Chapter One Hundred

"It's good to have you back" Rodney spoke with a smile. Having finally gotten the chance to see his daughter, she wanted to wait a few weeks before seeing him.

For Bernice did have a very long trip back home and her father was old. So that's why she only just got round to seeing him in person. Diane passed him a cup of tea before leaving father and daughter alone. She didn't spend much time with her ex-husband, they only talk these days because they share a child and two granddaughters.

"I have missed it here and Charlie's well again, Dee Dee knew I was coming back anyway. She's a big girl now, she understands" Bernice explained.

Though it sounded more like she was trying to defend herself. Which she didn't need to do in front of Rodney. He was hardly father of the year however like Bernice's children, he was forgiven too for they know he didn't leave them out of malice and spite. He was just not very reliable sometimes.

"I know...She makes sure to video chat with me every week remember. I just hope this plague ends soon because I would love to see her in person again" Rodney quickly said in response.

"Me too, dad. That's the thing though with having two daughters in two different countries...I can't be with both" Bernice paused slightly, a tear falling down her cheek as she added..."I have missed Gabby too"

"Gabby have missed you just as much" Rodney assured her; wiping away her tear with his thumb.

"She's round at Leanna's right now. Trying to get her to let me see Liam, I don't blame the girl. For I did leave rather quickly and had I known the truth, I wouldn't have been so stupid. I don't deserve Gabby, I really don't. Not many daughters would defend a mother like me" Bernice insisted.

"Hey! Don't talk daft...You are a wonderful mother. Gabby loves you very much and I tell you what, Liam is lucky you're giving him a second chance"

"I guess so, not many women would do what I'm doing. I take it you know everything now about his son Alex?"

"Your mother told me, she thought I should know before I came round here. I was a bit shocked to hear it. I was under the impression Leanna was his only child but knowing who the mother was, I don't blame him for not wanting to broadcast the news around" Rodney answered.

Confirming what she already thought. He knew and pretty much everyone else will know soon, she was grateful in a way though. Nobody really wants to explain that more than twice, do they? She was dreading the snide remarks from her half-sister Nicola because she knew they were coming. Nicola will no doubt tease her about her having a sudden 'new step-son' for ages. It's the most exciting bit of gossip she's had in a long time however Bernice will gladly remind her how she's looking after two boys who aren't hers!

"Does Nicola know?" Bernice then asked in despair.

"Afraid so"

"No!"

"Don't worry...She's going to be very sensitive about it"

"Come on dad, Nicola doesn't know what sensitive means. She's not going to let me forget it" Bernice lamented.

"Princess will"

This just made Bernice groan louder. 'Princess' surely will. Why oh why is she surrounded by so many so-called princesses? No wonder Leanna and Nicola got on so well during her relationship with Liam, both were judgy daddy's princesses! She was happy to have Gabby with her even more now. Though saying that, Bernice was a rather spoilt daddy's girl now too but of cause she didn't see herself as one (they never do).

"If hear princess one more time" Bernice moaned.

Her father giving a brief chuckle before coming to a rather unfortunate conclusion himself. He wasn't totally in the clear either. This meant he would have to see the woman who rejected him again, Henrietta was Alex's grandmother and she wasn't going to go away now either.

"Oh no" Rodney suddenly said.

"What?"

"Henrietta...I have to see her again"

"And?"

"Well...I don't want to go into the gory details but she rejected me. We didn't part on good terms"

"You didn't?! You did not try it on with Liam's old mother-in-law?!"

"She said no!"

"Oh, so that makes it alright then?! Oh dad, this just keeps getting better and better. Gabby has a Hell of a lot of work to do on our behalf now!" Bernice hissed with her arms now crossed.

Rodney just giving a sigh in response. He didn't even think about that but now he has, he was dreading Nicola's teasing too. For she would have a good time with this gossip, Jimmy would no doubt join in. They were just grateful Gabby took the mature road and was trying reason with Leanna.

...

In that said household, Gabby has chose to stay until Liam comes back. Which he would do shortly for his lunch break. She was talking to both Henrietta and Leanna about her family and yes, she was trying to make peace on her mother and grandfather's behalf. Though she was also just explaining about how the family structure might work when Alex comes home. Which house they would stay in and all that boring but still very important stuff. Liam and Bernice though had to make the final decison on that when they meet in person. Which they now will.

"It's a good job we all met before" Henrietta insisted; the two girls shrugging in response. It didn't seem that way right now.

"My granddad doesn't think so" Gabby reminded her.

"I am sorry about that, truly. The way I spoke to him was out of line but I was still in my early stages of grief. I hope you don't think that reflects on me entirely, dear"

"Well I don't really know you. All I know is who your daughter was and how you spoke to my granddad. Though since we do have a child to think about, we should move on. I'm dead good with children by the way. I have a little brother called Arthur" Gabby explained.

Henrietta and Gabby have met formally at last. Leanna keeping awfully quiet during this first proper meeting. She supposed they had to talk it out though it was such a weight off her shoulders. To hear Alex being talked about in the open and not being kept a secret anymore. All the important people knew at last.

"I'm good with children too...I did use to foster children" Henrietta said firmly.

"Yeah I heard about that actually. Do you have other children of your own?"

"No I don't and I know what you're really asking. How could I bring up such a bad person? Well as I said to Leanna, that's a nature vs nurture debate. I can assure you it's nature" Henrietta persisted.

Gabby raised an eyebrow as this response. Looking briefly at Leanna before composing herself to reply.

"Look, I'm not going to judge you entirely on that. We all have bad apples in our family" Gabby paused slightly before mumbling "You have more than usual admittedly"

"What was that?" Henrietta demanded to know.

"What was what?"

"That mumbling"

"Oh nothing...I was just mumbling to myself about nothing" Gabby insisted with a fake smile.

Leanna discreetly kicking her friend in the shin, making her give a small oof sound. She didn't want to hear that talk either. Her little brother was half-Stepney and it took her longer enough to convince herself that didn't mean anything. Things were a little bit awkward by this point to say the least. They had complicated families and issues right now which needed to be addressed when Liam and Bernice met again.

"Henrietta's really nice actually and she has contacts" Leanna hissed quietly. Though she was still overheard.

"Contacts" Henrietta chuckled to herself.

"You do! You have Kim Tate as a friend...You were her lawyer for a bit. That's really cool...Dad should be getting back soon anyway"

"I hope so" Gabby cut back in.

...

Alicia had now gone back home. She had to return and she took this as her chance to however it was very difficult. Though Jacob was with his real dad again and she was doing no good staying in the village. He was told on the phone and he thus knew what was going on. Though she did make him promise to visit her soon and he agreed. Portugal was even further away from everything, so it looked like a good option to him right now. Though he was going to remain in England for now because of his upcoming college lessons and exams. So this left Leyla on her lonesome again. She was not having a good time playing gooseberry to Tracy and Nate, she was single and living with a couple. She was not having a good time and she didn't even have a man anymore. Though despite this, she still wouldn't take David back. That ship was long sailed as she told him.

"You look as happy as Charity does" Tracy teased her.

"Don't even go there" Leyla replied firmly with her arms crossed.

"You should come to the pub with me later for lunch...Marlon really wants customers. And hey, you're both single, aren't ya?"

"Me and Marlon? No thanks"

This made Tracy burst out laughing. She thought that was a funny joke she just made, Marlon was so not her type. And she wasn't his either. Though she couldn't stop laughing at the thought nonetheless.

"Shut up Tracy" Leyla exclaimed; making her friend further tease her by putting her finger sarcastically on her lip.

Tracy sat herself down on the chair opposite the couch. Still with fits of laughter wanting to come out. It wasn't all fun and games in her mind though, she was still thinking about David and how he must feel about her being pregnant. He was on Leyla's mind too but for different reasons.

"Eric's told David now about mine and Nate's baby. It's just one thing after another for him at the minute, isn't it?" Tracy asked in a serious tone, calming things down.

"Yeah...Maya really messed things up for him. It's been almost two years and it's like she's still there in his head. Thankfully he opens up to Priya because he won't open up for you or me no more"

"Priya's amazing. I don't know how she does it...It's a shame there's nothing between them anymore. I think she could make him happy but that ship has long sailed, hasn't it?"

"Oh yeah...Priya's like me, she's his friend but nothing more. We just have our children in common. She's good though with him, knows the right things to say. I'm happy he has Priya because I don't know what to say to him anymore to tell you the truth"

"Same. I haven't dared spoke to him to be honest...I don't know what to say"

"He needs a woman who can butter him up and mean it. He's a good looking guy still, I'm sure he will find a woman who will love him for him. Now he knows nothing can go on between me and him, he might stop messing other women around and go for something serious" Leyla suggested.

Tracy just raising an eyebrow at this. Maybe he will find a woman like that.

...

TBC