"I'm not used to not getting my dates' full attention." Isaac teased, poking Katy in the side before shoving a chip in his mouth as she jumped. "What's up?"
"Firstly, not a date." She replied, chewing thoughtfully on her own chip. "Secondly, it's nothing."
"Right. Not that I'm big-headed or anything, but women don't usually stare into space when I'm sitting opposite them."
"Not big-headed at all." Katy said sarcastically, rolling her eyes. "Doesn't that 'I'm so great' routine get boring?"
"Not really." Isaac shrugged easily, not rising to her bad-temper. "Are you usually this grumpy?"
"Yeah. Get used to it."
Isaac laughed, leaning back in his seat and tilting his head as he appraised her closely. Katy huffed irritably at the look on his face, focusing on her lunch instead of meeting his gaze.
Jay had informed her that he was planning on proposing to Lola that lunchtime and she had a bad feeling about it. She knew that the younger woman loved him, but she wasn't sure that Lola was ready to make such a big commitment, even to Jay. The anticipation of her pseudo-brother getting his heart broken was making her tetchy and she was taking it out on Isaac.
"I've got a date tonight." Katy announced suddenly, not raising her eyes from her plate.
"Yeah? Anyone I know?"
"Peter."
"Beale's kid?" Isaac asked, apparently a little surprised. "Wouldn't have thought he was your type."
"Really? Pretty face, lots of muscles, what's not to like?"
"Didn't you say he had a kid with your best mate slash cousin?"
Katy snorted. "You ain't lived around here long enough to know that ain't a reason not to date someone. My sister Amy is technically also my cousin, seeing as her mum is my aunt."
"Bloody hell, this place is weird."
"Tell me about it."
"So… you're actually willing to admit that you're going on a date with him, then?"
Arching an eyebrow, Katy lowered her fork. "Jealous?"
"No… curious."
"Yeah, well… I won't be shouting about it from the rooftops or anything." She admitted. "Just, you know, thought I should tell you."
"Right, whatever." He shrugged. "It's cool; we're casual, ain't we? No strings, right?"
"Exactly," Katy agreed, "just thought it would be polite to let you know."
"So… can we talk about something else now? Or are you gonna be cantankerous the whole time?"
"Cantankerous? Good word."
"I am a very, very good teacher."
Katy laughed as his cocky attitude returned. They chatted about nothing in particular until Isaac glanced at the time and realised that he needed to get back to work. As he offered to pay and Katy agreed, he teased her about being an independent woman when it suited her. Katy arched an eyebrow and reminded him that lunch was a small price to pay for her company.
As he left the pub with a wink and a smug smirk, Katy shook her head and made her way up to the bar. When Shirley nodded her head towards the doors, silently asking about the younger blonde's lunch companion, Katy merely shrugged.
"We're mates." She replied casually. "With Whit banged up and not letting any of us visit her, it's good to have someone to talk to."
"Yeah? Just mates?"
"Yes, Mum." Katy rolled her eyes.
"Eh, don't let Ronnie hear you saying that, even if you are just being sarcastic." Shirley cautioned.
Making a muffled noise of acknowledgement and wrapping her hands around her refilled glass, Katy avoided her questioning gaze. "Yeah."
"What's happened? What's she done this time?"
"Oh, nothing, Shirl." Katy shook her head, a small smile on her face at the tone of the older woman's voice. "Just the usual."
"Sure?"
"Yeah, honestly. Thanks, though." Catching sight of Peter heading towards the doors at the other end of the room, Katy downed the rest of her drink and slid off the stool. "I'll see you later, yeah?"
Hurrying after the young man, she pulled on her jacket and dodged through the shoppers on the market until she caught up with him. Peter grinned as he realised who had just grabbed his arm to get his attention, folding his arms and raising an eyebrow. Katy rolled her eyes at him.
"Fancy a drink later?" She asked, sounding as casual as she could. "I mean, to make up for me bailing on you the other day?"
He narrowed his eyes a little, pretending to consider her words. "First round on you?"
"Yeah, sure." Katy agreed, rolling her eyes again. "Honestly, you're never gonna change, are you?"
"Probably not. I am a Beale, after all."
They both laughed. "At least you acknowledge it, I suppose. Dunno if I would."
"You acknowledge you're a Mitchell, though, which might actually be worse."
Narrowing her eyes playfully, Katy smirked. "You might just come to regret that snide little comment, Beale."
"Maybe I'll look forward to that."
"Vic at seven?"
"See you then."
Grinning to herself, Katy strode off in the direction of R&R, shaking her head a little. She knew that there would never be anything between her and Peter, but as she had said to Isaac; pretty face and lots of muscles, what wasn't to like?
Her good mood lasted as far as the bar when her mobile started ringing. Seeing Jay's photo flashing on the display, her fist clenched and she paused for a moment before accepting the call. At his unintelligible ranting, her heart plummeted into her stomach as she realised that her fears had been confirmed and Lola had turned him down.
Spinning on the spot, Katy made her way quickly back along Bridge Street and around the gardens to the car lot. Banging on the door, calling out his name, she waited until Jay unlocked it from the inside and let her in. He'd lowered the blinds, but not turned the light on, causing the office to be dimly lit. Apparently he'd also taken his frustration out on the contents of the desk.
"Come on, kid… it's not that bad." Katy tried to reason with him as soon as she'd manoeuvred them into a comfortable position. "So she doesn't want to marry you at the moment… it ain't the end of the world, is it? I mean, you're twenty-five and Lola's twenty-three. You've got loads of time to get hitched, if that's what you want."
"We've broken up, Katy."
"Oh… oh, babe, I'm sorry." Pulling him into a tight hug, Katy rubbed his back soothingly as he buried his face in her shoulder and sobbed. "Jay, sweetie, it'll be OK. You'll work it out in no time. You know you will. You and Lola are meant to be together."
"Maybe it's just not enough?"
"It is." She assured him firmly. "You're both young, there's plenty of time for the marriage and babies thing. Unlike some of us, you've still got a choice in the matter."
"Unlike… what? You're still young, too. You might decide to have more kids if you find the right guy."
Sending him a wry smile, Katy shook her head. "I can't have any more kids. The cancer treatments saw to that. I'm good with it, though; I've got my girls. But I am looking forward to being Aunty Katy when you and Lola get round to it."
Sighing deeply as Jay pulled her into another hug, Katy fumbled for her mobile. She sent a couple of texts; one to Kathy telling her she wouldn't make it to the bar that afternoon and another to Peter, asking whether they could rearrange their drink for another evening. Katy didn't feel as though she could leave Jay alone and go and enjoy herself. With another deep sigh, she settled herself in for a long afternoon and evening of sympathy and reassurances.
The next day, Katy set herself the task of getting to see Whitney. She had spoken to Sonia and Tiffany and heard that the younger woman had decided to protest through a hunger strike. Knowing that Whitney was getting desperate made Katy even more determined to get into the prison to speak to her.
Crossing the Square, she banged on Gray and Chantelle's front door, waiting for someone to let her in. Smiling weakly, Chantelle attempted to put Katy off, but she refused to be turned away and pushed her way into the house anyway.
"What's going on with Whitney's case?" She demanded bluntly, standing in the middle of the living room and arching an eyebrow at the lawyer. "How can you have let her go on hunger strike? What kind of fucking stupid strategy is that? Seriously, what are you playing at?"
"Katy, come on…" Chantelle attempted to curb her temper. "Gray's doing his best, but it's a hard case."
"Thanks, Chantelle, I can speak for myself." Her husband snapped.
Katy glanced at the older woman quickly, seeing the fleeting expression on her eyes. "Yeah, well… at least you've got someone sticking up for you, unlike Whit. You couldn't even get her bail! You got Kush to change his plea for nothing!"
"That wasn't–"
"So what's the plan, Gray?" She continued angrily. "What are you gonna do next?"
"I'm working on a strategy to–"
Katy shook her head. "Sounds like bullshit to me. Stop working on strategies and start working on winning her case."
Turning on her heels, she slammed her way out of the house and headed straight for Dot's. Sonia answered the door immediately, listening as Katy told her that she'd been to see Gray. The older woman explained that she and Tiff had received a very similar response from him the day before.
"Something ain't right, Son." Katy pointed out, folding her arms. "Why is he so defensive? Why didn't Whit get bail? Why has she decided she's on hunger strike?"
"Maybe…?"
"There's no maybe, Son. Something's wrong. I'll give Ritchie and call and–"
"No offence, Katy, but we don't want the Mitchell solicitor getting involved, OK?" Sonia told her bluntly. "Things are looking bad enough for her already, without that added complication. Ritchie deals with all the dodgy shit you and your lot get up to… Whitney's innocent."
"Right… OK." Opening the front door, she sent one final look at her cousin over her shoulder. "Message received, loud and clear."