Saviours and Angels – Chapter 10
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DISCLAIMER: I am not connected to Emmerdale and its characters, which belong to ITV
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(Although, as always, this is a work of fiction, references to the entertainer Gareth Gates and his involvement in the McGuire Programme are factual)
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Jackson looked out of the window at Dale Head and smiled to himself. He would never have believed the turn of events that had shaped his life in the past few months. Tony had given him a new contract to present a spin-off show to 'The North Today', called 'Jackson's Handy Home Hints' and he could not have been happier. He had taken to the role of television handyman like a duck to water and the audience at home had fallen for his charms! He was such a friendly, amiable character that everyone had been instantly won over! He could never have guessed that he would be a success in a field that he had not previously contemplated. Aaron was, as always, his rock. Aaron teased him, of course; as was his way, but underneath it all Jackson knew that his husband was as proud of him as he could be and it filled him with joy. Being that Jackson was now earning good money, he had been able to get a mortgage and put in an offer on Dale Head and Declan, due to his financial woes, had been only too happy to accept it. So, Jackson and Aaron were now the proud owners of their property.
As he stared out onto Emmerdale village, Jackson saw a familiar figure come into his line of sight; it was his mother, Hazel. He ran to the door to let her in.
"Hello, my little darlin'!" Hazel said and threw her arms around his neck.
"MUM!" Jackson hated to be treated like a kid!
"What? Your old Mum can't give you a hug now?"
"Cup of tea?" Jackson decided to change the subject.
"No thanks, love, I can't stop! I just called round to tell you that I'm off to meet Sylvia!"
"Well, you don't need my permission!"
"You always did have a sarcastic streak!" Hazel frowned, "Listen! Sylvia's bought an old village primary school building near Robblesfield and she's asked me to go and stay for a couple of days!"
"A school?" Jackson wondered if he had heard correctly.
"Yes! It used to be, before it closed; it was being sold as a dwelling and she got it for a knock-down price!"
"As long as it's not a knocked-down building!" Jackson joked.
"Anyway, I just wanted you to know; plus I wanted to wish you good luck with your new programme! My son, a TV star! Who'd have thought it, eh?"
"I wouldn't say 'star'; I'm just a handyman really; I just happen to be on the box!"
"You're far too modest!" Hazel looked at Jackson fondly, "I can dine out on this for weeks! Anyway, must dash and catch the bus!"
Jackson waved his mother off at the door. She was obviously thrilled to bits about Jackson's new career and it made him happy that she was also happy!
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Later that day, Aaron returned home from the garage to find Jackson cooking dinner, "Have you been taking lessons from Brett?" he said with a grin.
Jackson chuckled, "I don't think he needs to worry about any competition from me!" Jackson paused as Aaron moved to kiss him on the lips, "I know as much about cooking as HE does about plastering!"
"Listen," Aaron continued, "I've had a call from Brett today. He says Gwyneth is going out with Aiden!"
"What, Gwyneth as in Mason's sister?"
"How many Gwyneth's do you know?"
"Smart-arse!"
"Anyway," Aaron was determined to finish his story, so he ignored Jackson's rebuke, "It appears Aiden and Gwyneth hit it off at Tony and Penny's anniversary party and they've been seeing each other, on and off, ever since!"
"He kept that quiet!"
"Well, we don't see much of him, do we? Brett only knows because they're best mates and Gwyneth is his boyfriend's sister! It turns out that Gwyneth has landed a job near Aiden's uni, so it looks like they will be seeing more of each other from now on."
"Isn't she older than Aiden?"
"He's not exactly her toy-boy! She's only about two years older than him!"
"...and as we know; a two or three year age difference always works!" Jackson slipped his arms around Aaron and kissed him at length. When they broke apart, Aaron stared into Jackson's big brown eyes.
"What's for dinner? I'm starving!"
"I thought you were hungry for something else!" Jackson said with a lecherous grin.
"I am! But the way to a man's heart is through his stomach! Didn't Brett teach you anything?"
Jackson did not answer, but moved in for another kiss as the first one had not been enough!
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A few days later, Aaron and Jackson were in bed together. Being a Sunday, they were having a lie-in when Jackson's mobile phone rang.
"Hi Mum!" Jackson said as he took the call, "No, we weren't doing anything!" Jackson looked at Aaron and his husband grimaced as if to suggest that they had been about to do something! "Really!" Jackson went quiet while he listened to Hazel rabbit away, then he spoke again "I think that's a great idea! OK, speak to you later. 'Bye!"
"What did she want?" Aaron enquired.
"She said that Sylvia has a big room that she's not using at her house. It used to be a small assembly hall or something. Anyway, Sylvia wants to set up her own business; to teach people how to draw and paint! She's asked my mum if she'll work for the business as a tutor; it'll be right up her street!"
"So, she'll have to travel from here to Robblesfield every day?"
"No! That's another thing," Jackson continued, "Sylvia has a spare bedroom and has asked mum if she wants to be a lodger!"
"What did she say to that?"
"Well, yes, naturally. They're as thick as thieves, those two!"
"You don't think they...?" Aaron left his question unphrased.
Jackson picked up on Aaron's inference, "Nah! My mum's as straight as they come...and I bet Sylvia's straight too!" he said in all seriousness.
"I just wondered if you might have got your 'gay gene' from Hazel!" Aaron laughed.
"I don't think so!" Jackson chortled along with his husband, "My parents are both straight, so I must be a throwback or something!"
Still giggling, they fell into an embrace and resumed their Sunday morning activities!
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Mason looked at Brett, sitting at the desk in his parents' study, "How are you getting on with it?" he asked.
"It's really hard work!" Brett replied, "I'd much rather actually cook than write about it!"
"I know; but my dad says that the publishers are keen to get you into print! You're a hot property right now and he wants you to capitalise on that!"
"Hot property, eh?"
"Yes you are; if these letters from the studio are anything to go by!" Mason held up a bundle of letters from TV viewers, "It'll take me ages to send off your signed photographs!"
"I'm sorry to cause you so much work!" Brett was being sincere.
"Don't be daft!" Mason smiled at his lover, "You're building a future for us and I'll support you all the way!"
"You're so good to me!" Brett looked at Mason with so much affection in his eyes.
"So are you...to me I mean! I'll help you all I can; because you're my fella and I love ya!"
"Come here!" Brett stood up and drew Mason into an embrace. They kissed, sealing the strong bond that had formed between them, "I love you too!" Brett sighed.
"Anyway, I'd better let you get on!" Mason broke off their embrace, "You've got a book to finish and I've got mug shots to post!"
"Yeah, I suppose so!" Brett looked disappointed that their passionate moment was at an end for the time being.
Just then, Tony entered, unexpectedly.
"Hi Dad!" Mason greeted his father, "I didn't know you were home!"
"Hi son," Tony looked at Brett, "Hi Brett, how's the book coming along?"
"Yeah, it's g-g-good thanks, it's hard work, but I'm g-g-getting there!"
"Listen, I was talking to a producer friend of mine; he wants you to do an interview on a late-night chat show, you'd be able to plug the forthcoming book, will you do it?"
"I don't know," Brett looked worried, "What about my s-s-stammer!"
"Well, that's what I wanted to talk to you about," Tony continued, "I bumped into the singer and actor Gareth Gates yesterday; he's at the West Yorkshire Playhouse in a new musical. Anyway, you know that he's a stammerer and he was telling me about the McGuire Programme which helps people with your problem. I thought you might like to enrol, it's certainly improved Gareth's speech; he's even an instructor on the programme sometimes."
Brett mulled it over for a moment, then he decided that it might help with his speech impediment, "OK, I'll give it a try; it can't hurt, can it?"
Mason, as always, was right behind his partner, "I say go for it, babe! You know I'm with you; no matter what!"
Tony was quite moved by Mason's support for his boyfriend; he looked at the pair of them with deep affection.
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Jackson had been to David's shop to buy some food. He entered Dale Head to find Aaron sitting on the settee.
"You're home early; I was going to get your tea ready before you came in!" Jackson remarked before kissing his husband in greeting.
"That's OK, it's a bit dead today," Aaron explained, "so Cain said he was shutting up an hour early and told me I might as well go too."
"I've just been down to David's," Jackson said, putting his shopping bags down, "Anyway, I'm glad you're here...I've got some good news!"
Aaron looked at Jackson expectantly, "Well?" he said.
"I've got some more work, writing a DIY column for a Sunday newspaper supplement!" Jackson sounded excited, "Not only that, but I've also been asked to front an advertising campaign for 'Planet DIY'; the store chain! We're in the money, babe!"
"Wow, that's fantastic!" Aaron could not contain his excitement, "We'll have to go for a drink to celebrate!"
"Yeah, although we'd better not go too mad, we're going to Sylvia's housewarming party tomorrow, don't forget!" Jackson was always the practical one.
"Oh yeah!" Aaron suddenly remembered, "I suppose we'll have to take a bottle there, too!"
"I'm looking forward to it, actually; Brett and Mason are going and we always have a good laugh with them, don't we? I think Aiden and Gwyneth have said they'll go too...should be a good do!""
"Yeah! As long as you don't get bladdered and I have to carry you home!" Aaron smirked.
"Hark who's talking!" Jackson defended himself, "Anyway, I don't want to be like these celebrities who appear in the papers looking like they've had one over the eight!"
"Oooohh!" Aaron tried unsuccessfully to adopt a high-pitched voice, "Get you; a 'celebrity'!"
"I'm famous now, babe! You're the husband of a TV star!"
"That's as may be, but you're still a div!" Aaron mocked the love of his life.
"You love me really!" Jackson pulled Aaron into an embrace and kissed him with passion. Aaron melted into Jackson's arms; he did indeed love the very bones of him!
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The months passed. Then, one cold November day, Aaron came home to find Jackson on the phone. He waited patiently for his husband to finish the call.
"Who was that?" Aaron was intrigued.
"That was Tony," Jackson replied, "he said that Brett's book has just passed the one million sales mark!"
"That's great!" Aaron was genuinely pleased for their friend, "I knew he'd be a success. He's doing well with his speech too; he was really fluent on that chat show last night, wasn't he?"
"Yeah! I'm so glad he went on that course for people who stammer. It really seems to have boosted his confidence."
"To think it could have all been so different," Aaron was thinking back to the day he rescued an unconscious Brett from his bedroom.
Jackson knew exactly what Aaron was referring to, "He wouldn't even be here now...if it wasn't for you!"
Jackson put his arms round his husband, "The angels were watching over him that day, for sure!"