25) Wednesday 11 Sept 2013 – Catching Up

"So Michaela, you're coming out with me, end off! I'm not taking no for an answer!" John Paul stated stubbornly to his sister who was on the other end of the line. "I'll meet you outside the house at 2 o'clock, sharp!" He listened to his sister's delayed agreement and nodded as he finished the conversation, "See you then!"

"So you're spending the day with your sister. That's nice. It'll do her good to get out a bit, I haven't seen her in ages." John Paul was surprised by his mother-in-law's words. He hadn't heard her approach him from behind as he stood in the hallway.

"Uhh, yeah, it's been a few days since I saw her." He felt himself blush as he turned to face the woman who'd witnessed one of the most embarrassing moments of his life the previous night. "I think I better ..." He made as if to head back to Craig and his room. He wasn't certain, but it seemed to him that Frankie was equally embarrassed to look him in the eye. Still, she grabbed his arm and stopped him.

"John Paul ...' She gave him a weak but genuine smile. "... don't worry about it. Something like this was bound to happen, with me barging in without knocking, and it's not as if I haven't seen a thing or two, sharing a house with Darren and Jake, not to mention Steph!"

John Paul let out a muffled giggle.

"... Still, let's just leave it at that, shall we? It's a conversation I'd rather not have with my son." She patted his arm as she continued walking to the kitchen. "Barry," he heard her exclaim as she disappeared, "what are you still doing her? Why you're not at college?

"Chaela! Get your butt out now! I've been stood outside for seven minutes already!" John Paul said impatiently on his mobile. "I don't care if you don't have anything to wear. We're only going for a walk! Get out, now!" He hung up and put his phone back in his pocket.

A couple of minutes later he saw his sister exit the house, wearing an old coat that used to belong to their mum.

"Why're you wearing mum's coat?" He asked in horror.

"I told you, John Paul! I don't have anything to wear!" She gave him a weary look. "But just as always, you don't believe me!" She gave him a fake smile. "So you want to walk! Let's walk!" She took his arm and guided him in the opposite direction of town. "I'm not letting anyone see me like this!"

After a few minutes of irritating each other with opinions about what the other should do or rather not do, they managed to steer their conversation to idle chit-chat in between giving and receiving minor information about how things had been since their last talk. John Paul told her about Hannah's wedding and the proposal, as well as Craig's new job, and Michaela told him that Mike Barnes had been round the house.

"Yeah, apparently, he'd just realised that he might have been involved with the conception." Michaela sighed. "For a clever guy, he's not always the sharpest knife in the drawer. I asked him if he'd thought it'd been an immaculate one! After all, us McQueens are catholics, you know?"

"So, what did he say?" John Paul asked eagerly.

"Well, I don't really know." Michaela replied with a confused expression. "He told me he would help, but he also told me he thought that Amy shouldn't know, at least not just yet. And I agree with him. I can't lose her, not like this! Not now!" She paused for a few seconds. "I just don't see how he's gonna help without anyone knowing he's the father."

John Paul put his right arm over his sister's shoulders and pulled her towards him in a gentle side-by-side hug.

"Oh, John Paul, it's all such a mess! I don't know if it'll ever be sorted!" She crossed her hands across her heart and took his hands. "So, are you ready?" She asked as the turned a corner.

"Ready for what?" He asked her in confusion.

"To visit our Tina, of course!"

Not before then did John Paul realise that they were approaching the graveyard.