Chapter One Hundred and Eleven

Liam and Leanna had left Alex in good moods. As she got into the front seat of his car and he began to drive on. They were just going to go straight to Bernice's, he got her some chocolates and wine from a corner shop on the way back as he's forgot to get her a proper present. It wasn't much but he would rather arrive with a rubbish present than nothing. The village coming into view. He parked outside the cottage and they both got out, walking up the small pathway as he gave the cottage a knock. Bernice didn't take long to open it as she greeted him with a kiss and a quick hug. Stepping back to invite them both in, Gabby and Diane were currently in the kitchen preparing the dinner still. The house looked not too bad as the Christmas decorations made the room look much more shiny. Gabby soon came out (wearing an apron), this made Leanna smirk slightly.

"Wow...You look great, Gabby. 'Great British Bake Off' is just waiting for you" Leanna teased her friend.

"So original. No, I'm helping gran with the dinner and it looks great. We are going to take a picture and send it to Dee Dee later"

"Why?"

"Because Charlie's a bad cook"

"Oh yeah...I'm sure that's going to make her jealous while she's sunning it up on a beach with friends. While we are locked down here like rats" Leanna spat.

"You don't know Dee Dee, Leanna...She would love a good slap-up meal. She's use to beach life so it's not a novelty for her" Bernice chimed in with her arms crossed.

It took her ages to convince Gabby that she really was jealous. Liam could sort of see that but his daughter always says what she wants anyway. She does verge on being a bully at times but she somehow never crosses the line completely. Gabby was thankfully use to her by now as she just gave a slight grin.

"Yeah that's right. Beach life to her is just life" Gabby told her firmly.

"Sounds awful. Anyway, why don't you bring my dinner over now since you already look like a maid" Leanna replied back.

Sitting herself down at the table as she just watched Gabby roll her eyes. She went back into the kitchen. They weren't as good friends as they use to be but Bernice and Liam were sure they would be close again once they all move in together like old times. Liam just giving a sigh as he sat down besides her. Bernice retreating into the kitchen as she helped bring in the dinners with them.

"Henrietta at home then?" Diane asked Liam as she put down his plate.

"Yes. She's not one for company and besides, I could do without her for a few hours" Liam confessed.

He had mixed feelings about his old mother-in-law. She could be very helpful at times however other times, she wasn't. She was always quite tearful in secret, he sometimes could hear her crying at night when he went up to use the loo. He dare not say anything though in case she thought he was eavesdropping. Also some of the men she had flings with were awful, they had no respect for anyone or anything some of them. Liam didn't wish to judge but only women with low self-esteems would even consider the sort of men she dated. Maya use to talk about them and how a lot of them would use her and how she didn't care.

"Yes...He doesn't owe her anything" Bernice spoke up; picking up her fork as she began to tuck in.

"Sorry. Anyway, Merry Christmas everyone" Diane said cheerfully. Trying to quickly move away from that subject.

...

Over at David's meanwhile, he texted Jacob 'Merry Xmas' however he got nothing back. Both Leyla and David had gotten radio silence from him for a while. Justin does ring Leyla to let her know how he's getting on and he says he's alright. He has bad days and good days however lockdown has made him go back into his shell. As he now no longer has to give excuses to his college friends about why he's not going out. He knows what went on was wrong but he still insists that Maya was not this monster that everyone claims. Justin has gave up trying to convince him otherwise. He was just grateful that the lad knows it was wrong. They don't think he's ever going to be able to hate her, he won't ever forget the baby she was pregnant with either. David putting his phone down as he sat back besides Meena, his new girlfriend. She was a bit of a handful at times but she was a welcome distraction. They were currently watching 'It's a Wonderful Life' as David had told her it's his favourite Christmas movie. They just had some 'Doritos' with dips and it was nice, Meena was a chatterbox as always.

"Do you want me to stay the night?" Meena asked him; which took him aback slightly.

In the past, he wouldn't have thought twice but now he does. He's had a one night stand since Maya but that wasn't like this, Meena was somebody he actually liked. David giving her a look slightly, he wanted to say yes. Though a part of him didn't want to let another woman in because of last time.

"I don't know. I want to" David admitted; he did talk freely with her. She made him comfortable enough to talk openly.

"We don't have to have sex, I can just stay in your bed. Snuggle up to you...You can trust me, David"

"I know I can, I'm just a bit worried really. I haven't been with a woman I cared about for a long time"

"Well if it makes you feel better. Last man I was with was my ex-husband and he betrayed my trust. Though with you, I feel good about myself for the first time. I hope you feel good about yourself too...do you?"

"When it's just me and you, yeah"

This just made Meena give a small smile. As she just moved closer towards him and relaxed. She was glad to hear that. David just looking at her for a few moments, it would be nice to just spend the night with her. His bed has felt rather cold for about a year and a half. To have her there would be good.

"Yeah you can stay the night" David then said; giving her a small kiss on the top of her head.

"Great. That means I don't have to go out in the cold again. I hate cold weather, that's the first thing you will have to learn about me"

"So you're more of a summer girl?"

"You could say that. I love my dresses far more than my jeans. So yeah, I'm a summer girl. Always have been, what type of weather do you like more? Cold or hot?"

"Hot"

"Good answer" Meena replied with another smile.

...

"That was alright, wasn't it?" Liam asked his daughter as he parked outside their current home.

They were back for the night now. Leanna just giving a shrug, she supposed it could have been worse. He noticed the living room light was still on which he didn't think too much about. It wasn't that late and she always did wait up for him with a nice warm cup of tea (he thought that's what was going on). Though as he unlocked the door and entered with his daughter. He sensed something was amiss as he called out...

"Henrietta?"

He was about to call her name out again when he spotted her passed out on the couch. One empty wine bottle laid next to one which was half empty. A ridiculous amount to drink on your own, being married to an alcoholic; Henrietta knows this. Liam placed down his bag as he leaned to look at her more closely. He thankfully knew what to do as he told Leanna to make her a glass of water. The girl doing as she was told for once as she filled up the glass with water from the sink.

"Ring 999" Liam then ordered; making the girl panic slightly as she got out her phone and began to dial.

"Henrietta? Can you hear me at all?" Liam was asking; turning his attention back to her.

Leanna was on the phone, telling the ambulance to come quickly. The man just looking around for a blanket or something to keep her warm. He doesn't know how long she's been out like this you see. He felt rather guilty for leaving her alone actually. He told his daughter to go and get a blanket (she still being on the phone). The girl just nodding as she walked upstairs, she didn't know what exactly was going on. The truth was Henrietta had drank so much that she had alcohol poisoning.

"Come on...Alex is looking forward to meeting you, right? So you're going to be alright" Liam then spoke, he hoped if he talked enough; she might hear it.

His daughter coming down the stairs with a quilt. Passing it over to her father as he wrapped it around his old mother-in-law. He and Leanna swapping places as he told her to keep talking to her and to give her water first chance she gets. He finally got to talk to the ambulance crew...

"She's got alcohol poisoning and she's not exactly young. She's sixty-two...So can you get here quickly please. She could have been like this for hours because we have been out driving...I'm a GP so I know the seriousness of this. My daughter's with her now, keeping her warm and talking to her. She has barely moved, do you understand what I'm saying?" Liam was asking, making them understand the seriousness.

Leanna could hear this as she looked at her father. She knows exactly what he's saying as the girl just let a tear down. It was very scary for her and she was getting flashbacks of her mother's final moments. Seeing her mother struggle and choke before dropping to the floor dead.

"Keep talking to her, don't look at me!" Liam snapped in slight panic.

Making her shake slightly before looking back down. She didn't even know what to say as she just kept repeating her name and talking about the dinner she's just had. Liam felt guilty for snapping but he couldn't afford to dawdle right now. This was a matter of life or death right now.

...

She was taken away to hospital which did cause some nosy neighbours to come out. The ambulance crew could see how critical she was. Liam chose to stay behind with Leanna because he knew they would be better at home so if anything happens, he can drive straight there on his own accord. Liam felt so stupid, he was a doctor. How could he not see the signs of her being depressed? He knew she did this on purpose, she knew the risks of alcohol and she did it anyway. Leanna has just gone to bed, he did say sorry for snapping. She understood and had nothing against him for it. Liam was just sat there, hoping for that phone call which said she's stable and on the road to recovery.

...

TBC