Chapter 7
…
Gill walked into her house, the warmth hitting her immediately. She looked up to see Sammy in the hallway, holding out a glass of wine for her.
"Hey Mum, thought you could use this."
"Sammy, you are a love. Where's Aunt Jules?"
"In the lounge, enjoying her wine."
Gill dropped her bag and leaned in closer to her Son.
"How's she been?"
"Okay I guess, she's been a little quiet. I did hear her having a cry to herself earlier. Mum, she's not in pain is she?"
"A little but not a lot, her muscles are just pretty sore from the physio, it'll take time."
"I was gonna head out and meet Orla but if you want me to stay I will."
"Don't be daft love, you get off, enjoy your evening."
"I might stay over; I'll call and let you know."
"Okay love, have a good time."
Gill waited for Sammy to close the door before walking through to the lounge to find Julie sitting nursing a glass of wine.
"Hey you." Gill smiled.
Julie looked up to see her best friend smiling at her before she came and joined her on the sofa.
"So, how's things been today?"
"Not too bad, Sammy helped me get settled here and he made me my lunch."
"He's a good kid. Well, would you want some good news?"
"Go on."
"Luke Alder's in court tomorrow for Sara's murder and the attack on you."
Julie looked away for a moment which immediately worried Gill, she moved closer and brought her hand to Julie's arm, Julie turned around as Gill's hand came to caress Julie's face, wiping the tears from her cheeks.
"Julie, its okay…you're safe now."
"He has to go down for this Gill."
"Yeah and he will, don't worry…we will get him I promise."
"Sorry, I don't know why I'm so bloody emotional."
"You have good reason to be, you've been through a lot."
"So come on then, how was work, apart from Alder?"
"Yeah not bad, just catching up on paperwork."
"You've got a good kid there."
"He has his moments; I just pray to god he never turns out like his Father."
"I don't think that will ever happen."
"Are you hungry?"
"I could eat something I guess."
"Right then, how about I go and order some pizza and then we can just relax for the rest of the evening."
"Do you have to work this weekend?"
"As luck would have it, I don't. Janet offered to cover, so you have me for three whole days."
"You're not working tomorrow either."
"I decided I'd spend tomorrow with you, we'll go and get your physio and then I thought we could go for lunch somewhere."
"You don't need to keep me company just because of the case."
"I don't want you to have to think about the court tomorrow, we'll go out and enjoy ourselves while Alder gets his life taken away from him for a while." Gill smiled.
"Thanks Gill."
"Hey, that's what I'm here for."
…
Rachel strode in just after 9am on Friday, looking like she was ready to kill someone. Janet looked up to see her friend and colleague, clearly not in the mood to be working.
"Morning, what time do you call this then?"
"Huh, oh come on Jan, I'm not that late."
"Twenty minutes, just because Gill's not in today, don't go taking the piss."
"Yeah alright fine, I'm sorry okay."
"What's up with your face anyway?"
"Kev isn't it, wanting me to meet his bloody Mother tomorrow. What the hell's he thinking?"
"He loves you and he wants to show you off."
"I'm not a bloody puppy Janet."
"That's not what I meant, look Rach he just wants you to meet the other important woman in his life that's all. Don't go reading too much into it or anything."
"What if she hates?"
"Rach…"
"I don't exactly make a good first impression on people at the best of times do I?"
"You do have a tendency to say the wrong thing at times, just take it slow and think before you speak."
"That's easier said than done."
"You'll be fine."
"Hey Rach, I got this for you to give to Mum tomorrow." Kevin beamed, walking in to the office.
"You can see Gill's not in today, what's your excuse for being late?" Janet asked.
"I had to stop off at shopping centre, sorry Scotty."
"What were you at the shopping centre for?" Rachel asked.
"To get this."
Kevin handed Rachel a small panda trinket box, Rachel took one look at it and scrunched her face up before looking back up at him.
"What the hell is this?"
"It's a Treasure Trinket."
"Never heard of them."
"My Mum collects them, I thought you could give it to her tomorrow as a gift."
"What…smooth the waters in case I screw up later?"
"Hey, I just thought it would be nice to give her something okay…but if you don't want to then I…."
"No, I'll give it to her. Sorry Kev, I just don't wanna mess this up."
"Give her that and she'll love you forever."
"I hate to be the downer of the group but do you two think you could get some work done today, I don't want Gill thinking we can't manage without her."
"For you Jan, anything." Rachel smiled.
…
To Be Continued….
