Ruth had shopped on the way home and was now in the kitchen tidying up before going upstairs to get ready before Catherine arrived. The meal was prepared the table laid and she was looking forward to seeing Catherine again. For the first time, when she really needed Harry to be back at a sensible hour, he was stuck in a meeting at Whitehall.

What the hell were they going to talk about if Catherine arrived before he did? She certainly wasn't going to tell her what had happened since they had seen her last, and it wasn't up to her to say that she was now living with her father. Looking at the clock, she realised that she was running late herself and still needed to shower and change. God forbid if Catherine arrived before she got dressed, she probably already imagined that she and Harry spent most of the time without clothes on. Showering and washing her hair wasn't possible with your fingers crossed so to hell with it she thought, she was going to enjoy it and relax.

Stretching her hands above her head and luxuriating as the water streamed down her body, she heard the bathroom door open and close. Turning off the tap she opened the shower door to find Harry holding a bath towel and with a big grin on his face.

'Do you fancy a repeat performance? He teased. I enjoyed myself the last time we were in there together.'

'Yes I do, but not until later, Catherine could be here any time now. I need to get dressed and you need to behave yourself.'

By the time she was ready Harry had also showered and changed. It was spot on 7.30 when the doorbell rang. Another Pearce with the unnerving habit of arriving on time, thought Ruth, I'll remember that.

Catherine walked in and gave her Dad a kiss on the cheek then headed straight towards Ruth who was emerging from the living room, leaving him to close and lock the door before he turned and watched them. She was giving Ruth a real hug, warmth emanating from his usually frosty daughter. Perhaps this evening wasn't going to be as difficult as he had anticipated.

They had finished dinner and the dishes were stacked to be done later. Throughout the meal, Catherine had remained patient something that didn't come easily. She had noticed the looks that were going back and forth between Ruth and her Father and her imagination was running riot. Now armed with another bottle of wine, they were sitting in the lounge, Harry in the armchair and Ruth and Catherine on the settee. Enough was enough thought Catherine, is he ever going to speak.

'Come on, she said I was invited here because you have some news, so what is it?'

Harry cleared his throat and looked at Ruth. Please Ruth thought feeling as though they were back in the meeting room. Just tell her, but please make it an edited version of the one you told on the others.

Harry had paused a moment too long.

'Oh my God, said Catherine, you're pregnant aren't you?'

Harry had always regretted his failure towards his children one of whom was sitting with them now suggesting that he had got Ruth pregnant. On hearing Catherine's words, he had turned and looked at Ruth, the expression on his face unmistakably contorted with pain. This is awful she thought.

'No I'm not Harry,' was all she managed as the room descended into silence.

'Sorry,' said Catherine. She needed to get out of there, to be anywhere other than in that room. What a bloody idiot I am. Jumping up, she apologised again and fled.

Ruth got up and walked over to Harry's chair, knelt down in front of him and put her hands on top of his.

'You need to go and find Catherine and talk to her, she's your daughter and she didn't mean to upset us. So go and find her bring her back in here and tell her that we're living together and that we're happy. Anything else can wait until after she's gone home. Now go on, I'm going to go and do the washing up.'

She pulled him to his feet and put her arms round his waist and kissed him gently on the cheek.

'Go on, she said and be nice.'

In reality it didn't take long to wash up, but Ruth had made herself a cup of tea and opened her book. Half an hour later, the kitchen door opened and Catherine walked in.

'I am so pleased with your news she said and I'm sorry that I put my foot in it.'

'It's fine your Harry's daughter and believe you me he's made his fair share of bloopers in the past.'

Back in the lounge with a glass of wine in front of them they told Catherine about the coming weekend and how their colleagues and Wes were going to help with the move. They laughed about New Year's Eve and Catherine's surprise when she had watched them on the dance floor. They talked about their weekend and how lovely it had been to get away from the stress of work for a couple of days, but nothing was said about the future.

At 10pm, Harry called and paid for Catherine's taxi and despite her protests she let him do it. She kissed them both promising to keep in touch. All things considered it hadn't been a total disaster. Catherine's taxi had barely pulled away from the kerb, when Harry grabbed his coat and called to Scarlet.

'I'm taking her for a walk he said, pulling on his coat and reaching for her lead. I won't be long.'

Ruth stepped in front of the door, his exit barred as she put a hand on his chest.

'If you're going out Harry then so am I. I saw your face when Catherine said what she did but remember what we agreed yesterday. Whatever happened we'd talk about it, so pass me my coat, it's cold out there.'

Scarlet in tow, they headed to the nearby park. Despite the time of year, the temperature was above freezing and it wasn't a bad night to be out. Ruth linked her hand through his arm and looked across at him. He had relaxed again but was obviously deep in thought. She remembered a time, years ago now when they had all been in the George after work and Adam had rung to say that Wes had been born. Harry had been sitting next to her and in her naïve imaginings she had wondered how it would feel if it were their baby. Maybe that was the way to start this conversation, there was no way on earth they were going into work tomorrow with long faces or the others would implode.

'You're laughing he said grumpily, what's so funny?'

'Us Harry can you imagine Ros in the meeting room tomorrow morning if we're not talking?'

'Well then, we better had he muttered, come on Scarlet, time for bed.'

Half an hour later, they were more or less as they had been the previous night except this time the tables had been turned. Harry was lying on his back with his eyes closed and Ruth was leaning on one elbow her other arm across his chest. Right then, here goes she thought.