-The next two weeks passed in a blur. Every second day Ronnie was adamant she was telling Jack about the baby and about what really happened with Rob but somehow she never got around to it.
. . .
"Ugh, I've just had my breakfast you two, seriously get a room!!" Roxy said passing Ronnie and Jack in the hallway of the Vic.
"We're not doing anything!" Ronnie protested.
"Yeah, these days we never" Jack sighing, gaining a look of annoyance from Ronnie he shrugged and stopped talking.
"You're both stuck to each other like glue!" Roxy continued light heartedly.
"No we're not" Ronnie protested.
"You're hands are around him right now" Roxy laughed before she was distracted by a call from Amy.
"Can't get enough of me eh Ron?" Jack smiled. Ronnie immediately loosened her grip and took a step away. She rubbed up and down her arms subconsciously, she'd stared clear of any intimate moments for the last six weeks and she knew Jack was growing more frustrated with each passing day.
"Maybe tonight, when James is asleep we could…"
"Jack! I..."
"Watch a DVD with a bottle of wine!"
Ronnie let out the breath she'd been holding.
"Yes that sounds lovely"
"Come on Daddy! Come on Oni! We must go!" Amy announced coming out to the hallway.
"Hi, Jay jays!" Amy smiled in at James who lay sleeping in his buggy "OH Shh he's still sleepy, that's lazy!"
Ronnie smiled at her niece.
"Come on then, let's go!" Jack announced.
"Wait" Roxy shouted running into the hall after them. "Ron? I was hoping you'd stay here a while with me, we haven't had any time together and I thought it'd be nice!"
Ronnie raised her eyebrow questioning her sister's request.
. . . .
"It's a bit early ain't it Rox?" Ronnie asked as Roxy handed her a glass of red wine.
"Early? No!"
"What do you want Rox? I mean this is nice and all but?"
"Nothing I was just wondering what you thought of Jason, you know the part timer on the bar?"
"Emm, he seems…nice?" Ronnie smiled "Ohhhh, have you?"
"What? No, no, well he's asked me out!"
"Awww You're like a teenager getting all nervous!" Ronnie laughed "And I like him, he's nice! You should go for it!"
"Really?"
"Yes! Now I'd better get going and meet Jack and the kids" Ronnie replied standing, her head spun making her wobble backwards.
"Ron? You ok?" Roxy asked jumping up and catching onto her sister's hand.
"Yeah….I'm fine, just a bit dizzy!"
"You don't look too good Ron?"
"Cheers! Oh no!" Before Roxy had a chance to reply Ronnie had dashed to the bathroom. Roxy stood at the door watching Ronnie wretch into the porcelain toilet. When Ronnie had finished Roxy took a few steps closer.
"Is there something you want to tell me Veronica?"
"What? No, I just have a dodgy tummy!"
"Hmm, right and a few weeks ago? Was that a dodgy tummy as well and why aren't you drinking?" Roxy continued following Ronnie around the flat.
"Are you accusing me of something Roxy?"
Roxy smiled "You're preggers ain't ya? Ahh I knew it!!"
Ronnie's smile faded.
"What? You're not? I'm sorry, I just assumed?"
"I am!" Ronnie nodded before her face crumbled
"Oh? Hey hey Ron, what's wrong?" Roxy led her sister to the sofa.
"I'm fine, I am!" Ronnie tried to smile.
"Sooo, what's Jack think about it?"
"He doesn't know..."
"What? Why?" Roxy shouted.
"Because" Ronnie took a deep breath.
"How far along are you?" Roxy interrupted almost assessing Ronnie for any sign of a baby bump; pointless really because Ronnie's top was quite loose fitting anyway.
"Six/Seven weeks!"
"Yeah, so that's Jacks, it's Jacks" Right!"
Ronnie's lip crumbled "I don't know!"
Roxy shook her head confused.
"What do you...Who...Ronnie? No! It's not Robs, please tell me it's not that thugs baby" Roxy rubbed her temples trying and failing to calm herself down "RONNIE!!"
Ronnie jumped back at the roar of her sister's voice. All she could see in her head was Rob, his body on top of her. His smell, his rough violent touch was all she sensed.
"RONNIE!"
Talking a shaky breath Ronnie spoke again "I didn't want to Roxy he made me, he was too strong, I couldn't get him off, I tried, I…"
A tear escaped Roxy's dark blue eyes, as it hit her what Ronnie was saying.
"Do you have any idea who the father is?" she asked taking Ronnie's hand in hers and squeezing it tightly,
Ronnie shook her head and closed her eyes "There wasn't even a day between…and Rob, he, it happened twice!"
I'll show you who's really in charge girl!"
Ronnie closed her eyes tightly trying to block him out, but it was no use. She knew it would never be that easy to get rid of him.
. . . .
At R&R's a woman in her late 50's approached the office. She dragged a rather large blue suitcase behind her. She was stopped in her tracks by the day manager.
"Excuse me Miss?"
"Oh sorry, I was looking for Veronica? Veronica Sampson?"
