Andy sat down at the kitchen table and wrapped his hands around a steaming mug of coffee. He was never one for going out and drinking,it seemed the pub in Walford was the main attraction. Andy rubbed his tired eyes and glanced over at the clock on the wall,he smiled at the thought of Gareth's first day. Boxes were still everywhere and the thought of sorting them all out seemed like the worst job in the world. He blew the steam away and took a sip,he wondered what Danielle was doing right now. She seemed to have friends,a job,she seemed happy. Something in Andy's mind just wouldn't let it go,the woman behind the bar,Ronnie Mitchell. Danielle seemed shy,intimated around her,and then there was the locket. His mind wondered back to that day when he and Lizzie gave the locket to Danielle and explained that she was adopted. He tried so hard to remember what the girl inside the locket looked like,but he couldn't,it was such a long time ago.

He knew Danielle was a good girl,she was sensible,kind and friendly,there had to be some reason why she moved to London. Lizzie's death hit Danielle hard,maybe she wanted to escape,forget her life in Telford and start fresh somewhere else. Andy's brain went over things time and time again,the one question kept niggling inside his mind but he refused to even say it out loud to himself. The thought of Danielle coming to London to find her real mother broke Andy's heart. Yes he knew Danielle had every right to know her and find her and have some kind of relationship with her. But it felt like a smack in the face,a betrayal to Lizzie and their wonderful family life. Andy sighed and poured the rest of his coffee down the sink,like Gareth he needed a job aswell as sorting the house out.


Gareth stood behind the counter,Ian had shown him briefly what to do and left to manage the cafe. It was bad enough working in a chippy but Gareth had no idea what he was doing. It was now lunchtime and school kids and locals were piling in demanding their usuals.

"Fish and chips please mate" Jay Brown placed the loose change on the counter and loosened the tie around his neck.

Gareth looked across at the fryers,"Cant you just have chips,haven't mastered fish yet" he grinned scooping the chips into a cone.

Jay rolled his eyes and took the pound coin off the counter,"New around here then?" he asked taking the cone and biting into a chip.

"Yeah,not gonna see much totty working in a chippy" he sighed sipping his can of coke that he had stolen from the shelf behind him.

Jay smiled,"Not gonna get much wearing that are ya?" he laughed heading towards the door,leaving Gareth looking down at his white overalls and hat.

Gareth's day suddenly got better as Stacey Slater entered. He couldn't help but stare at her,her brown bouncy hair,her seductive eyes,she was gorgeous. Gareth thought of himself as a nice guy,after a messy breakup abit of fun was exactly what he needed.

Stacey crossed her arms and let out a giggle,"Well well well look at you,very sexy,you even look the part" she lent against the counter.

"Be nice to me,or i'll spit in your chips" he grinned taking his hat off and ruffling his hair.

Stacey tightened the money belt around her waist,"I'm not here for manky chips,im here wondering if you wanted to go to R&R's tonight,Danielle is helping out so I need someone to go with" her voice trembled with nerves,she was usually so good with guys but around Gareth she became shy.

"Yeah...ok,although I must tell you im not a cheap date" he placed the hat on Stacey's head.

Stacey smiled,his cheeky grin and piercing blue eyes seemed to draw her in,"Well thats settled then,i'll see you tonight" she replied,she turned around and walked towards the door.

"Are you sure you don't want anything,i bet you like a battered sausage" he winked,his eyes wondering to every part of her body.

Stacey took the hat off from her head and threw it towards him,"In your dreams,and my nightmares" she smiled walking out of the door leaving Gareth wanting more.


After hours of mindless talk about Gareth,Danielle was glad her and Stacey packed up early. Danielle had been on edge all day worrying about tonight,the thought of messing up and letting Ronnie down wasn't even questionable. Every item of clothing Danielle had didnt seem right,she wanted to look the part and impress her mother. Working behind a bar seemed hard work,but she knew if Ronnie was by her side she would be ok no matter how nervous she was.

"You can borrow this if you like?" Stacey suggested holding up a ridiculously short mini skirt.

Danielle frowned and turned back towards the mirror,"No thanks,not really me is it?" she smiled holding a pair of jeans against her. "Im gonna be rubbish tonight I know I am" she said sadly her shoulders suddenly slouching.

"No you ain't Dan,you'll be fine but you really need to tell her soon,your dad was acting abit weird last night,you have to tell her before he finds out" Stacey sat down on the bed watching as her best friend fussed with herself to look perfect.

Danielle threw the pair of jeans on and decided that a black evening top would be suitable. She was never the type to dress like a slapper or wear next to nothing,she wanted her mother to be proud of her. "Yeah I know and I will,i just need the right moment" she said once again,she knew that line had been used way to much.

"There's never gonna be a right or perfect moment Dan,you just need to tell her the truth,set yourself free!" Stacey nagged,this secret was beginning to take over Danielle's whole life,it affected her work,her home life,everything.


Ronnie balanced the phone against her ear supported by her shoulder,Dawn wasn't due in for an hour so Ronnie had the club all to herself. "Yes,next week..i told you about 8..yes thank you" she took the phone and slid it shut,she had just about enough of people re-arranging dates and times. She walked over to the bar and poured herself a large vodka,she knocked back the shot and winced as the strong liquid trickled down her throat. "Ah Danielle.." she smiled.

Danielle smiled,she nervously walked down the steps and towards the bar. She couldn't help but stare at her mother,she was so beautiful and sophisticated,Danielle looked down at the top she chose wanting to go home and change,not feeling good enough for Ronnie was a feeling she was used to.

"Sorry im abit late,Stacey was hogging the bathroom" she explained laying her jacket on a bar stall.

Ronnie shook her head and placed the empty shot glass behind the bar,"No its fine,come around and i'll show you what to do" she grabbed three glasses and a few mixers. Ronnie knew Danielle was a smart girl and it wouldn't be long before she picked it up.

Danielle stood next to Ronnie,she felt her knees weaken with fear of getting things wrong,"I've never done anything like this before" she spoke quietly.

"No no its fine,we will start with basics" she smiled grabbing a pint glass and walking to the other side of the bar. "Just tilt the glass,like this" she explained,"Then slowly let the beer fall into the glass" she glanced over to Danielle whilst pulling the perfect pint.

Danielle let out a nervous laugh,she tucked her hair behind her ears and moved closer to her mother. Ronnie placed the pint behind the bar and grabbed another glass for Danielle to try. "Its easy honestly" she reassured feeling Danielle's nerves.

Danielle nodded,and took the glass off Ronnie,she tried her hardest to remember the instructions she had been given but standing next to her mother just seemed to much. The froth began overflowing from the glass,Danielle felt like a failure.

"I cant do this,this was a bad idea I know it was" she moaned grabbing a cloth and wiping up spilt beer.

Ronnie bit her lip as she watched Danielle,she took another glass and placed it in front of Danielle. "Stand here" she pointed in front of her,she needed an extra pair of hands tonight and calling around to find someone else was something Ronnie couldn't be bothered to do.

Danielle stood in front of Ronnie and felt her hands being lifted by her mother,she felt Ronnie's breath on the back of her neck,she felt her heart racing faster. Ronnie placed Danielle's hand on the glass with hers softly placed on top. "Tilt the glass" she spoke softly in her unknown daughter's ear and together they pulled a perfect pint of beer.

Danielle grinned,not because she pulled a pint because Ronnie had been so nice to her. A mother teaching a child,Danielle was finally experiencing the soft side to Ronnie she had once encountered. The same feeling she got when her mother offered to go with her to have the termination,the same feeling when she held her.

"See you can do it,right cocktails are easy theres an instruction sheet behind the bar,just keep an eye out tonight" she informed jotting down some taking on a piece of paper.

Danielle nodded she looked over at the pint glass,this was another step towards the truth,towards the Mitchell family. With Ronnie by her side tonight,nothing was going to go wrong and spoil her mood.