Chapter 10

A few days past and people started to cool off. Lindsey still hadn't been able to have a proper conversation with Joe over everything, he was still blocking her out. Her and Freddie were closer than ever, supporting each other. Freddie had ended up staying at the boardhouse, Sinead offering him a place to stay as he'd helped her and Tony with the whole Christmas market thing a couple months back.

Lindsey sat the kitchen table, she was exhausted. She figured that all the stress was finally getting to her plus the sleep deprivation and she was tired, ill and couldn't concentrate. Sandy passed her a cup of tea as she sat opposite her.

"Lindsey? You alright, love?" She asked, looking at her with a concerned look on her face.

"Hmm?" Lindsey snapped out of her trance as she looked back at her. "Oh, yeah. Just tired, it's all catching up with me I think."

"You sure? You're looking a little peaky." Sandy remarked, concerned at how she felt.

"Honestly! Just not getting much sleep at the moment." She replied, sighing.

"It'll get better, you'll work things out with Joe soon. I'm sure of it." She reassured her.

"Oi, Linds. You've seen better days!" Robbie said, laughing as he walked into the kitchen on his break.

"Oh pack it in!" Lindsey replied angrily, getting up as she walked out into the hallway to get her coat.

"Uh, where are you going?" Sandy asked, standing up and walking into the hallway.

"I just need some fresh air, probably do me good."

"Alright. If you feel worse, give me a call, yeah?"

Lindsey nodded and smiled ever so slightly before putting on her coat, grabbing her bag and leaving the house. All she needed was to get away from everyone, she felt smothered. Something wasn't right and she could feel it. She sighed, strolling through the village and down to the boardhouse to find Freddie. Upon arriving, she rang the doorbell and waited for an answer.

Freddie was up and getting ready to go to the club when he heard the doorbell ring. He figured it was going to be Lindsey so he quickly ran out from his room and opened the door to her.

"Morning beautiful. You alright? You're looking a little pale." He said softly, seeing her sigh and storm into the house. "I didn't mean it like that."

"You're mum has been going on about how I look all morning. I probably just caught a bug or something." She sighed, running her hands over her face.

"Come here you." He replied, shutting the door as he walked over to her and pulled her into a tight hug. "You should be at home if you don't feel great."

"I just wanted to see you. It doesn't feel right, not having you around the house." She rested her head on his chest as she spoke.

"You know I'd be back at the house if I could. Joe just won't have me there." He sighed, holding her close.

"I know. I'm gonna try talk to him and get him to think again. I hate this, having to be apart."

"As do I. We'll be back together properly in no time, I promise you." He reassured her.

Joe was slowly coming to terms with the whole Freddie/Lindsey scenario. It was all still a shock but he knew that Lindsey and him would have to be civil for the sake of JJ. He chucked the garage keys at Ziggy as he went to take his break. Well, it wasn't really a break. It was an excuse to have another go at his brother. He headed to the boardhouse which was short walk away, ringing the doorbell as he got there. Freddie and Lindsey were having a catch up, working out everything they were gonna do. As the doorbell went, Lindsey jumped up and opened the door, sighing as she saw Joe.

"Oh, hey." She said awkwardly.

"Freddie here?"

"Yeah, um. I was just about to go, I'll leave you two to it." She grabbed her bag and kissed Freddie on the cheek before leaving.

Freddie smiled at her before she left and took over the door, leaning on the doorframe as he spoke to his brother.

"What are you here for?"

"You gonna let me in or what?"

Freddie held his hands up as he took a step back to let him in, closing the door behind them.

"Look, I don't want forgiveness and I am sure not forgiving you for everything you've done. But Mum's back and Lindsey's exhausted with all this. Can we just be civil?"

"Are you serious? I'm the one that should be saying this to you! You don't care about anyone but yourself, Joe. You thought it'd be a good idea to attack me, to kick me out? Lindsey needs me, not you. Are you not even thinking about her here? She's tired and worn out all because of this, you."

"Be quiet. I still care about Lindsey despite what she did to me. What you both did to me. She still needs me y'know? Not just you."

"What I deserved? Huh, sure thing." Freddie said sarcastically. "What are you on? She doesn't care about you! She was only with you for your sons sake."

"Don't. Don't say that." He replied angrily.

"Woops! I just did." Freddie smiled sarcastically once more, grabbing his leather jacket and dodging his brother as he ran quickly out of the house.

Joe stood blankly. Freddie was never going to be his brother, not after this. Not after what he'd done to him.

Lindsey was back home later than evening, sat on the sofa with Joe Junior in her arms. She smiled down at the sleeping baby who was wrapped up cosily with a blanket in her arms.

"You're perfect you are. And you're all mine." She whispered softly, admiring how small and cute he was. She turned to her handbag and glanced over at it and the Price Slice bag beside it. Should she? Shouldn't she?

Joe peered his head around the door, seeing her with their son. He was always going to love Lindsey, despite everything. And now they had a baby together, it was ten times harder to let her go. He walked in a took a seat beside her.

"Linds, look. I'm sorry."

"Don't worry, Joe. You have every right to be angry." She said, standing up with the baby still in her arms.

"Here, let me take him. Go have a break, have a bath and relax." He said, taking Junior from her arms.

"Stop being so nice. This isn't you." She replied.

"I'm never going to stop loving you, you know? I'll always love you, Lindsey."

Lindsey nodded slightly at his reply. She felt the guilt rush over her as she crushed everything they ever had.

Robbie and Jason walked in at that moment, ignoring the couple and going straight to the Price Slice bag on the floor.

"Yes! Food!" Robbie said, going to pick the bag up from the floor.

Lindsey grabbed it quickly from him and held it close to her.

"Don't go in other peoples bags." She said angrily, quickly running upstairs.

Cliffhanger! What's in Lindsey's bag? Lots more to come. :D