Chapter Twenty-Six

Henrietta and Rodney seemed to be getting on quite well considering things. Nobody was happy about the little arrangement though, Bernice was quite angry at her father because she wanted to cut ties with the family after dumping Liam. Though he ignored all the complaints. He excused himself to go the bathroom, when he was gone; Charity made her way over to her. It was just to explain the whole funeral situation and the Dingle family agreed she should speak with her.

"Are you Maya's mum?" Charity asked her casually.

"For my sins...yes" Henrietta answered.

"Right...Harriett came round to ours before because we lost a very beloved family member lately and she said that that the funeral will be on the same day as your daughter's...I'm not gonna make you change the date" Charity began.

"Good...because I won't"

Charity gave a slight scoff before clearing her throat.

"I'm just here to let you know that we have a funeral on the same day and we are having our after-party in here...which means that you and whoever else wants to go that pervert's funeral won't be welcome here on that day"

"That's cruel...what about Jacob and Leanna?"

"Find somewhere else...Lisa was an amazing woman and her party will not be ruined by the group of shame because that's exactly what everyone is going to think of the people going to that sicko's funeral...so just don't come to the pub on that day"

"If that's really what you wish then so be it...I just hope you never have to see your child turn into something you don't recognize"

"My children are wonderful people...they have been brought up well"

"Are you saying I didn't bring Maya up well? Because I will take exception to that, I could have been the best mother in the world and that girl still would have turned out that way because my little girl was beyond help"

"Maybe...just remember what I said, okay?"

She finally walked away leaving Henrietta rather upset. Rodney having returned from the bathroom as he sat opposite her again. He noticed she looked very sad and he gave a brief glance over towards Charity.

"What did she say to you?" Rodney asked her.

"It was just about the funeral...I understand where she's coming from, so don't worry about it please; I don't know who this Lisa is but I'm sure she was a wonderful woman...they just want us to stay away"

"Really? Okay Henrietta, just come to me if you get anymore hassle"

...

"How are you feeling now?" Alicia asked Jacob.

Passing him a cup of tea that she made. He had calmed down slightly from the revelation and the newspaper headlines. Though it still really hurt him because he feels like he lost so much due to this, he was even more sad because she was pregnant with his baby. Alicia just felt sick however she didn't say that to him.

"Just the same...I just wish I did more for them" Jacob admitted.

"Don't dwell on it Jacob, she got scared because she understood exactly what happened and what your relationship was, do you understand that?"

"Yeah, I know she got scared...it wasn't abuse though, I wanted it"

"Jakey...it doesn't matter if you wanted it or not, I had a crush on my teacher when I was your age but it wouldn't have been right, imagine if a male teacher had sex with Gabby or Liv, would you have been saying the same thing?"

"I was 16 when we had sex...it wasn't anybody's business!"

"Okay...okay but you weren't 16 when you met her, were you? Were you 16 when you had your first kiss?"

Jacob's lack of response said it all. No he wasn't 16 when they had their first kiss, he was 15. So she clearly didn't start their relationship when he came of age. It was slowly sinking in for him. Once again though, he got very scared and defensive over it. He was too infatuated with her memory at the moment to accept it. He believed he was in love.

"Just get out" Jacob told her.

"Okay...see you later" Alicia replied.

She was taking it very easy on him. He needed to understand on his own terms, you couldn't force it.

...

"Are you still moping over her? That's really sad you know" Samson spoke.

Walking over to his cousin Noah as he was sat outside the pub. Noah was clearly missing Leanna. He tried her number many times and tried to contact her on Facebook however he got no response. His friends told her to forget her but he found he couldn't, he missed her too much.

"Shut up...you're too young to get it anyway" Noah replied in a huff.

"At least the girl I like likes me back...Leanna was just using you"

"No she wasn't! Leanna cared about me, she did so much for me and I didn't even know...anyroad, I know the girl you like...she's in the family and it's gross"

"Whatever...Sarah is related to you but she's only third cousin to me, not even that"

"Why is everyone sick around here?! You and Sarah ever try anything and I will tell Debbie" Noah hissed.

"You wouldn't!"

Just as Noah went to argue back. He got a text from Leanna at last, he gave a slight smile. As he ignored Samson and gave his attention elsewhere. She texted him...

I'm so bored here...my only company is my dad and a couple of loose sheep! X

"I told you she would text me back" Noah piped up.

Leanna was told by her father to leave all her contacts behind. So she had to text him on the sly.

...

TBC