(i)

At about the same time that Millie, Max and Andrew were returning from the park, Neil was sitting at his desk, phone in hand, telling himself he really couldn't put off contacting Millie any longer. Things were too busy in CID for him to even contemplate getting away and dropping in on her today to deliver the news in person, and doing it tomorrow was leaving it too late entirely.

It was unfortunate for Neil that as he made the call, Millie's phone was lying forgotten on her bedside table. When her voicemail greeting started, he swore under his breath. Fate, it seemed, had decided that he would have no choice but to take the ultimate coward's way out and cancel on her via voice message.

"Hey, Millie, it's me, Neil, um, just ringing to say I'm really, really sorry, but I seem to have double booked myself for tomorrow. You see, I've arranged to meet up with, er, Grace, and because things are so new with her, I didn't like to tell her I couldn't make it, so I hope you don't mind if I cancel our get together instead. Maybe we can see each other on Sunday? Anyway, call me and let me know this is okay with you. Bye for now, and love to you and Andrew."

Neil hung up and tossed his phone onto the desk, as if this whole situation were its fault rather than his own. Salvation from his guilty conscience came moments later in the form of Mickey, knocking at the door to tell him they had a new lead that needed dealing with urgently. And once, again, Millie was forgotten.

It wasn't until Millie was putting Andrew to bed at the end of the day that she noticed her mobile on her bedside table. She saw it was flashing to indicate a missed call and a message. Checking the caller's name, she smiled happily when she saw it was Neil. So he hadn't forgotten her after all! She picked up the phone and put it in her pocket to listen to once she'd finished settling Andrew in for the night.

She left the bedroom and tip-toed to the kitchen. While she made herself a cup of tea, she listened to Neil's message. The happy anticipation she felt as she retrieved the message swiftly disappeared when she heard what he actually had to say.

Millie didn't get much sleep that Friday night. She tossed and turned as she tried to convince herself that as Neil's close friend she should be happy that he'd found someone to love, not worried about being relegated to second place. If only she could find someone to love as well. That led her thoughts to Max. She could so easily end up in bed with him, but could she ever love him? Maybe if she had slept with him tonight she wouldn't be feeling so alone now? Just when the knowledge that Max wanted her started to make her feel slightly better, she found herself conjuring up images of what he was probably getting up to at that very moment with some woman unknown to her, and probably largely unknown to him as well.

In the morning, Millie was so exhausted that she fell asleep on the sofa when Andrew went down for his morning nap. She was woken at 11 by the sound of Max arriving to collect his son, and Andrew's resulting crying. Feeling very close to tears herself, a half-awake Millie stumbled from the sofa and opened the door without even acknowledging Max, then headed straight to the bedroom to see to Andrew.

Max wasn't used to seeing Millie in such a disoriented state and was alarmed. He followed her to the bedroom.

"Millie, is everything okay?"

Millie busied herself with Andrew while she replied, "Everything's fine."

It would have suited Max to take her word for it and leave it at that, but his concern for her wouldn't let him. "No, it's obviously not fine. What's happened? Is it about the way I behaved last night? I'm sorry…"

Millie did look up at him this time. "Really Max, it's nothing you've done. Don't worry about it."

But Max was insistent. "I will worry about it! I care about you, you know. You're always talking about how you want to be a support to me, why don't you let me be a support to you?"

Millie sat down on the bed with Andrew. She really did feel she needed to talk to someone. And if Neil couldn't continue to be her main sounding-board, maybe it was time to try out someone else? From what she could see, Max was completely sincere in his concern.

"All right, but you'll think I'm overreacting. You remember how I mentioned Neil and I were getting together today? Well, it turns out he made plans to see…another friend today and forgot all about his arrangement with me. I only found out about this from a message left on my phone while we were at the park yesterday. It's silly, but it's made me very…"

"Angry?" suggested Max, adopting a sympathetic expresion. In actual fact, in his imagination he was doing handstands at this piece of news. Finally, it seemed that his ultimate rival for Millie's affections had been removed!

Millie continued. "Hurt. I feel like I've been...forgotten, you know?"

"I do," said Max, sitting on the bed beside her and putting a hand on each of her shoulders. "What are you going to do with your day instead then, when Andrew and I go?"

"I don't know. I want to do something. I don't want to sit here moping."

"Why don't you come with Andrew and me then?"

"Oh, I don't know about that…"

"Come on. No one would mind, in fact everyone would really like it if you did. As you say, it's better than being at home moping."

Millie still hesitated. It was all a bit like they were becoming a real family if they went to Max's mother's birthday together. But then again, what would she do by herself at home? And she was never really comfortable when Andrew was out without her.

"Okay," she said.

Max smiled and stood ready to take Andrew from her. "Well, that's settled then. Now, you get yourself ready while I organise Andrew."

Soon the three of them were in the car on their way to the Carter home. Neither Max nor Millie said much. Millie was still upset about what had happened with Neil, and Max had his own reasons for being preoccupied. As they got closer to his mother's house, Max knew it was time to bite the bullet.

"Millie," he began. "Before we get to my mum's there's something you ought to know. Please don't blame me for this, it's all my mum's doing, but, well, most of my relatives think that you and I are married."

Millie's head turned sharply from looking out the car window to glaring at Max.

"What?" she said angrily.

"I'm really sorry, but as I said, I had nothing to do with it. My mum's ashamed of Andrew being, you know, born out of wedlock, so she's lied about it to her friends and family. It's just what she's like."

Millie said nothing, but the expression on her face was eloquent. Max could see that she was fuming. As he drove into his mother's drive, he asked himself if it had been wise to ask Millie along after all, as now he had two volatile and potentially outspoken women to deal with.

Nothing was said between them as they carried Andrew and his gear towards the back door. Once they were there, Max called out to his mother.

"Ma, it's me. Andrew and Millie are here too."

Mrs. Carter appeared at the back door. She greeted Millie with a big smile and a hug, then spoke to her son in Polish.

"Ah," she smirked. "So you've brought your slut along then, eh?"

Millie waited for a translation, but none was offered. She was left to assume from Max's silence and the mocking tone Mrs. Carter's voice that something unpleasant had been said. She was annoyed at Max until she noticed how in contrast to his usual supercilious pose, his stance appeared in some way deflated. Millie couldn't recall ever having seen Max look so humbled before, but she imagined even an ego like Max's would start to sag under the weight of the better part of four decades of this woman's ill humour.

The cooing Mrs. Carter soon took possession of Andrew. Millie noted that there were no pleasantries exchanged between mother and son. She couldn't blame Max for not bothering to try to make conversation with his mother really. It seemed the only acknowledgment Mrs. Carter was prepared to offer him was an occasional disapproving glare. Millie wished she could think of a way of showing her support to Max without provoking Mrs. Carter, who, she was sure, would not hesitate to lash out at them both.

At last Mrs. Carter addressed her son again, this time in English. "Tsk, tsk, son. Couldn't you have made an effort for your own mother's birthday? Just look at you? Why can't you find a shirt that fits you properly? At least you could have worn a tie! Don't you agree, Millie?"

Millie surveyed Max, from those jeans that seemed to cling to him in just the right places, to the shirt that fitted so snugly that if it were any tighter a button might burst. Quite frankly, she thought the only way Max's appearance could be improved was by the removal of clothes, not the addition of them. But her lustful observations took second place when she saw how what was being said was affecting Max. Mrs. Carter was certainly an expert at pushing her son's buttons. Millie observed the way Max's hands, which hung by his side, started to curl into fists.

"I think he looks rather handsome actually," she said defiantly, catching one of Max's clenched hands in her own. She felt it relax into her grasp.

Mrs. Carter laughed in a manner that put Millie in mind of the cackle of a witch. With that same syrupy smile that she wore every time Millie was around, she spoke in Polish to her son again.

"Seems you're in luck, my son. Once a slut, always a slut!" She jiggled Andrew in her arms and continued to cackle away to herself.

Max tensed up again. Millie clutched his hand more tightly. She was sure there was no other time in her entire life when she'd developed so instant a hatred for anyone as she had for Mrs. Carter! The woman seemed to delight in causing other people - especially poor Max - pain. She obviously spoke perfect English, and made no effort to disguise the fact that she only spoke in Polish in order to abuse those who didn't. Millie would have loved to have asked her what that word she kept repeating meant, but feared the trouble this might result in for Max. The last thing in the world she wanted to do right now was make things any worse for him.

Mrs. Carter's malicious laughter seamlessly transformed into charming smile when other guests started making their way into the kitchen. They greeted Mrs. Carter and fussed over Andrew, before turning to kiss, embrace or shake hands with Max.

"And who is this young lady?" one of them asked, extending a hand to Millie.

Millie took the outstretched hand and announced, "I'm Millie. Max's wife."

(ii)

Neil and Grace sat in a comfortable silence on a bench nestled in the dappled shade of a large oak tree. They sipped meditatively at their take away coffees while they sat. This is going really well, they both thought happily, but maybe the silence has gone on too long? Maybe I should be saying something? So, spurned into action by a desire to keep things as pleasant as they had been up until now, they simultaneously opened their mouths to speak.

"So…" said Grace.

"Grace, I…" began Neil at the same moment.

They both stopped to let the other speak, and then laughed.

"What were you going to say?" asked Neil, once he was sure that he wasn't about to cut her off again.

"Nothing important. I just wanted to make sure you were okay."

"Oh, I'm very okay, thank you," responded Neil, leaning sideways towards Grace and giving her shoulder an affectionate knock with his own. "And you? You okay?"

"Very much so!" Grace bumped Neil's shoulder in return. "But, I must confess, I'm wondering where the day will take us once we've finished our coffees."

"Well, let me see," Neil scratched his head as if this helped him recall the events of the day. "We've had lunch, walked in the park, visited a museum, drunk coffee while sitting on a bench watching the word go by…well, that leaves us very little else to do apart from...talk about work!"

A wicked look crossed Grace's face, "Or…we could talk about Millie and Max."

Neil was generally one to see the funny side, but his reaction to this was not quite what Grace expected. She felt her joke had fallen a bit flat.

"Neil, I'm sorry. Have I upset you?"

Neil sighed. "Not really. It's just mentioning Millie brought back the unpleasant memory of something I had managed all day to forget."

"And what's that?"

Neil hadn't wanted to mention this to Grace, but there was no way out of it now.

"Well, when you asked me out, I'd forgotten I'd made arrangements to spend the day with Millie. You see, Max had arranged to take Andrew to his mum's today, and I was going to go over to keep Millie company and catch up on all the news - about Max and everything," he added quickly, not wanting to give the impression that he'd talk to Millie about Grace. "Anyway, I rang Millie to cancel our get together, but she wasn't there, so I left her a message. And I haven't heard from her since."

Grace frowned as Neil related his story. "When did you ring her?" she asked.

"Yesterday afternoon," said Neil shamefacedly.

"And why did you cancel with Millie rather than tell me you had other plans?"

"Because I felt I had more to lose by cancelling on you."

Grace was happy that Neil had chosen her over Millie. But she wasn't seeing it as a moment of triumph. Her work had often exposed her to the reality of how difficult and isolating being a single mother of a young baby could be. And with Max as the baby's father, what type of support was Millie actually getting? No wonder she relied so much on Neil. Grace remembered how Millie had made an effort to be friendly to her that day at Sun Hill.

"I'm flattered, Neil, very flattered. But I think perhaps you should try to contact Millie. You two have been through so much together. You need each other."

Neil took her hand. "But where does that leave you and me?" he asked uncertainly.

Grace smiled. "It doesn't change a thing between us. We've had a lovely day and if you ask me out again, I'll definitely be saying yes. But I think it's important now that you patch things up with Millie."

"Right then, what do you suggest I do?"

"Call her and see if you can pay her a visit."

"What? Now?"

"Yes, now."

Neil pulled his phone from his pocket. First he called her home number, but there was no answer. Then he tried her mobile and that went to voicemail. There was no way he was leaving a message this time.

"She's not answering. So, I'm awaiting your further instruction," said Neil.

Part of Grace was relieved that Millie hadn't answered. She didn't really want her day with Neil to end prematurely. But at least she could be satisfied that she had encouraged Neil to do the right thing.

"Not much you can do, except maybe try again later. To be honest, I'm pleased we don't have to end our date just yet."

"So am I," said Neil. "As much as I love Millie - as a friend, you understand - I'm really enjoying my time with you. Will you have dinner with me?"

Grace took possession of Neil's hand again. "I would love to. Where are you going to take me?"

"Actually, what would you say to a home cooked meal? I make a mean pesto."

Grace edged closer to him. "It just so happens I'm very fond of pesto."

(iii)

Max and Millie arrived home feeling worn out, both physically and emotionally. As soon Andrew was asleep in bed, they both collapsed on the sofa.

Neither of them had talked much on the way home, but this didn't mean that the day had in any way made them feel distant from each other. In reality, it had had more the opposite effect. They'd both revealed vulnerable sides of themselves today and found that the other had risen to the occasion and been completely supportive. It didn't seem out of place then when Max slipped his arm around Millie as they sat on the sofa and Millie had responded by bringing her head to rest on his shoulder.

"Thank god that's over," said Max, drawing Millie in closer to him.

"Poor Andrew could barely stay awake for that final feed."

"Who can blame him? Being pawed and passed around by all those drooling old women. As were you. Have I said how grateful I am for what you did for me today?"

"I won't say it was my pleasure," said Millie. "But I'm glad I could help out. Say, I didn't know you had a sister."

Max frowned. "Who mentioned her?"

"One of your cousins. I take it she's not in contact with the family?"

"No, she's not. You have no idea how hard a time my mother gave her."

"She gives you a pretty hard time too. If you don't mind me saying, I'm amazed you still speak to her."

Max shrugged. "She's my mother. It's my duty to look after her."

"And you're her son. She has a duty to be good to you too."

Max wasn't in the mood for justifying his relationship with his mother to Millie, but he wasn't in the mood for arguing either. He was enjoying the feeling of closeness to Millie too much.

"Maybe you're right," he said.

The two of them fell silent again. Max rubbed Millie's arm and shoulder as they sat. Millie snuggled closer to him. Something about this encouraged Max to believe that if he tried to kiss her now, she wouldn't reject him. So he kissed her. And if Millie thought for a second that this might be a bad idea, she certainly didn't show it.

Max drew back to check out her reaction to the kiss, and just as he was about to go back for a second one, Millie's phone rang. Millie reached across Max to grab it and to see who was calling.

"It's Neil," she announced.

Of course it's Neil! thought Max bitterly. Who else would call and ruin this perfect moment?

"Are you going to answer it?" he asked.

"No," Millie said, putting the phone down again. "I'll call him in the morning."

"Good," said Max, leaning back into the sofa, hopeful that Millie would follow. She did, and their lips met. Soon any tentativeness had disappeared, and the mouths became more adventurous. Hands too got in on the act.

When Max made what was very definitely a move to take things a step further, Millie gently pushed him away.

"Max, we should stop! You know we shouldn't..."

Max groaned. "But why, Millie? Why shouldn't we?"

"Because it's just too complicated…"

"It's not complicated at all! We're both single people, both adults. What's to stop us?"

"We have a child together!"

Max laughed. "Some people would think that was the best reason of all!"

"I don't know…" Millie was clearly starting to weaken.

"Please Millie." Max took her chin in his hand and gently forced her to meet his gaze. "I just don't want to let you go tonight."

Max definitely looked like he meant every word of this. Millie wanted to be strong, but she'd confidently challenge any red-blooded woman to resist a plea like that coming from a man she'd lusted after as long as she had after Max.

"Please Millie," Max repeated. "Just this once…"

He pulled her towards him again and went to kiss her. Millie turned and his lips landed on her cheek. Instead of letting this deter him, he started gently kissing his way down her face to her neck.

Millie was wilting. God, she wanted this so much! And she was so tired of fighting it. Surely one more time wouldn't matter? As soon as Max recaptured her lips with his own, she knew that she was lost…