CHAPTER 30

My mind is still whirling with everything that has happened. I look around my over decorated living room and smile as I remember how Maisie had told me proudly that she had done all of it.

I am sprawled on the sofa watching the TV and munching on a bag of crisps, feeling content and happy. Maisie has gone to bed and Gideon is upstairs right now reading her a story. Everyone has gone now, they were all pleased with the presents we brought back from Paris but now the house seems very quiet. I am surprised that Kyle didn't show his face, but I'm sure he'll pop round at some point. I hope he does as I would really like to see the pictures he took at the wedding. I look up as Gideon walks in and sits beside me and flings his arm around my shoulder pulling me towards him.

"Maisie is asleep, I thought we'd have trouble as she was so excited to be home and with us being back but she went out like a light" he says.

I rest my head on his shoulder, "Good, do you want a drink or anything?" I ask.

I feel him press his lips to my head, "No, I'm fine, I just want to sit here with my wife and relax" he says. "I'll have one of these though" he adds as he delves his hand into my crisp packet. I giggle at the look he gives me when he realises they are all gone.

He opens his mouth to comment on it when we hear the doorbell. I look at him but he is just as mystified as me as to who it could be. I groan as I get up to go and answer it, throwing my empty packet in the bin as I pass it.

I check the spy hole in the new front door and I'm surprised to see my brother Kyle standing outside, it's almost as if my thoughts of a few moments ago have conjured him up and I quickly open the door.

"Kyle! Hi how are you, what's up?" I ask immediately on alert when I see the worried look in his eyes.

"Can I come in Evie?" he asks warily.

"Of course you can, what's happened?" I ask.

Kyle steps inside and unzips his coat, as he does so he pulls out a bag and pushing it between his knees shrugs off his coat. I take it from him and hang it up and gesture towards the living room.

"It's Kyle" I say unnecessarily as we go in, Gideon immediately stands up and greets Kyle warmly.

"Sit down Kyle, what brings you here tonight?" Gideon asks as he sits down again.

"Erm… a few things actually" Kyle says, I can tell he is really worried about something and I sit down beside my younger brother and wrap my arm around his shoulder and wait for him to speak.

He is almost deciding what to talk about first and his eyes drop to the bag he is fidgeting with.

"I… erm… I made you this, it's like a wedding present from me… it's not much but I thought…" he stops and thrusts the bag at me.

I open it and find a small photograph album inside; I open it and gasp. Arranged inside are photographs he took at our wedding; Gideon moves closer to look.

"I only printed off a few because…" he stops and flushes and I know why, because of the cost. "I hope they're ok I printed them off at that print your digital photos thing they have in the supermarket" he adds.

I turn the pages and I see candid photos of me getting ready, of me helping Maisie, me talking and laughing with my mum and gran. I see a gorgeous photo of Gideon hugging his dad and one of him standing with Christopher and Ricky and they are all laughing. I see one of him talking to his mum and she is straightening his tie.

"These are outstanding Kyle" Gideon says, the emotion clear in his voice, and I see Kyle flush with pride at the praise.

I turn the page again and see one of me walking towards Gideon with Vic and there is one of Gideon watching me and Christopher leaning forward with his hand on Gideon's shoulder and he is whispering something in his ear. The next page shows Gideon pushing my wedding ring on and me giving him his and Kyle has also captured the moment Gideon kissed me. All the memories of that day flood my mind with each photograph I look at. I can't remember him taking any of these and realise he must have taken them all without a flash so he wasn't seen, which makes the quality of them even more astounding as he seems to have got the exposure and lighting spot on, he is obviously very talented at what he does.

The photographs at the reception are quite revealing, showing our family mixing with Gideon's. Kyle has captured a brilliant picture of Gran, mum, Elizabeth, her mum Carol and Geoff's mum Ursula all chatting together and laughing at something. Then there are photos of Vic, Gideon and Christopher whilst doing their speeches and one of the astonished look on my face when I was surprised with the birthday cake. He also captured the moment just before that when Gideon and I were messing about. I glance at Gideon and see he is totally enthralled by the photographs, not one is posed or staged they are all natural and candid and they are just brilliant.

"Thank you so much for these Kyle we will treasure them" I say sincerely.

I see him flush again at the compliment, and he digs into his pocket and pulls out a small memory stick and he hands it to me.

"What's this?" I ask looking at it.

"That's all of the pictures I took. I took loads but as I said I only printed out a few for the album but there are lots more on there" he says.

"On here?" I ask, "Do you want this back?" I add looking at the flash drive.

Kyle shakes his head, "No I bought that especially to put all the photos on to give to you, but it didn't cost as much as I thought it would and so I had some money left and that's when I got the idea of printing some off and putting them in an album for you as well" he explains.

"Well I am very touched by the gesture Kyle it was very kind of you" Gideon says.

Kyle shrugs, "I would never have been able to do any of it if you hadn't given me that brilliant camera, I've learnt loads since I had it to play with, so it was the least I could do for you both… like my way of saying thanks" he says dismissively.

Gideon leans forward and takes the album from me and starts looking through it. I pull Kyle towards me and hug him again tightly.

"Thank you so much for that" I say, "Oh by the way, I brought you something French back from Paris, I gave it to mum to give you" I add.

"Thanks Evie" he says with a weak smile.

I look at him closely as he pulls away and I know something is eating him and I remember he said there were a few reasons he was here tonight.

"This isn't the only reason you have turned up here tonight is it?" I ask gently.

Gideon looks up and watches as Kyle fidgets and looks uncomfortable.

"No, mum said everyone was coming here this afternoon and so I told her I'd catch you later. She knows I'm coming here tonight to bring the photos, but I wanted to talk to you about something else, something that happened the other day which I didn't want to say in front of everyone else" he says.

"Alright and what's that?" Gideon asks.

"Someone… this man, approached me… the other day" he begins and I go cold wondering what is coming next and I also see the colour draining from Gideon's face as he hears that.

"Ok," I say, I glance again at Gideon and see he is giving his full attention to Kyle and also looking concerned, wondering what Kyle is going to say.

"I didn't know him but he seemed to know me, he called me by my name and he asked me if my mum was Monica Trammel and if you were my sister, he knew all our names" he says.

I nod, "Ok" I say again.

"Yeah, so I didn't say anything and just kept walking and he came after me and he cornered me near the jitty near the flats where you used to live. I think he realised I was scared 'cos he backed off a bit and said not to be scared and that he wasn't going to hurt me, 'cos… he, he… he said… he said that… he said he was… my dad!"

My eyes widen and I stare at Kyle in shock, before I shake my head in denial, "No way mate, Vic is your dad, who was that man? Whoever he was he was clearly stirring and just trying to cause trouble" I say confidently.

Kyle nods but doesn't look convinced, this has obviously rattled him and I feel the anger rising inside me that some fucker out to cause trouble has made Kyle doubt fundamental facts about his family.

"Who was this guy?" I ask again.

Kyle shrugs, "I don't know, I've never seen him before in my life, he said that his name was Jack and that he was your dad too. He said I'm sure you're Monica's son and that you have an older sister called Eva don't you, well I'm her dad too. He said to ask you because you knew him as you've seen him before".

"Jack?" I whisper, confusion setting in now.

I stand up and start pacing, Gideon gets up and reaches for me, "Eva" he says gently.

I hold up my hand to stop him as I am trying to think, I pause and return my attention back to Kyle. "Kyle do you remember what he looked like?" I ask as I dredge my memory of the only time I saw my biological father about four years ago.

Kyle shrugs, "No not really, I didn't really take much notice I just wanted to get out of there" he says.

I nod, "Ok, don't worry, look you do realise we need to talk to mum about this. Jack is my dad - in the loosest sense of the word. There is no doubt about that, but mum was with Vic when you and your brothers were born" I say. "Did he say anything about Reece and Dec?" I ask.

Kyle shakes his head, "No, he just said he was my dad and your dad".

I sigh and look at Gideon who reiterates that we need to talk to my mother about this.

Kyle nods, "I just wanted to share with you before I hit mum with it. I didn't want to say anything earlier which is why I didn't come, as I wanted to get my head around it all before I told anyone and because… I don't want to say anything in front of my brothers and also because… because well… my dad is my dad. I know he's not your dad but we've all always known that… but he is my dad, isn't he Evie?" he says. He looks at me with utter bewilderment in his eyes and I see tears starting to form. I reach for him to try and reassure him.

Before I can reply though the house phone starts ringing and Gideon goes to answer it.

"Hello Monica, yes he is still here… yes… actually we were about to call you. I don't suppose you and Vic could come over do you…? No he's fine, he's not hurt and he's perfectly safe but he and Eva do need to talk to you both about something that has happened which Kyle has shared with us… yes… well it's not something I really want to go into on the phone… that's fine…yes ok then we'll see you shortly, thanks Monica, yes, goodbye".

Gideon puts the phone down, "They are on their way over now" he states.

I am still sitting with my arm around Kyle, "Is that everything?" I ask and I see him hesitate before he glances at Gideon and shakes his head.

"Ok, what else?" I ask.

Kyle looks really uncomfortable now, and he looks up at Gideon once more. Gideon sits down beside him "What's wrong Kyle, what do you want to say?" he asks.

Kyle looks at me and blushes and he is getting more and more agitated and distressed and I realise he wants to ask Gideon something and he doesn't want me to hear.

"Is it something you want to talk over with Gideon?" I ask and Kyle nods and he looks a bit embarrassed.

"Yeah, it's not something I feel comfortable talking with you about Evie, I know you're my sister and everything but…" he says.

I quickly take the initiative, and hold up my hand to stop him. "That's fine, I'll get out of your way, do you want a drink or anything?" I ask him, he quickly jumps on that and nods enthusiastically.

"Tea?" I ask.

"Yes please" he says.

I smile at him, "I'll go and put the kettle on" I say and I get up and leave the room, but nosiness gets the better of me and after I put the kettle on, I shamelessly come back and I listen at the door.

"What is it Kyle?" I hear Gideon ask gently.

"Gideon, you know when you were younger, and things started changing… you know… puberty and stuff?" Kyle begins and I smile, he is asking for advice. I wonder why he hasn't gone to Vic and then I worry that he hasn't done so because he has doubts now that Vic is his father and I carry on listening.

"Yes" Gideon says carefully.

"Well, when did you realise you liked girls, when did you… like get hard when you saw girls, did you always know?" he asks awkwardly.

I smile again as I listen but then I wonder what Gideon is going to say as I know his history on this subject.

"Kyle, I've always known I like girls. It's just something I always knew I can't explain how, but I did. But if I was to be totally honest with you, I didn't really have any real interest in any particular girls until I met Eva and I fell in love with her." he says diplomatically.

"Oh ok" he says.

"Why are you asking this?" Gideon asks, deflecting the conversation back to Kyle.

"Because… because, well you see… shit… you see… it doesn't matter" he says.

"Hey, hey come on calm down Kyle, what is it, something is obviously worrying you?" Gideon coaxes.

"If I tell you, you promise you won't tell my dad or anyone else?" he asks.

"Alright, you have my word" Gideon says.

"Ok, It's just… at school, now after PE we have to have a shower and we were all in the showers after PE… and I got hard" he whispers.

"I see, so what you are saying is that seeing the other boys naked aroused you?" Gideon asks.

There is a silence so I assume Kyle is nodding.

"Ok, well how old are you Kyle, 11?"

"Yes, nearly 12" Kyle says.

"Well, if you want my honest opinion, I think you are starting puberty and your hormones are all over the place and what you are experiencing is totally normal. Have you been waking up in a morning with a hard on or even waking up in a bit of a mess?"

There is another silence and I assume Kyle is either nodding or shaking his head.

"Well, it's all perfectly normal, all that happens for someone your age and some boys do get a hard on at what can seem like the most inconvenient times and so I wouldn't read anything into this at the moment or start jumping to any conclusions about your sexual orientation. Just go with the flow, I'm sure things will level out as you mature, you are very young still, but if as you mature you discover that you are attracted to men rather than women then there is absolutely nothing whatsoever wrong or shameful about that. As you mature you may end up preferring women, you may end up preferring men or you may find you are attracted to both men and women. But at the moment you are just starting out and you are exploring your sexuality, everything is awakening inside you and it's all new and because it's all new you will find strange things happening and as I say you will get hard at the most inconvenient times. There is nothing wrong with that, just don't be forced to do anything you don't want to do, and if anyone does try and force you to do something you find uncomfortable or wrong don't be afraid to say so".

"Ok, thanks Gideon" Kyle says the relief in his voice evident.

"No problem" Gideon replies.

"And you won't tell dad?" Kyle asks.

"Strictly between us" Gideon reassures him.

"It's just…" Kyle says after a moment's hesitation.

"What?" Gideon asks.

"Well, a couple of my mates watch porn and they showed me some stuff and seeing men and women doing it, well my mates got hard when they watched it and you know they jacked off to it, but it didn't really do anything for me," he says.

My mouth drops open and I have to stop myself barging in there. I am shocked Kyle is watching porn!

"Well first of all I suggest you stop watching porn as that isn't an accurate representation of a healthy relationship with a woman. There is much more to having a relationship with anyone than just sex" Gideon says calmly yet firmly.

"Ok, thanks Gideon" Kyle says again.

I finish making Kyle's tea and then head back out. As I return to the living room the front door bell rings.

"Here you go mate" I say as I hand him the mug, then I turn and go to let my mum in, my mind reeling from everything I've heard.

As I open the door mum and Vic are standing there looking worried. "Hi come in" I say as I look at my mum; everything Kyle said before goes through my head once more.

They step inside and take off their coats. I hang them up and turn to see them waiting for me to say something.

I gesture to the living room, "Come through" I say.

Vic stares at me intently, "What's going on Evie, you look as though you have seen a ghost" he says.

I don't say anything and we all go in. Gideon immediately stands and greets mum and Vic warmly and asks them to sit down. Kyle has put his head down and is trying to look inconspicuous in the corner.

I sit down beside him "Look, I'm not going to beat around the bush on this, as I think it's best to just come out and say it. Kyle is concerned because he said someone confronted him, and cornered him in the jitty near my old flat. He asked him if you were his mum. This man knew his name and you were also mentioned by name. This man also said that I was his sister and he mentioned me by name too" I begin.

Concern and worry immediately fills both their faces and they wait for me to continue.

"Kyle said the man told him not to be scared, now I know what he said next to him is totally wrong so don't get upset but we need to find out if it is who he said he was" I say. I pause and take a deep breath, "He said to Kyle not to be scared as he wouldn't hurt him because he was his dad," At that, Vic leaps to his feet and yells out loudly.

"Dad, calm down and please don't shout, Maisie is asleep" I say firmly but kindly.

I watch as he realises, nods and he sits down again "Sorry Evie" he mutters, he reaches for my mum's hand and as I look at her a cold rock settles in my stomach as she looks… guilty. Oh my god could there be some truth to this?

Kyle notices her reaction too and looks at me with more than a small amount of concern.

I squeeze Kyle's hand and carry on with the story, "The man said his name was Jack, he said that he's Kyle's dad and that he was my dad too. Well we all know Jack was my sperm donor that is no surprise, but there is no way he is Kyle's dad, right mum?" I ask, looking at my mum once more.

She shifts in her seat and doesn't say anything.

"Mon, Evie's right… I'm Kyle's dad aren't I?" Vic asks his voice tight and mum still doesn't answer but a single tear trickles down her cheek.

"Mon?" Vic says again.

"Mum what's going on?" Kyle asks speaking for the first time, his eyes are fixed on mum and fear is evident in them at the growing realisation that what that stranger told him could be true.

I hear my mum let out a small sob and she covers her face with her hand. Oh my god this really could be true, I look up at Gideon who also has his eyes fixed on my mother.

"It was just once, Jack showed up soon after we had got together. He came on the pretext of seeing Eva, but he wasn't really interested. He had found out I was seeing you and he didn't like it. He was jealous, I hadn't seen anything of him for years, Eva was a baby the last time he came to see me but he showed up out of the blue. It was my day off; you were at work and Eva was at school. She must have been about 6/7ish, he had no idea how old Eva was and didn't realise she was at school or maybe he did and just used her as an excuse to come around. I don't know, but…" she stops and she lowers her head.

"You slept with him?" Vic asks trying desperately to keep his voice quiet and his temper under control.

My mum nods and bursts into tears. I watch as Vic yanks his hand away from her and surges to his feet and he puts his hands in his hair and lets out an anguished moan.

"It was just the once, then about a month or so later I realised I was pregnant with Kyle. I didn't trick you, I always believed you were Kyle's dad, you have to believe me" she begs.

"Fucking hell!" he spits, he scrubs his hands over his face and I can see this has totally destroyed him.

"Dad?" Kyle whispers and I hear him sob.

Vic shakes his head and holds up his hand, "No I'm not!" he spits and that pisses me off; none of this is Kyle's fault.

I stand up, "Hey, don't, that's not fair! It's not Kyle's fault none of this is Kyle's fault" I spit, "You have always treated me as your own and loved me. Don't be like that, he is still your son" I say.

Vic shakes his head and his voice starts to rise once more, "The difference is I always knew you weren't mine Evie. I knew that, accepted it and took you on as my own anyway, that was my choice. I always thought Kyle was mine, I held him in my arms moments after he had been born, I believed he was my son" he says loudly his voice cracking.

"And he still is and at this moment he needs you" I say gesturing to Kyle who is now sobbing quietly, Gideon has moved closer to him and wrapped his arm around him in an effort to comfort him and is whispering to him.

"I'm sorry dad, I should never have said anything" Kyle sobs.

I see Vic's shoulders slump and his face soften and he reaches towards Kyle and pulls him up into his arms. He glances at me, "Sorry Evie I didn't mean to shout" he says, then he turns his attention to Kyle who is now clinging to Vic and sobbing in his arms.

"Come here, none of this is your fault. I'm sorry, it's just a bit of a shock… that's all. I didn't mean what I said, of course I'm still your dad".

I watch as he grips the back of Kyle's neck and speaks urgently to him, "You are my son Kyle, you always have been and always will be, this makes no difference" he says.

I watch as Kyle nods and wipes away his tears.

Vic turns towards my mother and his face hardens considerably. "You and I need to talk, I want to know everything, what about Reece and Dec are they mine?" he asks coldly.

My mum looks up in surprise, "Yes, how could you doubt that? Especially Reece he is the image of you" she protests.

Vic snorts, "Until 5 minutes ago I wouldn't have doubted Kyle was mine either" he says.

"You may be concerned about nothing and he may be your son" Gideon puts in, Vic considers that and nods.

"Yeah, I don't particularly want to go on the fucking Jeremy Kyle show though to find out!" he says shaking his head.

Kyle sniggers at that and the oppressive atmosphere lightens a little.

"You could do a DNA test privately. I could look into it for you?" Gideon says. He doesn't say directly that he would help with the cost but the inference is there and at this moment I could hug him for it.

I nod, and turn to my mum, "There is no-one else is there? It's just between Jack and dad" I ask, cringing inwardly that I am even asking this but also noting the irony that I am calling my biological father by his name and giving the title of dad to the man who has always been there for me.

She hesitates for a moment and then after she considers that she shakes her head, "No, just between Jack and Vic" she says sadly, but she doesn't sound too convinced. I put that out of my head as I realise this all must have been a huge shock for her that a secret she has kept all these years has suddenly surfaced.

"Why has that fucking twat suddenly reappeared again now?" Vic asks his anger reigniting once more and now firmly directed at Jack.

I snort, "Isn't it obvious? I have just got married, not only that I have got married to a successful man with money. My guess is he knows about me and Gideon and so he went to my old flat looking for me and when I wasn't there anymore, he wanted to know where I was and decided to stir up trouble while he was at it. Del wouldn't tell him where I moved to, I bet you any money that is his reasons" I state bitterly.

Vic shakes his head, "So what do we do now?" he asks looking around, his anger has now drained away and he just looks destroyed.

I take a deep breath, "Look the way I see it is, you love Kyle and you said yourself it won't make a difference. You have been his dad all his life and will carry on being his dad. It is a week till Christmas. So even if we order a DNA test now, we won't get any results till the New Year. So, I say forget tonight ever happened till the New Year. We wait till January, get a DNA test done to find out for sure one way or the other, just to get rid of that doubt, then whatever the results are we deal with it and take it from there" I say.

I watch Vic consider this and nod in agreement. He turns towards my mum, "Come on Mon I want to go home" he says and I can't help but hear the edge in his voice as he says this and I worry about what this revelation will do to his and mums' relationship.

As they move out to the hallway I grab Vic's arm, he turns and looks at me.

"Don't let him destroy you and mum, and don't forget Reece and Dec" I say.

Vic nods "I know, I'll be ok, it's all come as a bit of a shock that's all" he says.

I wrap my arms around him, "I know, but I also know my mum and although she obviously made a bad choice Jack is a manipulative bastard. He probably told her everything she wanted to hear that day. I only met him once that I remember when I was about 16 and he tried telling me everything he thought I wanted to hear. He laid it on thick saying how he wanted to know me and everything, and mum was only a teenager when she had me she was the same age I was when I had Maisie and look what a twat I was over Nathan till I saw sense. I believed his shit for years too" I say.

I watch Vic consider this and nod, he pulls me close. "Difference is you have more common sense and maturity in your little finger than your mum has in her whole damn body" he says bitterly and that comment worries me.

"Don't let him destroy our family" I say slightly desperately.

Vic smiles at me, "He won't" he says.

He turns towards Kyle, "You coming son?" he asks.

Kyle hesitates and looks at me and then Gideon "Could I… would it be ok if… I mean" he says.

I look at Gideon; a selfish part of me wants Kyle to go home. But that is conflicting with the big sister instinct of protecting my brother.

"You are welcome to stay the night here if you want to Kyle, but the spare room isn't furnished yet" Gideon says. "So all we can offer you is the sofa" he adds.

I watch as Kyle considers this and nods, "I don't mind, if you don't. I know you have just come home but..." he says.

My mum comes back in and shakes her head, "No Kyle you are not staying here you are coming home, you have school tomorrow" she states firmly.

I watch as Kyle nods and walks slowly towards the door his head down and his shoulders slumped. I grasp his hand.

"I'm not back to work till Monday so you know where I am if you need me" I say.

Kyle smiles weakly, "Thanks Evie" he says gratefully.

With that I watch them all go, and as I close the front door behind them I rest my head on it. I feel a pair of strong arms come around me and pull me close.

"Come here" Gideon whispers.

I turn in his arms and hold on to him sobbing gently into his chest as he just holds me.

(GIDEON)

I am officially shocked to the core; I never expected any of that to happen when Kyle turned up tonight. I am concerned by the effect it has had on Eva, it has clearly upset her deeply and at this moment she looks lost. I don't like it and my protective instincts towards her are heightened by this. My heart also goes out to Kyle though, he was stuck between a rock and a hard place and now he will have the added guilt of being the one who brought the secrets to light.

I wonder if Eva's theory is correct as to why her biological father has suddenly reappeared, and if it was him who confronted Kyle. I am glad Kyle went home with his parents, not only for their sakes to sort this out but, call me selfish, but I have just come back off honeymoon and I want my wife to myself and not have visitors staying in the house. I have already decided I will make the offer to pay for the DNA tests in the New Year, as I don't want Eva to be caught up in this any more than she already is, and any lingering doubt will inevitably draw her in even more.

I lead her into the living room, she is clinging to me like a small child and I ease her from me and get her to sit down on the sofa. I pick up the half drunk mug of tea that Kyle left.

"I'll just take this away" I say gently and she nods. "Do you want anything?" I ask.

I see her think about that, "A mug of hot chocolate would be nice" she says gratefully and I nod, thankful that I can do this small thing for her as I am feeling totally out of my depth at the moment. This revelation has rocked her very core and I am not sure what I can do to provide any help or comfort to her. As I am in the kitchen I perceive movement behind me and look round and Eva is there holding her phone.

"I was thinking… I think I should call Gran; she could go around and help them… she'll know what to do" she says.

I nod in agreement, I was going to suggest that Sandra was informed of what happened here tonight if only to help take the burden of all this from Eva.

I watch as she places the phone on the work surface and presses the speaker button, then she reaches for me and holds on to me tightly.

I don't hesitate and put down the jar of hot chocolate and wrap my arms around her and wait.

I hear the phone ringing and then Sandra's voice as she answers.

"Hello" she says.

"Gran it's me Evie, something's happened" Eva blurts out.

"Evie, what's wrong you sound terrible? Sandra says with obvious concern.

"Kyle came around tonight to see us, and he said someone had approached him and told him he was his dad. But here's the bombshell, the man said he was my dad too and that his name was Jack. So we asked mum to come over and straighten things out, but she made things ten times worse when she admitted that she had slept with Jack around the time she conceived Kyle" Eva says quickly all the words tumbling out.

"What?! You are joking!" Sandra exclaims, clearly shocked by this revelation.

"She said it was only once, he turned up one day apparently on the pretext of seeing me and they ended up sleeping together. She put it out of her mind and then when she found out she was pregnant with Kyle she just assumed Vic was his dad, but now this has made her think" Eva says.

"Fucking hell" Sandra says, "Where are they now?" she asks.

"They all went home, dad was totally destroyed. He said some things which upset Kyle but he apologised, I think he's in shock. I am worried about what is going to happen, Kyle is now guilt ridden about the whole thing. It's all a fucking mess, so I… I'm calling you to ask if you'll go around?" she says.

"Of course I will, for god's sake I don't believe this. Why now after all these years has that twat suddenly reappeared and what the hell possessed him to approach Kyle like that?" she asks.

Eva snorts at Sandra's description, "Like I said when that question was raised earlier, it's obvious. It seems he has heard I've got married and got wind of the fact there is money. I reckon that's why he turned up when I was 16. Mum always said Jack has never worked, he was a lazy fucker and he turned up on my doorstep when I got the flat and the job at Cross Industries. So my guess then was he was looking to see if he could sponge off me, but realised quickly that was out of the question. But now my circumstances have changed. Kyle said he cornered him near my old flat so my guess is he went there looking for me and realised I had moved and he wants to know where I am and decided to cause trouble while he was at it" she says.

"Well if he does turn up, don't let him in" Sandra says coldly.

Eva snorts again, "If he turns up here, he'll soon wish he hadn't fucking bothered!" she says.

I hear Sandra laugh humourlessly, "Yeah I thought you'd say that, alright, thanks for telling me. I'll pop round and see what's going on, now don't worry about it. It will all sort itself out, even if we have to go on the Jeremy Kyle show to do a DNA test" she says.

I lean forward and speak now, "Hello Sandra, Eva has you on speakerphone and I just want to say this; When Monica and Vic were here, it was agreed that a DNA test would be done in the New Year to eliminate all doubt and I want to make it clear now that I would gladly be willing to help pay for a private test to be done, as Vic didn't seem too happy about the idea of going on a television show to find out" I say. I feel Eva squeeze me and I look down at her and she mouths the words 'thank you'.

There is a moments silence and then Sandra speaks again, "Thank you Gideon that is very kind of you" she says.

"Ok so that's everything" Eva says.

I hear Sandra sigh, "Alright, well I'm going to go round there now, try not to worry about this Evie, and I'll see you two tomorrow at Maisie's school play" she says.

I automatically smile at the thought of the primary school nativity play tomorrow.

"Yeah, thanks gran, see you tomorrow" Eva says.

"Goodnight Gideon" Sandra says and I immediately say goodbye to her.

Eva switches off her phone and turns and holds me tightly.

"Let me get you that hot chocolate and we'll go and sit down" I say, she nods and pulls away and lifts up on to her tip toes and presses a small kiss to my lips.

"Thank you" she whispers and then I watch her leave the kitchen and go and sit down.