Chapter One Hundred and Seven
It was the last day of school and the students were all on their way home. Noah and Leanna were sitting together on the bus. She was on her way to the village for a bit to spend some time with him. They have really helped each other these last couple weeks and Noah felt like he wanted to be brave and tell her his feelings. They were talking about each and everything on the bus as it pulled into the village. Sarah Sugden and Samson Dingle making a big racket at the back of the bus meanwhile. They all left the bus one by one, Leanna locking her arm in Noah's as they began to make their way from the others. Sarah had an idea he was going to tell her today as he looked rather nervous. So she just told Samson that they should go to the Dingle homestead instead.
"It's great that your dad's back with Bernice. You and Gabby were such good friends, it be a shame to waste it over your parents" Noah spoke as he seemed to be leading her to some secluded spot.
Not to his house like usual however he was briefly staying with Cain. So maybe that's the reason she thought.
"Yeah. Bernice knows everything now anyway so hopefully she doesn't go running again. If she does, I will never forgive her" Leanna replied.
They walked all the way to the bridge as they stopped to look at the ducks. He unlocked his arm from hers as he rested his hands on the bridge ledge. It's been over two years since he met her for the first and his infatuation hasn't gone away. Noah knew she must have some feelings back, why else would she have protected him from Maya? She was about to move on however he gently grabbed onto her hand...
"Leanna" Noah began; making her pause as she turned towards him. She was a bit nervous now.
Was he really going to admit it to her? After weeks of just chatting on webcam and texting each other through the night. She had an idea he liked her but she didn't think he would ever say it. He's took his time, hasn't he? She just gave a nervous laugh as she spat out...
"What?"
"Do you...I hope this doesn't come out of nowhere but you know when you kissed me? I know it was ages ago but do you remember?" Noah asked.
"Yeah I do but my head was all over the place"
"I know but I regret not kissing you back"
This made her panic a little as she looked away suddenly. No lad has really said anything like that to her before. They always been more focused on her friends or taken in by somebody else. She didn't dislike Noah or anything, she liked him as a friend very much and wouldn't want to lose him. Though she didn't know if she wanted a relationship like that with him, she felt like she was almost put on the spot.
"Well say something then" Noah spoke as he noticed her go all quiet.
"I like you too" Leanna replied (still not turning around). He was just stood behind her, this isn't how he thought it would go.
"Just as a friend?"
"No...I don't know. Maybe...I just want to know why you're telling me now. It's been over two years" Leanna managed to utter.
Still not wanting to face him and that was because she was afraid of his reaction. She didn't want to hurt him however she couldn't lie. Noah felt like he has made some sort of mistake, surely she would have told him she liked him like that too by now. She however wouldn't even look at him.
"There wasn't a good time before but I thought...We're doing alright now, why not just tell you now? I lost Graham this year and it made me think about how life is short and can be taken away any moment. I guess I'm sick of always being ignored and wanted to tell ya how I feel" Noah confessed, wiping away one tear.
"I do like you too and it's not been a great year for me either. I mean...I'm willing to give it a go"
"Look at me and tell me that then"
Leanna giving a slight pause before finally turning back around. The girl just giving him a faint smile. She wasn't totally into it and he took her by surprise however she didn't dislike him or anything. So maybe she should give him a chance as she just asked him...
"Are you asking me out?"
"Yeah. I'm really bad at it aren't I?"
This question made her finally smile as she briefly looked down. She just gave a nod as she uttered..."Yeah...sure"
"Yeah you will?" Noah asked; he wasn't getting it.
"Yeah I will"
With a breath of relief, he wrapped his arms around her. She felt very awkward actually. She does put up a big front however in reality, she's stayed clear of lads all her life. So this was something very new. Noah wasn't exactly an expert in it either but he still had more idea about it than Leanna. They just gave each other a small kiss before ending with another hug.
...
Henrietta was actually at Demdyke right now. Pearl Ladderbanks and her were now friends (she was currently living alone in a static caravan). Pearl has just made her a cup of tea and they were talking about life in general. She did have her son Frank coming to see her more often now she wasn't in the village however she was still ashamed of him. Rhona popped over sometimes with little Leo (and Harriett came on rare occasions).
"Gosh...I can't believe she's blackmailing you over this, Henrietta. She's a right one, isn't she? Has she always been like this?" Pearl asked, talking about Georgina.
"Mostly, she was the school bully which you won't be surprised to hear about. It made me very unpopular. She's not really matured since actually...She's expecting about two grand from me for this"
"It's ridiculous...There is nothing you can do? Oh, I wouldn't pay it"
"Well what's the alternative? She would just ban me from seeing my aunt Rosa and believe me she would. Georgina will take Rosa's money if she doesn't take it from me, mark my words"
"Does it matter? It's going to be her money regardless, isn't it? With all due respect, Henrietta. She will get it in the end so really, she will be wasting her own money" Pearl reminded her.
Henrietta had thought about it but that wasn't now. Rosa had quite a nice house to maintain and Georgina would most likely squander it all. As she was still alive, her money needed to benefit her and the house did that.
"The problem with that though is that Rosa needs her house. It's quite a nice house, makes mine look like a slum. Anyway, she needs the money she's saved up to help maintain it. I don't care what Georgina does to it afterwards but right now, she needs it" Henrietta explained.
"I see...Gosh, well I hope she doesn't expect anything else after. What are you doing for Christmas?"
"I'm not sure. Liam and Leanna will most likely spend it with Bernice, he's back together with her now. I might just spend it on my own, got nobody else really. What about you?" Henrietta asked.
This question made Pearl wince slightly. She was spending Christmas with her son Frank here. Rhona tried to persuade her to spend it with her, Leo and Marlon however the old woman insisted she was spending it with some old friend. So everyone in the village who knew thought she was spending it with some old friend, not her son. Pearl though was use to lying, every Christmas; she would have to invent somebody up.
"Frank. I'm spending it with Frank" Pearl told her (she knew Henrietta would understand).
"Oh. Is he coming here?"
"Yes. He's going to drive up here he said and spend the night. He's got some nice gin for me he says. Frank and me always have gin you see, he's very kind to me. I guess it's because he knows I'm the only one who knows everything"
"Do you always feel safe with him?"
"Of cause...He's never raised a hand to me or anything. You understand though that if he's with me, he's not doing anything he shouldn't be"
"Yes. As long as you are safe with him. You got every right to see him...Unconditional love never stops when you're a mother"
"Don't we know it"
...
Liam and Bernice were back together. She was currently cuddled up to him on the couch at her cottage. They spoke enough and she understood what she was letting herself in for. Alex would come into the picture later but it didn't real for her did that part. Right now, she was just so happy to be back with her man. It's been far too long in her mind. They were talking about Christmas. He was thinking about how he would do it, he did have to fit everyone in somehow.
"So you and Leanna should come here. It just be me, Gabby and mum. What do you say?" Bernice asked with a smile.
"Well I'm seeing Alex for a bit, I'm giving him his presents with Leanna you see. I can come round later though"
"How much later?"
"Not too late. Early afternoon most likely...Is that alright?"
"Well I can hardly say no. Of cause you got to do that...Gabby needs a bit of a pick-me-up anyway, it be easier to cheer her up on my own" Bernice insisted.
She was making out she wasn't fussed but it just reminded her of the change. He had another child and it just hit her faster than expected. That's all it was. No, she was just going to spend most of the day with Gabby and Diane. That was fine enough for her, Liam would come later.
"Of cause. Gabby's lucky to have you" Liam said with a smile; giving her a small kiss on the top of her head.
"What are you going to do about Henrietta?"
"Oh...I don't know really. She will do what she wants, won't she? I never spent Christmas with her anyway. I'm not going to start now"
"Don't blame you for that. It be lovely to spend Christmas with you again...Last year was a bit of a struggle"
"Oh I'm sure it was...Lying on a nice hot beach with your daughter while drinking snowballs" Liam teased.
Bernice playfully giving him a light shove. No, it wasn't quite as easy as that. She spend most of it making sure Charlie was alright. He was in a very bad way in December last year, she had to help out Dee Dee with the shopping and cleaning the house. It wasn't a holiday by any means.
"Oi! I had to do a lot of work, Liam. What were you doing meanwhile? Relaxing in a cottage with Leanna?" Bernice asked, not really thinking.
"No. I was trying to console my 5 year old son having to spend his first Christmas without his mum" Liam replied in a sad tone of voice.
Bernice giving a little gasp. She felt so stupid, she totally forgot that was the reality last time. As she quickly said
"I'm sorry...I didn't think. I'm stupid, Liam"
"No, it's alright. We both had tough times last year. This year hasn't been very good either really but as long as I have you, we can make it"
...
TBC
