The Secret Millionaire

I nothing to do with either show

Life wasn't the same for Aaron after Jackson left, he went to work, came home, showered, drank in The Woolpack bar, that is what his life consisted of, if anyone asked he said he was okay, that he was happy but Chas knew different, she didn't usually interfere in her sons life but on this occasion she made an exception she knew he was missing Jackson even if he refused to admit it even to himself, she wanted to know how Jackson was doing and to do that she'd have to ring Hazel

What time would it be in America?, Chas didn't know and what's more she didn't care Aaron was too important to let a little thing like sleep interfere, if in fact it was the middle of the night in The States, she closed the door to the backroom of the Pub and dialled, it seemed to ring out for ages before eventually Hazel voice was heard

"Hello Chas"

"I'm not disturbing you am I Hazel" Chas couldn't believe it she was actually nervous about the kind of reaction she'd get off Hazel for phoning

"No it's okay, I've just finished a class that's why it took me some time to answer, My phone was in my bag and you know what it's like when it rings you can't find it in amongst all the other stuff us ladies carry"

There was silence until

"You ringing about our bays?" Hazel already knew the answer to that

"Yeah, yeah I am" Chas sighed "How's Jackson?, how's he doing?"

Hazel hesitated, should she be confiding in Chas? She was after all Aarons mam who is one half of the problem but then she was her friend and this was two friends having a chat, the fact that it was about their sons who just happen to love each other but were too stubborn to do anything about it

"He's not good Chas, I had his secretary on the phone because he was balling out all his employee's so much so that they were threatening to walk out of the project they are doing, if they do that he'll lose a lot of money, I wish I could come back but the kids here need me, and to be honest if I did come back it would be to bang their two heads together"

"I know what you mean, Aaron is walking around the village like he doesn't care, but he does, he spends his days at the garage and then drinks himself silly every night trying to forget, and god help anyone who mentions Jackson they get the stare and usually a vicious tongue lashing just for good measure, but neither is making him feel any better, Jackson left him a letter but he hasn't opened it, I think he's scared of what Jackson wrote he also has a calendar with the 31st of August circled by his bed, he's seems so focused on getting past that date"

"That's Jackson 30th Birthday, do you think Aaron was planning something for his birthday?" she asked hopefully

"Don't know but perhaps I could use that piece of information to My advantage, do you think Jackson still wants My Aaron?"

"Chas, My boy is miserable, he knows that not telling the truth is what has caused this, I'm not making excuses for him because I told him to tell Aaron, told him Aaron was different but he didn't, not because he didn't want to but because he was scared of how Aaron would react, you see twice before he's been close to committing to another man only to find out they wanted his money, I don't think he realised he'd fallen in love with Aaron and by the time he did he was already kept so much from Aaron that he just kept going"

"Oh Hazel, this is such a mess, what can we do to get them back together?"

Aaron needs to read that letter, I don't know what Jackson has written, but I know it's important, I know he was hoping it would help to convince Aaron of his true feeling towards him, do you think you can get him to read it?"

"I'll try, I'll keep you updated, will you tell Jackson I rang?'

"No I don't think I will, he might get his hopes up, He may have been wrong but I don't want to make it worse for him if you can't convince Aaron"

"Okay Hazel I'll speak to you soon, hopefully with some good news"

"I won't hold My breath after all I've met your son I know how stubborn he can be" with that the line went dead

Chas sat for a few minutes she had to get a plan together, nothing to obvious because Aaron would see through that, no this had to be something that would affect Aaron so much that he would be forced to confront his feelings for the builder and would act on those feelings, she decided that she'd move Jackson's letter see if that got a reaction from Aaron, she climbed the stairs, went into Aarons room, there on the cabinet was the letter, she picked it up, shook her head took the letter and placed in Aarons wardrobe under his jumpers the summer weather meaning that jumpers were not needed it would be safe there and it was very unlikely that Aaron would think to look there if he did in fact look for the letter, her mission complete for now, Chas left and quietly closed the door.

Back in the bar Chas could see her son was drunk, he was slouched against the bar, "How many's he had?" she asked Moira

"Lost count after 7 pints, because he started on the shots after that" Moira looked over at the mechanic, "He really is in a mess isn't he?"

Chas looked at her son, something had to shock him out of the apathy, she just hoped that losing that letter may do it

"He's is, but hopefully that's about to change"

Moira looked at Chas who smiled but didn't say anymore

"Come on son time for bed" she walked around the bar and helped him to stand, guided him through the bar and up the stairs, at the top she kissed him on the cheek "Sleep tight son" she watched him open the door and walked in, she stood for a few minutes, she couldn't hear anything perhaps he'd just collapsed on the bed asleep, a few hours of sleep were what her son needed because when he woke up and found the letter gone, she didn't know how he'd react she just hoped she hadn't made the situation worse, she scoffed, how could it get any worse?

She went back downstairs to help the staff to tidy the bar, wondering what sort of day Tomorrow would be