CHAPTER 36

Three weeks later…

The New Year is in full swing now, we are heading towards the middle of January already. Maisie is back at school; we are back at work and we are just about catching our breath after the events just after Christmas. After the meeting with Jessica and Sarah which had descended into chaos when Jack had turned up, I didn't expect to hear from any of them again. So I was quite surprised when a couple of days later I got a really nice letter from Jessica telling me how sorry she was that things had happened the way they had, and that if she'd had any idea of the level of bad blood between me and Jack she would never have encouraged Sarah to approach me. To be fair, I think she now sees Jack for the completely self-centred tosser he is, after she heard about how he had behaved all my life and how it had tied in with experiences she'd had with him.

Jack hasn't given up and it seems he also has a hide like a rhino, he just doesn't care about the trouble he has caused and is continuing to cause. His latest stunt was to gate crash the DNA testing, as Sarah had obviously informed him that we were doing DNA tests to find out if his claims that he was Kyle's dad as well as mine were true and so he had called my mum to say he wanted to be involved with that. So she had called Gideon, Gideon had called Charles and Charles had called Jack and obtained a DNA sample from him to be tested. I just hope when we get the results Kyle is Vic's son and we can rub it in his face.

New Year came and went and gran's party was, against all the odds, a huge success. Gideon's family came down to help us celebrate. I thought it was going to end up being a re-run of Christmas day, but everyone managed to hold it together and everyone seemed to have a good time. Elizabeth, Christopher, Ireland and Ricky were all here and Ricky and Kyle seemed to hit it off talking about their mutual interest in gaming, which made me really happy as Kyle had been so down because of what was going on with Jack. The biggest surprise that night though was Geoff turning up to the party. Gideon was astounded when he saw his father walk in with Elizabeth. Everyone who had volunteered to help renovate our home while we were on honeymoon turned up to help us see in the New Year and I was finally able to thank them all in person for what they had done for us.

I started driving lessons pretty much straight away and I have taken to it like a duck to water. Gideon has also been giving me private lessons in my new car, taking me out and about which has given me a big advantage. I have also started college to take my GCSE's in English and Maths and I have no idea what I was worried about as the work is so easy. At first I thought I must be missing something but it quickly became apparent that I wasn't. I just got it and although I have only been there a couple of weeks I am blasting through the work. Gideon keeps telling me how proud he is of me and how he knew I would do well, and how clever I am. In fact the tutors at the college are also amazed at how I am doing and they could not understand why I was there in the first place having to take my GCSE's as an evening class when by my quality of work I should have aced them first time round at school. The fact is I probably would have done had I not been dealing with giving birth and looking after a new baby. It makes me realise just what potential I almost threw away when I got with Nathan, and what a huge mistake I made. I will never regret my decision to keep Maisie, but I deeply regret every moment I wasted on Nathan. Thankfully now though I am getting a second chance to reach my full potential and I am grabbing it with both hands. It also goes some way to explain where Maisie got her brains from, as I had no idea that I was so intelligent but it also raises another question, where did I get mine from? It certainly wasn't from mum and from what I know of Jack he isn't the sharpest tool in the box either! But wherever I got them from I am now determined to use them to better myself and make the most of the new life I have been given.

Charles has told us that Meg's court case should be coming up shortly and he will let us know as soon as he is told, so that is another thing we are facing but hopefully the magistrate will take seriously what she has done and she won't get away with nothing more than a slap on the wrist this time. But the biggest thing we are awaiting now is the DNA test results, Charles had witnessed everyone giving their samples so there could be no argument about falsifying them if people weren't happy with the results and now we are just waiting for them to come back.

"EVIE!"

I am pulled from my thoughts by a loud shout across the picking area, and I look up to see George beckoning me towards him.

"Hold on" I call back, "Let me just finish this" I add and I finish the order I am currently picking. I glance at Rav and point to my order, "Rav, can you finish this for me while I go and see what George wants. The order is complete, it just needs boxing up and signing off" I say.

Rav grins at me, "Give it here" he says holding out his hand for the paperwork, I hand it to him and push the trolley towards him. "Thanks Rav" I say and I walk over to George.

"What's up?" I ask.

George pulls me to once side, "Gideon just phoned down, and asked that you go up to his office" he says.

I sigh, "For fucks sake! I can't, I'm busy, what does he want? Did he say?" I ask.

George shakes his head, "I don't know, he didn't say, but he sounded pretty serious and he said it was important, so you'd better go," he says.

I shake my head, "I'm sorry George" I say as I move away.

"Hey, don't apologise Evie. I know you are married to the boss, but you don't take advantage of that fact you work just as hard if not harder than most of the lads in here" he says kindly.

I leave the picking area and climb the stairs to the offices. I walk into Hayley who is just coming out of Gideon's office, and she smiles at me. We have become quite good friends recently.

"Hi Eva" she says, she glances behind her and then leans in, "He's not in a very good mood, and just a quick heads up he has started talking about the site visits to Luton and Bristol again, which he put off last year" she whispers.

I nod, "Ok thanks for warning me" I say and I push open the door to the Personnel offices, say a brief hello to the people in there and then bang on Gideon's door.

"Come in" he calls and I open the door and go inside.

"What's up? I'm busy" I say as I shut the door.

I see immediately that he is not in a bad mood at all. He is worried about something, and he stands and walks around his desk and meets me and pulls me towards him.

I push away from him and look up into his face, "What's wrong?" I ask nervously.

"Charles called; he has got the DNA results. He has informed everyone involved and we are all to go to his office at 4pm where we will get them".

"Oh" I say and I sit down with a thud. Gideon crouches in front of me and grasps my hands.

"Also, he has informed me that Megan's court hearing has also been confirmed, that is next Monday" he adds.

"Well, shit!" I say and I look up at him, "I won't have to give evidence will I?" I ask.

Gideon nods his head, "Yes, we both will. It's a magistrate's court so Charles will handle everything on our behalf and we won't need a barrister or anything like that, but we will have to give evidence of everything that happened that day and probably events leading up to it when she kept hassling us, are you ok with that?" he asks anxiously.

"I'll have to be, but I just want it over" I say and Gideon nods.

"You are not the only one," he says.

I let out a long breath, "Ok is that everything?" I ask.

I see him hesitate, "Eva, I know it's not brilliant timing with everything else that is going on but I want to complete the southern depot site visits, in Luton and Bristol pretty soon. I have put them off as long as I can, but they do need to be done so I can complete all the restructuring that's going on" he says.

I nod, I was expecting this. "Ok, and you are telling me this because you want me to come with you?" I ask.

He nods, "I do, it will be just like when we went to Burnley. You, George, Hayley and Wayne. There are no glaring red flags which is why I have kept putting it off, but I just can't do that any longer" he says.

I reach for him and pat his arm, "It's fine, as long as I get some notice and can get gran onboard to take care of Maisie" I say.

He leans forward and kisses me gently, "Thank you, you should also know I am planning on shutting the Manchester factory and moving all production to Birmingham. I'm making the manufacturing side more streamlined. The majority of the work has been done from Birmingham for a while now and Manchester just isn't viable anymore and I'm also closing the head office and moving the essential staff from there down here" he says.

"Here? Where, there isn't the room?" I say in shock.

Gideon grins and leads me to the window and he points to the empty building next door to the depot, "That is the new Cross Industries offices" he says.

"What about your dad?" I ask, wondering if he has discussed these major changes with Geoff.

"Dad is retiring. Now I have taken over the day to day running of Cross Industries, he has taken a massive step back and it was actually his idea to move the essential staff here to Stoke and to move the manufacturing to the Birmingham site. It became obvious that the essential staff needed would need to be brought down here, they all know and the majority are willing to relocate and some are happy to commute, this is why I need all the depots to be standardised and all doing the same thing and running on the same system," he says.

"Which is why we need to go to Luton and Bristol" I say and Gideon nods.

"Ok, anything else?" I ask.

"No, that's all, apart from the fact I love you" he says with a grin.

I feel my face break into a huge grin, "I love you too" I say.

My mind goes back to the DNA results and my smile immediately fades, "It's going to be ok today isn't it? I mean Kyle is going to be Vic's son isn't he?" I say.

Gideon's face softens and he gazes at me sympathetically, "That is what we are all hoping for, but you do have to face the fact Jack could be his dad" he says.

I nod, "I know, I wish Jack wasn't my dad then none of this would be happening" I say bitterly.

"I know Angel" Gideon says as he pulls me into a tight hug.

oooOOOooo

I feel like I am waiting for my execution, we are all sitting in Charles' office waiting for him to finish a phone call he is currently on. The atmosphere is thick and oppressive and I just want to be anywhere else but here at this moment.

I glance around the waiting room. Gran, Vic, Kyle, Gideon and I are all together and over the other side of the room Jack is sitting alone. Mum isn't here she is still at work as she said that she couldn't get the time off to come and I think that has pissed Jack off more than anything that she isn't here. I also think she probably didn't try too hard to attempt to get the time off as she doesn't want to have to face what she has tried to hide all these years. Maisie, Declan and Reece are with granddad, thankfully today is his day off and he had immediately volunteered for childcare duties while we do this thing.

Suddenly the door opens and I see Charles. He smiles at me and Gideon and he greets everyone politely.

"Hello, I'm so sorry to have kept you all waiting" he says. He glances at me and Gideon, "When this is done, I need a word with you and Gideon about the court case" he says and we both nod and we all follow him into his office.

"Please take a seat" he says and he takes his place behind his desk. "Right then all the results are back, now how do you want to do this do you want me to open them and read them out or do you want to take them and read them yourselves in private?" he asks.

"Read them out, I want you to do it" I say immediately.

Kyle nods, "Yeah, I mean, there is no confusion then is there and there can be no argument about it" he says.

Charles nods and looks towards Vic and then Jack.

"I'm happy with that" Vic says.

"Fine by me" Jack says with a smirk and I just want to get up and smack him in the mouth right now. I feel Gideon tighten his grip on me and he runs his thumb over my knuckles. I glance at Gran who is glaring at Jack with a look of complete hatred.

"Ok then, first of all Paternity DNA for Declan Thomas Trammel-Reyes, erm… the test shows that there is the 99.9 and all the other nines per cent probability that Victor Reyes is Declan's father, so yes Vic, Declan is yours" Charles says. I see Vic close his eyes, sigh and nod at that. Gran beams and claps her hands at that.

Charles picks up the next envelope, "Paternity test for Reece Kevin Trammel-Reyes" I watch as Charles scans the forms, "He's yours as well Vic" Charles says kindly.

The atmosphere in the room changes now as this is the one we are all fearing. I reach for Kyle and put my hand on his and he responds by holding my hand and gripping it tightly. Gran moves and sits next to Vic and wraps her arm around him. I see Jack lean forward a smug expression on his face, "Paternity test for Kyle Victor Trammel-Reyes". There is a lengthy pause and my heart sinks, then Charles looks at Vic sympathetically, "I'm sorry Vic, Kyle isn't your son" he says. I watch as Jack fist pumps and grins inanely while Vic lets out a long moan and buries his head in his hands and sobs. Gran leans down and whispers in his ear, obviously trying to comfort him but Kyle just sits frozen staring into space.

"Kyle" I whisper and he turns and looks at me, I pull him into my arms and I hold him tightly.

"I told you, I fucking told you!" Jack crows.

"Just shut your fucking mouth" I snap before I can stop myself, "Look around you, look what you have done, you may have provided the DNA but that was all you have ever given us you have never been a dad and never will be" I spit venomously.

Jack just continues to grin and he turns to Charles, "Come on now tell me he's mine now just like Eva" he says.

Charles looks at him derisively and ignores his request by what he says next, "DNA test for Eva Lauren Cross, nee. Trammel, oh… now that is interesting" Charles says. I look up at the surprised tone of his voice, this one was just a formality or so I thought. Charles glances at Jack and then looks at me, "Eva… I don't know how to tell you this but Jack isn't your dad" Charles says.

My mouth drops open and I look across at Jack who looks equally stunned by this news and I can't help myself but his expression provokes a burst of hysterical laughter, totally inappropriate hysterical laughter. Gideon reaches for me, a look of concern on his face and my gran comes over but I am crying and rocking with the laughter. I know logically that the reality of this will hit eventually but the knowledge that Jack isn't my dad is just too good a moment not to savour. Not to mention rub it in just a little bit.

I eventually calm down and wipe my eyes and take a deep breath, I know what I am going to do is really childish but I really want to do it. I glance at Jack before I turn my attention to Charles and address him.

"Tell me that again Charles, please just say those words to me again as I need to hear that again" I say with a stupid wide grin on my face.

I see Charles' mouth twitch with amusement and he looks straight at me and says those wonderful words again. "There is a 0% probability that Jack is your father Eva, he's not your dad someone else is" he says, and I laugh again even louder. I wipe my eyes and Gran looks stupefied by this news and she sits her mouth just hanging open, I glance at Vic and his expression is guarded but he doesn't look that surprised at what he has just heard and I wonder why.

"Oh god that is the best news I have ever had! Jack the twat is not my dad, yes there is a god!" I say obnoxiously. I turn to Jack "You can fuck off then now as I'm nothing to do with you, so there is no need for you to come sniffing around looking for money from me!" I say as I wave my hand at him. I pull myself together and remember that the outcome isn't so brilliant for Kyle.

I calm down significantly as Charles speaks again.

"Ok, the second paternity test for Kyle" he says and then pauses. Charles stares at the paper as if he is trying to process what it says, then he looks up at Jack. "I'm sorry Jack you're not his father either" he says.

"What?!" my gran gasps.

Kyle's head whips up at this and he looks confused, "So who is my dad then?" he asks.

Vic lifts his head and his gaze falls on Kyle. "I am your dad! You are mine, you always have been and always will be" he says. He turns to me, "Same goes for you too Evie" he says and with that he gets up and pulls us both to our feet and wraps his arms around us and kisses us both.

I smile at him, "Thanks dad" I say. I pull away from him and I turn to Jack once more, who is watching our interaction with his mouth hanging open in shock at what he has just been told.

"Why are you still here?" I ask.

Jack looks confused, he clearly thought he was both mine and Kyle's dad, "You are nothing to do with either of us so there is really no need for you to be here, so off you go" I say waving my hand at him.

Jack scowls at me and then turns to Charles, "Is that right?" he asks aggressively and Charles nods.

"I witnessed you give me your DNA swab and I witnessed Kyle and Eva do theirs and it was tested at an accredited lab, so yes, it is correct" he says coldly.

I grin widely as Charles hands over a copy of the results to him. "I want that, I want to frame it, written proof that Jack the Twat is nothing whatsoever to do with me" I say pointing at the papers and I see Charles stifle another grin.

"Don't worry Eva there is a copy for you" he says, he turns to Kyle and smiles sympathetically at him, "There is a copy of yours for you as well Kyle" he says.

I hug Kyle, "Come on bro smile, Jack the Twat isn't your dad either that has to be worth celebrating" I say trying to coax a smile out of my brother.

Charles coughs and he pulls out the final envelope and I realise this is the sibling DNA. I calm down but I can't seem to wipe the wide grin from my face. Jack hasn't left and is sitting staring at the results in his hand as Charles starts to speak again.

"Ok then this is the sibling DNA results for Eva, Kyle, Reece and Declan. Eva and Kyle are half siblings with Reece and Declan, which confirms the paternity results, Reece and Declan are full siblings which also confirms the paternity results and…Eva. Eva you and Kyle are also full siblings" he says, this news shocks everyone as everyone gasps and Jack's head whips up and his mouth hangs open. I reach out for Kyle again and he grabs my hand once more and I feel him grip me tightly. He has always been my brother but this news is unexpected and I am momentarily confused as I try and wrap my head around this information.

"What?" I ask, "Say that again" I say.

Charles smiles, "In layman's terms you and Kyle have the same mum and the same dad. Reece and Declan have the same mum and the same dad. But yours and Kyle's dad isn't Reece and Declan's dad, which we have already established" Charles explains.

"So, let me get this straight… mum had sex with another man, twice and those times resulted in me and Kyle – but it wasn't him" I say pointing at Jack and cringing at how stupid I am sounding. I grin, and turn to Kyle who is sitting with his mouth wide open. "Wow" I say and I fling my arm around him and as I do so I look at Jack and I snort loudly, "Mum cheated on you Jack, oh how sad!" I say.

Then I pause as I realise what I have just said as it also means she cheated on Vic as well, and then I remember Vic's words when he told me that mum had admitted she had cheated on him and he had forgiven her. I go red and look at my stepfather who at this moment looks deep in thought, "Sorry dad" I say quietly.

Vic shakes his head, "No it's fine", he says.

I look at Vic carefully, he seems to be taking this news really quite well considering, but maybe that's just because Jack is out of the frame, but something about the way he is acting tells me he knows more than he is letting on.

"Do you know who our dad is?" I ask him. As I ask this Gran looks at him and then she looks at me her eyebrows raised and I'm certain she is thinking the same thing.

He pauses and then nods, "I have a fairly good idea" he says evasively but doesn't elaborate.

Gran looks surprised by this admission but she doesn't say anything. He turns to us and holds open his arms, neither of us hesitate and we walk into them, he presses a kiss to my head and then Kyle's.

"We need to sit down with your mum and we need to sort this out once and for all, as she is the only one who can confirm what I am suspecting and I don't want to say anything until she has had chance to confirm or deny it" he says, "But remember I will always be your dad" he adds with a firm sense of finality.

I nod then I look at Kyle questioningly and he also nods, "Ok" he says.

I turn to Gideon and he looks completely astounded by the events that have unfolded here this afternoon.

"Ok then, that concludes that" Charles says.

I turn to see Jack trying to slip away quietly but I can't let him do that after all the trouble he has caused, so I call after him childishly. "Going so soon Jack, don't say you were going without saying goodbye… oh wait that is what you do isn't it? You just bugger off! But this time you have no reason to ever come back again! So I'll say it for you… BYE!"

Gran and Gideon both say my name quietly but at this moment I don't really care that I am behaving badly. Kyle snorts and shouts out to him as well, "Bye Jack!" he calls.

"See ya, wouldn't want to be ya!" I say and I hear Gideon stifle a laugh at that infantile remark, while Gran just hisses my name once more.

Kyle snorts with laughter again and offers another childish comment to Jack as he sees him open the door. "Don't let the door hit you on the way out Jack!" he shouts and I burst out laughing at that one.

"Stop it and behave you two, remember where you are" gran says sternly.

We both snigger again and then try and pull ourselves together. I look up at Charles who thankfully has an amused look on his face, "Sorry Charles" I say solemnly.

He waves his hand, "Don't apologise, this may not be a very professional thing to say but after meeting and dealing with Mr Harrison I can fully understand your elation at not being related to him".

Vic leans across the desk and shakes Charles's hand and thanks him for everything and Charles hands over the paperwork for the DNA tests. I look and see Jack has left his copy of the results on the chair and I go and pick them up and give the one for Kyle to him and I keep the one for me for myself. I watch as Vic hugs Gideon and thanks him profusely for sorting everything out and getting the answers he needed. Then he wraps his arm around Kyle's shoulder.

"Shall we go home son?" he says and Kyle smiles and nods.

"Ok dad" he says.

Vic looks towards me, "When you two have done here, are you going to come round and then we can sort this out once and for all with your mum when she gets home?" he says.

I nod in agreement and I look up at Gideon, "That's ok with you isn't it?" I ask and he nods.

"Sounds good to me" he says.

Gran comes and gives me a kiss and a hug and tells me she'll see us later and she too thanks Gideon and Charles before leaving the room.

When Gran, Vic and Kyle are gone, Charles quickly outlines the details for Megan's court appearance and he tells us that in his opinion that although the magistrate can order a custodial sentence, they very rarely do so, and he thinks she will just get a hefty fine.

I nod, but can't help feeling a little disappointed by that after what she did. He does tell us that the magistrate is limited to a six months custodial sentence – or up to twelve if there are two charges anything more than that and it has to go to the crown court.

"But you think she will get a fine?" I ask and Charles nods.

"But what if she doesn't pay it?" I ask.

Charles snorts, "Then she will probably be looking at a further fine or a custodial sentence for non-payment" he says.

When everything has been discussed and explained I look down at the paperwork in my hand and carefully fold it and push it into my bag. Gideon is watching me and I know he is probably worried about me especially considering my rather strange reaction to all of this. I look up at Charles and apologise once more for my rather childish behaviour previously and once again he tells me that I have nothing to apologise for.