Chapter One Hundred and Four
Priya walked into the living room with Amba as she just picked her up from school. She noticed Meena doing her make-up as she wore a black mini dress and high boots. Meena was treating like this a normal date. Priya just telling her daughter to go upstairs and play which the little girl did. She made her way upstairs and thus Priya was on her own as she made her way in.
"Hey Meena...You look very dressed-up" Priya remarked with awkward smile.
"Yeah I know. That's the point, Priya"
"I thought it was nothing heavy"
This made Meena pause for a moment as she put the lipstick down. Turning towards Priya, she didn't know what she was getting at. David had a troubled past relationship, she knew that much. Though in her mind, she thought; so what? This was a date and David had agreed to it without much pressure. She wasn't going to treat it like it was anything other than a normal date.
"I'm only dressing up, Priya. It's a date, you're suppose to be dressed up...If you have a problem with me and David going on a date, let me know now" Meena replied with her arms crossed.
"I haven't got a problem with it. I just think that maybe all this might be too much for him. His last one really affected him"
"What? Seeing me dressed up to the nines is going to make him run a mile or something? What world are you living in?"
"Do you know anything about his last one?"
"Should I?"
This question made Priya step back. Maybe she shouldn't go into details, surely that should come from David himself. Though she still thought that she give Meena a bit of a heads-up, his past was not something you take lightly. At the same time though, she didn't want to put Meena off because David deserved a bit of a break. Meena could see that it must have been something bad by the way Priya reacted.
"Okay but please don't tell David I told you. His last girlfriend was called Maya and she was just the worse. She went out with him and cheated...Well, I don't know even know if cheated is the right word but she used David as a cover-up" Priya began to explain.
"A cover-up for what? Was she married?"
"No..Well yes, she was to Liam but that's not the point. You know David has a 17 year old son called Jacob? Well it's not his biological son but he's like a son to him. Anyway, Maya used David to get close to him"
Meena had to think about what she was saying for a few moments. Though when she realised what she was referring to, she pulled a disgusted face. Is Priya saying what she think she's saying.
"You mean...No, you said it was about a year ago?"
"A year and a bit since she died but she got with him when Jacob was 15. She used him to get to him. She abused Jacob and David had no idea, so that's why he was so nervous around you. He's been finding it difficult to trust people" Priya further explained.
"Maya was a nonce? That's what you're saying?"
"Yeah but Meena, that's not everything. She was pregnant when she killed herself and David is pretty sure it was his baby. He has a lot of baggage and he really does need you to take things slow. Please don't let this put you off him, he's a lovely man"
Meena stood silent for a few moments. That was a lot to take in and here was her thinking she just cheated on him with another man. Priya hoped she hasn't ruined it because it's not fair on David. It wasn't his fault at all and he doesn't deserve to be rejected over it. Though Meena was always going to find out and so it's best she knows at the start. The woman removed her leather jacket and wiped her lipstick off.
"Oh Meena...Don't let this ruin things, he's lovely. Please go on this date with him, it's not fair on him" Priya pleaded.
"Don't worry. I am going to see him, I'm just going to get changed in something else" Meena admitted.
Priya just giving a nod as she let her walk past. She felt very guilty but she had to let her know the whole ugly truth.
...
Liam was finding it quite hard to juggle everything at once. He had a busy day ahead of himself. One of the nurses who looks after his son Alex in the home was here at the door right now to speak to Henrietta. She had on a mask as she entered the home, Liam greeting her with a smile. He led her towards the living room as Henrietta stood up to say hello, she knew the rules. She's did this sort of thing herself when she would speak to the parents of her foster children. The nurse was a blonde woman called Sophie, she was quite friendly and worked with Alex since he was brought in.
"Hello...So you must be Alex's grandmother" Sophie presumed as she sat on the couch seat opposite.
"Yes. On his mother's side but you already know that. Do you want a cup of tea?"
"Not for me, sorry. I'm just here to ask some questions...So can you confirm you are Henrietta Stepney?"
"Yes"
The nurse was already writing things down. Henrietta sitting down, Liam placing himself down next to her with a nervous smile. He hoped this goes well because Alex wants to meet his other grandmother a lot. Nurse Sophie looked back up as she finally removed her mask and relaxed a bit more.
"Okay. As you know, you are entitled to see your grandson. Liam has the right to allow you to do that. We just want some background checks first"
"I understand...I use to foster children myself. I'm a legal barrister, I use to work on children's cases primarily. My law firm card is in my coat pocket but it's there and you can speak to anyone from there and they will tell you all about me"
"I take it you got no criminal record?"
"None. I been questioned by the police not long ago but I was pretty much acquitted after the first few interviews. I had no other trouble with them"
"Yes we were told and that won't affect anything. Do you have any medical problems?"
"None that are relevant. Just arthritis in my legs really"
Sophie nodded as he carried on writing down notes. Henrietta seemed pretty above aboard actually. There's nothing really to worry about and Henrietta knew that so she wasn't nervous at all really. The only thing she was nervous about was meeting Alex for the first time. In a good way though, she was very excited to meet her grandson. She didn't think she would get a chance like this but knowing she has a grandson has helped her get through things better.
"Well, I think that about covers it. You have nothing that worries us, Henrietta. Between me and you, I think you're going to get to see him very soon" Sophie assured her.
"Is it only two at a time?" Liam asked as he jumped in.
"Yes I'm afraid so"
"It's just his sister really wants to see him. We all live in the same household and it's hard enough not being able to hug him, never mind all this"
"I'm sorry, Liam. The rules are the rules"
"Okay. Well tell him his grandmother will see him one week with me and his sister the other week with me. I'm hoping to have him back home with me soon anyway but we can do this for a few more months"
The nurse did feel sorry for them in this situation but she was only following orders. Alex has been very confused about his father not being allowed to hug him or even sit next to him. Though the child was getting use to it now sadly. He also didn't seem to believe his father would ever take him back home with him.
...
She was a lot more dressed down now. Meena had swapped her black dress and high boots for a pink floral top and jeans with white flats. Priya was surprised but she then understood what she was doing. Meena still wanted this date with David but she just was just changing her method. Meena had some lip gloss on and was still putting in effort but not making it quite as obvious. If she had any chance, she knew she would have to take things slower with David.
"You look nice but different" Priya spoke up as she watched Meena put on her leather jacket again.
"I know, that's the whole point. I still look good, just a bit more homely"
This made Priya smirk slightly. Meena was a very pretty girl and knew she was, it did grate on people at times. Though the fact that the whole Maya business didn't put her off was a relief to Priya. So she was willing to take her narcissism just for today but maybe she wasn't such a narcist if she was willing to give David a chance.
"Okay Meena...Well enjoy yourself" Priya simply said with a worried look on her face.
"Don't look so worried. I won't tell him you told me everything, I will just tell him I heard about it elsewhere"
"So you're willing to give him a chance?"
"I'm willing to give any fit bloke a chance...Look, he has a lot of baggage and I understand that. It wasn't his fault that this Maya was an evil cow"
"It's a good way to think, Meena. I mean it though, have a good time"
Meena just giving her one last smile as she picked up her handbag and made her way out the door. She wasn't quite as high-maintenance as what her sister Manpreet makes her out to be. The truth was that it made her quite sad when she found out the real reason behind David's mood (not like she would show it to anyone). Finding out about how Maya killed herself and then him finding out she was pregnant with his baby, that must have cut deep. She finally understood exactly why he was the way he was, he has shut himself away from people. Meena was quite good at bringing people out, even if she was very forceful at times. She was willing to do that with David.
...
"What do you think?" Bernice was asking Victoria (who's popped round with Harry).
She was asking everyone what to do with Liam. Diane just rolled her eyes, Victoria didn't know what to say to her. It wasn't a situation she's ever been in, that's for sure. Gabby was sitting besides Diane when this was asked. Trust Bernice to tell everyone this, the problem with her was that she couldn't keep anything secret.
"I don't know, Bernice. Follow your heart" Victoria answered with a small shrug.
"Follow my heart? That's a good point...My heart is leading me towards Liam and his handsome face"
This made the three women look at each other with an amused grin. This was so typical of her. Everyone knew she was going to take Liam back, she was just biding her time as always. Diane was a bit nervous about the whole thing but it was Bernice's choice at the end of the day.
"You are going to take him back, mum. Just admit it" Gabby spoke up.
"Yes alright, I am going to take him back. After all...Being a step-mother to a six year old child isn't the worse thing in the world"
"As six year old child in a wheelchair" Diane reminded her.
"Yes mother, I'm well aware of that. Thank you. Look, I know this will be difficult but I got to try. I love Liam very much and that's not going to change anytime soon"
...
TBC
