Chapter Sixty-Five

Eric had briefly excused himself to go and get some clothes for the following day. He was staying the night. Though he also wanted to speak to the women, get them to lay off David. It wasn't going help anybody and besides, he felt it was unfair. Especially from Leyla, he has never treated her like this despite everything she's done. He found Leyla, Alicia and Tracy sitting in the pub. As he made his way over with a plastic bag full of one set of clothes...

"Oh...Has David got you staying over with him? Does he want you to tuck him into bed?" Leyla teased.

Making her sister and friend smirk back. They really were still giving him a wide berth still then. All they could think was that he's done it again, they hardly considered his feelings in all of this to be honest. The only one who has backed down was Priya but the others were still not done with the mocking and the jokes at his expense.

"You think it's funny?" Eric managed to ask them.

"No but I also don't think it's funny that he slept with a woman because we had a few bad words, like I'm some doll he can pick up when he gets bored" Tracy replied.

"I see...Well maybe he wanted somebody to comfort him, Tracy" Eric nervously began.

"Oh, so it's my fault is it? I've been there for him from day one, ever since we found out what Maya did. I was there looking after him, I spoke to him when nobody else wanted to. Now he throws it back in my face because we had a few cross words? And you can't use Maya as an excuse either because he's done it to me before"

Eric just looked behind him slightly, he didn't want the whole pub to hear this. So he just perched himself besides Tracy. How could he explain this? The one good thing was the women already knew about Maya's pregnancy. Jacob had a go at them over that one already (and now Eric supposed it was his turn). Though his reasoning of cause held more weight because he wasn't under any illusion.

"You know Maya was three months pregnant when she died?" Eric questioned; just to double check.

"Yeah?" Tracy answered back; not knowing where he was going with it.

"Well David has been hurting over that fact for months. You arguing with him over whether he was worth another chance was the last straw. Now I'm well aware it doesn't play on your conscience but it does play on his...He's devastated"

This made the women drop their guard at last. Leyla had no idea really as she suddenly dropped her poker face. Tracy just seemed rather shocked to hear it, no wonder he lost it after their fight. He was in want of emotional support and she just didn't bother to give it to him. She just ran away at the first sign of trouble.

"But he didn't say anything" Tracy then spoke up.

"Because Jacob needed him more he said, he kept it in all these months. He blames himself for it, he thinks if he spoke to Maya first then she wouldn't have killed herself. He's not upset she's dead, he's upset that the baby she was carrying is dead"

A single tear fell from Tracy's eye.

"Oh" Tracy managed to blurt out, wiping away more incoming tears.

It made her think of the abortion she had two years ago, that was David's baby. How he was so happy to find out she was pregnant, only for her to have to tell him it's too late. She had an abortion because she "didn't want to end up like Priya, stuck with him because they had a child together" (her words).

"Did...did he actually say he's upset because Maya killed herself with the baby?" Alicia asked Eric.

"Yes" Eric confirmed.

"I should go round and tell him I'm sorry" Leyla suggested.

Though Eric just gently grabbed onto her arm, making her sit back down. Now wasn't the right time. All David needed right now was his father with him, Tracy being given a tissue by Alicia by this point.

"I'm going to him...You can all see him in the morning when you had chance to think about it" Eric told them simply.

Taking his leave this time as he picked his bag up. The women just watching him leave the pub again. Leyla just giving a sigh, she felt like such a bitch. How could she not have seen? Jacob was devastated by the news, so of cause the other potential father would be. Maya really did leave a horrific mess behind.

...

In the small urban area in Leeds, Ethan was sat in some local pub with his 'girlfriend' Kelly (full name Kelly Tanner). Liam and Leanna were quite happy to remain in the house alone while he went out for the night. They didn't care where he went and so here he was, drinking a couple of cider cans. The pub door swung open as an already drunk John Stepney staggered in, making some of his peers cheer sarcastically. Here was the drunken swine they thought. As they gave him a small pat on his back, making the man stumble to the nearest seat. He has not yet spotted Ethan, the slightly younger man just sat with a nasty grin on his face. Kelly suggesting they go for she knew he didn't get on with his old step-uncle, they had bad blood. The whole pub now filled with cheers and big laughs, it was a rowdy rough pub (just like the small area itself).

"Come on Ethan...We can go some place else" Kelly spoke up nervously however he ignored her. Her opinion was not important to him.

"No, I'm not leaving because the big fat dolt has decided to stumble in!" Ethan hissed.

His voice barely noticeable in the gaggle of noise. Though John still heard it and when he did, he turned towards him. Ethan daring to give the man a slight nod, this made him stand up. Bouts of men yelling..."Up he rises!" could be heard. John was a laughing stock in this pub you see, nobody understood what he was saying half the time.

"You get out!" John yelled at Ethan while pointing towards him.

Making some of the men around him smirk and laugh. A rather thin looking man in his late sixties standing in John's way. Asking him..."Are you the pub owner now?" in a joking term, getting a shove in response.

"I am serious...This man is dirty, look at his current girlfriend!" John slurred, barely able to make his words out.

"Now that's not very nice, Uncle John" Ethan dared to reply.

"Pervert...That's what you are!"

"Okay, you're clearly very drunk so let me escort you out. I'm so sorry about this lads, he's an embarrassment to the family"

More cheers from the small crowd as they watched Ethan grab John. Struggling with him as he led him towards the door. The two men had began a small scuffle by this point, some of the men from inside the pub followed them out to watch. Decades ago, the two men were equal in strength but Ethan had the upper hand these days. So he had no qualms starting a fight with John.

"Pervert!" John kept shouting in between push and shoves.

"Your daughter loved it when she was still with us...Shame I didn't go to the funeral, I could have told you so many stories about what we did" Ethan hissed quietly.

John managed to get in one punch from pure anger alone however Ethan soon got back on top. As he shoved John against the nearest wall, the old drunk could no longer handle it. He was struggling for breath. He hated Ethan with all his being, the only thing that had stopped him from hurting the bastard all these years was the fact he didn't see his face often. He kept a distance.

"I should have called the police on you years ago!" John spat.

"That all? I take everything from your daughter and all you would have done is seen me locked up for a few months? Fair enough" Ethan goaded.

He was trying to goad him into trying to do damage, he knew he could easily overpower John and was thus loving this. Ethan had no morals, he had no regret or shame. That's what people slowly start to understand about him. Henrietta could see this all those decades ago and thus she rightfully washed her hands off him.

"Kill yourself!" John then hissed, spitting in his face.

"Why would I do that? Your daughter did that and now she's right in Hell with the rest of the sickos. I don't fancy joining them yet...Now I'm going to go home and spend some nice time with Liam and Leanna"

"You what?"

"Yeah...They are staying at mine, maybe Leanna might be next on my list. Anyway, I best go. Plenty of things to do"

Ethan had let go of him by this point. No, he wasn't serious about Leanna being next on his list. He only said that to further exasperate John. The man just left with a smirk on his face, he didn't have any fear in saying it. John wouldn't even remember this encounter he thought, he will sober up and forget it. That's what he was clutching onto anyway, he had no idea how angry he made John however. As John just glared the man down with heavy breathing.

...

TBC