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Now, we didn't totally think that Melissa had completely gone, had we?

The Sisterly Problem

No matter how much she didn't want to be back in Rochdale on the Saturday morning, once Monday morning came around, Rachel found herself glad to be back in her office, waiting for Eddie to finish up whatever he was doing before they made their way to the staffroom to brief the staff.

The one thing that they had decided on, during their honeymoon, about work had been to tell the staff as soon as possible about the merger. Jennifer was coming in, later on, to talk to Rachel about what was happening, but the staff deserved to know what was going on.

Rachel said a good morning to anyone that was listening as they entered the main part of the room and knew that she would have a moment to wait for everyone else to get settled.

"Have you been away?" Steph asked. "I thought you would be more tanned."

"I don't think that Scotland is really the place you go to get a tan." Rachel said.

"I thought Mr Lawson would have taken you somewhere more exotic than that."

"We probably would have if we weren't advised against it." She paused before she spoke to the room. "Please keep up the good work with trying to keep it as quiet as you can for the exams. Not long to go now and then we are almost done for the summer. We just want to let you know, before you find out from any other source, that John Fosters, the local private school, is closing down. Come September, the students and staff will be spread over four schools in the area and Waterloo Road has been chosen as one of the schools."

There was a bit of noise about that, with the obligatory comment from Grantly. She waited for them to settle back down again before she continued, stealing a glance with Eddie in the process.

"We don't know all the details and Jennifer Headly from the LEA is coming in this morning, hoping to answer the questions that I have over this merger. Once I know any more then I will let you lot know. Just wanted to tell you myself before it hits the papers or anything like that."

With her saying all she needed to say and the bell going off, signally the start of registration, Rachel left them to it, with Eddie following behind her.

"You couldn't tell them any more." He said.

"I know. Maybe I am still processing the news."

"Which is why you need to talk to Jennifer before you go into panic mode."

"I'm not going into panic mode."

"Then overthinking it."

"You were going to say something about me being pregnant, weren't you?"

"Maybe… but I am only a man and have no idea what it is like being 18 weeks pregnant so anything that falls out of my mouth regarding that can be ignored."

"No. You are right. I just… feel like there are so many things going on and a couple of weeks ago, I was thinking that this place seemed so calm."

"Exams are on. It is always a tough time of year."

She nodded as they stopped outside of Eddie's classroom. "And maybe I am overthinking things. I'll make sure that I ask Jennifer about maternity and paternity leave as well. Maybe you can have yours a little later. Not when they are just sleeping all day and not at night."

"I think you have just described every baby going."

"I'll see what our options are."

"Everything will be fine."

"I know." She looked at her watch. "I should get down there to greet her."

"And I better go and make sure my year 11s are somewhat okay with their upcoming exam."

Eddie gave her a quick kiss before he entered his classroom. She nodded before she made her way down to the foyer to meet Jennifer, making a mental list of everything that they needed to talk about.

"Rachel, I mean it, I think that this merger might work out for the best. But I do think it is important to think about having one of the John Fosters teachers in your senior management team." Jennifer said.

"Have you already sorted out who is going where?"

"Not yet. But, if you like, I can send you the list of teachers and you can have first pick. Although, my recommendation would be the current deputy, Christopher Mead. Not as confident in his role as Eddie is, but someone who has a bit of potential. Maybe someone like you can bring that confidence out in him."

"I'll look him up."

Rachel smiled at Jennifer as they reached the doors. She did think that Jennifer would want to get off, sounding like there were still so much that they needed to sort for this merger to happen as smoothly from their end as possible. But it was like Jennifer was waiting for someone, and it was clear who that someone was once Sally started walking towards them.

"Have you calmed her down?" Sally said as she joined them.

"I think so," Jennifer said before she handed over the paper in her hand. "Amy's number. I may have mentioned to her, while telling the rest of your family why me and Max are getting divorced, that I knew where you were. She said the best thing to do would be to give you her number, so the ball was in your court as to whether you wanted to see her again. Although she did say to mention that she only goes to the family dinners because she is summoned and knows not to rock the boat."

Rachel could only give Sally a smile as she took the paper out of Jennifer's hand. She knew that there would now be many conversations from both her and Jane, trying to convince her to call Amy. Rachel had only met Sally's sister once because Jane was at work and they didn't trust her on her own. She knew that Amy wasn't like the rest of Sally's family.

"Thank you," Sally said.

Rachel probably would have started to put her argument across as to why it was a good idea to call Amy when her own sister decided to make an appearance. Jennifer seemed to notice the tension that built and made her goodbyes before she left.

It did leave Rachel, Sally and Melissa staring at each other, not knowing who was going to make the first move.

"I think we need to sort this out," Melissa said.

"Do we?" Rachel replied.

"Do you not think so? I mean you have stolen my son away from me and everything that you try and tell me which I know is wrong. Your… Eddie, doing what he did."

"I am not doing this with you."

"Why not? Scared about how right I am?"

"For starters, I am at work Melissa."

"Didn't stop you talking to whoever has just left."

"Because that was work-related."

"And Sally is here."

"You know why Sally is here."

"Do you know how you sound?"

"Melissa, I am not doing this with you now."

"You have always been so selfish."

"Rachel? Selfish?" Sally said.

Rachel had never had the urge to slap anyone before but there was just something about what Melissa had said that made her want to do it. Either that or it was the hormones.

"Fine," Melissa said as she got a pad out of her bag and wrote something down. "My new number. Call me when you do want to."

It took a lot to not screw the paper up in her fist and throw it in the closest bin once Melissa left.

"Melissa came into school earlier." Rachel said as Eddie settled down on the sofa next to her.

She had planned to get a little more paperwork done at home but, instead, she had been staring at Melissa's number, not knowing what to do now that she was a lot calmer.

"Right?"

"She said something about sorting things out. Regarding Philip, the lies Danny told her and you."

"Do you want to sort it out?"

"I wanted to slap her earlier."

"Rachel, I think you know what I am going to say."

"But say it anyway."

He sighed. "I think it is a bad idea. Because you are always going to let her in, even if you want to or not. I think she has proved that she has and will never look out for you like you have looked out for her. She isn't worth all the chances that you have given her."

"But?"

"But I get that she is your sister. If you want to give her another chance, then that is up to you. I just don't want you putting yourself under any more stress than you are already."

"Do you know… I don't even think that she noticed I was pregnant? I know I am not huge but I am noticeable now."

"Maybe that will slightly answer your own question."

Sally leant on the kitchen worktop as she stared at her sister's phone number. She knew that it wasn't going to take a lot actually type the number in and be in contact with her sister for the first time in 17 years, but there was that underlying fear that she had. The problem was she didn't know what Max might have said behind her back to them, or whether they knew that he had been reunited with her. By how Jennifer was talking, she didn't think that he had even mentioned it.

"Just call her," Jane said.

"It has been 17 years Jane."

"So? You know that she was happy for you."

"A lot has happened in 17 years. A lot could have changed."

"Not how much she loves you. You know that she was always up for meeting me but never did. Your mum as well. Maybe you could be put back in contact with her as well. Sal, you have family, one that isn't as idiotic and strange as mine. Okay, you do have idiotic members, but Amy wouldn't have said what she did to Jennifer if she didn't want to be reunited with you."

"I just don't know."

"Okay then, I'll word it like this then. What did Max do to deserve being reunited with you? Why should he be the only one you are reunited with? Why is he more deserving than Amy?"

"He isn't."

Sally looked down at the bit of paper as Jane walked over to her, wrapping her arms around her from behind and moving Sally's hair from her neck, so she could place a kiss there.

"Look, either call her or shred that piece of paper. Because you know what I am like. I'll end up calling her for you."

Sally half expected Jane to leave her to it, but her grip only loosened as Sally reached over to grab her phone. She typed in the number and double-checked it before she pressed the button to start calling the number. Jane placed a kiss on her cheek as she waited. She only smiled as her sister's voice came through the phone, shouting at someone to tell them to be quiet.

"Hello?"

"Hi, Ames. It's Sally."

"Oh God. Sally!" Amy paused for a moment. "Will you lot be quiet? I am on the phone to your Auntie Sally. How are you?"

"I'm good. Jennifer gave me your number."

"I know. Christ, it has been 17 years and I have no idea what to say to you."

"Maybe we should try and work out whether we can catch up. Where are you living now?"

"Liverpool. Dad moved us all after… you came out. Still saying that you were a disgrace. I think me and Mum still seeing you didn't help things. He moved us up to Leicester and the moment I could, I carried on north to Liverpool."

"Liverpool is only like an hour away isn't it?" Sally said as she half turned to Jane. "From or to Rochdale."

"We could always meet in Manchester. I suppose that might depend on when you are working."

"I am not working weekends at the moment."

"So Saturday? It would be really nice to see you again Sal. Maybe you could bring Jane along."

"Maybe. I'll have to see what she is doing."

"Although I'll have to bring the kids. Problem with being a single mum. But I am sure we can discuss all that on Saturday."

"I'm sure we can."

"I'll text you, Sal. So we can arrange a time. But… it is really nice to hear from you."

"You too Ames. I'll see you on Saturday."

"See you Saturday."

Sally let out a sigh of relief as Amy hung up and she turned in Jane's arms to face her, resting her arms on Jane's shoulders.

"Now that wasn't so bad was it?" Jane asked.

"No, it wasn't."

"But you know I have that stupid work thing Saturday morning. You go to working a normal week and I end up working more at the weekends."

"Just means that we have to make the most of our evenings," Sally said before she kissed Jane.

"I suppose we do," Jane said before pulling Sally closer and kissing her deeply.

Rachel was impatient as she waited for her sister to answer her call. Melissa needed to pick up to this call or she was going to miss her chance.

If anything, Eddie's reasoning was probably spot on but Rachel just wanted to confirm it. One last chance for Melissa to show that she had changed or that she was a selfish bitch.

She started to wonder whether Melissa had been in touch with Philip when the phone connected to the call.

"Did wonder when you were going to call."

"Here is the deal, Melissa. This is your last chance. You know the coffee shop along the high street? The independent one?"

"Yeah, I know it."

"Meet me there on Saturday at 11 am. If you do want to sort things out. If you aren't there by 10 past, I will just guess that it was just words. I am not waiting all day for you."

"Trust me, Rach, I want to sort this."

It was clear that Melissa had nothing else to say to her as she hung up. Rachel just wondered whether she was going to do the right thing in giving her one last chance.