Five days later and Olivia still hadn't come around. Dup's funeral was fast approaching, and Caroline was beginning to grow more and more anxious about her granddaughter's attendance. As she voiced her concerns over breakfast that morning, the majority of the family grumbled and moaned, fed up of hearing about Liv's antics.
"Look, Caroline. I'll go over to the bar later in the morning. Talk to her." Alice offered warmly, "See if I can make her see sense."
"Thank you Alice." Caroline replied, "I have so much to do today and-"
"It's fine honestly." Alice chuckled.
"And don't forget the will reading is today at five!" Caroline told them all before standing up and exiting with her plate to the kitchen.
"Hey Evan, didn't you have a girl to bring with you?" Danny asked, leaning forward as she sipped on his coffee.
"Umm no." Evan replied.
"Ah, yes you did!" Danny teased as Alice shook her head, giving him 'the look'.
"No, I don't have a girlfriend." Evan responded.
"So how's Uni going?" Danny insisted, "First class honours? I bet you're doing great aren't you? Zoology..."
"Fine." Evan intercepted quickly. "Look I'm going to get ready."
Danny waved him off blind to Evan's attitude until he noticed Alice glaring at him. He swallowed, he knew that glare all to well.
"What?" Danny squeaked in fear.
"Couldn't you see he was uncomfortable?" Alice moaned, "You going on about firsts and bloody girlfriends doesn't help."
"Alice! Look at the opportunity you get with getting a good degree though!" Danny exclaimed, "I've been offered jobs because I've got a first in the past."
"Yeh, well you can stop piling the pressure on. I'm sure he's got enough as it is! It's like Liv's exam results all over again! Stop it. He's at University and last time I checked he was doing pretty well. Stop pressuring him." Alice warned.
"You have to admit that your first class-"
"Danny if you don't shut up I'll go find your degree certificate and ram it where the sun doesn't shine. Now go and do something useful." Alice warned.
"Like?"
"Take Charlie and Bobby to school and nursery."
"Fine, come on Charlie." Danny smiled, "Is school better now?"
"Yeh, though Jen's back today." Charlotte sighed. Jen had faced exclusion for bullying Charlotte for a number of weeks and in the past few days Charlotte had been much happier, but now Jen was back and all Danny could do was hope that the other girl was sorted.
As they walked through they greeted Rosie and Dylan who were both walking in. Robert shouted at his older sister as they passed, causing Rosie to stop and talk to him briefly before carrying on, bumping into Alice as they reached the end of the corridor.
"Hello." Alice smiled, "Hi Dylan."
"Hey Alice." Dylan replied.
"Rosie, I'll get started with you but later in the morning I need to nip to Fatani's." Alice told her step-daughter, "There's a couple of appointments at lunch but nothing major."
"Ok cool... Dylan thought he'd see if there was anything he could help Caroline with." Rosie smiled.
"Aye, she was on about sorting some things out for the service. She's in the kitchen. Oh, and the will reading is at five too." Alice told them both before continuing on. Rosie kissed Dylan before catching up with her step-mother, walking down to the hospital ready to begin work. She sighed, something told her today was going to be a long day.
(x)
A couple of hours later and Alice was outside Fatani's bar. She exhaled, running her hand across her stomach - god, Nomsa's fry up had been a great idea at the time but now she paying for it. She felt like she'd eaten three pizzas in rapid succession. She shook the feeling off before clambering out the car, nodding kindly at a few of the locals who greeted her. She walked in, glancing around at the somewhat busy bar. She spotted Liv almost immediately and didn't delay any further in walking over to her.
"Liv." Alice called, waving as she approached the bar, "Bottle of cider and a word please?"
"If this is about Thabo-" Liv began but Alice cut her off.
"It's about Dup, your Gran and this family." Alice replied in her no nonsense tone. Liv found herself nodding, calling to Fatani who nodded. Both moved round to the corner of the bar. Liv handed Alice a bottle of Savana Dry before sitting down her self with a JD and Coke. She swirled the contents numerous times. Alice sighed and began,
"Liv, you're upsetting your Gran with all this Thabo business. What exactly is your problem?" Alice asked, "It's a funeral for pities sake."
"He's my ex, I don't want to see him." Liv responded heatedly.
"It's for a few hours at most Liv! Jesus, just swallow your pride. This is about Dup, not you, not Thabo, not me, not Danny, Dup. If you don't quit this attitude for him, then quit it for your Gran's sake eh?" Alice asked, "Now, I'm gonna ask again, why?"
"I..." Liv looked around, "Can we go for a drive?"
Alice nodded frowning, picking up her keys as Liv led the way to the Jeep. Alice climbed in and started the engine, glancing at Liv before beginning to talk.
"What is it?" Alice asked.
"I didn't tell him something- something massive. No one knows, it's been my secret." Liv admitted. "You might want to stop the car." Liv suggested as they entered the bush. Alice did so, cutting the engine before turning to look at Liv, "God, you're gonna hate me."
"Try me." Alice told her.
"I was..." Liv took a deep breath. "After we split up, and I got with Fatani, well I was late about two weeks later. I thought I'd take a test as a precautionary... It was positive. Pregnant. So I snuck off and had an abortion. It was Thabo's, it had to be. Fatani and I hadn't... well y'know." Liv shook her head as emotion hit her, "God... I didn't even tell him." She wailed, beginning to cry.
Alice sighed and wrapped an arm around Liv, kissing the side of her head gently. "Shh, come on Liv, there's no need to cry." Alice murmured, "So the guilt's eating you up?" Alice asked as Liv nodded, "Well what's done is done. But it's up to you what comes next. Are you over him?" She felt Liv nod against her, "Then be the mature young lady I know you've become, be polite. If you choose to tell him, that's fine. If you don't, I won't say a word."
"Will you tell Danny?" Liv whimpered.
"Not if you don't want me too." Alice promised.
"He'd go mad." Liv whispered, "His veins would pop so far out of his forehead you'd never be able to look at him again."
Alice chuckled, squeezing Liv's shoulder, "He loves you. He'll always be there for you, you know. But you're right, he'd probably burst a blood vessel and then calm down."
"Thanks for listening Alice, and always being there." Liv told her step-mother of sorts looking at her sincerely.
"Hey, it's what I'm here though." Alice smiled.
"You're always the one who sorts us out in the end. Bet you didn't bank on this when you married Danny." Liv laughed.
"Hey, I'd be here if I wasn't married to Danny. You aren't a duty of marriage, none of you are." Alice promised, "Now let's save the sentimental crap for another time. Here," She murmured pulling out some wipes out of her bag, "Baby wipes but it'll sort the running mascara out. By the way, Dup's will is being read at five."
"I'll be there." Liv smiled, "So what you up to for the rest of the day?"
"Not a lot really." Alice admitted, "We've got a few bits and bats in the surgery but Rosie and Danny are all over it. We're gonna have to sort Mara out at some point too."
Liv nodded as she and Alice began to catch up, she was glad she had Alice to keep her on track, but it still didn't stop her worrying about seeing Thabo again and knowing that she'd aborted his child.
(x)
Charlotte sighed as she read her book at break. She had been talking to her friends but they had a detention with their teacher and now she was alone, sitting at one of the tables. She chewed lazily on her crisps, eating them slowly as she read. Today had been ok so far, Jen had kept herself to herself and so had Charlotte. Suddenly, without warning, her book was snatched upwards and Charlotte found herself surrounded by Jen and three of her friends, Steph, Jodie and Danielle. Charlotte swallowed, realising she was alone and outnumbered.
"Why hello Charlotte." Jen sneered, "You think you're gonna get away with this do you?"
"I have." Charlotte replied, "So why don't you crawl back in your hole?"
"Jen!"
The girl turned and noticed the headteacher making his way over, she turned back to Charlotte, "This isn't over..." She warned before walking away with her friends. Charlotte swallowed, Jen was full of hot air, she wouldn't do anything... would she?
"Everything ok Charlotte?" Mr Benzao asked kindly.
"No," Charlotte smiled, "Everything's fine." She responded before turning back to her book.
(x)
By four thirty that afternoon, every member of the family was sat around the kitchen, all bar Charlotte. Alice was becoming increasingly anxious. Charlotte had text her saying the bus was running slow and her phone was dying but she was now over half an hour late and Alice was beginning to panic. She stood by the window watching the road with expectant eyes.
"We should have picked her up." Alice murmured as she felt her Husband walk up behind her.
Danny sighed and wrapped his arm around her waist, "She wanted to get the bus. She'll be here, she said the bus was running late."
"Not half an hour late." Alice told him, "Danny something is wrong."
"Look, if she isn't here soon I'll go and get her, meet her off the bus." Danny promised. "I'm sure it's nothing."
Alice shook her head, "Something is wrong." She repeated. Danny sighed and checked his watch, Dup's will reading was very soon. "I can't wait." Alice announced and walked out of the room. Everyone turned to look at Danny who swallowed.
"Charlotte is late." He explained, "We're going to look..."
"I'll help." Dylan stood up, patting Rosie's shoulders.
"Me too." Liv replied. "Four people looking, we'll find her in no time. Evan come on, make it five."
"Ok." Evan replied.
"Right, Evan you go with Dylan, Liv you go with Alice and I'll go on my own." Danny replied.
"Anders-" Caroline began before shaking her head, "I'll explain."
Danny nodded his thanks before running outside, he walked over to Alice who had just climbed into a Jeep. Liv jumped in beside her, "We'll find her." He promised, kissing her forehead gently. He stood back as Alice sped off. Dylan and Evan set off in the opposite direction as Danny himself climbed in a Jeep and followed Alice out. He hoped beyond all hope they found her.
(x)
"Time for payback Bush Girl."
The cackle of three girls echoed around the deserted land as Charlotte struggled against her ties. She hoped beyond all hope someone missed her soon.