Chapter 3 – Decade
"Jack!"
"Hey", Jack replied as Ronnie broke off eye contact looking down at her hand where broken glass lay. "Let me take them." Jack reached over and took each piece of glass carefully from her hand.
"The bin. It's in the back", Ronnie said feeling the heat from the punters glazes, before leading Jack into the back. Ronnie stood by the bin at the bottom of the stairs, watching Jack put the small pieces of glass into the bin.
Once Jack's hands were bare he spun round taking a good look at this first love. "You look good."
"You don't look to bad yourself", Ronnie returned looking Jack up and down, noticing his black coat. "Sex coat ... nice coat."
"Did you just say...", Jack said with a slight laugh moving closer to her.
"Ronnie, Aunty Peggy isn't up here", Roxy shouted storming down the stairs coming to standstill as she noticed the tall dark figure standing in front of her. "Is that really..."
"Yes", Ronnie replied quietly.
Roxy walked over to Jack, greeting him with a slap across the face. Both Ronnie and Jack stood in shock. "That is for breaking my sisters' heart."
"Roxy", Ronnie said shocked as she walked over to her sister, grabbing her arm and dragging her to one side.
"What?! He deserved that."
"That was years ago", Ronnie told Roxy as she looked at Jack feeling his face.
"So", Roxy replied.
"Where's Libby?", Ronnie whispered.
"I put a DVD on for her", Roxy replied.
"Well go upstairs and keep her company", Ronnie replied.
"Why so you can talk to Jack?", Roxy responded prompting the two blondes to turn round, Jack no-where in site. "Guess you and Jack can't have a catch up now."
"Shut up Rox."
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Jack stormed across the road and through the Square heading towards his car. "What a waste of time", he muttered to himself as he opened his car door.
"Oh my! I don't believe my eyes; Jack Branning back in Walford", Steve said making a smile appear on Jack's face as he spun round to face his old friend.
"Alright mate", Jack said slamming the car shut and greeting Steve with a friendly hug.
"You never said you were coming back down", Steve replied.
"Well when you told me about my dad I had to come down", Jack explained.
"And by the look of it, it isn't going to plan", Steve said looking at Jack's face.
"Can't blame people around here for not wanting to know me", Jack replied.
"So who hit you?", Steve asked pointing to Jack's cheek.
"That would be Roxy Mitchell", Jack laughed.
"You seen Ronnie then", Steve asked. "She say much?"
"No", Jack said making Steve smile. "So how's your daughter? Been a while since I last spoke to you."
"I know been over a year now," Steve answered. "And Libby is fine. The most beautiful little girl in the world; she's 9 now."
"You still with the mother", Jack asked.
"Of course, she's my world mate. They both are, why don't you come round for tea tonight", Steve suggested.
"I best be off and I wouldn't want to interfere", Jack replied.
"Please Jack. The girlfriend makes a mean lasagne", Steve said.
"You've twisted my arm", Jack replied with a little laugh.
"Good. I won't be in until 5 but go around earlier if you want. Get to know my family. It's number 35", Steve said powerfully.
"See you soon then mate", Jack replied
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
The clock struck 5 as Steve entered the house, greeted by the smell of Ronnie's lasagne. He put his briefcase down, took his coat off and snuck into the kitchen, wrapping his arms around Ronnie's waist, making her jump. "Steve how many times have I told you not to do that."
"Can't help myself babe", Steve replied.
"You never guess who I was in the Vic today", Ronnie said turning round, making Steve lose his hold.
"Do I have to guess or you gunna tell me who."
"Jack", Ronnie replied after giving Steve a dirty look.
"Me too", Steve said. "Roxy hit him real good."
"When did you see him?", Ronnie asked.
"He was about to go home, I saw him, stopped him and invited him round tonight."
"You want", Ronnie screeched.
"What's the problem? You still don't have feeling for him do you."
"Of course I don't. I love you Steve. But this is Jack were talking about. Did you actually tell him about us?"
"He knows I have a kid and live with my girlfriend. He doesn't know it's you. Relax, it will all be fine", Steve replied rubbing Ronnie's arms.
Ronnie suddenly jumped as the door bell went and Libby raced down the stairs. "Relax", Steve said as he left the kitchen and headed for the front door.
"Who are you?", Libby asked looking up at Jack.
"I'm a friend of your dads", Jack replied.
"I don't believe you", Libby replied.
"It's fine darling. He is a friend of mine. A friend I've known since I was your age", Steve raised prompting Libby to take a step back. "Why don't you go and help your mum set the table in the kitchen."
Libby looked from Steve to Jack before walking along the hall way to the kitchen. "Right little madam you have there", Jack said jokingly.
"Takes after her mother", Steve said with a smile.
"Dinners ready", Libby shouted prompting Steve to lead the way into the kitchen.
Jack followed Steve into the kitchen, noticing the blonde haired woman. As Jack sat down the pieces started to fit together, as he looked from Steve to Libby to the back of Ronnie. "So how long were you both gunna keep this a secret", Jack spoke prompting Ronnie to turn round.
"Jack ... I'm ...", Ronnie replied sensitively realising the pain on Jack's face.
"You know my mum too", Libby asked.
"Libby not now", Steve said as Ronnie served the dishes and took a seat quietly.
"I would have told you mate but...", Steve said before digging into his dinner.
"But you thought I wouldn't be able to handle it", Jack snapped.
"Jack I didn't think you would ever come back", Ronnie said calmly.
"It's not you I'm mad at Ronnie", Jack said softly.
"Libby could you go upstairs please", Ronnie asked.
"What about dinner? I'm starving", Libby moaned.
"You can take it upstairs and watch the telly", Ronnie suggested.
"Yes", Libby said before taking her plat and running up the stairs.
Ronnie listened until the footsteps in the background from running up the stairs faded before turning her attention to Jack and sternly saying, "Don't you dare raise your voice in front of my daughter Jack ... ever!"
"I'm sorry Ronnie but how else did you think I would react. My best mate and ex girlfriend shacked up together with a kid", Jack said angrily the turning his attention to Steve. "10 years Steve, we've been in touch 10 years and you couldn't even tell me you were with her. What did you wait like 5 minutes when I left and then hopped into bed with each other."
"It wasn't like that Jack", Ronnie exclaimed. "And you've been in contact with him all this time!"
"Baby, I thought it would be best to keep it quiet", Steve replied making Jack laugh with disgrace.
"Well you got what you always wanted Steve."
"Here we go again", Steve replied prompting Jack to stand up.
"Jack please calm down. There's a child upstairs", Ronnie said grabbing hold of Jack's arm.
"He knew I would react like this yet he still invited me over. Can't you see he just wants to rub it in", Jack said in a quieter manor.
"You had your chance Jack and you blew it", Steve butted in. "Now get out of my house."
Jack looked at Ronnie for backup but she just bowed her head as Steve stood beside her. "I think you should go."
Jack stared at Ronnie as Steve put his arm round her. "You know what Ronnie, you've changed."
"It's what having a child does Jack, it changes you."
"You don't have to explain yourself babe", Steve said angering Jack more.
"I'm outta here", Jack snarled as he left the kitchen and the house slamming each door as he left.
With the last slam of the door Ronnie turned to Steve. "10 year. You've been in touch with him for 10 years. You knew how I felt when he left, why?"
"I was doing it for you, for us", Steve explained opened armed.
"He knew you had a daughter, he knew", Ronnie replied slumping down in one of the chairs.
"You still have feelings for him, don't you", Steve said. "After everything he put you through, I was always there for you, I helped you through it all. I helped you with Libby."
"My feelings for Jack are dead and buried Steve. And what do you mean helped me with Libby. She's your daughter of course you have to help", Ronnie argued.
"I'm not daft Ronnie. Our one night stand, the day after Jack left and then what? 2 months later you fall pregnant", Steve shouted.
"Lower your voice", Ronnie said angrily making the room go for silent.
Ronnie and Steve's eyes reverted to the kitchen door as it opened and Libby emerged. "I finished my dinner."
"Good girl", Ronnie said standing up holding out her arms. "Now give your mum a hug."
Libby hugged her mum without any fuss, picking up on how upset she was. "That man has left his coat."
All three of them looked at the chair where Jack was sat, staring at his coat. "I say we bin it", Steve suggested.
"You can't do that daddy", Libby stated.
"I can do whatever I like madam", Steve shouted at Libby for the first time.
"Mum", Libby said frightened.
"Go upstairs and pack an overnight bag", Ronnie smiled as a reluctant Libby left the room.
"That's right when the going gets stuff, leave", Steve raised.
"This is my house Steve, if anyone should be leaving tonight it should be you but I don't want to make a scene", Ronnie returned. "And don't you ever scare my daughter like that again."
"Ron!", Steve exclaimed as Ronnie picked up Jack's coat and vacated upstairs.
Ronnie held back the tears as she stood outside Libby's bedroom door. With a slight knock on the door she said, "You ready baby."
Libby responded by opening the door and tightly hugging her mum. "We gunna give that man his coat back."
"In the morning. Now let's go to Grandma Peggy's", Ronnie said and without another word the two of them left the house and headed across to the Queen Victoria, as Steve watched from the front window and Jack watched from his car.
A.N - Thank you all for reading and leaving those lovely reviews. I will try and get the next chapter up sometime mid-week x
