Chapter Sixty

Staying over at 'Home Farm' was not the worse thing however it did bring out unwanted emotions. Having dinner with Kim and her family just reminded her what she could never have. She never had it really, she would have killed for a normal family. Jamie, Andrea and Millie were very nice to her too. The only person off with her was Al but that didn't bother her. So after having dinner and going through paperwork with Kim until around midnight, the woman found herself in the spare bedroom. The room was large yet empty, Henrietta was just thinking how typical it was. For her to have a few nice hours, only for it to end the same way it always did; alone. It didn't help that Cain didn't answer to her all day, even after she texted him

Sorry about last night.

He hasn't told her they are over, he just ignored her like last time. She saw a small light from outside which shone slightly into the bedroom. With only the slightest pause, she got out of bed. Making her way out the room and down the long hallway towards the bathroom, she opened it and turned the light on. A glass cabinet being above the sink, tablets and pills being displayed in it. They belonged to Kim, Jamie and Andrea (though mostly Kim). Henrietta just took out three packets of painkillers and poured herself a glass of water. Tears coming down her face as she made her way out; not bothering to turn the light off. Kim did overhear this, she could hear footsteps on the landing and soon down the stairs. The living room was empty. Henrietta sat down in the dark and began to open up the tablets, sobbing silently in the dark room. She seen the Tate family today and just wanted her own back however that never existed. Maya and Alexander were never really there for long, she never got to experience normality with them. In her depressed state, all she could think about was how she wanted to be with them. So she began to open up the packet and this seemed to take a while. She just kept pouring pills into her pocket and was ready to just consume these, she wasn't thinking straight. The light came on...

"Oh my God...What do you think you're doing?" Kim spoke up.

The woman barely flinched as she looked up, it's obvious she's been crying. She just replied..."I just want to be with my daughter and grandson again"

Kim just looked at her in silent shock. What could she even say to that? Of cause she knew what she meant. Kim may be rather ruthless and bitter but she wasn't heartless as she quickly made her way over. Grabbing the pills away from her, Henrietta didn't even stop her...

"What are you doing? Come on now...Don't be so silly" Kim remarked, trying to play down what just happened.

"I'm sorry"

"What if I haven't came down?"

"I just want my family" Henrietta tearfully answered; barely able to come up with any other excuse.

Kim wasn't one you could talk to, not at all. This wasn't her business really for she barely knew her, she was just giving her legal advice. She was never a friend so this was a burden she wishes she didn't have to bear.

"Do you want me to call anyone?" Kim questioned.

"I got nobody for you to call"

"That's not true...I could get Cain to come and pick you up, isn't he your friend? Because Henrietta, I'm sorry. Why didn't you tell me you were this bad? Work related or not, what if I didn't walk in and we found you in the morning?"

"I'm sorry"

"Don't be sorry, just let me call somebody for you"

"No don't...I'm fine"

"You're not fine, you were going to take goodness knows how many pills. You need to talk to somebody"

Henrietta just kept gripping tightly onto her sleeves. She didn't know what to do, this was a moment of madness in her eyes. Everything just got to her tonight and this was the nearest she's ever gotten to actually doing this. Kim's presence totally brought her back down to Earth however it didn't stop the sorrow.

"I will talk to somebody in the morning" Henrietta managed to reply.

"No, you need to talk to somebody right now" Kim insisted with disbelief.

"Cain isn't answering to me and it's very late, please Kim. I beg, don't tell anyone about this. It was just a moment of madness"

Lowering her defences slightly, Kim sat besides her with a sigh. "I don't even think I would have taken them" Henrietta quickly added. She was trying so hard to play it down and make out it wasn't a big deal. Like always, she wanted zero fuss and she didn't want people to find out she had these dark thoughts.

"I understand you're in a lot of pain right now and I'm sorry, I shouldn't have gave you so much work" Kim began.

"No it's fine...I liked having work, I promise I will make sure you get your equal share from the will. Just don't tell anyone, you don't even have to pay me the full rate"

For once however, money wasn't on Kim's mind.

"I won't tell anyone but you should. Maybe your ex-husband? If I was ever in a foul mood, I would call up one of them to have a moan" Kim further suggested.

"John's too drunk half the time...Look Kim, what you walked in on was me having a cry. That's all"

"Having a cry? I hardly think taking out a dozen pills is having a cry. Please tell somebody, Cain or whoever; just somebody"

"I will, I promise"

"I'm so sorry for not seeing how down you were. I'm not very good at reading people sometimes. You lost your daughter a few months ago and my bright idea is to invite you to my family dinner"

"No it's fine...It's not your fault"

"Look, I'm not exactly a good person to give advice on personal issues...Least not to my employees and whatnot but don't cut your life short, it's not the answer. You know that, everyone knows that"

Henrietta just giving a nod. She couldn't fault Kim for not being honest, she really wasn't good at talking about personal issues.

...

The morning soon came round as the villagers began their normal day. Though the quiet was soon interrupted as Diane was heard yelling...

"Get out!"

As she found Liam and Leanna back in the cottage, clearly having slept there all night. Liam trying to explain himself. Diane had stayed over at Victoria's the previous night and hence why she only found them now. The older woman just pulled Liam's suitcase across the ground and chucked it right in some sticky mud.

"Don't think I won't be do the same to your's young lady" Diane warned. Making Leanna quickly take her own suitcase out on her own accord.

"Please Diane...I understand you're angry with me but I'm only back for work and for Leanna's schooling" Liam attempted to explain.

Though the woman wasn't having any of it. She was sick of people sticking by scumbags and then expecting everything to be alright just because they are dead. Diane had enough, she didn't blame Leanna but she went wherever her father went. So she had no choice but to banish her with him.

"You aren't staying here after what you done...You cannot be trusted, you are the worse type of coward! You think that just because Bernice left that everything will be forgotten? Well you're wrong" Diane argued.

"We got nowhere to go" Liam tried to say.

"Not my problem and besides, Hotten Academy isn't the only high school around here. Why don't you go back to wherever you came from! Oh wait, you can't because you know who is there!"

She was referring to that kid that Maya abused and the one Liam knew about.

"My work is here...Manpreet needs me at the surgery because" Liam paused...

He was about to say because 'Wendy's ill' but that would just make things worse. He really was damned either way here. So he just remained rather quiet, once again however; Diane knew what he was about to say already. Wendy isn't working so Manpreet needs him at the surgery. Another mistake he made was giving her a job at the surgery.

"Well maybe don't employ somebody like that next time! I just want you to go, what Bernice said still stands. If you don't go, I will let everyone know exactly what sort of man you are" Diane warned.

"Fine...I'm just going to go and fish out my suitcase" Liam relented with a sad look on his face.

"Good" Diane bluntly said before going into her cottage and shutting the door.

She was going to be changing the locks after this. Liam just dragging his suitcase from the dirty wet mud. With very little idea of where he was going to do, this was hardly ideal. Leanna just crossing her arms.

"Now what do we do?" Leanna asked him.

He just gave a defeated shrug. Where would they go now? He still had a few friends and ex-in-laws that he could try. He supposed he best start asking around however it wasn't ideal, he wasn't exactly skint so he shouldn't be couch-surfing with his income (or his age for that matter) but here he was. He hasn't done so since he was a university student. A doctor couch-surfing with his sixteen year old daughter? His patients would surely get a giggle if they knew.

"I will find us somewhere" Liam promised however he didn't have much hope.

...

Kim was currently making her way round the village, she was looking for Cain. After her and Henrietta's little chat, they both returned to bed. Though Henrietta soon got up again and by the early morning, she was out the door. Didn't even wait for Kim to wake up again. Therefore she didn't have chance to further talk to her about what happened last night. Though Kim didn't want to leave it, much to her relief; she found Cain sitting in the pub. His children now being in school and nursery.

"Cain" Kim called over simply. Making him look towards her as he just gave her a nod. He didn't like her very much though.

"Yeah?" Cain questioned.

"Your friend Henrietta stayed at mine last night-" Kim went to explain however Cain cut her off quickly as he corrected her...

"She's not my friend anymore so whatever it is...I'm not interested"

"Have you told her?"

"I don't need to...She will get the message when she realizes I'm not talking to her anymore. Alright?"

This just made Kim scoff slightly. That sounded a bit harsh, even for him. Though she didn't have a moral high ground here. For not all her break-ups were respectful but still, in her defence; none of her lovers tried to kill themselves the night before. Cain didn't know this of cause but he knew she was struggling, he knew that much.

"That's...I don't think you should do that yet" Kim tried to say.

"I can do what I want Kim. Since when did you care anyway? Cause you're not getting me into bed, you tried that once before, remember"

"This isn't about me...I found Henrietta up late last night with a load of pills, she was going to take them. So unless you want her death on your conscience, I suggest you pretend to be into her for a bit longer" Kim hissed.

"Are you serious?"

"Yes, I'm afraid so...I'm not exactly one to talk but it be an awful shame to hear about her upcoming death"

This made Cain put down his glass as he looked at her for the first time. He wasn't happy, he wishes she didn't tell him because now he has a moral dilemma. He honestly didn't want that on his conscience, he wasn't a sociopath. Besides, he did still like her a little bit. Didn't really wish for anything bad to happen. The woman in question soon walked in, she looked towards Kim and Cain. She didn't like that they were chatting, made her feel nervous because she was worried Kim told him.

"You haven't been answering my calls, I was worried" Henrietta nervously spoke up.

Usually Cain would say something like 'That's the point' but not this time. Not after what he heard, so he just backed down slightly. Kim moving to the side slightly, there was a slight pause.

"Yeah I'm sorry...I been up all night working at the garage" Cain lied. Turns out he wasn't cruel enough to drop her right now.

Kim just giving him a small glance before making her way out the pub. Her job was done, she informed him anyway. She was relieved he was going to take up the 'burden', nobody wants that on their conscience.

"Oh. That's a relief...I thought you were going to ignore me like last time" Henrietta confessed.

"No, don't be silly. I was just thinking actually about you staying at the farm tonight, nobody will be in so it will be just you and me"

Once again, that wasn't what he wanted but he didn't want to let her go home alone. Not in her bad state. Which he could now see she was in, though he wasn't happy. This was just something he was doing with reluctance. Some sense of duty, he he felt like couldn't just dump her. How harsh would that be?

"That be nice" Henrietta spoke with a sad smile.

"Yeah it will...So, are you okay?"

"Of cause"

"Because you can tell me if you're not. I know I said we aren't serious but I'm still willing to listen"

This made her raise an eyebrow, that didn't sound like him.

"Has Kim said something?" Henrietta questioned.

"Not about you. She was talking about Graham and it made me think about how not to treat your bedfellows"

This made her give a general smile again as she shook her head. He thankfully got her off the scent.

"Now go and sit down, I'll get you a drink" Cain added. Giving her a small kiss on her lips and watching as she sat in one of the corner seats.

Chas leaning on the table when he returned to the bar. She poured two drinks into glasses however she was slightly confused. He was insulting her last night, saying he's done and everything else. Now he's all over her, what gives?

"Erm...Did yesterday not happen?" Chas asked him in confusion.

"Look Chas, something came up and now I'm stuck with her for a bit longer. So can you not mention yesterday" Cain quietly explained.

"What came up?"

"Nothing you need to worry about"

With a slight look of 'What?'. The woman passed him the two glasses and watched him make his way over to Henrietta. Giving her the drink and sitting opposite her, he didn't expect to be doing this again. The man was being awfully nice to her, it made people think he was up to something. When in reality, he just didn't want her death on his conscience.

"Thank you" Henrietta spoke.

"It's alright. Tonight will be good, you haven't seen my place yet" Cain remarked.

"Where will your children be?"

"Kyle is at Amy's and Isaac is with his mum for a little bit up in Scotland. Debbie might pop in and out thought"

"Are you joking?"

"No, Scotland is only up the road...Of cause I'm joking"

This made her smile again. Bear Wolf meanwhile had popped out again, he looked over at them. Chas giving him a small look of equal bafflement.

"Something came up" Chas informed Bear; purposefully using the same excuse her brother gave her.

"Looks like it, never have I lied about dumping a woman...What was Cain complaining about last night?"

"Your guess is as good as mine"

...

TBC