Chapter Forty-Two

Staying overnight at the 'Cricket Pavilion' was rather strange. The sounds of the late December birds tweeting woke up Jacob as the winter sun shone in his eyes through the window. Maya was still fast asleep meanwhile, she had fallen asleep with one hand across him. So he didn't wish to move, he just watched her sleep for a little bit. The thing was, he was eighteen next year and he was willing to wait that long to be with her. That's what everyone was worried about. Nothing seemed to have changed his mind either, not the baby or anything. Jacob was just playing a long waiting game and Maya seemed willing to do the same lately. Sounds of children playing outside is what finally woke her up, it was early in the morning. The King children were playing right outside on the grass near the small building they were in with Archie and Arthur.

"They will go away soon" Jacob mumbled to her; not caring in the slightest.

"They better do because if anyone finds out I been anywhere near you, I'm straight back inside. My mum won't bail me out this time"

This Jacob knew already. He just gave a nod as if to say 'I know'. Thankfully for their sake (and nobody else's). The children had no interest in going inside the pavillion. The only thing that made them worried was Jimmy, Nicola, Jai and Laurel, they were having some sort of argument about something. After a few moments, the small crowd finally began walking away. Making the pair get up from the sleeping bags, Jacob putting them back where he found them.

"So what's your plan for today?" Jacob questioned her.

"Back to my mum's house"

"You wanna go back there?"

"Well it's either that or my dad's...And I'm not going to his, he drinks too much. So my mum is my best shot"

Though just before he could reply, the door to the pavilion opened. The twelve year old Arthur just stood there, he only came in to get away from his mother. He expected it to be empty. The child just stood still for a moment...

"Sorry...I didn't know anyone was in here" Arthur simply remarked.

"Don't tell anyone you saw us" Jacob managed to reply.

"Why not? You and Miss Stepney have been in major trouble, everyone in the school knows that cause of the newsletter Mrs Dingle sent out ages ago"

Maya giving a scoff.

"Nobody likes a snitch, Arthur" Maya managed to speak out to her old pupil. He was one of her Year 8 students.

"I will give you a tenner if you don't snitch" Jacob told him. This was Gabby's little brother, he knew him because of that.

"Alright then...A tenner" Arthur replied; putting his hand out.

With a slight sigh, Jacob dug into his pocket and gave the child a ten pound note. Though Arthu stayed put for a few moments. He couldn't believe it, his old history teacher looking like that. Maya just wanting him to leave now and not cause her any trouble, he looked briefly between them again.

"Go away then" Jacob demanded.

"Rude...Well thanks for the tenner. Bye!"

And with that, he shut the door again. Making Jacob give a nervous sigh of relief, he was happy he was gone but he hoped he will keep his promise and not tell. Maya though seemed less convinced. She really was on thin ice by this point, if the police were to find out she broke conditions then she would be straight back inside. So with a simple look, she told Jacob...

"I'm going to go as well, I will get a new phone and text you, okay?" Maya spoke softly.

"You promise?"

"Yeah I promise"

She gave him a hug before departing, making the lad sit back down with a small smile. He really was back at square one in regards to her. Keeping it a secret and not seeing anything wrong with doing so. The real reason why Maya made a quick exit would soon become clear as she put her hood back up, catching up with Arthur. Making the child give a nervous gasp as he she blocked his path.

"I won't say anything" Arthur persisted.

"Are you sure? Because me and Jacob are really nervous you will now, remember Arthur. He can tell your mum about why you're late for school"

"I won't say anything I promise!"

"Okay good, I'm just making sure...You never caused me trouble before, you were my best Year 8 student"

"Really?"

"Yeah, so keep it that way please"

"I will, I was never going to say anything anyway. I don't care, I'm just going to school now. Mr Walsh is our history teacher now"

"Oh no, not him...You still keeping up with your homework?"

"Yeah, we are doing the 'Civil War' right now, Miss. It's dead good, why did you leave anyway? What was the incident?"

This made Maya give a nervous smile, good question. What was the incident? Though she actually enjoyed talking to him, made her feel like a teacher again. She did miss teaching but she knew she could never do it again. She had too many sick thoughts in her head, another student would catch her attention. She craved it because her victims would always treat her the way she wanted, they would do everything she told them to do in other words.

"Oh that...I had a friendship with Jacob and they didn't like it" Maya remarked. That would be an understatement!

"That sounds silly, why would they fire you for that?"

"I don't know, anyway; go to school, Arthur and thank you so much for not telling, it means a lot to me and Jacob"

The child just gave a nervous smile before making his way past her. He was still too young to suspect anything like that, it was always men in white vans wasn't it? That's the impression he always got about those sorts of people. Miss Stepney didn't look the part.

...

David was in the local pub, holding Erica in his arms. Some of the villagers having a look, some not so much. Lydia and Sam were one of the few who came over, they heard about what he called her and wanted a quick word.

"She's such an adorable baby, David" Lydia remarked to him.

"Thanks Lydia"

"Good middle name too" Sam chimed in.

David just giving a small laugh.

"Yeah, I was going to call her Lydia after my mum but then I thought...They can't be two Lydia's the same village" David informed them.

"Erica is a much better name anyroad, unique. I bet it's strange though, isn't it? Being a father again and that" Lydia further commented.

"I suppose but I wouldn't change it"

The pub door had opened during their little chat. Henrietta was here to try her luck again, she noticed David over at the corner. Having a chat and a joke with Lydia and Sam, so she took her chance while the mood was light to go over. David's facial expression changed the moment he saw her.

"Just go away" David demanded with a sigh.

"I will leave you to it, see ya David" Lydia spoke up; making him give a small 'thanks' back. Sam and Lydia moving away quickly.

This wasn't any of their business. He began putting Erica back in her pram, not wishing to speak to her again. He said everything he wanted to say yesterday, he didn't want her to see her again. Though Henrietta wasn't having that, she felt like she has done nothing wrong in her conduct.

"Don't make me go to court over this, David. Because I will" Henrietta cautioned.

Making him look towards her again, the pub getting slightly quiet by this point.

"You serious? Your daughter wrecks my family and you want to take me to court? You would do that?" David asked with disbelief.

"If you ban me from seeing my grandchild, I will have no choice. I have friends in courts, my friend is a judge. She could get me access in one session, snap...Just like that. Because I'm sick of people thinking they can walk all over me"

"No, you wouldn't do that to me"

This rather public argument was being listened to by some of the villagers, including Victoria, Amy and Diane.

"I will if you ban me from seeing Erica...Don't cross me, David. If there's something dodgy in your past then I won't be afraid to use it" Henrietta hissed.

Victoria looking on with Amy in shock. The two women couldn't believe what they were hearing, poor David really had it rough. This made him think about his past, he thankfully didn't have many things in his past for her to get at. Apart from the dodgy money dealings he use to do around fifteen years ago.

"I really thought you were on my side, Henrietta" David managed to speak.

"Well that what happens when you try and play God with my granddaughter, David"

"I'm not trying to play God. I'm just trying to protect her...Fine, you want to take me to court. You can do that but you have nothing on me!"

"That's what you think, I really wish it didn't come to this but like I said, I'm going to go digging and I won't rest until I find something on you. Even if I have to go through your records, I will find something"

"You won't find anything on him" Amy nervously spoke up.

"Well I will find out soon...Just remember David, you can stop this by letting me see her" Henrietta reminded him.

He just looked away for he was too angry to look at her face. David didn't want to do something he regretted. Victoria shaking her head as he watched her leave, she was just grateful Wendy hasn't taken that route. When she was gone, David just gave a weak scoff. That family seemed to want to take everthing from him.

"Oh David, I'm so sorry" Amy spoke as she walked over towards him.

"It's fine...I have nothing to worry about because I have done nothing wrong" David replied firmly however he wasn't convinced himself.

Victoria also walked over at this point with Diane.

"Maybe Liam could talk with her? I know he's on your side too. And he knows that awful family better then any of us" Diane chimed in.

"No! I just want to go home now" David spoke in a sad tone of voice.

...

TBC