Diane was collecting glasses when Zak and Lisa walked in. From the look on their faces it had gone about as well as they'd all feared.
"How'd it go?" Marlon asked anxiously.
"Well he plead not guilty, so..." Lisa said sadly. None of them had really expected him to plead guilty but they had hoped.
"How's Aaron?" Diane as she went back behind the bar.
"Quiet" Zak answered simply.
"I thought they'd be back here already" Lisa said frowning as she looked around the pub. "We came back a different way but they should have got back first".
Before anyone could say anything the door opened and Debbie and Cain entered, Debbie stood holding the door open and not long after Paddy and Chas came through as well.
"What kept ya?" Zak said as Cain took a seat next to him.
"Aaron had a bit of a wobble we had to pull over on the way back".
"What kind of wobble?" Lisa asked looking worried.
"He threw up" Cain told it plain.
"Poor lad" Diane said, everyone just looked sad.
"Where is he?" Lisa said peering at the door as if she expected him to walk through.
"He's took Clyde for a walk" Paddy told them. "He just need a break I think. Today hit him a lot harder than even he was expecting what with Gordon's theatrics"
"What do you mean?" Marlon asked.
"He was just trying to get some sympathy, that and he shouted up a few things to Aaron, tried to mess with his head. The sooner he's locked up for good and none of us have to see him again the better. Can't come soon enough if you ask me" Zak shook his head angrily.
"Let's just hope that's what happens" Chas said.
"What? I thought you were convinced he'd get sent down" Paddy questioned.
"I just said that to Aaron, he feels bad enough already, I can't let him think I'm not sure either. He's so on edge. I can't wait for this trial to be over".
"Any idea when it's due to start?" Diane asked.
"His barrister seemed to think it would be a few weeks yet. It feels like a lifetime away. I'm worried he's not going to be able to cope, going to work, acting like everything's normal with that looming in the future. I just wish I could help him somehow" Chas sounded so heartbroken and worried, Diane reached out and patted her hand.
"It'll be all right pet, you'll see" she told her.
"Don't think it helps that everyone here knows about it, he hates seeing everyone, knowing that they know. I think he feels embaressed".
"He has nothing to be ashamed of, nobody is judging him" Marlon said.
"I know that and maybe he does too but still it's hard for him facing everyone everyday. I don't think he'll be able to move on properly until the trial is done with, until then he knows it's going to be the main topic of conversation"
"Oh I don't know, this is Emmerdale after all, I'm sure someone will have an affair or try to kill someone at some point" Debbie said causing everyone to smile.
"We do seem to have our fair share of drama round here I have to agree" Diane smiled. "Drink?" she asked Chas.
"Just the one, I don't want to leave him alone too long" the smile fell from her face.
They didn't stay much longer after that but even after they'd gone Diane couldn't get them off her mind. She just wished there was something she could do to help, she knew a lot of people felt like that at the minute.
"Have you heard how today went?" Ashley asked when he came up to the bar to order drinks for him and Laurel.
"I take it you mean Aaron?" she said and he nodded. "Well Gordon plead not guilty. Aaron didn't take it very well from all accounts.
"I'm not surprised" Laurel joined the conversation. "This must be really taking a toll on him, his mum as well".
"Yeah I really feel for them" Diane sighed. "I've been trying to think of some way we could help them. I did have an idea, something Chas said got me thinking but I don't know how they would take it".
"Well tell us what it is, maybe we can help you decide" Ashley said.
So Diane told them and they thought it was a fantastic idea, Leyla walked in half way through and the rest kind of snowballed from there.
Chas was sat at the desk in the surgery trying to make sense of the mess she'd made of the afternoon appointments. Most people were being very understanding but that would only last for so long, at this rate Paddy would be better off working on his own. She glanced at the clock, it was almost 1.30pm, only a few more hours and Aaron would be home from work. He'd barely said a word at breakfast this morning, just given her a tight lipped smile as he walked out of the door with a slice of toast in his hand, she just hoped that he'd eaten it and not left it for the birds somewhere. Paddy had talked her out of going to check on him at lunchtime but now she wished she hadn't listened. It was hard to concentrate when she was so worried about him.
She looked up when the door opened and saw Diane standing there looking a little bit nervous.
"Hi love, are you busy?" she said coming in and shutting the door behind her.
"No, well yes, I mean I should be" Chas told her. "I'm sure I can spare a minute though. What's up?" she knew Diane wasn't here for anything vet related seeing as she didn't have any pets.
"Well I want you to hear me out before you say anything" Chas frowned up at her not sure where this was going. "And it's not charity before you think that either. It's just I was thinking yesterday how tired you look and how bad we all feel for you and Aaron".
Chas still didn't say anything just squinted her eyes.
"Not that this is out of pity either" it seemed like Diane had all her arguments in place. "But something you said yesterday got me thinking and when I spoke to a few other people it seemed that so many of us wanted to show you our support in some way and we didn't know how"
"Not being funny Diane but are you going to get to the point some time today?"
"Yes, well um" she reached into her bag and pulled something out, dropping it on the desk in front of her. "Here, we wanted to give you these".
Chas peered down at what Diane had just put in front of her before picking them up in disbelief.
"What?"
"It's two tickets for you and Aaron. A fortnight in Spain" Diane said as if she wasn't capable of reading them for herself.
"I can see that" Chas said. "I can't accept these Diane, you shouldn't be spending your money on me".
"That's just it pet, it's not my money, well a little bit is but everyone put in for it".
Chas leaned back in her chair looking up at the woman in shock.
"What do you mean everyone?"
"Like I said pretty much everyone in the village put in and before you worry about how much it cost, it's two weeks in Spain off season, it's not exactly Disney World. No one had to break the bank to contribute, although a few people were very generous I have to say".
"I don't know what to say" Chas felt herself getting choked up.
"Then don't say anything, other than that you'll take them" Diane's own eyes were suspiciously bright.
"Thank you" Chas got up from the desk and walked round to give the other woman a hug. "This means so much" her own eyes wet with emotion.
"Like I said we just all wanted to show you we care".
"You have" Chas pulled back and grabbed them both a tissue out of the box in the desk.
Diane wiped her eyes and smiled.
"I hope Paddy won't mind" Chas said blowing her nose messily.
"Oh he won't I spoke to him already. He said he wouldn't be able to leave the surgery with that short notice and that it would be good for the two of you to have some time to yourselves. He said he didn't think you'd had a holiday together for years".
"No" Chas gave another sob which had Diane looking at her in concern.
"I'm sorry, have I said something wrong?" she asked.
"No, it's just the last time we went away was a few months before I left him with his dad, oh Diane how am I ever going to fix this" the tears were coming again now.
"You don't" Diane shrugged, "you can't change the past, but you can make new memories. And these" she picked the tickets up and waved them around, "will be a good way start".
"Yeah you're right. I can't wait to tell him" Chas looked at the tickets again. "Wait, these are for tomorrow morning".
"We thought the sooner the better".
"What would you have done with them if I'd said no?"
"I don't know to be honest pet. But I didn't think you would, I know you're not that stupid" she grinned at her and Chas knew it wasn't meant to be insulting.
The door opened and Mrs Harris walked in with her Pug, Dudley.
"Well I'll leave you to it" Diane said. "I'll see you when you get back" Diane said.
"Thanks again Diane, could you tell everyone else how much I appreciate it. I know Aaron will too, well I hope he will".
"Of course, I'm just glad we could do something" she gave Chas a nod and a smile and then left through the door that Mrs Harris was still holding open.
Chas sat back down at the desk and checked Mrs Harris in. She wondered if she would have time to nip into town to get a few bits, maybe Paddy would let her go early. She definitely needed a new bikini, one that Aaron would disapprove of, this might actually be fun.