Chapter Sixty-Nine

"Alright, son? What you got there?" Justin asked Jacob.

The lad has just returned from one of his shopping trips. His father has been giving him about twenty pounds a fortnight. So he went out today to look around the Sunday market in the local area. Jacob gave a nervous smile as he replied...

"Oh, it's nothing"

"Nothing? I give you twenty pounds and you spend it on nothing?"

"It's just a video game"

"Let's see it then...Me and you could play it together later if you want, Talia isn't watching anything tonight"

Justin knew really that it couldn't have been a video game. He would have shown it him by now if it was. Besides, the white plastic bag it was in didn't have the outline of a video game case.

"No, just let me go upstairs. You're acting really weird" Jacob told him.

After a few moments, Justin just moved to the side as he let him go upstairs. The lad making his way to his bedroom as he quickly shut the door, seeing the coast was clear. He got out a grave ornament which said 'Beloved Partner' on it. That's what he didn't want his father to see. Even now; Maya was still in his head. Jacob spent most of the money his father gave him on things for her grave. His bedroom door opened as Justin stood there and saw what he was hiding...

"Weird looking video game" Justin grunted; making Jacob put it back in the bag.

"Just go away" Jacob replied in a huff.

"Look son, I don't give you money for you to make her grave look nice"

"You said I can spend it on what I want"

"Within reason! Look, I know it's difficult but I ain't having you spend my money on a kiddy fiddler's grave" Justin paused.

He regretted saying that however the moment he said it. Not because he was wrong but because of how it made Jacob feel. He looked so sad as he picked up the bag, he then just gave a small scoff before pushing past the man, making him shout..."I'm sorry!"

Though he didn't get a reply, just the sound of the front door slamming.

...

Henrietta was at home when she heard a knock on her door. With a slight sigh, she got up to answer it. Her ex-husband John was there, he was here to tell her what was going on. If anyone could persuade Liam and Leanna to relocate, she could. Giving him a small smile, she moved past so he could come in. She was happy for the company now she and Cain has broken up.

"Yes?" Henrietta asked him.

"Have you heard anything from Liam lately?"

"No"

"Okay...Well I have, he and Leanna are staying with Ethan. I tried to persuade him to leave but he won't listen. He thinks I'm rambling or something...I'm really worried about Leanna, you know what he's like"

"Are you serious?"

"Yeah!"

"Okay...Okay" Henrietta muttered to herself.

How was she to fix this without exposing the secret? For she would never be prepared to tell Liam the secret. She told Jacob however that was only because he figured it out, she would never somebody off her own back. So she had to think of another way, surely Liam and Leanna would rather stay at her house if she offered. She turned back towards John and said...

"I'm going to go round there and see what I can do"

"And what if they say no?"

"They won't, I don't know what I'm going to say but I'm not going to leave that house until they are out"

"Alright darling...Let me come with you"

"No John, I don't think you being there is going to help"

"Ettie! I ain't leaving you to face him on your own...Don't be daft, I'm coming with ya" John insisted.

"He's my nephew and I know how to handle him! Okay!" Henrietta snapped.

Making him stand back with a sulk. He was really concerned though but he supposed she were right. Him being there might make things worse and besides, Henrietta wasn't Ethan's target. He actually showed a slither of respect with his auntie, he still had some sort of yearning for affection when it came to her. Ashamed so she was of that fact but if it helps get Leanna away from him then so be it.

...

Knocking on his door, Henrietta awaited nervously. She now had a plan, the monster seemed annoyed by this point as he answered the door to his aunt. Liam and Leanna were currently in the living room by this point watching television.

"What now?" Ethan bluntly asked her.

"I want to see how my aunt Rosa is"

Her answer surprised him as he let her in with caution. Liam looked up at his old mother-in-law with a small smile. She was the only Stepney that had a warm presence, the rest of the family meanwhile wouldn't even make a recluse look up. Henrietta walked over towards her aunt Rosa to see how she was.

"I'm awfully worried about her...I think Maya's funeral was her last outing" Henrietta remarked, putting the seeds in.

"Bit morbid" Liam spoke up.

"I should stay here with her for a bit. That's why I'm here actually, I'm worried for her and I need a house sitter while I'm here. Would you do that, Liam?"

"Look after your house?"

"For a bit...There's two rooms you see. So you and Leanna can stay there. I won't even be there half the time, I will be here"

That was her plan, make out she was worried for her elderly aunt and suggesting they stay at her house. Leanna seemed to like this idea, perfect she thought. A house between just her and her father again in which they can stay until Liam gets a home of their own. Liam supposed it wasn't a bad idea.

"Doesn't sound that bad...What do you think?" Liam questioned as he looked towards Ethan. The man giving a nervous laugh.

He knew his aunt's game and he couldn't even refuse to play along without looking dodgy. What nephew would deny their aunt the right to stay with their dying great-aunt? So he had to agree.

"If she's concerned about gran-gran then I can't say no" Ethan simply stated.

"Brilliant, well I will go and pack my bags. Call this a house swap. Go on Leanna, go and get your stuff"

"If you say so, can't say I'm going to miss this place" Leanna jested.

Making Henrietta give a laugh. Though she was looking right at Ethan as she did so, he wasn't going to win she thought. The girl making her way past everyone as she wandered up the stairs to collect her things. Leaving the adults in the room together, the atmosphere was very strange.

"What's going on?" Liam asked them; he wasn't some teenager; he knew something was up.

"Nothing, can't I be concerned for my auntie?" Henrietta questioned with a nervous laugh. Though she was very defensive.

"John came round before shouting the odds and now you're here. It just seems a bit odd, what have you done?"

That last question was directed at Ethan. This just made the monster pause for thought, what could he say? Yes, it seemed odd. Even he could see that so he just gave a shrug like he was some naughty child. Henrietta could come up with the excuse he thought, she seemed to have everything else figured out.

"You tell him, Auntie" Ethan dared to speak out.

"I don't approve of him dating a 20 year old girl" Henrietta uttered.

"Whoa now! That is just silly...Why would you say that, Auntie? Making me look bad in front of him!"

Showing some of his true colours to Liam at last. This was the first time Liam heard of it and it finally made him understand why they were funny around him. Ethan didn't deny it either, he was just 'lucky' that Henrietta didn't say how old she was when the relationship began. She was sixteen.

"You told me to tell him" Henrietta reminded him.

"Well you're making it sound worse then it is!"

Liam just watching the aunt and nephew bicker among themselves. That was dodgy yes. Quite sleazy it sounded, a forty-five year old man dating a twenty year old girl? Yes, it's no wonder Ethan didn't go flaunting that around.

"Is that why you fell out?" Liam questioned them.

"Pretty much" Henrietta lied.

No, they fell out long before that. It made the man question other things, no wonder he and Maya got on so well! They were both sleazy at best and perverted at worse. Though it also made him question the paternity of Alexander.

"Right...Well yes, I think it's best for me and Leanna to go to yours instead" Liam finally agreed.

"Liam mate, you don't think I'm some sicko do you?" Ethan asked.

"I don't know what to think right now"

"She's twenty...I know it's not moral but I fell in love with her generally, it's not like she's some schoolgirl or owt. She's a young woman"

Leanna walked down with her suitcase by this point.

"Okay? Well I'm rather keen to go now, call me if you need anything Henrietta. Come on Leanna, let's go" Liam quickly spoke.

Henrietta walking over she passed him the keys to her house. He would return for his suitcase later.