Chapter 10

…

"Why didn't you tell me Terry, if anything had to happen to either of us, why did it have to be you?" Nicky said stricken.

"Darling don't look at me like that, it was nobody's fault but my own…I was looking up in to the sky. You see, it was the nearest thing there was to heaven…because you were there. If you can paint…I can walk…the world can turn upside down if…"

…...

Rob glanced over at Janet when he heard the soft crying coming from her direction, tissues scattered at her side. He moved closer to her and wrapped his arm around her shoulder; he smiled when she suddenly leaned in to his touch.

"I'm sorry; the ending always gets to me." She sniffed.

"Hey don't worry about it."

He reached for the remote on the table and switched the television off as the credit rolled, leaning back…Janet pulled back to look up at him from her place on his chest.

"Did you like it?"

"A bit mushy for me but as far as old movies go, yeah it was good. Why do you put yourself through it if all it's gonna do is make you cry."

"Because its happy tears, Nikkie finally got his girl in the end…I love a happy ending."

"We all want a happy ending Janet."

He looked down at her, the tears glistening in her eyes. He brought his hand up and gently brushed a tear from her cheek before leaning down and kissing her softly, she moaned in to his mouth as her arm came up and around his neck…pulling him closer to her.

"Rob I…"

"Don't say you're sorry, please…I'm not."

"We work together."

"Look, I heard what happened with Andy Roper but I'm not him. All I'm asking for is a chance, a chance to show you that I'm worth it. I like you…a lot."

"I like you too."

"Have dinner with me tomorrow."

"It's Saturday, I'll have the girls."

"Bring them."

"Oh yeah, our first date and I bring my kids…great first impression."

"I don't need to be impressed, you did that the day I met you."

"I did?"

"You're a wonderful woman Janet and I want to get to know you better, every part of you."

"Okay, why don't you come around tomorrow around 4pm and we'll have dinner and you can meet the girls."

"Your Mum won't be here will she?"

"No, she's out all day with friends."

"Great."

Janet got up and saw Rob to the door, before her left he pulled her in for one last kiss before he said good night."

…

Kevin pulled up outside his Mum's house and watched Rachel carefully as she eyes the house.

"Rach, you okay?"

"Is your Mum loaded or something?"

"What, no why?"

"Kev, this place is huge."

"Oh yeah, well she got it in the divorce. My Dad did pretty good for himself."

"What did he do?"

"He was a heart surgeon."

"He's retired?"

"No, he's dead."

"Jesus, Kev…why didn't you ever tell me."

"We haven't been together that long, it never really came up did it?"

"I guess not but, your Dad being dead is something you should have told me."

"Well you know now, don't mention him to Mum though. The divorce was pretty ugly and he left her for a woman my age."

"No way, seriously."

"I did love my Dad but…he was an ass. He always treated Mum like crap, always working and cheating behind her back. Leaving her the house was the least he could do."

"Sorry Kev." Rachel smiled, leaning over and kissing him.

"Come on, we're being watched."

Rachel looked out to see Mary peering out the window. They got out of the car, Kevin's arm around her waist, easing her nervousness a little. They went inside as Mary came into the hallway.

"Kevin, darling…it's so lovely to see you." She smiled, hugging her Son.

Rachel watched as the pair hugged, admiring Kevin's Mother. She was tall with long wavy brown hair, a smooth complexion with glasses that showed off her beautiful green eyes. To look at her, Rachel began to wonder why on earth Kevin's Father would even have needed to cheat on such a beautiful woman.

"Rachel honey, it's lovely to meet you. Kevin speaks highly of you."

Rachel was about to respond when Mary suddenly pulled her in to her arms.

"Oh, hi…it's lovely to meet you Mrs Lumb."

"Please honey; call me Mary…all my friends do." She smiled.

"Mary, you have a lovely home."

"Mmm, I like it…of course it's really to big for just one person but I couldn't bare to part with it, it's where Kevin was born and raised."

Rachel looked at Kevin smiling at him before Mary took hold of her arm and escorted Rachel along the hallway.

"Come Rachel honey, I've made plenty of food for lunch."

"Can't wait."

…

Julie had been up and about early that morning, on a weekend off Gill never got up before 12pm. When Julie heard the footsteps coming down the stairs she got the coffee pot and poured a large amount in to Gill's favourite mug.

"Morning sleepy head." Julie smiled; as Gill came over to the counter, leaning down to kiss her.

"Morning Slap, sorry I slept late."

"Don't worry, I know what you're like on a day off."

"Yeah, but now that I have you, I ought to make more of an effort."

"You've always had me you daft cow, just more intimately now."

"True, so what do fancy doing today?"

"Actually I was wondering if maybe we could do some extra practicing on my walking, I was thinking a lot last night and if I work harder at it, hopefully I'll be up and about quicker."

Gill knelt down in front of Julie, tucking her hair behind her ear.

"Julie, I know you're frustrated but you can't rush yourself. All you'll do is end up tiring yourself out and neither of us want that."

"I'm just so bloody sick of this chair, I want us to go out, do things and well…other things I can't really do right now."

Gill saw the twinkle in Julie's eyes as she spoke, reaching up and placing a kiss to her partners lips, Gill couldn't help but feel so much love for her in that moment.

"Is that all you're worried about, sex doesn't defy who we are as a couple Julie….I love you for you, nothing else."

"I love you too but…"

"No buts okay, it'll happen when it happens and until then, well we have each other and that's all I care about."

"If I promise not to exert myself, will you help me with my walking today."

"Only if you promise to take it easy then fine, I'll help you and later we can get some fresh air and tonight we'll order some takeout and curl up together."

"Sounds wonderful."

"But first things first…I need my coffee." She laughed.

…

To Be Continued….