Sandra rummaged through her wardrobe but was undecided about what to wear. "Maybe i shouldn't go this evening is already going wrong as it" Sandra thought to herself.

After an hour search she decided to go with the turquoise dress that showed off her figure just the way she wanted and finished just above the knee, to compliment the dress she went with her brand new black stilettos which she'd been dying to wear but couldn't find it he right occasion.

She rushed out to her taxi which had been waiting for at least 10 minutes. It started to dawn on Sandra that she was actually going to have a meal with her daughter who she hasn't seen since the day she was born.

Sandra approached the man who was waiting to show people to their tables "um I think the table was booked under Pullman table for 2 thanks"

Sandra followed the man to their table where Louise was already waiting. Both women were as nervous as each other and had no idea what to expect.

"Hi how are you?" Louise sounded shocked that Sandra had actually turn up.

"Hello sorry have you been waiting long, to be honest I wasn't sure if this was a good idea at first" Sandra knew she sounded rude but it just blurted out as if the words somehow missed her brain.

Both ladies had just order and and we're having the exactly the same meal and drink, this was coincidence that were so alike surely.

"I just want to say that I'm so sorry that I wasn't there to see you grow up, I mean I really wanted to be but..." Sandra knew this was going to be hard but wanted to get it out of the way so it didn't hold over the conversation

Louise interrupted her mother "it's fine honest it was nothing special, me growing up I mean but I am glad that I've finally met you"

Sandra had spotted Gerry and she reckoned that he had also spotted her because it looked like he along with jack, Brian and Esther were heading towards her and Louise.

"Fancy seeing you here" Gerry had a grin on his face and couldn't help but be sarcastic.

"Oh hello again, why don't you join us?" Louise didn't want to be rude but hoped they would say no and move on to their table.

"That's very kind of you but I'm sure you and Sandra don't want us imposing on your evening" Esther wasn't sure who Louise was and didn't really want to spend her evening with her.

"I'm sure Sandra doesn't mind besides we've not been out all together like this in awhile" Gerry was over the moon that Louise offered to spend their evening with them, even if it was just to find out more about how Louise and Sandra knew one another.

The waiter made space so that they could all sit together. Sandra wasn't to pleased that her first evening spent with her daughter was gate crashed by her work friends.

"So how do you two know each other then?" Esther tried to innocently break the tension but in fact it got even more tense than was.

"Ok you're all clearly desperate to know who Louise is so here it is when I was 21 I was in a relationship with a man who was 10 years older than me and Louise was the result of that relationship but I've not seen her since she was born, she's my daughter" Sandra seemed quite mad when she started off but ended the small rant being happy.

Sandra thought that it was strange saying out loud but she was so shocked that she was actually sat with her daughter that it would take time to get used to having her around.

"So then where have you been living if it's not with Sandra?" Gerry was keen to find out as much as he could about Sandra's daughter,mainly because he wanted to be there to be able to support Sandra when it got tough.

At first Louise was a bit hesitant to be telling people who she has just met about her childhood but she guessed that they would probably find out anyway.

"I was born in London then I grew up in America with my dad until he met my stepmother when I was about 7" Louise knew that the evening would probably just be question about her and Sandra so she indicated to the waiter for another bottle of wine.

"So how come you're over here and not in America still?" Brian meant it in the nicest possible way.

"I came over here really to meet Sandra since I was 14 I've searched and saved to be able to meet my mother and well America wasn't for me, my fathers a bit of a twat I have three younger siblings, I guess I just didn't fit in his perfect family image" Louise finished her sentence with the hint of hatred in her voice.

"the foods nice isn't it we'll have to come here again" Esther was trying to turn the conversation to a different direction so that it didn't look like they were interrogating the poor girl.

As the night went out the conversation began to flow and it was as if they had known each other for 10 years not 10 minutes.

The evening was drawing to a close and it was time for them to pay the bill and leave.

"I've had such an amazing evening, I'll get the bill and I'll see you all tomorrow don't worry Strickland will explain"Louise was a little tipsy to say the least but was still able to stumble her way to the taxi rank.

"We could share a taxi, it might actually give us a chance to get to know each other privately without the whole gang there"

Louise smiled at Sandra and then climbed into their taxi.

"Be honest did you enjoy your childhood?" Sandra was petrified as to what her answer maybe but was dying to know.

"Well it wasn't the best my dad wasn't really interested but my stepmother stayed at home,most of the time the world revolved around my sisters but I was able to get on and do my on thing so I wasn't really that bothered"