Chapter 3
*BUZZ* Janet's alarm went off. She woke up and the room felt like it was spinning around her. She looked next to her and there was an empty space from where Adrian would usually sleep. The space was untouched, it hadn't been moved in anyway. This was due to Janet being so drunk from the night before that she just passed out across the bed. She was still in the clothes from the night before. She walked over to the bathroom, put her hands on the side of the sink and looked into the mirror 'I look so rough.' She said to herself. She rubbed her head with one hand and her nose with the other. Janet undressed and turned the shower on. She held her stomach and looked at her scar. A bolt of pain rushed to the spot, she let out a little groan. She got into the shower and just stood there letting the water hit her back. She thought to herself 'What happened last night? I know Andy came round, I don't remember anything else. Oh no, we didn't. I'm sure we didn't. That was only one time. I need to talk to him when I go into work.'
With the shower now over and Janet had some clothes on from her wardrobe she decided to go downstairs. In the kitchen there was Taisie and Elise. They were sitting at the table having there breakfast. Janet walked in and saw the amount of bottles on the side, she was horrified. She rubbed her head again. 'Sensitive head there mum?' Elise asked. Janet nods. 'Well maybe you shouldn't drink so much on a work night.' Taisie said sarcastically and laughs. Janet gives a look as if to say 'ha, you're so funny love. Shut up now, okay?' instead she says 'Good one there love.' She wonders over to the fridge to get some milk, she gets sight on the clock, 'Oh shhh... I've got to go girls I'm going to be late if I don't go now. Grandma will be down in about 15 minutes. Make sure you are ready for her.' Janet grabs the empty wine bottles, her coat and bag and her car keys. The door slams behind her the there is the sound of her throwing the bottles into the recycling.
On her drive to work she takes her phone and begins to dial Rachel's number. She pushes the phone between her ear and her shoulder as she turns a corner. 'Pick up, pick up, please pick up' She whispers to herself. Rachel picks up the phone. 'Hello Janet. Where are you? We've started already. I've had to make up a load of rubbish how you were sorting something out for the girls. *Rachel whispers down the phone* what happened to you last night? I got this drunken text saying you were with Andy, he's looking at me now and he looks well proud of himself. Nothing happened between you two right?' Janet blinks slowly 'To be honest Rach I have no idea what happened. I will tell you all about it when I get to work. Please apologise to everyone. I should be there in about 2 minutes.' Janet hangs up and throws her phone at the back seat.
Once Janet stops the car in the car park she grabs her bag, coat and takes the keys out of the ignition. She gets out and slams the car door then locks it. She runs into work, shows her ID and enters the security code for the door. Sitting around the table there was Gill, Andy, Rachel, Mitch, Kevin and the rest of the MIT. 'Sorry I'm late, had to sort something out with Taisie.' Andy looks at her and smirks. 'Okay, take a seat. Now Janet is here, Andy could you fill us in.' Gill said looking at Janet as if to think 'I know exactly why you are late, you still look half drunk.' Janet sits there rubbing her head as Andy explains the case to everyone. Rachel glanced over at Janet. To Rachel, Janet looked ill. She looked pale, tired and her eyes were abnormally red and puffy, not like that they usually are like.
Once the meeting was over they all headed over to office. Janet went into the toilet and Rachel shortly followed. 'Janet, what is wrong with you? You were late, you look like death and I'm sure there is something on your mind. What's wrong?' Janet didn't know what to reply. She didn't want to tell Rachel the big secret that the night before her husband had left her and she had drank her entire body weight in wine. In Janet and Rachel's relationship Rachel is usually the one who would drink the amount Janet did and Janet would be the responsible one who would look after Rachel when she was in that state. Janet couldn't tell her what happened as that would make her look like the irresponsible one.
Janet replied to the question with 'I'm fine Rach, I just didn't get a good night sleep last night then when I did get to sleep I over slept and I'm not feeling too well at the moment. Stress I guess.' She then nods and smiles 'Yeah, its stress. I will be fine, I promise.' Rachel was ready to answer back when Gill walked in. For Janet, this was hell. All she wanted was for the floor to open up and swallow her whole. Like Rachel, Gill asked the same question 'What's wrong? You look awful and you were late. It looks like you've been crying.' 'That's because I have been, for hours in fact. I look awful because of all the crying and most probably the amount of alcohol I had last night.' Janet thought to herself. Instead she just said 'I'm fine Gill, something happened at home which needed my attention. I just don't feel too well.' Rachel as Gill both looked at each other and then at Janet. 'Really, are you sure you are okay? If you aren't you can tell us, we will try and help. Has something happened at home?' Rachel asked with a concerned tone.
At this point Janet was already surrounded by so much she really didn't want to talk about it any longer. 'Look, I'm fine. I just had a rough night and I'm run down. I had a drink last night; it made me feel better at the time, not anymore.' Gill's phone began to ring. She picks up 'Hello...yeah...uh huh...okay...I will be right up.' She hangs up. 'Sorry ladies I have to go, we will continue this conversation later.' She walks out. Janet turns to face the mirrors about the sink. She grabs the sink and leans over it. She looks in the mirror. Rachel asks 'What's happened Jan? Something obviously has, you look like you've been crying and you are hung over!' Still leaving over the sink Janet replies 'that's because I have Rach, I have...' she begins to cry '...been fucking crying, oh and I drank a lot. All alone, all by myself as it will be from now on.' Janet closes her eyes; the realisation of what she had just said hit her. 'Ignore what I just said, please...' she sniffs and grabs some tissue'... for now at least. I will tell you when I am ready.' Rachel puts her arms out to offer Janet a hug. Janet takes her up on the offer and squeezes Rachel tightly. 'I've been so stupid' she whispers to herself.