Chapter Sixty-Seven

Henrietta arrived back in the village after getting a call from Eric. She was surprised by the call, it's been months but David finally wants to talk about the unborn child. The one that he and his ex-girlfriends refused to acknowledge the existence of it since the reveal. Though she supposed he was so busy worrying about Jacob that he buried his head in the sand for months. So with some year old diary on her person, she knocked on his cottage. Being let in by Eric as he gave her a quick glare. He didn't like her much, just something about her but he was willing to accept she would be able to help. David got up soon after, offering to make her a cup of tea. Before she could accept the offer, he was in the kitchen putting the kettle on. Clearly trying to put of the talk for a bit longer...

"What's that?" Eric asked her; pressing one finger against the diary.

"The scan picture's in there"

This made David slam one of the cups down. She didn't keep it to herself on purpose, she just didn't think David would be interested. Nobody really knew he had any feelings towards the matter until a couple of days ago. The fact was she was given some of Maya's things after her death, all her old diaries and photographs were sent to her. Nobody else wanted them after all. While she was reading through the most recent one from 2019, a scan picture fell out and she kept it. So yes, Maya did know she was pregnant. She was three months and a bit.

"You kept it quiet" Eric spat at her.

"I didn't think anyone was interested...Had I known, I would have told you. I only found it myself a couple of weeks ago when I was going through her diaries" Henrietta told him.

"So...Was she three months?"

"She would have been coming up to 4 months when she died. Just from the maths, she went for this scan in March"

"So she did know" Eric spoke with a sigh.

David switched the kettle off after a few moments of trying to brace himself. The man approached her finally, wondering if he wanted to see the scan picture. He was so angry, why did Maya not tell him? She knew she was pregnant long before her seedy double life was exposed and still refused to tell him. David kept thinking how bad he must have looked to the doctors when she went for the scan alone. Though it was too late now, what's done is done. He just kept thinking to all those times he held her in his arms and didn't notice a thing. Though like Eric said, he only saw what she wanted him to see.

"I want to see it" David told her a shaky tone of voice.

"Are you sure?" Henrietta asked him with general concern. There was no going back once he saw it.

"Yeah...J-J-Just give it to me"

The woman was hesitant but it was his own prerogative if he really wanted to see it. He was a grown man and knew the consequences. So she opened up the diary and passed over the baby scan picture to him. The moment he laid eyes on it, he felt a rush of emotions. Wanting some time on his own. The man managed to look back up at his father and Henrietta and told them...

"I want you both to go now, thank you"

"David?" Eric questioned in a worried tone.

"Please dad...I just want some time on my own, please just go"

"Okay but I will be back later, okay?"

"Okay"

His father giving a sad sigh he went towards the front door. Henrietta giving David a sympathetic look. Following Eric outside moments later as they shut the door behind themselves. They didn't know if that helped David or not. Eric could only look at Henrietta with stern eyes. Though he couldn't exactly blame her for this, it wasn't her fault. It was just a difficult situation.

"He's in bits as you expect...I hope the scan picture helps" Eric began. Taking a small stroll with Henrietta, this was the first time they spoke properly.

"It helped me"

"Look Henrietta, I will admit I don't really trust you but you helped my grandson through the first few weeks and I'm grateful. It can't have been easy for you"

"No it wasn't and I'm sad that you don't trust me"

"Well you haven't helped yourself, associating with Kim Tate and Cain Dingle. You couldn't have picked worse company"

"I was just doing a job for her"

"Right? Didn't explain why you spoke to Rodney like dirt though"

"I did feel bad about that, I lashed out at him and I shouldn't have done. Though with all due respect Eric, you're not perfect yourself"

"That's fair to say, I'm not. Though you understand why I'm wary of you?"

"I suppose"

"Do you think this will help David? Seeing the scan picture?"

"I hope so, it helped me as I've said. I'm just sorry I can't do more to help but that's me all over. I can never do enough to help anyone"

"Don't be so hard on yourself, you helped Jacob see that Maya did something wrong. You got him to the first step"

For Jacob accepted she did something wrong but he still believed his feelings towards her was love and not infatuation. Like he told Liv weeks ago, he wishes he didn't 'fall in love with that'. Meaning that relationship.

"I couldn't get Maya to that stage at his age. I failed as a mother, I'm good at my job but I'm a terrible person"

"She was messed up in the head...I doubt anyone could have helped her"

"I was her mother, Eric...I should have done more. Not like it matters now, look I got to go. I don't want to bump into Cain again, just call me up if you need anything else"

"Alright, thank you"

...

The rain was quite heavy as Leanna listened to it hit the window. It was quite late by this point, about midnight. She was half-asleep and half-awake when she heard footsteps on the landing, Ethan was wandering outside again. The girl just presumed he was going into his snooker room again. Though the footsteps stopped outside the door she was in, making her slightly confused. Ethan felt like how he felt all those years ago, it's like he gets some weird kick out of doing this. Though this time, he really didn't want to let the demons win. Not because he cared about Leanna or because he suddenly realized the damage his actions do. He already knew the damage he causes, he just didn't care. No, it was simply because it would be 'inconvenient' for him. Though his sick urges remained as he stood outside the bedroom door for what seemed like hours. His heavy breathing being only covered by the sounds of rain hitting the window. His hand briefly went on the door handle however he didn't clench. No, he finally departed away from the door and went into the snooker room.

...

A bit further down below, John was outside Ethan's house. He staggered towards the front door and tried to open it. Only for it to be locked as expected, not thinking with a clear head. The drunk went towards the back door as he tried to open that too (also locked). So he did the only thing he could think of and began climbing up it. His feet breaking the weak wooden fence next door as he did so. Landing in the back garden with a small thud, he made his way to the back door and that too was locked. Making the man shout...

"Come and face me like a man, Ethan!"

His voice being drained out by the heavy rain. With shouts of "Come on!" and "Let me in!" being heard by nobody. The rain really did mute his voice, nobody could hear him really unless they really paid attention. Which they had no reason to do, Liam and Leanna were trying to sleep. Ethan was in the snooker room and Rosa was fast asleep. So John was unheard. The man stumbled to the shed after a while, opening it and finally passing out on the floor of said shed.

...

TBC