Chapter 7.

"Anyone want some tea?" Duffy asked, as they all appeared focused on the film.

"Yeah, Mum, that'll be great." Peter said.

"Yeah, can do." Paul said.

"Lovely." Tanya said.

"I suppose." Louis said.

"Let me help you." Charlie said, as he moved to help her.

"No, no, sit right there. I can manage." Duffy said.

"Louis, want to give me a hand?" Duffy asked.

"Erm, tea? Ok." Louis replied, looking a little shocked.

Duffy just gave him a look that showed him she wanted to talk to him in private. She looked over to Charlie, and then Peter, as she asked him. Seeing this, he was at first unsure how to react. But, as he realised, he simply got up, and followed her.

Charlie looked surprised, as did Peter, both men then watched as Louis got up to help Duffy. Charlie looked over to Peter, and both men rose their eyebrows at the other. A mixture of shock, and confusion. But, also realising that if Duffy then saw both of them enter the kitchen after them, they'd both be in trouble. So, decided against making a move, unless absolutely necessary.

Duffy walked into the kitchen, lifted up the kettle and immediately began filling it with water from the kitchen sink.

"So, Louis. How have you been?" Duffy asked.

Louis takes a seat at the breakfast bar.

"Ok, I guess." He replied.

"Really?" She asks.

"Well." Louis says.

"Louis, you can either tell me, or not tell me. Either way, we both know you aren't at your best. Now, if you want me to help. Then you have to tell me how. I won't tell your Dad unless you want me to. I don't want to see him upset."

Duffy moved over to the other side of the kitchen, plugging in the kettle, and switched it on.

"Aunty Duffy."

Duffy turned and looked over at him and said.

"Yes?"

"It's just..."

"What Louis?" Duffy said, hands now placed on her hips.

"I tried, I really have."

"What do you mean, you tried?"

"I got a place of my own. Got a job. Even had a girlfriend. Then, it all went wrong, again."

"Well that's great news Louis."

"No, no it's not."

"How?"

"I lost it all, again."

"Oh, sweetheart, how did you?"

Duffy came over to him, and stood at the other side of the breakfast bar.

"I moved in with Mia, she has a daughter, Ivy, about the same age as Megan. We met at work. But, it didn't work out. I came home one day early, and she was in bed with my friend Elliott, from work. She told me she didn't love me anymore. And told me to pack my bags, and leave. But, because of everything else, I didn't have anywhere to go. I couldn't stay at work, not with them both there. So, I've been staying at a homeless shelter for the passed month. I work there now, well, I volunteer at the moment. Helping out and the like. But, I'm still homeless. And, I tried coming to see Dad a few times, but, I saw someone leaving the house, with a baby?"

"Robyn, that'll be Robyn, a young woman from work, who's been staying with us, after her house caught fire." Duffy added.

"Ok, Robyn, and I couldn't do it. I couldn't just walk up here unannounced, not if she lived here, and a baby." Louis said.

"Then, I got Dad's message at Christmas. Everyone at the homeless shelter told me I should stop being an idiot and go home if I could. So here I am. Still being an idiot." Louis said.

"Oh, Louis, sweetheart. You have been through it all haven't you. Why didn't you just call your Dad? We would have taken you in."

"No, you see, I don't think Dad would have done." Louis says, looking up at her.

"Oh, don't be silly darling, you're his son." Duffy replies, putting her hand on his shoulder to comfort him.

"Yeah, yeah, you keep thinking that."

"Louis, what on earth do you mean?"

"Has Dad actually told you about what happened between us?"

"Yes, of course, the heroin, taking you home to help you through it, not being able to so he took you to rehab. How that helped you to get clean."

"Did he ever tell you about Romania?"

"Just that Connie and him went to get you, after you'd been caught up in a mugging gone wrong, because of your drug debts. And she ended up operating on you. That he and you owe Connie a lot because of it all."

"Is that what he said? A mugging gone wrong?"

"Yeah, why?"

"I think you need to ask him about it."

"Until you do, you won't know him like I do."

"What do you mean Louis?"

"Maybe he isn't the man you think he is."

"What?"

"I'm going out for a smoke."

"Louis?"

And with that Louis left the kitchen, and opened the back door to go outside for a cigarette, closing it behind him.

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