We do not own Eastenders, Ashes to Ashes, Waterloo Road, Doctors or Emmerdale
Chapter 11
Alyssa woke early and crawled out of Jack's tight embrace. She spared a fond look at him as she went to get a shower and then got dressed. She made sure she was presentable and went downstairs to make Jack a cup of tea. She left it on the bedside table and then left the house. She still couldn't believe that Rowan wanted to go shopping, granted she would need new clothes as she started to get bigger, and the baby shopping was understandable, but Alyssa was still a little shocked. But pleasantly shocked. She texted Rowan to say she was on her way to the restaurant and put her phone back in her bag as she enjoyed the small breeze.
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Rowan woke up early and sighed happily. She couldn't remember feeling so good. She buried her face in Ray's broad chest and breathed in the smell of him. She turned her head and looked at his arm and caught sight of the bracelet she had got him. She traced her finger over his hand and then over the bracelet. It suited him.
She propped her head on her hand and looked at Ray as he slept and smiled. She loved looking at him when he was asleep. She glanced at the clock and decided she should get up and start getting ready. She was going shopping today!
She furrowed her brow for a moment, she didn't get excited about shopping. Alyssa generally had to drag her kicking and screaming. She looked at Ray again. She wanted to celebrate being with him for a year again, but she needed to shop. Saturday was a perfect day for that. She thought he had to work anyway today. So, at least he wouldn't be puttering around the house on his own.
She carefully slid from the bed and went to have a quick shower. She pulled on a dress and leggings, the only things that seemed to fit her anymore and pulled on a pair of flat black boots before going into the kitchen. She started a pot of coffee and switched on the kettle to make Ray some tea before gazing into the fridge to see what she could make for breakfast. She pulled out eggs and some sausages and put them on the counter. That would do.
She quickly fixed Ray's tea and headed with it to the bedroom. Her breath caught at the sight of him sprawled across the bed, the covers only just reaching his hips. She put a hand to her chest and could only stand and stare in stupefied admiration. She finally managed to walk slowly towards the bed and carefully put the mug of tea on the table before pulling both hands to her chest and clasping them together as she gazed at him. He was such a wonderful sight!
She vaguely heard her phone beep in the next room, but couldn't move. She was rooted to the spot unable to tear her gaze away from him. Why did he have to be so desirable? And why was she finding it so hard to resist him?
An irritating beeping sound woke Ray. He kept his eyes closed and waited for it to stop, when it didn't he frowned and grumpily opened his eyes. He lifted his head when he realised that Rowan wasn't next to him and he looked around. He raised his eyebrows when he spotted her standing next to the bed, not moving. He frowned at her, couldn't she hear that stupid beeping sound? He was pretty sure that it was her phone.
"Ro, I know you think I'm gorgeous, but please will you stop that stupid noise!" he asked as he reached for the mug of tea on his table. He shuffled up the bed so he was leant against the headboard as he drank his tea. He glanced at the time. Saturday? He had work in an hour or so. His gaze flicked over her again. She was wearing a dress? She seemed to be doing that an awful lot recently, wearing dresses. She had told him that she had never been a girly girl, something which he was grateful for. But recently, with wearing dresses and acting all soppy, he was beginning to question that.
Ray finished his mug of tea and idly carried the empty mug in his hand as he climbed off the bed and reached for his dressing gown. He slipped it over him as he padded through to the kitchen. His stomach grumbled in agreement as he looked around for food. He smiled as he spotted the food she had laid out ready and wondered when she planned on cooking it. He made himself another mug of tea as he waited.
Rowan startled and blinked.
"Sorry," she muttered. She wondered again what in the world was wrong with her. She watched him get out of bed and grab his dressing gown. She allowed herself a moment to admire him before turning to head towards the kitchen. She quickly slid two skillets onto the stove and began to cook the eggs. She tossed the sausages into the other pan and snagged her phone from the counter and looked at Alyssa's text.
"Alyssa's on her way," she said and glanced over at him. She dumped the food onto plates and carried it over to the table and put them down before turning to get the toast when it popped up.
Ray looked at her over his breakfast as he ate contentedly. "You don't like shopping," he told her. "You complain when Alyssa makes plans to go," he added with a frown. He couldn't see why she was so seemingly looking forward to spending a day trudging around a load of shops.
"No, I'm not terribly crazy about shopping, but it's necessary. I'll be glad to get some clothes. Nothing fits anymore," she complained. "I need new everything."
He smiled at her. "Do you really need clothes though?" he asked. "I don't mind you not wearing anything," he grinned at her, his expression changed as a thought came to him. "Mind you, I don't want you prancing around with nothing on in front of anyone else!" he told her, his tone dark. There was no way he was sharing her with anyone.
She took a bite of her eggs and raised her eyebrow at his comment. "I know you prefer me with nothing on," she chuckled. "I don't want to be prancing around with nothing on in front of anyone else," she said and tilted her head at him.
"That's why I need new clothes," she lifted the loose dress she wore. "Leggings are the only things I can wear and they are getting tight," she said as she showed him. "I've only got three dresses that are loose enough to wear comfortably and I don't relish wearing the same thing day after day."
She made herself a fresh cup of coffee and sat down. "Do you want me to get you anything while I'm out?"
Ray shook his head. "I don't need anything except inspiration. I can hardly send you out to get your own present can I?" he smirked at her then applied himself to his food. He didn't really want to be sitting down in just a dressing gown when Alyssa got here.
She smoothed the skirt down and finished her eggs.
"And I'm only going to get bigger," she added. She buttered a slice of toast and took a bite, chewed and swallowed. "Even my underclothes are getting too tight. I'd show you but I'm sure that would be a bad idea."
She smirked at him and started on a sausage.
Ray smirked at her over his breakfast. He scanned his gaze over her curiously, if she was going to buy new lingerie then shopping wasn't so bad. He was looking forward to her return and she hadn't even left yet. He chuckled to himself as he ate.
Davina woke and got ready for the day. She had eschewed staying the entire night at Max's and after they'd finished their activities, she'd come home. Today, she was going to see if she couldn't befriend Alyssa.
She downed a quick breakfast of tea and toast and headed for the Square. She would have to find out what Alyssa was up to and then plan to "run into" her.
Gene woke up and clutched Alex to him tightly. Last night had been one of the best in his opinion. He was eager for a replay, but a glance at the clock told him it was a bad idea. She had informed him she was going shopping today and he wasn't in the mood to argue after last night. He kissed her shoulder and slipped from the bed and put the kettle on to quickly make her a cup of coffee.
He brought it in and placed it on the table next to her and then went to fix himself some tea. He knew if he stood there he wouldn't be able to help himself.
Alex heard the clink of china hitting the kitchen counter-top as she opened her eyes. She smiled at the mug of coffee on the bedside table and reached for it. She took a tiny sip and frowned, she burnt her tongue on the scalding liquid and decided to leave it while she had a shower. She glanced over at Gene's side of the bed knowing that he wouldn't be there. She sighed and swung her legs off the bed to get up. She went through to the bathroom and got into the shower.
Alex came out wrapped in a towel and she reached for her now cooler, cup of coffee. She smiled as she took a gulp and then set about getting ready to go out.
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Whitney gave Jack a quick wave as she passed him in the hall and hurried downstairs ahead of him and out the door. She pulled out her phone and texted Molly.
"We hanging today? Am at cafe. W :)"
She stopped short at the sight of Davina crossing the Square and her expression darkened. She stalked over to the woman and stopped in front of her causing Davina to step back in surprise.
"Stay away from Brett, yeah, or I'll make you sorry," Whitney warned.
"Look, I'm not the one who is obsessed. You want your stupid boyfriend to stay away from me you should talk to him."
Whitney reached out and shoved Davina. "I'm talking to YOU. You tell him no when he calls and wants to come round. You tell him to stay away from you and leave you alone, do you understand?"
"I've done that you stupid girl," Davina snapped.
"If I find out you've shagged him again I'll rip your hair out," Whitney snarled and pushed at Davina again.
"Oi, Whit, what you doin?" Bianca yelled and came running over. She grabbed Whitney and pulled her away from Davina.
"She's shagging my boyfriend," Whitney cried and writhed in Bianca's grasp.
"No, I'm not. I've told him to stay away. I told him weeks ago. He's done that so far," Davina countered.
"Look, why don't you just get out of here, go on!" Bianca demanded and pulled Whitney towards the cafe. "C'mon Whit, calm down. She ain't worth it."
Davina shook her head and turned to head for the salon at a quicker pace. She glanced back once and saw Whitney's hate-filled gaze. She felt a slight shiver of fear. That girl quite likely would tear her hair out. She resolved to keep telling Brett to keep well away.
It was Jack she wanted anyway.
Bianca dragged Whitney into the cafe and sat her down.
"Now, you're gonna have a cup of tea and calm down," Bianca instructed Whitney and went behind the counter to get the girl a cup of tea.
"Hiya, Jane, sorry about all the excitement."
"No worries, Bianca. Gives people something to talk about on a boring Saturday."
Bianca couldn't help but grin and took Whitney her tea and sat down.
"Whit, look, that woman is clearly finished with him. Maybe it's Brett you need to be talking to. Not that she ain't partly to blame, but she's hung up on that Jack."
"Brett and I talked last night. He promised it was over. I just couldn't help it though, B. They were having an affair, he was cheating on me. If she didn't really want him then she should have just said no."
"I know, Whit. Not all men are good like my Ricky," Bianca told her with a small smile and patted her hand.
"I better get busy."
Whitney nodded and sighed before picking up her tea and taking a drink.
Molly pulled her phone towards her as she sat on the sofa. Gene had got up a few minutes ago and she could hear her Mum in the shower. Sam was sat on her lap, still in his jimmyjams, reaching for her hair. She obliged and tipped her head forward so he could grab some as she read Whitney's text. She smiled.
"Sure, be there in a bit. Gene just got up :) x M"
She set her phone back down and looked around for Gene, the pain in her head reminding her that Sam was still clutching her hair. She turned back to him and eased her hair out his grasp and looked at Gene "Are you working today?" she asked as she moved Sam so he was in a more comfortable position.
Gene looked over at Molly.
"No, I might go in later for awhile, but Ray is working today. Your mum is going shopping with Rowan and Alyssa. Why? I suppose you want to go out and all," he remarked and looked at her.
JT unlocked the door to the restaurant and flipped the sign to "open". He nodded at Nora and then went to the kitchen to continue training Trevor. This would be the first day it would be just JT and Trevor. The true test.
He glanced at the ceiling and wondered if Rowan was awake. He thought Ray had to work today, but he hoped Rowan would find something to do so she wouldn't be tempted to come down and start helping.
Whitney read Molly's reply.
"See you soon then," she sent back.
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Molly rolled her eyes at him and nodded. "It's Saturday, I'm hardly likely to stay cooped up here am I?" she grinned. "Whitney just text me to meet her. I'll hang out with her today," she smiled and stood. She carried Sam to Gene and dumped him into his fathers arms. "See you later," she smiled and patted his head before dancing out of the front door.
Alex emerged from the bedroom to hear the door slamming. She smiled at the sight of Sam and Gene and placed her mug into the sink. She checked the time and then grabbed some bread to put in the toaster. After getting out the butter from the fridge she looked over at Gene. "You sure you're okay to look after Sam today?" she asked.
"I'm not being given much choice," Gene replied in an annoyed tone, but his expression gave lie to him being as annoyed as he sounded.
He put Sam down and went over to Alex and pulled her close. "Don't forget to buy something scanty to replace what I tore off you last night."
He gave her a quick kiss and went to pick Sammy up again.
Alex smiled back at him and nodded. She looked at Sam and kissed the tip of her sons nose before grabbing up her bag and reading the text that had just come through. She smiled and sent one back to Rowan saying that she would pick them up. She waved to Gene and Sam, enjoying the sight of her husband holding her son as she left.
Alex climbed into her car and drove to the restaurant.
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Alyssa reached the restaurant and waved at JT through the glass as he spotted her from the kitchen. She waited patiently for him to open the door and stepped inside. "Morning," she smiled brightly at him.
JT noticed Alyssa outside and walked over to open the door.
"It's not locked, Alyssa," he drawled. His eyes widened as she chattered away on her way to the stairs.
"Ro, Alex and I are going shopping today, it's really weird. Ro actually suggested it," she said. "Took me by surprise," she smiled and looked around him to see Trevor in the kitchen. She patted his shoulder. "I'll leave you to it," she said and bounded up the stairs to the flat.
Alyssa knocked on Rowan's door insistently as she reached it.
Ray looked around at the knock on the door and then back to Rowan. He looked down at himself and gulped down his mouthful of sausage. He stood and made his way to the bedroom. "Back in a bit, do not throw that away," he told her indicating his breakfast.
Ray shut the bedroom door firmly behind him and headed to the wardrobe to get some clothes, he took them with him to bathroom and locked the door behind him before climbing into the shower.
Rowan gaped at Ray.
"Of course I wouldn't," she said in disbelief and watched him hurry off. She wished she could join him, but she had other things to do. She heard the lock on the bathroom door and shook her head. Why would he think he needed to lock the door?
She went and opened the flat door and let Alyssa in.
"Hey, Lyss," she said. "Just finishing up breakfast, come on in. Do you want some toast?" she offered. She led Alyssa to the kitchen and put her other sausage on Ray's half full plate before putting her plate in the sink.
Alyssa beamed at Rowan as she came in and placed her handbag down on the sofa. "No thanks, Ro, I'm not hungry," she shrugged and looked at the plate on the table. She frowned. "He locked the door?" she echoed with a small smile, then shrugged again.
"I'm still shocked that you actually planned a shopping trip, for some reason I just can't get my head around it!" she grinned.
"Oh, I have to show you something," she announced and bounded into the bedroom to get the bracelet she had bought Ray. She looked around but he had clearly worn it into the bathroom.
She came back out. "I guess I can't," she said with a shrug. "I realized it's been a year since Ray and I met so I bought him one of those ID bracelets and got it engraved. I thought he might have taken it off before going into the bathroom to shower, but I was wrong. And he locked the bathroom door for some reason so I can't get it and show it to you."
She held out her wrist with her mother's bracelet. "I just got it engraved with what my father put on my mother's bracelet."
She grabbed up her coffee cup and rinsed it and left it next to the sink.
"I guess I'm ready when you are. Oh, Alex texted me, she's coming, too. She might be driving so let me just text her and find out. If she is, I can leave the car for Ray and we can either walk over to Alex's or wait for her to pick us up."
She flipped open her phone and sent off a quick text.
"You driving or shall I?"
"There, done," she said and closed her phone with a snap and sat down at the table to wait for a reply and tried not to think about Ray in the shower, with water running over his naked body.
Alex pulled up outside the Restaurant and sent off at text to Rowan saying she was waiting outside.
"Yeah, well, desperate times and all that. I need clothes that fit, therefore, I have no choice. I am looking a little bit forward to getting things for the baby though," she admitted.
Ray finished his shower and dressed in the bathroom, he didn't want anyone to see him with nothing on, well, nobody except Rowan. That he was okay with. He brushed his teeth and unlocked the bathroom door as he came out and spotted Rowan and Alyssa in the front room. He looked at the table for his breakfast and saw it was still there. He made his way over to it and sat back down.
Alyssa looked up as Ray came in and watched him in amusement as he went straight for the food. She looked at Ro with raised eyebrows and then down at her phone as it went off.
She followed Alyssa's gaze as Ray went straight for the table and turned back to Alyssa, shaking with silent laughter. She looked down at her phone and read the text.
"Alex is here to pick us up," she told Alyssa and stood. She grabbed her bag and walked over to Ray.
"I'm going now. Alex is driving so I'm leaving the car in case you need it," she said. She plucked up the napkin and gave him a small smile as she wiped sausage grease from his mouth and then kissed him.
She broke off the kiss rather breathlessly and touched his cheek. "See you later," she breathed and then straightened and headed for the door. She turned back to Ray and gave him a quick wave before heading out the door.
She hurried down the stairs and out the door of the restaurant and waved at Alex before opening the car door and climbing in on the passenger side.
"Alyssa can ride shotgun on the way home," she said as she buckled the seatbelt. "So, where to first?"
Alyssa chuckled as she followed Rowan down the stairs and outside. She climbed into the back of the car and smiled at Alex as she got in.
Alex grinned at the pair of them as she started up the car. "Well, first job is to get to the shops," she teased as she pulled away from the curb. Alyssa tossed a few suggestions for shopping centres in and Alex decided on the nearest.
She parked up in the car park and locked the car once the two others were out. Alyssa looked at her friends. "So, what do we all need to get?"
Alex bit her lip against the smile. "I've been ordered by Gene to get something scanty," she smiled. Alyssa grinned and nodded. "I need to get some stuff for the honeymoon, too," she agreed and looked at Rowan. "You wanted to go baby shopping right?" she asked.
"Ooooooooo!" Alex beamed. "That's good, I need to pick up some stuff for Sam and if you need any help with the best brands for cots and things then I can help with that," she offered with a smile.
"I need everything," Rowan put in as she climbed out of the car and laughed at them talking about buying skimpy clothes. She decided she might look too, apart from the underthings she needed. She loved the look on Ray's face when she wore something revealing.
She nodded at Alyssa. "I definitely want to get a head start on the clothes and things. I can buy quite a bit even if I don't know what I'm having yet."
Rowan gave an excited bounce. "I can't wait until the scan so I can find out," she enthused. "So, let's get busy."
She put her hand to her stomach as they crossed the parking lot to enter the shopping center. "There are a lot of bathrooms around here right? I'm having to go a lot now," Rowan asked.
She bit her lip as they got inside. It was a bit daunting. She and Alyssa usually just went to a few shops, never to one of the big shopping centers. She spotted a likely place with maternity clothes and several children's places, but the lingerie shop caught her eye. She pointed it out.
"We might as well start there," she suggested and chuckled.
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Davina left the salon disappointed. No one seemed to know where Alyssa would be shopping. She had been fairly circumspect in her questions, she thought, so she didn't think she was being misled. She stood outside the salon and considered for a moment.
Alyssa's friend was pregnant, so they would likely buy maternity stuff and things for the baby. She nodded to herself as she headed back to her car and drove towards the restaurant.
She caught sight of the car that was pulling away from the restaurant as she pulled up and noted the flash of red from the backseat. She drove after them, staying well back but keeping an eye on where they went to see if she couldn't guess where they would end up. Once she realized where they were going she headed off in another direction. She would pick up some paperwork and then she could meet up.
Davina picked up the paperwork she needed and then drove to the shopping center she knew they were going to. She parked her car and hurried inside, keeping an eye out for the three women. She wanted to make sure she saw them first so she could plan when she would run into Alyssa. She finally spotted them going into a shop that carried lingerie and bit back a chuckle. Perfect. She would have a hard time explaining if they had gone into the maternity place first.
She strolled leisurely towards the shop and pretended to look at the window display as she watched them wander around and look at things, ducking out of sight if one of them looked to be turning in her direction.
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Gene sat on the couch and divided his attention between the tele and Sammy happily playing on the floor. He sighed and picked Sammy up and bounced him a bit, making him laugh. He looked at the clock and huffed out a breath. He fixed Sammy some breakfast and fed him then made sure he had on a clean nappy and put him in clean clothes.
He sat down and pulled on his boots and then put Sammy in the stroller before pulling on his coat then headed off at a meandering walk towards the station.
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Whitney ate her way slowly through the breakfast Bianca gave her and savored the fact that she had got in Davina's face. She couldn't wait until Molly arrived so she could tell her.
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Alyssa nodded her agreement. "And, to be honest, pyjama wise, who cares if you have a boy and bought girl's clothes. No one will see him to care," she grinned. "I know for a fact that Benny used to have to wear all my nightdresses when he was a baby, just because it made it easier for Mum to change his nappy at night," she grinned.
Alex nodded at Rowan with a smile and pointed to the map of the shopping centre. "See, 3 toilets on each floor," she smiled as she opened the door for Alyssa and Rowan to go in.
Alyssa chuckled and watched with amusement as Alex immediately headed off in that direction. She grinned at Rowan and then followed. She wanted to get some new lingerie for the honeymoon, and she definitely wanted a garter. She smiled as Alex wandered off and started browsing and looked around the shop. She spotted something and made her way over.
Alex headed directly for the red lingerie, seeing as Gene had bought her something that colour she figured that she would replace the one he had bought and get another one as well. She smiled as she picked up a few different ones and headed to the changing room.
Alyssa eventually picked out something she liked and grabbed a garter off the hanger to try that on for size, too. She grinned as she remembered the time that she had taken Jack shopping for lingerie with her and felt her cheeks heat slightly, she pushed the thought away hurriedly and pulled the curtain shut behind her as she stepped into the cubicle.
Rowan burst into laughter.
"I'm just going to buy some of those little footie pajamas, I like those," she said and looked at Alex gratefully. Rowan wandered around and some gowns caught her attention. She gasped and smiled delightedly and went through the rack and picked out three white ones that she thought were pretty and went to try them on. They fit even though they were a bit on the long side. She carried them around as she got herself some maternity knickers and then barely hid her look of dismay at the size of bra she had to get. She was sure Ray wasn't complaining though. She grabbed several and went to try them on.
Davina watched them head for the changing rooms and went inside and pretended to browse as she waited for Alyssa to emerge.
Alyssa smiled as she came out of the changing room carrying the pieces she was going to buy. She bit her lip, her experience buying lingerie with Jack was still playing on her mind. She chuckled to herself and headed to the check out counter. She stood in the queue and idly looked around her. She turned her attention to check out lady as it was her turn and she paid for the items she had chosen. She looked around her as she held her bag and sighed as she realised that Alex and Rowan were still trying on stuff.
She turned around and looked at the items still on the racks around her.
Davina noticed Alyssa finally come out and pay for her purchases. She watched her turn to look as some more racks and positioned herself to back up into Alyssa. She turned around quickly to apologize and made sure her expression was suitably shocked to see Alyssa there.
"Oh, ummm," she began and bit her lip to make sure she looked suitably distressed. She sighed and caught Alyssa's arm before she could move away.
"I owe you such an apology," she began. "I don't know how to begin to explain my behavior, it was inexcusable."
She looked down at the floor and then back up at Alyssa.
Alyssa turned as she felt someone walk into her and her neutral expression changed as she saw Davina. Her eyebrows rose, Davina was apologising? Really? That she had not expected! She said nothing as Davina stood before her, she didn't know what to think. Before her was the woman that had kissed her fiancé on multiple occasions, each time resulting in an argument or problem between herself and Jack. And Davina was apologising.
"If you want to slap me now, I understand, though I think your mate pretty much covered that," she attempted to joke.
Alyssa didn't smile at Davina's joke, she only wished she had seen Rowan take Davina down. She didn't doubt Rowan's ability, not after she took out Gene. But it was still something that Alyssa wished she had seen, unfortunately she had been upstairs...kissing Declan. She sighed, no matter how much she wanted to have a go at Davina she wasn't going to do it in a public place. That wasn't going to happen.
Rowan came out of the changing room and spotted Alyssa. She unwound one of the gowns she intended to buy and hurried over to Alyssa.
"Oh, Lyss, look at this that I found!"
She held up one that went off the shoulders, she thought it was the prettiest, to show Alyssa and realized Davina was standing there.
Davina looked at Rowan and the gown she was holding up. It was lovely she had to admit. She took a chance.
"That's lovely," she said aloud. "With your figure it will look stunning," she added. Rowan looked at her and furrowed her brow before looking at Alyssa.
Rowan realized the woman was actually being nice and quietly thanked her.
At the sound of her name she turned to see Rowan and couldn't hold back her surprise as Davina complemented Rowan, out of fright maybe, after what Rowan did to her? She didn't know what to think anymore so she turned her attention to Rowan
"Wow, Ro," she breathed as she reached a hand out and the material of the skirt slid through her light grasp. "It's gorgeous," she glanced at Davina and then back at Rowan. "And she's right, it will look amazing on you," she agreed. She looked back over her shoulder at Davina and sighed, she was confused at her sudden change in behaviour.
Alex finally came out of the changing room and spotted Rowan and Alyssa a little way away talking to a blond. As she got closer she recognised Davina. She frowned and detoured to the counter to pay then made her way over to the three.
"What's going on?" she asked as she eyed Davina curiously.
Rowan beamed at Alyssa's compliment, looked at Davina uncertainly and cleared her throat.
"I'm…um….I'm going to go pay," she stated and smiled at Alex. "I was just showing Lyss this nightgown I found," she explained half-heartedly and went to the counter to pay. She absently handed over her bank card while looking over at Davina. She thought the woman was being sincere, but she couldn't say for sure. It unsettled her.
Davina looked at Alyssa after Rowan hurried off.
"I should go. I just um, you're the last person I thought I'd ever run into here," Davina finished lamely. "And, I guess I thought I'd take advantage of the situation. I think under other circumstances we might have been friends. I'm sorry I screwed that up."
She nodded at Alex and turned to go. She paused and turned back.
"Maybe I can buy you a coffee sometime," she offered and gave Alyssa a small smile.
Alyssa gave Davina a small nod and cleared her throat. "Sure," she said and then looked at Alex who shrugged. Alyssa looked over at Rowan at the counter and then back at Davina. "Umm, I'll see you round I guess," she said as she gave Alex another look and went over to join Rowan at the counter. Alex looked over Davina once more and followed Alyssa to the counter.
"What was all that about?" she asked and Alyssa shook her head "I haven't got a clue. Why she's suddenly gone from being a bitch to acting like that I really don't know," she said. "I'm so confused."
Alex resisted her urge to look back over her shoulder at Davina and bit her lip. "I can't help but feel suspicious," she sighed. "But then maybe that's just the police officer in me, we have to question everything," she said with a shrug. "Why would she want to suddenly change her attitude towards you?"
"God knows! Part of me hopes that it's because she's sincere, she certainly looked it!" Alyssa fidgeted with her bag as she waited for Rowan to pay. "I don't know Alex" she sighed "I'll see how it plays out at any rate, you never know, she may not be the cold-hearted, fiancé-stealing bitch I had her down as,"she said. "Jack says she used to be really nice, she's a teacher for kids that have problems, autism," she said. "She can't be all bad if she chose that as a job."
Alex nodded mutely, she was still suspicious.
Davina left the shop slowly with only a single glance back. She wondered if it would work. Would Alyssa become her friend? She would have to no doubt somehow befriend the other women as well. They seemed quite a chummy group. She strode to a coffee shop and bought a latte and sat down to watch and see where they would go next and wondered if she could engineer another encounter before they left the place. She looked at her cup and realized she was going to have to buy at least a couple of things or they might think she was just following them around. Never mind that was the truth.
Rowan looked over at Alyssa and Alex as they came to the counter. She watched her purchases being bagged as she tucked her card away. She wrinkled her nose at the bras, but couldn't stop the smile on her face as the gowns were bagged. She would have to wear one tonight, the off the shoulder one perhaps, she thought. She was curious to see what Ray would think.
She listened to Alex and Alyssa with half an ear, feeling excitement at all this shopping welling up in her.
"She seemed sincere to me," Rowan put in as she took her bag. "But it's hard for me to say with a great degree of certainty, I'm a bit…." she trailed off and waved her hand in the air. "If she's normally a nice person maybe all that's happened has finally shocked her into realizing how bizarre she was acting and she's trying to make amends. However, I would treat it with caution, but then, I don't trust easily," Rowan shrugged.
"So, clothes next?" she wondered and glanced over at Davina who was walking from the shop.
"I know, I'm so used to disliking her that this sudden attitude adjustment has thrown me," Alyssa replied and watched Davina until she disappeared in the crowd of people that were beginning to fill the shopping centre. Alyssa sighed, she would see how it went. She didn't trust Davina, but she did want to make bridges, surely Davina had understood now that she couldn't have Jack? She pushed it out of her mind and resolved to dwell on it later.
She turned to Rowan and smiled and pointed at the Maternity and Child clothes shops. "Let's get you all kitted out," she grinned.
Alex nodded and walked happily with Alyssa as she led Rowan into the nearest maternity shop.
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Ray pulled on his shoes and grabbed up the car keys. He slammed the flat door shut behind him and waved briefly to JT as he got out of the Restaurant and got into the car. With Rowan not there he had had to do the washing up by himself. How was he supposed to know how much of that soapy liquid stuff to put in the sink? He had given the bottle a good squirt and before he knew it his arms were covered in bubbles all the way up to his elbow. He had not been impressed. That never happened when Rowan washed up, which was precisely the reason why she washed up, he reminded himself. The plates had been so slippery when he had taken them out of the water that he had left them to air dry on the draining rack rather than attempting to use a towel on them. He didn't fancy cleaning up broken shards of plate from the floor.
He climbed into the car and drove to the station a little faster than he should have done.
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Molly picked her way through the crowd in the market as she made her way to the Cafe. She weaved carefully in and out of the people and sighed happily as she got there. She went to the counter after spotting Whitney at their usual table.
"Morning, Bianca," she beamed. "Can I have a hot chocolate please?" she asked as she handed over the money and turned around to look at Whitney.
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Gene got to the station and pushed Sammy to his office first. He checked his desk over and made a face at the paperwork that seemed to always appear. No doubt it would be worse when he was Super. He began to think seriously about refusing the position, but then someone else might be brought in and he didn't relish that.
He came out of the office and looked at Ray.
"Ready for this?" he asked and pointed at Sammy. He was slowly adjusting to being a father and he knew it amused Alex to no end, but Gene knew the real amusement was in Ray being a father. Just the idea made Gene want to laugh.
Ray sighed and shook his head as he looked at Sam apprehensively. He wasn't sure what kids were capable of, sure he had spent time with Louisa's kids over in America. But that still wasn't enough training.
He looked back up at Gene. "I've got another 5 months or so," he shrugged and eyed Sam again before turning back to his computer.
Gene grinned. "It happens sooner than you think. And no matter how sweet and compliant that woman is with you, and don't argue with me, I've seen how she dotes on you; she is going to expect you to lend a hand. So I suggest you get ready," Gene told him. He pushed Sammy out of the office and down the hall to the workroom where the rest of his officers were to make sure things were going smoothly.
Ray nodded. "I know Guv, we've been through this," he admitted. "I plan to help her, I've just got to learn how," he added without looking up from his computer and he looked over the top of the machine as Gene walked away with Sam. He had to admit, Gene really did look odd with a pushchair! It was such a strange thing to see.
Gene looked at Ginger and Chris who were working and sighed. He gave them a brief wave and then headed out of the station. He was tempted to go and play darts in the pub. He remembered Alex saying something about Alyssa going shopping so he nodded to himself and headed for Jack's house.
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Whitney grinned and waved when she saw Molly.
"You will never guess what I did this morning," she said softly, her tone smug. "I went right up to that Davina cow and told her off to her face."
She grinned. "She swears she's done with Brett and I told her she better be. I think she looked a bit scared," Whitney added with a chuckle.
Molly laughed. "It's about time, I've been waiting for you to do something like that for while," she said as she thanked Bianca and took her hot chocolate and went to sit by Whitney. "So, she doesn't want him?" she smiled. "That's good. And Brett says he doesn't want her, so," she shrugged. "Looks like you've got nothing to worry about."
"It was just the perfect opportunity. I never catch her walking about usually."
She nodded at Molly's comments as her friend sat down.
"Well, Brett says he doesn't want her. So I can only hope I've got nothing to worry about."
Molly smiled and patted Whitney's hand "You'll be fine. I think that now you've had a go at her you shouldn't have any problems" she smiled
"So, what did Brett have to say about everything?" she asked.
Whitney grinned.
"Well, it only just happened this morning. I haven't told him. I'm not sure I'm going to. If she's avoiding him like she says then it won't matter cause she won't say. I don't think she would say anyway," Whitney snorted.
"So, what should we do today d'you reckon?"
Molly shrugged. "Well I got all my coursework sorted last night, Oh! I didn't tell you did I? Gene and Mum got back last night and Peter and I had fallen asleep on the sofa. Gene went all macho, over protective parent as he does and Peter got scared shitless! In hindsight it was hilarious but at the time I was furious at him!" she giggled.
Whitney's hands flew to her mouth and she couldn't hold back at chuckle at what Molly had told her.
"I can just imagine," she commented and shook her head. "I'm glad I don't have to deal with that anymore. Jack and Alyssa pretty much keep to themselves, although if Brett and I spend the night together we usually go to his. He likes winding Jack up too much. It really started to annoy me when he stayed over with me, so we don't anymore."
"Well, we could go shopping, we could pop down the cinema, we could hang out at the park or mine or yours and chat?" she suggested. "Though, I've not got much cash on me so if we do go anywhere I need to pop home first and grab some money."
Whitney finished her tea and considered.
"We could just have a wander. Maybe go in the direction of the High Street and around that area. I've actually been doing that on a regular basis. Have a look at what the clothing shops are carrying, seeing what sort of empty space is available. I might see about setting up in a proper shop and get rid of the stall. When I know more of course. We've only done the most basic of projects so far, nothing to stock a shop with."
She stood up and took her empty cup up to hand to Bianca then looked at Molly again. "We could go by Rowan's and I'll buy you lunch. I heard the new cook she hired is fit so we can have a bite to eat and do some proper drooling," she grinned.
Molly nodded and took her mug back to Bianca with a smile, then turned back to Whitney. "Sounds like a plan," she agreed.
Molly followed Whitney outside the Cafe and walked happily with her through the market in the direction of the High Street. She always looked forward to the weekends and holidays, she rarely got to hang out with her best friend during the week, with Whitney being busy with her Uni Course and Molly trying to keep up with her coursework.
Whitney led her around, making notes and occasionally taking pictures of the new clothes in the windows. She also jotted down various empty shop addresses and phone numbers.
"I like to call and see how much a particular place is going for, so I can plan for it," she told Molly. She had to say one thing for Brett; he made her think that way. She'd never considered such things before, now she was always making lists and planning.
Whitney led Molly to the restaurant, trying not to giggle over her stomach growling.
"Hi," Whitney greeted and pulled Molly to a booth where they would have a good view of the kitchen through the pass-through opening. She nudged Molly as she ordered a coke from Nora and jerked her chin in the direction of the kitchen when Nora wasn't looking.
Molly asked for a lemonade and made sure she had a seat with a good view of the kitchen. If the new guy really was fit then she would likely as Rowan for a job here over the summer, if not then she would go and work with Peter or Fatboy. She couldn't be around Peter all the time anyway, she reasoned as she craned her neck and tried to get a glimpse of the new guy in the kitchen as the door opened. She sighed as all she got was JT's back.
Whitney ordered her food and waited patiently for Nora to leave and then leaned over at Molly.
"Look at the pass bar, he'll be walking by there in just a second," Whitney advised her and grinned.
Molly nodded and let her eyes drift to where Whitney said.
She gasped and then grinned at Whitney.
"Oh my God!" she whispered. "Am so asking Rowan for a job here over the summer if I get to work with Him!"
"See, I told you he was fit. I was talking to Ffion, she said she is hard-pressed to keep her hands to herself, but she's really stuck on Bradley and he was so good to her after she miscarried that she can't bring herself to go back to her old ways she says," Whitney chuckled. "Fee says he is 30, but you'd never guess it looking at him. He is also single as far as she knows, so fair game," she added.
"And he's Irish, you should hear him talk," Whitney sighed.
Molly grinned. "Irish!" she squealed quietly. "I love Irish accents, I can listen to them all day and not hear a word," she chuckled.
"Fair game apart from the fact that we are both taken," she sighed. "And way younger than him," she added with a small scowl. "But," she said brightly. "There's no law saying we can't look."
"And now we are here having lunch we can look all we want," Whitney enthused and took a drink of her coke.
Molly nodded in agreement and glanced over at the kitchen again.
"I'd be well jealous of you if you got to work with him," Whitney muttered. "This place is too far for me to come for lunch and visit you during the week."
She balled up her straw wrapper and tossed it at Molly and giggled before turning to look at the kitchen again.
Molly smiled at Whitney. "Yeah, but we can always meet here on Saturdays and ogle together, then," she smiled.
"Now that is a brilliant plan. I like it. We'll have to just do that then," Whitney agreed and grinned back.
Molly grinned back.
Whitney thanked Nora for the food when she brought it over and then looked at Molly.
"So, did I tell you, Mr. Rimmer asked me…well, and Brett….to be chaperones at the party this year? He reckons that since he's going to be dealing with Roxy this year and he doesn't think she's very responsible, he wants extra people, making sure there won't be any trouble," she giggled.
Molly grinned. "That's brilliant!" she exclaimed. "So you'll be at the end of year party! Whit!" she said excitedly. "That's good, I mean even if you are chaperoning, you can still party" she said happily. "Brett agreed to do it? Really? How much did you have to bribe him with to do it?" she teased.
"To be honest though, if I was asked to label Roxy Mitchell then responsible would not be the word that I would use!" she smiled.
Whitney looked down.
"Haven't asked him yet," she confessed. "Jack only just asked last night. He was calling like Darren and Tamwar and then he looks at me cause I came in to get a cuppa, yeah, and he asks if Brett and I will go, too."
She sighed and toyed with a chip.
"I'll have to ask him."
She ate the chip and looked at Molly.
"Why don't the four of us go to the cinema tonight? I can put Brett in a good mood and ask him then," she suggested and nudged Molly's foot with her toe as Trevor walked by the pass-through.
Molly nodded. "I'll text Peter and let him know," she smiled as she looked up at the pass through until Trevor went out of sight again and sighed as she turned to her phone and sent a text to Peter.
"Cinema 2nite, with Whit + Brett? :) xxx"
She looked back up at Whitney as she set her phone on the table top and rested her chin on her hand "He is soooooo drool-worthy!" she sighed.
"I know," Whitney sighed in agreement as she texted Brett about going to see a film with Peter and Molly.
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Peter read Molly's text and smiled.
"Sure. Come by chippy 2 discuss? Bring paper," he sent back.
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Brett looked down at his phone as it flashed and looked down at his essay. He finished his paragraph and then looked back down at his phone. He read the text from Whitney and smiled. "Sure, see you round yours later :) xx"
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Molly frowned at Peter's text. Paper? Why? She shrugged and looked at Whitney. "Peter says it's fine," she smiled.
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Whitney read Brett's text and sent back. "We might be meeting at Peters" and then looked at Molly.
"Should I go grab the movie listings so we can see what's playing?" she wanted to know and craned her neck to see if the daily paper was in its spot on the side of the counter near the register.
The newspaper! That's what Peter had meant. She nodded with a smile, she knew a handful of movies that were on but wasn't sure of their times. She also didn't know what film Whitney and Brett would want to see. When she and Peter went the chose the action films and steered clear of the romantic comedies. They both hated them!
"I don't suppose there's any thrillers on?" Molly asked as Whitney came back and she shuffled over so she could see the paper, too.
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Brett sent back 'Ok' then set himself about finishing his last essay.
Whitney shrugged as she shifted the paper to make sure Molly could see.
"Dunno, Brett and I usually rent a DVD instead of going out. We've been so busy with all these projects it's hard to find time to go out like that on the weekends. We usually stay in, order takeaway, get work done and then relax."
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Molly grinned. "Living the dream, Whit," she teased as she tilted her head. "How about that one? Black Swan?" she asked as she leaned closer to read the synopsis.
Whitney chuckled and looked at the movie Molly had chosen.
"Sure, sounds good to me."
She looked down at her empty plate. "Think we should get some dessert? Chocolate cake?" Whitney wondered and looked at Molly with her eyebrows raised.
Molly bit her lip and shook her head. "Not unless it comes complete with chocolate fudge icing," she smiled. "I'm leaning towards the cheesecake though today, I hate to say it, brace yourself, but I'm not in the mood for chocolate."
Molly nodded her agreement. "And, when you're not in the mood for chocolate it seems the best thing to go for," she decided and smiled as Nora came back over, she ordered a slice of the cheesecake and then looked at Whitney.
Whitney looked up. "I'll have it, too," she said with a nod and looked at Molly.
Molly grinned as Nora walked away and read the synopsis again. "So, we eat this then go down the chippy to see Peter?" she smiled.
"Yes, we do. I've told Brett to meet us there and then we can tell them what we have decided to see," Whitney told her and smiled.
"Awesome," Molly replied as she took one of the slices of cheesecake from Nora and tucked in greedily.
Whitney gave Molly a cheeky wink and then dug into her cheesecake, savoring each bite. When she'd finished, she paid for their lunch and walked along with Molly to the chippy.
She gave Molly a wry look as they finally reached the Square.
"At least we've walked off the cheesecake, I think," she remarked and rolled her eyes.
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Rowan grinned and walked over with them. She grabbed several pairs of jeans and some t-shirts to wear while cooking in the restaurant and then she found her eyes drawn to the dresses and she never heard the "ooooo!" that left her mouth as she walked over to them. She began flipping through them, picking out several in pastels or small tasteful floral patterns. She clutched them close and thrust her bag from the lingerie shop at Alyssa.
"I'm going to try these on," she bubbled and hurried towards the changing room. She pulled on a pink one and walked out to see how it looked. She glanced over at Alyssa.
"What do you think?" she asked as she smoothed the dress. She spotted some white sandals and grabbed her size and slipped them on to see how they would look with the dress. She smiled and looked at Alex and Alyssa expectantly.
Alyssa smiled as Rowan set about picking out her usual jeans and looked around the shop for anything she might be able to convince Rowan to wear. She leafed through the sizes on a promising looking rack and turned as she heard Rowan make a very un-Rowan-ish noise. Her eyebrows flew to her hairline as she watched Rowan pick out dresses, not just dresses, girly dresses!
Alex's eyes widened as she looked at what Rowan had picked out, she half-smiled as Alyssa took the lingerie bag loosely, gaping at Rowan. She had never seen Rowan wear anything quite so girly before!
Alyssa resembled a fish as her jaw dropped. Rowan Tremaine, was going to wear a floral dress! She recovered herself and gulped. "You sure, Ro? Not that it won't look lovely on you...but you never usually go for that sort of style," she said carefully. "It's very...girly!" she said for lack of another word, and girly summed the outfit up perfectly.
Alex smiled at Rowan, recovering herself quicker than Alyssa. "It looks gorgeous," she pulled a white cardigan off the rack and handed it to Rowan. "That should match as well," she smiled helpfully.
Alyssa looked at Alex, she was encouraging Rowan? Mind you, there was nothing wrong with being girly, it was just incredibly odd to see Rowan choosing that style of clothing, the first time they had gone shopping Alyssa had had to pull Rowan away from her comfort area and make her try new things where clothes were concerned. She swallowed and nodded then looked around. "If you're going to go all girly you may as well go the whole hog," she agreed and began gathering up different dresses and tops for Rowan to try.
Rowan looked at Alex.
"You think so?" she asked, turning to look at the back. She barely registered that in the bright lights of the shop the fine traceries of scars on her back were visible. Ray had accepted them and thought she was beautiful, perfect. Then Alex handed her the solution.
She smiled gratefully and slipped on the soft sweater, pausing to stroke the arm of it. She could wear something like this even after the baby.
She looked at the dress and nodded. It was a bit loose now, but would fit fine when she got bigger. She slipped off the sweater and handed it to Alex.
"Let me try on the others right quick," Rowan said to Alyssa, eyeing some of the tops her sister had already grabbed. "I can only get so many things. Though I think I may be able to alter some of these after the baby is born. She hurried back to the changing room and rapidly went through the other dresses she'd picked out. Some were fine to wear now, and some were better suited for summer.
She made a small pile of them on the chair near the changing rooms and strode over to Alyssa.
"Okay, what did you find?" she asked eagerly. She glanced down at her feet in the sandals. "I think I'm going to get these shoes too, they're pretty comfortable. But my toes are a disaster."
She looked up at Alyssa. "Can you do them for me? I won't be able to see them much longer, but if I wear those shoes other people will," she asked as she began to finger comb out her braid.
Alex took the cardigan from Rowan and held it for her.
Alyssa nodded and went and hug up the dresses and tops she had picked out in Rowan's dressing room then looked at Rowan. "Sure, no worries, you want me to do them at the salon or just me?" she asked with a smile, she eyed the dress that Rowan had on and smiled. "That colour suits you," she added as she tilted her head and studied Rowan. "Hang on a second."
She swung around and her eyes scanned along the racks until she found a dress in a similar colour, she smiled and made her way towards it, she skimmed through the sizes until she had one that was Rowan's current size and one a size bigger too, she didn't know how much bigger Rowan was going to get. She picked her way back to Rowan and handed it over. "Here," she smiled. "This one, too."
"Just you, we could maybe do them when we're done today, if we're not too tired," Rowan suggested. She looked over the dresses and tops Alyssa had picked out and took the other one she brought over. She tried everything on and then sifted through everything, trying to pick out what she liked best. She finally whittled the pile down to a somewhat manageable level and put back what she wasn't going to get. She went back into the changing room and put on the pink and white print dress again and folded what she was wearing up and carried it to the checkout. She tugged the tag off the dress and held out the cardigan and one of the shoes.
"I'm going to wear this out," she decided and grinned at Alex and Alyssa. She hurriedly slipped the shoe and sweater back on once the girl was finished and handed over what she'd been wearing to be put in the bag with the other clothes.
She took the bags and turned to her friends with a sigh.
"I can't believe I'm getting so much stuff! Thank goodness I started saving up a while back," she remarked. "Still have baby stuff to buy too, but I'm starving and I smell Chinese."
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Davina overheard the comment about Chinese food and hurried over to the restaurant, grateful it was nearby. She ordered as soon as she sat down so her food would come quickly and make it look as though she'd been here awhile already. She opened a book and began to read as she sipped her tea and kept an eye out for Alyssa and her friends.
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Alyssa smiled at Rowan as she handed the lingerie bag back to her friend. "I'm shocked, too, Ro," she grinned. "You sure you're okay? This is so out of character for you, I mean, everything in that bag that you bought just now is really girly!" she exclaimed with a smile. "Not that I'm complaining, I've been trying to get you into something like that for ages now," she grinned.
Alex sniffed the air experimentally. "You must have a good sense of smell, all I can smell is whatever they are trying to sell on that perfume stall," she said as she gestured at one of the stalls in the middle of the walkway.
Alyssa smiled at Alex and pointed to the Chinese restaurant a little way away. "That one?" she said as she started to make her way towards it. Alex followed her and Rowan to the small restaurant and brought up the rear as the three of them made their way inside.
Rowan laughed at Alyssa's comment.
"I don't know, I can't explain it," she put her hand on her belly. "I just feel so feminine, so girly," she added. She looked at Alex as they walked.
"Did you feel like that when you were pregnant?" Rowan wanted to know as she adjusted her shopping and reached into her bag to pull out a brush and brush out the soft waves the braid had made in her hair.
"I can only smell sweet and sour chicken, but then, I'm really hungry," she said to Alex with a grin as the entered the restaurant.
Davina heard Rowan's voice, glad of the American's distinctive drawl, and glanced in the direction of the door before turning her attention back to the book. She would pretend to be oblivious to their presence.
Rowan noticed Davina sitting in a corner table as they were led to a table. She nudged Alyssa and shifted her eyes in Davina's direction before sitting down.
Alex shrugged "I never felt girly as such, just more irritable and moody. Gene was walking on eggshells around me a lot," she smiled. "But then, like Alyssa said, you're not normally girly, I can be," she shrugged again. "I don't think Gene wants to go through the whole pregnancy thing again, mind you, I'm not keen on having any more children either."
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Rhys looked at the clock and headed out of the flat, a grin stretching his face as he walked towards the salon. He knew Tanya was working and he intended her to cut his hair and then use the time to perhaps ask her out. He rubbed his hands together at the cleverness of his plan. He entered the salon and sauntered over and leaned on the counter, giving Tanya his most charming smile.
"I'm in desperate need of help," he told her. "My hair is quite out of control. It's badly in need of a cut."
Tanya smiled at Rhys and raised her eyebrows at him, his hair didn't look too bad. She smiled at him regardless. "So I see," she smiled and ran her finger down her appointment book. "Well, Gayna is taken at the moment and so is Kim, so it looks like you're stuck with me," she told him.
"Well that's terrible," Rhys commiserated. "Would you prefer I wait for someone else?" he asked her, sure that she would say no. He grinned as she led him upstairs and sat him down.
Tanya gestured for him to go ahead of her and Maddie skipped past to man the desk. She took his jacket and pulled out a robe for him to wear over his clothes then led him upstairs and sat him down in front of one of the mirrors. "So," she said in her businesslike voice "What do you want me to do?" she asked as she picked up a comb and ran it through his hair, watching him in the mirror.
"I like it the way it is, it just needs to be a bit shorter. It's starting to make me look lazy rather than fixed that way on purpose," he told her.
He turned and took her hand.
"Be gentle with me," he implored and then turned back to face the mirror and waited.
Tanya smiled at his reflection in the mirror as she pulled the comb from his hair. "So you just want me to tidy it up a bit," she clarified and nodded before setting about sorting his hair for him.
Tanya smiled as she finished and pulled out the smaller two-handed mirror to show him the back. "There you go," she beamed at him as she showed his the back of his head.
"Ah, brilliant, thanks so much," Rhys said as he admired his hair.
"So, maybe you'll let me buy you dinner tonight?" he asked and looked at her hopefully.
Tanya blinked at him. She busied herself with tidying up the work station she had been using as she considered her answer. That kiss last night had been lovely, he was cute, charming. And Abi was back at Max's tonight, as was Lauren. She was fairly sure that she could get Max to look after Oscar too if she went out, or if that failed then she could beg Jane. She turned back to him after she finished tidying up.
"Okay," she nodded with a smile. "When and where?" she asked as she went towards him and pulled the robe off his shoulders and took it off him.
Rhys had to hold back a shout of triumph when Tanya finally agreed. He considered where he could take her, somewhere nice, but not too nice so he would have something in reserve for another time. He would want to see her again he was sure of that.
"How does a curry sound?" he asked curiously.
Tanya nodded with a smile. "Curry sounds good," she agreed. "Argee Bhajee?" she asked with a smile as she led him back downstairs and put his robe back in the wardrobe and pulled out his coat for him.
"Perfect," Rhys agreed as he followed her back downstairs and took his coat.
"What time are you done here? I'll pick you up then, if that works for you," he offered and pulled out his wallet and held out some notes.
Tanya took the money for his haircut and pressed the change back into his palm. "The Salon closes at 4 but I don't leave until 5," she smiled. "But I'll need to relieve the childminder and take Oscar over to Max's," she continued. "So I can meet you at the Argee Bhajee, it's only round the corner," she smiled at him again.
Rhys nodded.
"Okay, then shall we say, 7? Is that enough time?" he asked.
Tanya nodded. "More than enough," she smiled.
"Great, I'll see you then," he said and took her hand. "I won't lie to you, I'm looking forward to it," he told her and pressed a quick kiss to her lips before leaving. He grinned the whole way home. Result.
Tanya watched him go, a small smile playing around her lips. She did like Rhys, how could she not? She now had a proper date with him though, and planned for her children to stay the night with their Dad. She wasn't sure how long she would be out for, she guessed a couple of hours. If Oscar fell asleep at Max's then there was no point him going home, that would just disturb him.
Tanya greeted a woman that came into the Salon and sent Maddie along to sort her out and take her upstairs to get her legs waxed.
Tanya sent off a text to Max asking him if he could have Oscar tonight. If he said no, then she would beg Jane.
Max yawned and read the text from Tanya. She was going to let him have Oscar. He grinned and hurriedly sent back an "okay" in reply. He didn't want to overdo it.
Rhys took a quick shower when he got home, he hated all the bits of hair after a haircut. He dressed and then went to the station to see Ginger.
He strutted in and walked over to Ginger smugly.
"I've done it," he announced.
"Done what? Got your head examined?" Ginger asked and Chris chuckled.
"In a manner of speaking. I went to the salon for a haircut and Tanya agreed to go to dinner with me tonight."
"Oooo, dinner, that's all you're gonna get," Ginger pointed out.
"No, she'll no doubt as her ex to babysit, and he'll want to keep the kid all night, which means," he paused, clapped his hands together and spun around on his heel. "She'll be coming home with me."
Ginger and Chris looked at each other and made noises of disbelief.
"She won't do it mate. She's not like those girls you normally meet," he argued and gave Rhys a look.
"But that doesn't mean she won't. Sometimes they do, don't they Chris?" he looked at Chris, who shrugged and shook his head.
"Oh, come on, what about that bird you said you had 'lunch' with," Rhys pressed. "You know, before you got back with Shaz. You said you'd only just met her and you didn't think she was the sort."
Chris glanced towards the door and back at Rhys and shrugged. "Well, yeah," he relented. "There was that." He turned back to his computer and began to finish up his paperwork.
"So, you see. Anything could happen. So, I'll see you later. I am off to clean the flat and maybe have a short nap before I go and meet the beautiful Tanya. Good day," he said and headed out. He glanced into the office as he headed down the hall and gave Ray a quick wave as he passed.
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Tanya grinned at Max's text, that solved that problem. She sent back one saying she would drop Oscar off at around half five. That then left her an hour to get ready to go. She smiled as she twirled a pen. She was looking forward to tonight now, a glance at the clock made her sigh. She still had to get past lunchtime before she could even start to think about it!
Max read Tanya's reply and nodded.
"I'll be home," he sent back and went to fix up the cot. He knew Davina wouldn't be thrilled, but his kids came first.