Chapter 7

*Scott house phone rings* 'Sorry we aren't in at the moment, please leave your name and phone number after the beep and we will return your call as soon as possible' *BEEP*'Hello? Mum? Can you pick up if you are home? I'm going to be staying at Rachel's for a little bit. The case at the moment requires both of us to be up early and go to bed late. I will tell the girls and come home for some of my stuff. I was wondering if you wouldn't mind staying at home and looking after the girls whilst I am at Rachel's. Right, that's about it, I will ring in a few hours and I will see you later.'
'Any luck?'
Rachel asks Janet as Janet hangs up the phone and puts it back in her bag. Janet shakes her head 'No, I don't think she is in. She may be taking Taisie to drama or something. I will try again later. I don't really need permission I just need to make sure someone can look after the girls. If mum can't I may have to ask Ade.' Janet looks annoyed. 'Rach, why did I have to go and ruin it all? Why couldn't I have just been happy with what I had?' Rachel looks sympathetically at Janet. 'Jan, you didn't know what was going to happen. You didn't ruin anything; you were just telling him how you felt weren't you? You didn't tell him about Andy did you?' Janet glances at Rachel and does a half smile.
'I felt like something bad was going to happen, I just didn't know what. He obviously didn't want to hear how I felt. Things were going downhill for a while. Of course I haven't told him about Andy that would just be stupid.' Janet could see Rachel nodding as if to say 'I agree with you completely.'
The office was empty. Gill was in her office on the phone to someone who she was expecting to ring; apparently it was very a very important phone call, at least that's what Gill said. She stood up and closed the door with her foot, through the window Janet and Rachel could see the phone pushed between her ear and shoulder. Andy was away for a few days. Kevin, Mitch and the rest of the team were on a different case to Rachel and Janet. They were out from the office and would be for a couple of hours. So the office was just Janet and Rachel.
'So later, do you want me to go home with you to collect your things? Then we can go to the pub or go back to mine for some food. I'm a surprisingly good cook.' Janet did look surprised; she had never really tried Rachel's food. 'If you want to, the girls would love to see you. I swear they like you more then they like each other. I don't mind what we do, as long as we are alone. I haven't told anyone else, well apart from Andy about anything. Everyone else doesn't know what to say to me. Even Gill has kept her distance.' Janet looks over to Gills office. 'But its fine, she most probably has a lot going on, like she usually does.' Janet sighs.
About 45 minutes had passed and Gill came out of her office. She got a tissue and blew her nose. 'Where's everyone else?' she asked. 'They are all out on the job. Are you alright Gill? You look a little, you know, like you have been crying.' Gill nods and walks back into her office *SLAM* the door shuts behind her. Janet rises from her chair and walks up to her door, just before she knocks Rachel whispers 'Jan, tell me what happens later. That is if it isn't too private.' Janet nods and puts her finger to her lips. She lightly knocks on Gills door 'Gill its Janet, can I come in?' She stands there and waits for a reply. 'Yeah okay, hang on. Let my sort myself out.' Janet is left standing there for a few minutes when the door opens. Janet walks in and the door closes. Gill is standing behind the door with big red puffy eyes and tears running down her face and she was trying to catch her breath.
'Oh Gill what's happened to you?' Gill goes up to Janet and pulls her close. She begins to sob into Janet's shoulder. 'Gill, what is it?' Gill steps away from Janet and takes a seat behind her desk. Janet sits opposite her.
Gill picks up a pen off her desk and begins to fiddle with it. 'It's just a little difficult at the moment. I've got so much pressure at the moment. Dave is being a dickhead as usual, nothing I can't handle. As for Sammy, he's just growing up. He's got himself a lovely girlfriend and he's doing really well at school. I've just missed so much of his life. Now that I look after him by myself I can see how much I've missed of his life. He's learning to drive at the moment. I've said if he does well in his exams I will get him a car. That wanker Dave is trying to take him from me by saying he will get him a car. Dave wasn't there for Sammy when he was younger, work was always more important.' She puts her head up and looks at Janet. Janet looked at Gill and frowns. 'That's awful. Sammy isn't stupid. I'm sure he can see what Dave is doing. Sammy loves you and won't do anything to hurt you in any way. I think he would rather wait and get it from you as you care more.' Janet gives a reassuring smile. Gill smiles back 'This is so stupid, I'm just being silly.' Janet reaches over the Gills hand 'You aren't. I know exactly how you feel.' Janet sighs.
Gill dries her face and blows her nose again. She looks at Janet and says 'Yeah, I noticed something was up. What's happened? It's not your mum is it?' Janet shakes her head 'the girls?' She shakes her head again 'Ade?' Janet hesitates what Gill mentions his name. Gill picks up on this. 'Janet, has something happened between you and Ade?' Janet nods 'We are sorting it out. It's nothing serious. We are all fine. Can we not talk about it; I don't really want anyone to know.' Gill looks at her and says 'Of course. Is there anything I can do?' Janet sighs 'Unfortunately not. No one can. Thank you for offering though.' *RING RING* Gills phone begins to ring. Janet gets up and mouths 'I will let you take that. Thank you' Janet walks out the room and closes the door.