After about 10 minutes they were in stitches laughing and one bottle down. Jean's phone rang, Laura picked it up, and it was James.
"Who is it?" jean asked.
"Oh the dishy husband", Laura laughing and jean rolling her eyes.
Laura answered the phone, some slurred words, "Well hello dishy sergeant Hathaway, what can I do for you? Any dead bodies, I am your woman", which had Laura laughing again.
"Hello Laura, have you killed my wife yet? Is that why she can't answer?" now he was laughing down the phone, in the background jean was laughing, "Stop Laura, give me the phone", reaching for it.
"I had a call from Robbie", as Laura was pushing jean's hand away to hear what James had to say.
"Why did he not call me?" she was a little upset.
"I wasn't to tell you, but seen as you have kidnapped my wife and are both pissed, I thought I better sober you up".
Laura stood up, "why what happened, where is he?"
"He is coming home a day early, jack ended up in hospital and Lyn had to get to him. Laura he will be home tomorrow afternoon".
"Ok", she sat on the chair, no more laughter, handing the phone to jean, she sat and cried.
"Yes James honey".
"I can hear her, I was ringing her phone, it must be dead, and anyway I was giving her the heads up wanting to see if she wanted to come the airport with me to pick up Robbie?"
"I think she is more overjoyed he is coming home early, I will talk to her about it, what time have you to leave?" now she is rubbing Laura's shoulder, resting her head on jean.
"About 12".
"Ok, can you drop Mathew over in the morning and a change of clothes honey, I will head to work from here, oh dishy husband I do love you".
"Now how am I supposed to sleep without my hot sexy wife beside me?" he was trying to be quiet but jean could hear Chris in the background.
"Uuuggghhh, stop you will scar me for life talking about my mother like that", smiling at James.
"Don't care Chris, I think she is", laughing back.
"Hay you two back to me, well you lie in the bed and close your eyes", she could not help but laugh.
"Ha ha, very funny, so you going to stay there?"
"Yeah honey, she still pissed bit like me, can't have her trying to ring him, talk to you in the morning, love you baby".
"Love you too honey".
Laura piped up, "night dishy sergeant".
"Night Laura".
Oh she would probably regret calling him dishy if she had to travel in a car with him for at least an hour also making small talk.
Another bottle of wine and the remainder of the program, they felt truly pissed.
"Hay come on silly cow, let's get to bed", turning off the telly and taking jean's hand going upstairs.
"Coming horny bitch", laughing at Laura.
Upstairs jean was going to the spare room, Laura not letting go of her hand.
She followed jean into the bedroom getting on the bed beside her.
Lying side by side talking, "can't call you a horny bitch in front of everyone or they will ask questions", reaching for Laura's hand.
"Suppose you can't, you silly cow", causing Laura to giggle and jean moving in for a kiss.
"Suppose I could just call you a silly bitch", kissing jean back.
"Suppose I better sleep, oh fuck Robbie is coming home tomorrow what a horny bitch is doing in bed with a silly cow?" tears rolling down her cheeks.
"Hay come on we can get over this?" putting her arms around Laura.
She got out of the bed and went into her own room to sleep with Robbie's pillow.
Jean could hear her crying but could not go to her.
The following morning with a banging headache jean answered the door to James.
"Morning love", he took one look at her marching her upstairs to get a shower.
Laura appeared in the kitchen looking more tired than jean but not as bad a headache, she had taken some paracetamol before going asleep.
"Morning Laura", as he looked down at his feet.
"Morning dishy sergeant, thank you for bringing Mathew back, I will pass on the airport, and I have a few things to do".
"Ok, Mathew is in his travel cot, had his breakfast, still in pj's, but Laura don't laugh, they are Hannah's", she had to go and look.
Picking up the baby walking back to the kitchen, "look at you wearing your girlfriend's clothes, as long as you don't do it when you are older", laughing looking at James who kept his head down.
Jean appeared in the kitchen, "thanks love", kissing James, looking from Laura to James, "what's up?"
Laura laughed, "I sent a boy child to your house, your husband brings me back a girl child", holding up the pj's.
"I did tell you not to laugh".
"I'm only joking, I know I didn't send over pj's.
"How is my little baby this morning?" jean asked turning to James.
"Oh I am fine, thanks for asking", jean poked him in the side.
"Yeah, she's fine a bit grumpy this morning, Chris is heading out later, he will watch her today".
"Ok, I better head off my station won't run itself", she came over to Laura hugging her.
"Chat later, he is on his way home, no crying ok you h… silly bitch", both laughing.
"Thanks silly cow".
James could only laugh, jean taking his hand heading out the door, "bye Laura", said James.
"Bye James, what time is his flight?" she looked sad.
"Bout 2".
"Thanks".
Jean went to work, James checked in before he left for the airport to collect Robbie.
He went out the door and jean thought of Laura, she picked up the phone to dial her number.
"Hi jean, is everything ok?"
"Yeah, I'm fine, just wanted to check on you, James has left for the airport".
"Yes, I am fine, I have to tell him of the hospital now, if it was tomorrow the scar might have healed more, what am I going to say?"
Quietly jean answered, "You're going to tell him about last night that is all?"
"no, just we had a few drinks and a good catch up, but have to say I enjoyed myself even with the distraction", Laura now giggling thinking about it.
"I didn't mean telling him about the distraction, but honest horny Hobson probably will", smiling.
"Enough of the horny Hobson bit, but Robbie would probably agree with you there".
"Ah stop, I don't need that image on my mind at this hour of the morning", laughing at Laura.
"that image did not bother you last night, jean in all honesty there is something about last night through the haze of all the drink", jean paying attention now, wondering did she say or do something to upset or annoy Laura.
"Yes, what is it?"
"Have you had a check-up since having Hannah?"
"Yes, why is there something wrong with my tits?"
"No, your tits are perfect, god I can't believe I just said that, now who is the horny one", laughing but trying not to.
"Oh stop, I wish James was hiding under my desk".
"Ok, something out of the ordinary, has James noticed anything different during sex?"
"Since when has my sex life been the focus of attention? If there is anything different he has not said anything why?"
"You laid out your sex life for me last night", laughing at jean, "well, don't give me images of policemen hiding under your desk", jean could hear the buzz of the vibrator.
"Laura, are you on a date with action man again?" now jean was in stitches laughing.
With that there was a knock on her door.
"Laura, I got to go, I will ring you back".
"Ok".
She rang Laura back.
"Hi again".
All jean could do was laugh in between she kept apologizing also trying to tell Laura of Peterson. She eventually calmed down.
"Sorry, that was action man", together they both start laughing.
"Well after last night I won't be able to look at him the same", said Laura.
"Before I was interrupted you wanted to tell me something about last night?"
"Yeah, when I was touching you, I found a lump that to me did not seem normal, that is why I was asking if James noticed anything."
"No, I am sure he would have said or didn't want to upset me".
"Don't be sitting there feeling your breasts, I know you are".
"I am not, ok I am".
Laura start laughing, when she tell her would she want to finger herself?
"What?" asked jean.
"It wasn't your breasts silly cow, it was in your vagina".
"Oh, I see", replied jean stunned.
"Now don't go touching yourself even though you want to", said Laura laughing.
"Very funny, but no I don't intend to ask James either, but no he has never said of anything wrong".
"Ok, I got to go before my child wakes up, action man is calling", as she turned on the vibrator again.
"See I told ya horny, oh sorry silly bitch, talk later".
They both hung up, Laura set about tidying up leaving no remainder of last night for Robbie to pick up on.
She changed the bed covers in both rooms, cleaned the bathroom, kitchen and living room.
Mathew woke for a feed.
"Now little man, let's get you fed before daddy is due home", his little eyes lighting up at the mention of daddy.
"I know, I miss him too", as she put Mathew in his chair to get his food.
She fed him, giving him a bottle also to drink, he was sat in front of the telly while she begun to make a casserole, leaving it to cook while she went and done a bit of shopping. She set off to the shop with Mathew, she was finding it hard to focus on what she needed without thinking of Robbie.
She wanted something special for afters but could not think, in the end she managed to get what she needed. She had to get a few bits for Mathew as he was growing out of some of his pyjamas, she picked up at least 4 pairs. Mathew was starting to cry, oh she felt like joining him.
"Come on little man, let's get you sorted", bringing him to change him.
She bumped into a colleague from work, who was cooing over Mathew also asked when was due to return to work, the place was not the same without her. She informed them she would be making arrangements next week to talk about her return and would let them know.
She was exhausted, she set off for home to fee Mathew and herself again.
She took Mathew out, grabbing her few bags. She got her keys out, she let herself in, to the sound of music. She went in putting Mathew in his chair, going back for her bags.
As she put the bags down, Robbie came into the kitchen. She was overwhelmed that he was back, tears forming in her eyes, she saw his arm in a sling.
He put his arm out to her, she almost ran to him throwing her arms around him.
"Hay pet, no need to cry, I told you I would be back", she nodded through the sobs.
"I know, but I still missed you, I ain't letting you out of my sight again".
"You insisted I went with Lyn".
"I know love, by the way who text me to say you were a grumpy dad while away".
"That's because I missed you also this little man", moving over to Mathew kissing his head.
He babbled in return.
"What happened you? I let you go on one holiday you come back injured".
"Sprained wrist while over there playing cricket of all things".
"another reason to keep you here now", keeping her arms around his neck, keeping him close, how he held her, how would he react when she would tell him about the hospital appointment. The reason she picked then was not to worry him or he would not go on the holiday.
He looked down at her, how wonderful a wife and mother she was, why did he tip toe around her for so long. He should have swept her off her feet years ago when they were planning to got to the opera that never happened.
He didn't know how to move on from Val, what steps to take for the dating pool again, but there she was right in front of him the whole time, a woman that he knew, she knew him, so that was past the awkward meeting stage. They had been to the pub for drinks, meals together, there they were past some of the dates.
The only thing that took its time was the holding hands, kisses on the doorstep and being invited in for a coffee or more. The last part fell into place eventually. He was so happy with her, as she was with him. He so missed waking up beside her, falling asleep beside her at night and just being there for him.
He kissed the top of her head.
The oven pinged.
"That will be dinner".
"What's on the menu?"
"Beef casserole", as she took it out of the oven.
He had started to unpack the bags she got. She put away the food she got allowing the casserole to cool.
He picked up the bag with clothes.
"What do we have here?"
"Your son seems to be growing out of some of his pyjamas, so he needs more".
She took him out of his chair for Robbie to hold him. He was touching Robbie's face, while Robbie hugged him and kissing him.
"Give daddy a hug", as Mathew leaned in.
"I so missed you little man. Laura I know it's only a week but I think he has grown".
"He is not far off eating us out of house and home, a bit like someone I know", smiling at him, patting his stomach.
"Cheeky mare, but I still love you".
She put Mathew down taking plates from the press, serving up food for both of them and a bowl for Mathew, which she left to cool on the window while Robbie put cutlery and drinks on the table.
She put their plates on the table and the baby bowl.
"Hay, you eat, let me feed him", Robbie said to Laura.
"No, it's ok, you eat your dinner, you can feed him when you are finished", she looked at him.
"It's ok Robbie, eat up".
"Ok".
She was feeding herself in between feeding Mathew.
"Now little man here is your big boy dinner", giving him a spoonful.
He was loving the dinner between having a drink.
In between eating his food, he smiled turning to face her.
"You know according to jack, when Mathew has a stinky nappy I have to change it, so in my defence", holding up his hand, "I think I am excused from that job".
"Don't you worry, I will find something else for you to do, you ain't getting out of this one", smiling back at him.
"Wouldn't ask for it any other way honey", as he pushed his plate away, reaching for the bowl to feed the baby.
"You go eat your dinner".
"Hay I didn't mean you to stop eating to feed Mathew now".
"No it's ok, I am full, and I had a sandwich in the airport waiting for Lyn to be picked up".
"How is jack? Poor little lad has had his fair share of hospitals".
"He is doing alright, a bit of a reaction since the meningitis, but it was caught early enough, he is going to be alright Laura".
She was looking down at her dinner, he moved closer to her, placing his hand on her thigh giving it a light squeeze, she covered his hand with hers only letting go when Mathew squealed for food. She let go his hand laughing.
"Your son wants you to feed him", looking up laughing at Robbie.
"Ok, I will get there with great difficulty".
"Now Mathew, is daddy not feeding you", giving him some food.
He kept his hand on her thigh, after a few minutes he stood to clear the table.
"Can you manage that with your injury?"
"Yes I can, I can still use my hand but not too much, and it was hard to put Mathew down earlier but emptying a plate I think I can manage but thank you for your concern pet".
