Up at Home Farm, Priya was determined to sign everything off as complete before Christmas. She had made the journey up to the house specifically, despite Graham's insistence to ensure that she kept her job after Christmas, when Kim was expected to return.

What she found disturbed her greatly. The lounge was littered with empty bottles, cans and to her concern, blood.

"What happened here?" She asked.

Graham appeared from the hall, stumbling and staggering, his image far from the one that Waterhouse International intended to represent, of that Priya was certain.

"Priya."

Priya spun around.

"Are you alright? Should I call someone?" She noticed his injured hand.

"There's no one left to call." Graham shuffled past her, falling on the sofa.

"There must be someone?" Priya persisted.

"There isn't. Go home, Priya. Go home to your family."

"I can't just leave you like this." She insisted, clearing the bottles and cans, "you need help."

"All I need is another bottle of whisky." Graham slurred.

"Well you're not getting one," Priya told him firmly, addressing him like a mother to a naughty toddler, "I've sent all the proposals and signed everything off, so we're all set." She added confidently.

"I'm overjoyed."

"Well, I'm not leaving you. I'll get you some coffee, yes? When was the last time you had something to eat?"

Graham glanced wearily up at Priya.

"What do you care?"

"That's the point, I do."

Graham laughed.

"No Priya, all you care about is keeping your job and keeping on Kim's good side. If there is one." He grimaced.

"Well, yes I do care about my job, but I'm concerned about you. How it will appear to people in relation to Waterhouse International." She admitted, as Graham nodded, smirking.

"As I thought. Well," he stood lazily, "you won't have to wait too long to claim my place."

"Graham, you can't keep going on like this." She stopped him.

"Who says? Just go home, Priya. Your job is safe." Graham hissed, his weary face betraying the hurt and anger inside.

Priya could see it was futile to argue.

"Fine, I will go. But I'll come back on Boxing Day to check on you."

"There's no need."

"I want the keys to the cellar though. Joe was very protective of his wine collection."

"Joe isn't here."

"No, but they aren't drinking wines. He's spent ages collecting them."

"Of course." Graham responded softly, looking away, dazed as though caught in a memory. "You don't trust me?"

"I don't think you're in the right state to manage things. Let me get you a bandage for that hand and some coffee." She decided, sweeping into the kitchen to fetch the first aid kit that Graham had used only a few months before when he had battered Joe.

She made the coffee and returned with it, to find Graham staring out of the window.

"White Christmas." He murmured, smirking, "of course it would be."

"Right; coffee." Priya declared, placing it on the coffee table along with the first aid kit. "I have everything here." She gestured as Graham continued to stare, ignoring her.

"There you go." Priya finished tying the bandage neatly and put the roll away.

"Why are you doing this, Priya?" Graham murmured, staring at the floor.

"You need looking after. You're running Joe's business..." she stood up as Graham fixed a glare on her, "Kim's business now."

Graham bit back a snide comment.

"Hmm." He grunted, "lots to tell her, I suppose."

Priya swept her hair back and put on her jacket.

"Actually I haven't told her anything..."

"So keeping us both sweet?" Graham surmised, "how predictable and astute you are."

"No. Nothing like that. I don't have her contact details and even if I did, I wouldn't tell her. Because I think you need help." She paused, "look, losing Joe, it was bound to take its toll. But you can't blame yourself."

"I think you've done enough for one day, don't you?" Graham growled, standing also, threateningly.

"I know he was like a son to you..."

"Time to go, Priya." Graham cut her off, backing her out of the lounge, a wreck in his loosened shirt with the open collar and unbuttoned waistcoat.

"Right." Priya sensed his hostility and sudden change in mood, "well, I'll come back on Boxing Day as we agreed."

"That won't be necessary." urred, grabbing at the door handle to open it. "But don't worry, I'll ensure that Kim knows how diligent and supportive you've been." He added sarcastically.

"If you need anything, I'm just in Holdgate." She advised, straightening herself up, "but I think that's everything."

"Good." Graham flashed her a false smile, "until we meet again, Priya."

"Hmm." Priya tilted her head, "take care, won't you?'

"I will. I will take good care. Or bad care. You'd better get home to your family."

Priya offered an awkward smile in response and left the house, Graham storming back into the lounge to open another bottle of whisky.

As she reached her car her hand automatically dropped to her pocket, noticing the absence of a weight there.

Keys.

She oscillated slowly and faced the house, swallowing. She needed to go back inside, but something about Graham's manner warned her against it.

Casting her aspersions aside, she re entered the house.

"Time flies when you're having fun." Graham remarked sourly as he noticed her in the hall.

"I forgot my keys. I'm sorry."

Graham spotted them on the coffee table and picked them up, stumbling toward Priya.

"Your keys, madam." He bowed his head.

"Thank you." She hesitated, "Graham, there must be someone I can call to help you." She suggested, observing his haggard appearance.

"No one left who cares." He swung his arms.

"I care." Priya reminded him, "I just can't stand to see you like this. It isn't right."

"It is what it is." Graham slurred, turning away only to trip and stumble on the corner of the table.

"No, Graham, it isn't." Priya caught him. "Sit down."

Reluctantly, Graham allowed her to guide him to the sofa.

She sat next to him.

"Graham, this has to stop." Priya emphasised.

"Why? Why does it?" He reached for the bottle but Priya brought his hand away from it. He turned to look at her.

"I wanted that." He raised his eyebrows.

"You shouldn't drink any more." Priya warned him sharply, "whatever happened with Joe, do you think he would approve if he saw you like this?"

Graham considered.

"Joe isn't here."

"But this is Kim's house now and you're meant to be taking care of it."

"I am. In my own way." Graham lunged for the bottle. "Drink?"

"No, Graham, that's enough." Priya grabbed his hand. The touch sparked something in his muddled state and he moved to kiss her.

"Graham! What are you doing?" She pulled away, stunned.

"I'm sorry." He retracted, sobering from the moment. "I am sorry, Priya."

"I need to go." She snatched up her keys and made for the door.

Graham stared after her, disgusted at himself and shattered the bottle against the coffee table.