Hello, thanks so much for the reviews, it's lovely to hear feedback. imissmypaper - no, it's never been mentioned that she's a good artist or writer, that's all my dramatic license. I can just see her being so bored there on her own, and missing her family so much that she's put her energies into something creative. The bit about her building sets at uni was from the show though.
And you'll just have to wait to see where she ends up ;).
Here's another chapter - the family's reaction back home. Let me know what you think.
08:00 28th February 2013 Dingles Homestead, Emmerdale, Yorkshire
Marlon yawned and rubbed his eyes as he listened to Lisa finish telling the family what she'd learnt from Aaron late last night. He'd been woken by a call at seven calling him to an emergency family meeting and, knowing only that Cain had found Chas, he'd trudged up to the homestead with a mixture of curiosity and foreboding.
As he looked around the table, he could see that most of the family were feeling the same as himself; worried, guilty, and a bit useless. He saw that Gennie was crying, she'd been desperately worried about Chas and as a new mother herself, she was probably finding it difficult to hear what had happened. Sam looked upset; he had a simple way of going about life and didn't like to think of others in pain.
The only two who seemed unmoved by Lisa's tale were Debbie and Charity, who sat with their arms folded and matching scowls on their faces as they listened.
"I know this probably isn't going to be welcomed by all of you" Lisa concluded, "but I've decided to go over there. At least until Our Chas wakes up and we know what's what".
"You've got to be kidding" Charity snorted, "why would you want to do that?"
"To look after Our Chas" Sam pointed out as if Charity was stupid, "help Aaron look after the baby".
"I wish you'd all stop calling her 'Our Chas'" Debbie piped up, "because she's not ours anymore. She's banished. Or have you all forgotten what she did?"
Everyone looked down at the table uncomfortably at this. Apart from Lisa, who kept her head high. "I know you're still upset Debbie love, but that was before we knew…"
"What?" Debbie interrupted, "that she'd not just been shagging my fiancé, but was stupid enough to get up the duff an' all? Well I'm sure if she rang him, he'd come running in a flash. I mean, they were so in love, weren't they?"
"But she can't can she…" Sam said confused, "ring him, I mean. Cos she's in a whatsit…a coma thingy…"
"Yeah, thanks Sammy" Charity said sarcastically, "we know what she's in, ta".
"Do you?" Gennie found her voice, "do you actually get what that means? Because you're acting like she's having a nap! Lisa said she's got kidney failure, fluid on her lungs. They don't know when she'll wake up! Do you not care about that in the slightest?"
Charity wavered at this, but one look from Debbie and she pulled herself together, "she's in a hospital, they said she's on the mend. She's got her traitor of a son there to mind the sprog, so why should we have anything to do with her?" She looked to her left and saw Zak sat quietly, uncomfortable with the arguing. "Uncle Zak, tell them the rules – if you're banished, that means no contact".
Zak shifted in his seat, not making eye contact with anyone. He hated this situation, hated the family being at odds with each other. A couple of years ago he would have agreed with Charity, and he was still livid with Chas for doing what she did to Debbie. But after his breakdown, knowing what a dangerous path revenge led to, he didn't want to encourage that sort of hate in Debbie. He'd watched Cain work himself up these last few months with talk of retribution, fuelling Debbie's own fire as he went on failed mission after failed mission to track down his sister. He'd tried to warn him to calm down, focus on getting Debbie back to normal, forget about getting even. But Cain had lost all respect for his opinion. And who could blame him? He'd nearly killed him – his own son- because he couldn't control his rage.
But this was why he wanted this feud to end. If his family could see fit to forgive him after he nearly battered one of them to death, if they could help him through his breakdown, then surely Chas deserved some sort of assistance in her time of need? It broke his heart to disappoint Debbie, but he had to stand by Lisa, just as she'd always stood by him, for better or for worse.
"It's Lisa's decision. If she wants to go, then I'll support her," he said firmly, earning a grateful smile from Lisa.
"I'm going too," Belle piped up. She and her mum had had a good talk last night and Belle had pleaded with her to let her go with her. Seeing how worried she was and how grown up she had been in handling the situation, Lisa allowed her to accompany her.
"I don't believe this!" Debbie erupted, "don't you even care about what she did? Why don't you all go, throw the lying, cheating cow a party!"
"Now hold on Debs, there's no need…" Marlon started to say but was interrupted by Debbie who was in full tantrum now.
"No, don't worry Marlon, I'd expect you take her side – adulterers together and all that. But I'm telling you all now, if you go over there and give that bitch any of your time then it's over between us".
Lisa finally lost it, standing up and bellowing at Debbie, "That's enough! Yes Chas did wrong, no one is denying that, she did really wrong and a part of me will never forgive her for it. But none of us sat here are perfect, not by a long stretch. I remember you doing some downright nasty things in the past young lady, and where would you be now if we'd cast you out? Now Chas may not be innocent, but her baby is. She's just as innocent as Our Sarah, Liam, Sophie, Samson, Leo, Noah...and no matter what any of you may or may not do in the future, no matter who their other parents are, they are Dingles and they will always get love and support from me and Zak. So sulk all you like, but I'm setting off at ten o' clock, with or without your agreement".
Lisa stormed upstairs. Everyone remained in their seats in awed silence.
A minute later, Debbie grabbed her coat and stormed out of the door, fighting back tears, followed quickly by Charity.
Marlon was the first to speak, "I want to come" he told Zak as he stood up, "I'm going to go and talk to Diane, see if I can get a few days off work, then speak to Laurel. Could you tell Lise not to go without me?"
Zak nodded as he watched Marlon race out of the door in a flap. He caught Belle's eye and they smiled at each other.
Gennie looked glum "there's no way I can go" she said unhappily, "I've got Sophie and the factory…"
Sam nodded, "me too…I mean, I've got Samson and work…"
Belle held Gennie's hand, "Chas'll understand" she said, "she probably won't want loads of people crowding her. We'll give her your love, and you never know, we might even be able to talk her into coming home" she said hopefully.
Gennie looked dubious at this, but then a thought occurred to her, "I've got loads of stuff that Sophie's grown out of already, I'll go and pack it up for you to take". She left feeling much better now she could be of some use. Zak and Belle grinned at each other.
"What can I do?" asked Sam, still feeling left out.
"You can make sure Dad behaves while we're away" laughed Belle as she went upstairs to pack and tell her mother what an impact her speech made.