeling of guilt is doing me head in. If I go to the police and tell them what I know, maybe it will make me feel better and I'll be able to sleep at night."
"Why should you feel guilty about something that Robert did, or might have done?" Hazel looked concerned.
"Well, I covered his tracks and made it look as if he hadn't been there. Plus, if I hadn't rung Katie and told her to go to the farm, she wouldn't have been there in the first place."
Hazel knew that it was in Aaron's nature to blame himself, "You couldn't have known what was going to happen...it's not your fault, Aaron."
"But I can't help feeling responsible. Anyway, the way Robert has treated me, I want him to have to face up to what he's done. Even if it was an accident like he said, he was still there when Katie died. Do you know what this has done to me? First Jackson, then Katie..." Aaron's voice trailed off and Hazel pulled him into a hug.
"Aaron...listen to me. You were not responsible for either of them. Jackson asked for your help and you gave it willingly...and it sounds as if you were trying to help Katie too, by proving that she was right about this Robert. That's nothing to feel guilty about."
Aaron took some comfort from Hazel's words, but he was still not convinced of his innocence.
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The call came out of the blue. Chas was serving behind the bar when Diane called her to the phone. She held out the receiver for Chas to take it, "It's Aaron," she said.
"Hello love, what's up?" Chas asked with concern in her tone.
"Hi Mum, I'm down at the cop shop. They've allowed me this one phone call, so I'm letting you know where I am. They're keeping me in for questioning and they want to speak to Robert, so I think they're on the way to Home Farm. I've told them about Katie and how it happened."
Chas had to lean on the bar for support, "Oh Aaron, what have you done?"
"I'll be alright Mum, don't worry about me."
Chas knew that Aaron was trying to put on a brave face, but she was worried nevertheless. Worrying was a mother's job!
