Chapter One Hundred and Two

"Do you think they will work out?" Gabby was in the middle of asking her auntie Nicola. She was currently sat in the cafe with a cup of tea and a chocolate cupcake.

Nicola gave a shrug, she seemed to doubt it but then she doesn't have the best impression of her sister's love life. Though it didn't bother her one way or another but she supposed it would be good for the sake of Gabby and Leanna. They liked living together for the most part.

"Maybe...As long as Liam doesn't have any other secret children. I mean...At least Jimmy's other children don't have a mother everyone despises...Saying that though, Kelly was an evil bitch" Nicola hissed.

Making Gabby raise an eyebrow.

"You can't compare Kelly to Maya" Gabby reminded her.

"I can't compare that snake to anyone. Taking advantage of my Jimmy when he had memory problems, that's what she did. You were only a little girl but trust me...She was a snake and a half"

"Didn't granddad date her?"

"Biggest mistake he ever made...Anyway, I don't want to talk about her otherwise I may smash something up. Is Liam with your mum now?"

"Yeah. I left them talking...I really hope they work things out. Mum's not the same without him and he's not the same without her"

Nicola gave another shrug, she supposed that was true. She will take her niece's word for it and she did like Liam for the most part herself. He did treat Bernice very well and compared to her other boyfriends, he may as well be a saint. Gabby drank the rest of her tea and was ready to make a move. She gave them enough time alone she supposed and she wanted to see if they made up or not.

"You going back now?" Nicola asked when she noticed her niece about to make her leave. Gabby just giving a nod.

"Give me a sec...It's dead today" Nicola then said as she removed her apron and came back from behind the counter.

She got out the shop key and made her way out with Gabby. Locking up a bit early because she wanted to be nosy and see Liam. She's not seen him in months (not since Maya's funeral). Mainly because he was hiding in the countryside and in Leeds however he was back for good this time. Gabby just giving a sigh however her aunt was going to come whether she wanted to or not. The two of them made their towards the cottage, Liam and Bernice were still talking inside. Now both much calmer and going through the logical sides of things now. Gabby giving the door a quick thump so they knew she was back...

"Mum" Gabby called from the outside; Nicola standing behind her.

"It's open" Bernice called back from the living room.

Making Gabby finally open the door as she got back in. Nicola following behind her as she came in with a grin.

"What are you doing here?" Bernice questioned Nicola in an annoyed tone. She really wasn't in the mood for her sister's remarks today.

"Nice to see you too, sis...You alright, Liam? Long time no see...You done your little mourning act now?" Nicola dared to ask.

"Nicola!" Gabby shouted.

"What? I'm only asking...Who knows what else he's hiding. Secret child...what's next? Another wife you're not talking about it?"

"I'm not hiding anything else!" Liam snapped before stating..."I don't have to explain anything to you, Bernice and Gabby know the truth and that's the important thing"

Nicola just scoffed at his response, did he really think that? Because Bernice had her parents, her other daughter and her niece to consider. He wasn't the only one whose life would be changed by Alex's arrival. Though yes, Bernice and Gabby were the most important two since they would have to share a house with him and his children. He was planning on getting himself a house in Skipton still.

"You going to let him talk to me like that?" Nicola asked Bernice.

"It's got nothing to do with you" Bernice reminded her.

"Maybe not but I still got a right to be concerned. Diane thinks the same thing and you know she does"

"Just leave them to it. I don't know why you bothered coming over here anyway" Gabby chimed in with her arms crossed.

"It's called concern, Gabby" Nicola told her firmly.

She just rolled her eyes in response, leaving Nicola to have it out with them on her own. Liam though wasn't in the mood to explain himself to her. He has told Bernice everything and that was good enough for him. Though Nicola and Diane will give him a hard time (he knew that, just didn't have the energy today). He just looked at Nicola with a 'What do you want from me?' sort of look.

"Just go home, Nicola...Jimmy might be willing to take your abuse but I'm not" Liam told her firmly.

"Oh, that's nice. Do you expect anyone to just take your word for anything again, Liam? Is that's what going on in that head of yours?

"I mean it Nicola, stay out of this"

"I pity you, Bernice. For the first time, I actually pity you" Nicola then said. Turning her attention back to her sister.

"Nicola...He's explained everything and I trust him. Please leave us in peace, you and mum just have to take my word for this" Bernice tried to assure her.

"Fine but it better be good" Nicola replied. Giving them both a brief glance before making her leave, telling Gabby to watch him on her way out.

This was going to be hard but Bernice and Gabby were willing to adjust. Nicola and Diane will have to come round eventually. Liam bit his lip when she gone, maybe he shouldn't have said his piece in that manner but he didn't think Nicola had any room to judge. She's not exactly been perfect her entire life, has she? Though if he did want to get on with Bernice's family, he will have to bite his tongue a lot.

...

Noah was not very happy at the moment. His mother's only messed things up again, hasn't she? Cheating on Vanessa with some guy she only just met. Didn't help that she was pushing away him and Sarah. He was on video chat again with Leanna (who was finally returning to school on Monday). Though they weren't in the same year anymore, he was in sixth form. The only reason for that was because Leanna was being held back a year and would have to share a class with Sarah, Amelia and Samson (which she was pretty mad about). Leanna was a lot calmer though with regards to everything else.

"I can't wait to see you in person again...School's being boring without you. Sixth form's pretty rubbish" Noah was saying however he clearly had other things on his mind.

Leanna didn't really know the gossip. All she knew was that Charity has done something but he would't let on what right now. Besides, she wasn't exactly telling him all the updates on her life either. He was also embarrassed about it, no teenage boy wants to talk about their mother's love life.

"You seem down, Noah" Leanna admitted with a sigh.

"Yeah well home's been rubbish too...Mum's messed things up again, she kissed somebody else and now Vanessa won't come home"

"For real?"

"Yeah. Now she keeps having a go at me and Sarah. Anyway...She's not the only one keeping secrets, Gabby told me you and your dad have something else. Like, what it is? Mates are suppose to tell each other things" Noah stated in a sad tone of voice.

He's already lost Graham this year (which nobody besides Leanna gave him any sympathy for). Now his family's falling apart with Vanessa gone, the whole thing with Jacob hating him for snitching on him and Maya didn't help matters either. Seeing her jump from that hill was still something he thought about now and then. So to think Leanna was keeping him at arm's length just made him feel even worse.

"Noah. Don't be like that...I haven't told anyone besides Gabby, she had to know because she lives with us" Leanna tried to reason.

"You don't trust me or owt, is that?"

"No! Okay but if I tell you, you have to promise you won't tell anyone. Not Sarah or anyone, do you promise?"

"Of cause I promise. I care about you a lot, Leanna" Noah admitted in his exasperation.

This made Leanna pause for a moment. Though surely he only meant as a friend. She just brushed that little titbit under the mat. Noah barely noticed her flinch because he was thinking about other things that much.

"Dad...Dad had a son with Maya, he's called Alex. He's six and he's my little brother, he's in a care home because he's in a wheelchair. He's coming home soon, we didn't mention it to anyone because we were told not to by Maya but since she's gone, we are now slowly telling people" Leanna finally explained to him.

"R-r-really?" Noah nervously asked.

"Yep. It wasn't personal, Noah. Bernice only just found out recently and she's my dad's girlfriend. So don't feel like I was leaving you out"

"I'm sorry"

"No, it's fine. I'm glad I told you actually because it's been playing away at me for ages. We need a proper catch-up, don't we?"

"I would like that. Sorry...I just really miss Graham. I use to be able to vent my anger out to him. I'm sorry for doing it to you but everything's such a mess. I've been thinking non-stop about things" Noah quickly answered.

Trying not to get upset over video chat. He's been through a lot and it's like people don't understand. Graham's death has affected him a lot, he was the closest thing he had to a father. His mother didn't even understand when things were normal, never mind now when she's got her own problems.

"Don't be stupid. It's okay...Everyone is going through a hard time right now. Though please text or even phone me if you need to talk. I'm always here" Leanna assured him.

"Me too, I'm always here if you need to do the same"

"Let's meet on Monday, we can walk to school together. Yeah?"

"Yeah. That be great"

...

Liam had gone back to work now. Bernice was going to see him again tomorrow for another long talk. So it was just her and Gabby when Diane returned home (after having gone to see Victoria for a little bit). She greeted her daughter and granddaughter with a small smile, shutting the door behind herself. Diane knew Liam had been round and she wasn't exactly overjoyed but it was Bernice's choice at the end of the day. She just didn't want her daughter to get hurt again. She might be fifty but she was always going to be Diane's daughter and so she would always be worried for her.

"So what did he have to say for himself?" Diane gently asked as she sat on the other side of Bernice (Gabby was besides her too on the couch).

"Well we talked things through and he said that he only did it for his son. That he was scared Maya might have stopped him seeing him had he told anyone because mother, her mother's a lawyer and she no doubt picked up some of her skills" Bernice answered with a false smile.

Repeating his excuses out loud did make it seem slightly more reasonable though. Diane couldn't deny that. That bit about her picking up her mother's lawyer skills, that's a pretty good one. Liam must have really thought through this all and he did give a very good case for keeping poor Alex secret.

"Looks like Liam picked them up too" Diane teased; making Bernice give a sad laugh. If she didn't laugh, she would only cry.

"Yes. He clearly has"

"What are you going to do then?"

"We are going to have another chat tomorrow. Talk more about the logistics of the situation because there is a lot to do. Thankfully for my sake, Mandy's looking after the salon for me while I got this little problem"

"Little?" Diane asked with a chuckle; a 'little problem' was an understatement.

"A lot then"

Diane shaking her head slightly. Goodness knows Bernice and Liam have a lot more to discuss.

...

TBC