Chapter One Hundred and Six
It's been a few days since Leanna finally gave in for good. For the first time, Liam invited Bernice round to Henrietta's. She had come round with Gabby (having taken a taxi) as it pulled up outside the house. Bernice just paying the taxi driver as she got out to have a proper look at the surroundings. This isn't where she expected a legal barrister to live but then nobody does. Gabby walking up the small front garden path as she was the first one to knock. Barely twenty seconds passed before a very happy looking Liam was the one who opened it. As he told them to come on in, Leanna had come down the stairs by this point as she gave Gabby a small smile.
"Come on...Let's leave them to it. You can come upstairs and see my lame bedroom in person" Leanna spoke up.
Gabby giving a small smirk as she excused herself. Following Leanna upstairs to check out the "lame bedroom". Laughing was heard on the landing upstairs as the outdated floral wallpaper and 'Bros Poster' on the wall came to Gabby's vision. Leaving Liam and Bernice downstairs as he led her into the living room. Bernice greeting Henrietta for the first time since last year.
"Hiya...again" Bernice nervously spoke up to her; she still found her a rather imposing figure. Just something about her curly blonde hair and wide skirt.
She looked very distinctive and had a strong presence about her.
"Hello Bernice. It's been a while, hasn't it? Do you two want a cup of tea?" Henrietta asked in her usual light tone.
"Actually Henrietta, we are hoping to have some time alone to talk about things. I hope you don't mind" Liam spoke up.
"Not at all. I was going to leave you alone after I made the cups of tea to be honest with you. I need to pop round to see my nightmare of a sister...I will see you both later"
"Cheers" Liam simply said as he watched her get her coat.
He really needed this time with Bernice. They would be a lot more talking before they officially get back together but they were getting there. Not much was stopping them really but Liam would have to show her a photograph of Alex and that will make everything seem more real. Right now, it almost didn't because Bernice only knew his name and a bit about his condition.
...
Meena has been returning to the shop on a daily basics. Just having long conversations with David about life in general. He just told her things about his childhood and how he came to the village. She was getting to know him quite well but nothing happened between them, he wasn't ready for that just yet. Though she didn't mind too much right now and she just understood why. This was one of those visits as she sat at the table across from his counter with a sandwich and mulled wine. She really was getting to know him and he was getting to know her too. They did speak about serious topics too and the whole Maya thing came up quite a lot and so did the pregnancy.
"I keep looking at the scan and I don't know what to do with it" David was saying to her. He never told anyone besides his father this.
"Put it in a box and just always know you have it. I would never tell you to get rid of it or anything, just know that"
"Thanks...I just have issues I guess and I'm sorry for burdening them all onto you. I bet you want to run away already"
"I would have done so already if I wanted to, trust me" Meena assured him.
He just gave a small yet still sad smile. He still felt so isolated and lonely despite Meena's constant presence. He wasn't telling her everything (and he doesn't think he would ever tell anyone everything). He had a very long chat with Jimmy but even than he didn't say everything, he didn't admit that seeing Maya's dead body at the morgue scarred him for life.
"I just feel disgusting all the time" David further explained to her (though he dare not look at her while he says all these things).
"You're not disgusting. You did nothing wrong in any of this" Meena spoke up as she got up.
Making her way behind the counter for the first time. She usually just stays sitting at the table you see. She just gave the man a much needed hug and he really did grip tightly back onto her. It's the first time since Tracy that he's been with a woman who is just with him for him and not because it's some sick little cover-up. It felt nice, Meena felt warm and like a comfort blanket. He knows that's not something very appealing for a woman to be but that's where he was at.
"Thank you. I needed that" David told her with an awkward smile; he could only imagine what she was thinking about all this.
Meena still keeping one arm around hm as she sat on the other chair. She had a small idea and she didn't think it would be too quick for him. She was happy that it was this time of year actually as it gave her the excuse. Priya really wanted to spend time with Amba again this Christmas. Though she was wary about asking David as he's been through a whole lot worse, she was just under a bit of stress because of Al and Jai's little rivalry. Not to mention the whole thing with Laurel, it wasn't very nice for anyone.
"David. Do you want to spend Christmas with me? We can just chill out in your living room and watch some corny movies" Meena suggested.
"Sorry but Amba will want to see me"
"I mean after. You can do both if you want. Because Priya is having Amba for most of the day. We could just chill out later, I don't expect anything" Meena said
David had to think about this. Jacob wouldn't be here at all this Christmas (Leyla meanwhile is content to spend it with Tracy and Nate). His father Eric and his girlfriend Brenda were planning on doing something together so he thought, maybe he should take it up on her offer.
"Just to chill out, yeah?" David asked her.
"Yeah"
...
"Do you think they will sort it out down there?" Leanna asked Gabby.
They were both sat on the bed by this point in the old bedroom. Leanna was just sat up with her back against the bed frame while Gabby was sat crossed legged near the bottom of said bed. Just looking around the room really and wondering how Leanna felt comfortable staying in here day in and day out. She just gave a small nod to that question, she has no doubt they will sort it out.
"Yeah. I'm sure they will. Then we will have to live together again...My owl collection has grown by the way" Gabby teased.
"You're such a saddo" Leanna teased back.
"Excuse me! Comes from the girl who has Noah Dingle following her around like a lost puppy...You do know he likes you, right?"
"Yeah I know he likes me"
"No...I mean, likes you likes you. I think he's just too nervous to say cause he thinks you wouldn't say yes" Gabby told her straight.
She could tell (as could Sarah Sugden) what the lad was feeling. He shown little interest in any other girl. Leanna just rolled her eyes though, she didn't even want to think about it right now. She had too much on her plate without adding a relationship into the mix. Besides, she won't believe it until he says it.
"Shut up...Anyway, do you want to see a picture of Alex? Since you and your mum will have to live with him very soon" Leanna suggested.
This made Gabby pause, did she want to see a photograph? She supposed no harm could come from it so she nodded. Watching as Leanna picked her phone back up and went to her picture section. She had one of him from his 6th birthday and this was one she shown as she passed it to Gabby.
"Oh wow...his hair's really blonde and curly" Gabby remarked.
"So has Dee Dee" Leanna quickly said (not even wanting to think about who he gets it from).
"Yeah I know! I'm not saying it's a bad thing, God Leanna"
"Sorry. We just hate being reminded about who's he spawned from sometimes. He's going to get bullied so badly when he gets to high school" Leanna spoke in a sad tone of voice.
She really did think that too however maybe by then, it won't even be remembered. Gabby passing her the phone back.
"That is years, Leanna. Don't even think about it" Gabby told her.
...
TBC
