Sarah slowly lifted her head off the white bedspread in her box bedroom at No.8. It wasn't exactly the comfiest of spaces, and she was sharing the room with her fifteen-year old daughter too. It was rather futile that she had even got into bed the night before, as sleep was an all-too distant memory. It was everytime she shut her eyes. Everytime she went downstairs. Everytime she looked at Kylie or Max. Callum was everywhere. The sight of Kylie stood behind Callum, the venomous look in her frantic eyes, the trembling from the hands holding the wrench that was dripping in Callum's blood like a scene from a horror film; the only difference was that the horror film was that of Sarah's dreams and every thought. She was consumed by the role she'd played. Four weeks on and she still saw the images as vividly as the night they happened.

There was a timid knock on the bedroom door. Sarah buried herself beneath the covers once more. The knock persisted.

'Sarah, love?' Gail asked, in a hushed tone from the other side of the door. 'Sweetheart, I just wanted to check you're okay. You missed your shift at work last night and Michelle is concerned. Well, she's tempted to offer your job elsewhere. Come on love, this isn't like you at all.'

Her thoughts plunged further, sinking her deeper. She was better off dead really. What good was she to her daughter? What example was she?

Gail pushed the door open this time.

'Sarah?'

'What, Mum?' Her speech was slow, drained.

'I'm really worried about you, we all are. Something is amiss. Look, did anything happen that you're not telling me? Is there something I should know?'

Sarah gulped what she was certain was vomit down. Hardly anything had stayed down on the rare occasion she had eat or drunk something. Her body was internally reflecting what externally was beginning to show. The guilt, the lies, and mostly, the horror of what had happened and what was still to come.

'It's nothing Mum... It's just worries, you know. Nothing special.' Sarah lied, her voice groggy.

Gail rested her hand on her daughter's forehead. 'But you're behaviour, it's odd. You've not been right for weeks, not since... well, not since we last saw Callum. I do know you're worried about him, we all are, I mean poor Nick won't let Leanne out of his sight for worry. And your other brother, he's petrified Callum will come back to rob him of his family, and Max.'

That was a blatant lie. David was great at giving lip-service, but Sarah was not. Perhaps it was the fact David was half-Platt and Sarah and Nick were both Tilsleys. Perhaps that was why David was the master of fabrication and normality. She had heard from Nick that David had put on a front but tormented Nick and Leanne in revenge for Nick bedding Kylie. It just wasn't in her nature to perform and pretend all was well. Who really, was able to do that?

'Yeah, you're, you're right Mum. I'm just frightened, you know, for Bethany and everyone else,' Sarah lied. Did her own mother believe her?

Gail offered a sympathetic smile. 'We all are, but we have to stick together and keep strong. Bethany needs her Mum and I need my daughter.'

Sarah smiled weakly. 'Okay. I'll er, I'll drop Michelle a message and apologise.'

'Good,' Gail stroked Sarah's cheek. 'Perhaps we can have everyone over for dinner, a real family gathering. Keep morale?'

Sarah nodded, reaching for her baggy clothes. 'One big happy family.'


Carla pulled her office chair closer to her desk, overflowing with paperwork. She'd dragged herself in at 5am just to plough on with the oodles of work that needed organising and sorting; it was easier to get more work done in an empty factory. She glanced at the time on her computer. 9.06. From her desk, she peered out to the factory floor, and so far there was Sally, Izzy, Kirk, Beth, Sinead and Sean sewing away. Aidan, however, was nowhere to be seen.

'Mrs Connor, would you like a coffee?' Sally asked, bounding in to the office like an excitable puppy.

Carla glanced up. 'Er yeah, that'd be great. Thanks Sally.'

Sally nodded and trotted off to the kitchen. Carla frowned. She thought the local busybody was most likely to notice something was wrong. Perhaps she was better at covering over things.

The papers gradually diminished, each assuming their home in the appropriate folder, and the order spreadsheet for each client began to reach great heights. The business was booming. At least some good was around.

Sally quietly slid the coffee over to Carla, who offered a thumbs up in recognition of the gesture. Sally nodded, aware of the mountain on her boss' desk. Carla took a sip, just as Sally was at the door.

'Urgh, Sally,' Carla shouted, a look of disgust across her face. 'Did anybody buy new milk? This tastes foul - is it off?'

Sally looked puzzled. 'No, Mrs Connor. I don't think so, anyway. Sean was on the milk rota today. I saw him leaving Dev's as he came over here this morning.'

'Sean!' Carla yelled from the office door.

He was clearly gossiping with the girls whilst applying the lace to a camisole set. He glanced over to Carla, tapping her foot in the office doorway.

'What's the matter? Oo, let me guess? Wine run already Mrs C,' Sean said, jokingly. It hadn't gone unnoticed that Carla was drinking significantly. Not to the point where she was drunk at work, nor in the state she was in months ago, but she was definitely drinking at an alarming rate.

Carla folded her arms tightly. 'Sean, I don't pay yer to breathalyse me in 'ere, I pay yer to stitch! Did you buy a new milk this morning?'

'I made a coffee and it tasted off,' Sally admitted.

Sean's eyes bulged. 'I bought a fresh milk this mornin' and I bought the biscuits over there an' all. It probably tastes off because it's not yer usual merlot at 9am.'

The rest of the factory staff sniggered.

'That's enough,' Carla looked incensed. 'I suggest you behave yourself, or you'll be glugging the milk down the job centre before lunchtime!'

'Sorry,' Sean offered, sinking back in his seat.

'Apology accepted,' Carla began, pointing at the staff. 'And if any of you lot want to start with me, you can come for your P45!'

'What's all this?' Johnny asked, barging his way in with Aidan trailing behind.

Carla paused, refusing to turn to her left.

'Who's this?' Izzy said, on behalf of all the other staff, just as confused as each other.

'Dad, come on, leave it,' Aidan reached for his father. Carla hadn't moved.

'Dad?' The staff chorused.

'Christ is there an echo in 'ere?' Johnny frowned. 'I'm Aidan's Dad, the mug who now owns part of this factory. Isn't that right...Carla?'

Carla glanced in his direction, offering a quiet nod.

'Gwon then Aidan, get us a brew on. I feel Carla and I have lots to chat over.'


Leanne had lounged around hers and Nick's flat all morning, feeling rather sorry for herself. She had tried to find some form of proof he was up to no good behind her back, but ultimately, she'd not found anything to confirm her worst fears. Whether that was a positive or a negative wasn't all that clear. It wasn't as though she was imagining things - he was behaving strange. He was standoffish and rather distant whenever she broached the topic. That and their fight earlier in the day hadn't done much to raise a smile. After a quick tidy of the flat, she got dressed for work and the 12pm shift. She figured it was daft fighting with her partner, especially as they had all day to spend alongside each other in work too, but even so, she couldn't help but feel somewhat alienated from him.

She grabbed her handbag and her high heels, heading for the flat door. On the shelf was a picture of her and Nick, beaming. She sighed and went to unlock the front door. Surely it was just in her head, the doubts and the feelings of unworthiness? She knew Nick better than he knew himself, and he wasn't capable of having an affair. At least, not when she's not the mistress. Still, she locked the flat door and headed out onto the street.

Gail rushed towards Leanne, just outside the salon.

'Oo, Leanne,' Gail flapped, waving frantically. 'Any chance you and Nick are free tonight, or at some point this week? We're staging a family get-together, you know, all of us for dinner. I think it'll be lovely.'

Leanne rubbed her forehead, a headache coming on. She wasn't sure if it was Gail's over-excited demeanour or the thought of playing happy families with Nick and his dysfunctional family. 'Well I'm closing up tonight, I don't know about Nick. Sounds lovely though.'

Gail's shoulders sunk. 'Do you think you could get some cover? What about Steph?'

It was definitely a Gail-induced headache. 'I'll see what I can do. It might be easier if I run the Bistro tonight and Nick goes it alone.'

'Oh no, not you two as well?' Gail started. Was everything in her family falling apart? 'I've already struggled with Sarah today. She's not right.'

Leanne pulled her jacket tighter around her figure, feeling uncomfortable in front of her mother-in-law. 'No, Gail. Nick and I are fine! Everything is fine! Just dandy!'

'It doesn't sound it.'

'Well it is! Ask him yourself! We're the image of flippin' happiness! It's like living in a Disney movie being with your son.'

Gail raised her hand and offered a slight laugh. 'I know Nick has his moments, even if I think the world of him. Do you need someone to talk to, Leanne?'

Leanne considered it, but decided against it. She'd sound like a psycho if she vocalised her concerns to Gail. 'Thanks Gail...it'll be alright. I'll talk to him.'

Gail nodded, and Leanne made her way past Audrey's and onto the Street, the Bistro looming ahead.

The restaurant was half-full when she pushed the interior door open and offered a hello to Steph and Andy behind the bar. Thankfully, it looked as though Nick was in the kitchen with Robert. She headed into the office and locked her bag away in the small staff locker that was assigned to her. Smartening and straightening down her trousers, she took a deep breath in the mirror.

Nick and Robert were deep in conversation in the kitchen.

'What do you mean, you're actually going to stick it out with the local maneater?' Nick laughed, mocking Robert who was on the opposite side of the pass, composing a scallop starter for table ten.

Robert chuckled. 'What can I say, Tracy is my jailbird.'

'And that's something to take pride in?!'

'Come on, I have history with Tracy. You of all people should know what it's like being around an ex-wife.'

Nick grimaced. 'Don't I bloody just.' Leanne made her way in, armed with a notepad and an order for a table of three.

'Ello Leanne,' Robert smiled, placing the scallop dishes on the pass for Nick.

'Alright Robert. Busy so far?'

Nick looked to his side. 'Fairly. It's busier now the customers know you're in.'

Robert cringed and Leanne stared at him in disbelief. 'Funny that. Seems the customers relish my company more than you do, and we live together!'

'Ouch,' Robert muttered. Nick and Leanne turned to stare. 'Er, sorry.'

'Not this again Leanne, come on. Let's put this morning in the past, yes? Draw a line under it? Behave like adults?'

'God, anymore shitty cliches whilst you're there?'

'Ouch,' Robert repeated, gaining another hard stare from the couple. 'It falls out my mouth.'

'Just like the lies are falling out of Nick's,' Leanne retorted, before storming back out to the bar.

'What was all that about?' Steph asked, whilst making a latte on the machine.

'Nothing,' Leanne lied, nudging past her, just as Nick re-emerged.

'A word, Leanne?' Nick snarled, away from the view of customers.

'There's not much point, really.'

'There's every point. Look, I understand why you're frustrated and finding things hard with us at the moment. I am too. But, I don't want us to become enemies and fall out over the baby-'

'Over the baby?'

'Well yes, the miscarriage is clearly why you're so off with me.'

Leanne's face hardened and her arms crossed over her body. From body language alone, Nick knew he'd really pissed her off.

'I am not 'off with you' because of the miscarriage. I am 'off with you' because you keep being so distant, so flippant and so flamin' shifty. Honestly, if you're havin' it away with someone else, save yourself the hassle of keeping me on the side. I haven't the energy, or the time for it Nick!'

'Having it away?' Nick looked baffled. 'I'm not having an affair.'

'Then why the secrecy?'

'There is no secrecy, Leanne. I'm finding it hard. This isn't easy. Can we talk about this later, and not in the middle of the lunchtime service?'

She rolled her eyes. 'Little Nicky, running from problems, yet again. May as well get your flight booked to Canada now, seeing as I'm having deja vu.'

He started using his hands in the same way his mother had earlier. 'I am not running from my problems. And that Leanne, is a low blow.'

'What's low is that you haven't the guts to be honest with me,' Leanne began. 'So, let me save you the job. Don't bother speaking to me for the rest of the day. Oh, and your mother wants a family intervention, or dinner, as she seemed to call it. Either way, I'll close up in here, you go alone.'

Nick rolled his eyes, and turned back to the bar as Leanne huffed off in the opposite direction.

'It's gonna be a fun shift,' Andy joked. Nick stared at him.


Johnny sat with his legs resting on Aidan's desk, glaring at Carla, running his hands over the paperwork. Aidan sat between their desks, his eyes flitting between the two.

'I can manage fine, I'll have the money to buy you out once the bank accept my loan application,' Carla said, folding her arms and sitting back in her chair. She could still taste the foul off milk from earlier. Bollocks that it was a fresh milk. It tasted dreadful.

Johnny took his feet off the desk and sat further forward, an intimidation move. 'I'm not going anywhere, I think this place has real potential. I'm so glad our Aidan put the money here now.'

'I did say it was a good idea,' Aidan said, turning to his father for approval.

Johnny hadn't lifted his stare from Carla, who was desperately performing the 'swan' act; she was placid and calm on the surface, but was panicking and paddling frantically beneath. This man, sat before her, had haunted her for years. Why, why, why was he back to do it yet again? Just as things were somewhat falling into place. 'I won't budge from this place for any bank loan, Carla.'

She inhaled deeply. 'A huge payoff and your money back - the money Aidan took, without your consent. This place isn't Ultimo, it isn't a goldmine.'

'But there's potential here,' Johnny's tone was sinister. 'I see big things, don't you, Carla?'

'I see big things if you take your money and run.'

Johnny shook his head. 'Why would I do that? Aidan's already shown your incapable of running this business. Frittering away the staff wages on gambling sites? Drinking like a fish? Honestly, it's a miracle this place is still afloat.'

She was sickened to the core. He really was taking delight in torturing her. The majority of her demons had started because of him. Most of her nightmares and fears involved him. Frank, she'd escaped. Frank, was dead. Johnny, on the other hand, was living and breathing, and her business partner.

Aidan's phone rang loudly, making all but Johnny jump in their seats. Carla watched him, praying he'd decline the call and stay in the room. They'd pulled the blinds over to stop the staff earwigging and staring. Now, she wished she'd let Sally have her gossip. She wished there was some form of protection.

'Sorry,' Aidan gestured to his phone, ensuring he concealed the identity of the caller. 'I, er, I need to take this.'

'Aidan,' Carla pleaded. Johnny smirked.

He waved his hands at her. 'I've got to take it. Look I won't be long. Talk knickers and push-up bras whilst I'm gone.'

Aidan was swiftly out of the office door, and she heard the factory door swing shut as he headed outside.

'Talk knickers and push-up bras,' Johnny laughed. 'I bet you'd like it if we talked about that, wouldn't you?'

Carla swallowed hard, her voice hoarse and weak. 'You better take the money and go. You're not welcome round ere.'

Johnny laughed and stood up, making his way round to Carla's side of the desk. He glanced to the windows and was satisfied the blinds were properly closed. He bent to her eye level. She felt her body quiver as she looked away.

'Look at me,' Johnny barked through gritted teeth.

'No!'

'Look, at, me,' Johnny yelled in her face, grabbing her face with a forceful hand and pulling her to look at him. All the horrors of her teens flooded back.

'Let me go,' She pleaded, digging her nails into his hands. His grip tightened. 'Let. Me. Go.'

'Don't pretend you don't like it. You're still tainted. You're still dirt, just like your mother.'

'You're the dirt. There's a place in hell for you.' Carla cried, digging her nails into Johnny's hands harder. He let out a laugh.

'That never worked when you were younger. It won't work now, that's for certain.' He yanked Carla from her chair, thrusting her against the filing cabinet. She could see it. It was happening all over again. The music in the factory was blaring as the staff rang in the remainder of Friday afternoon. It was like being back in that flat on the Quays, Frank's form pining her flush against the wall. His eyes, tinged with hatred, glistening with the look of a predator. Here, she was, against the filing cabinet, her fear rising through her like the blood in her veins. He grabbed her hair and pulled it tightly.

'I am the one in charge, round ere. You understand? You do as I say, you say nothing, and you give me this business.'

She was ready to let out a scream, but only a muffled squeal could escape her. She was petrified, not just with Johnny looming in front of her, holding her, but also at the force he'd used to push her. God, was she okay?

'I'll teach you a lesson again if you don't behave. Do you want everyone to know what kind of girl you are? What sorts of things you did as a kid? You were a dirty, dirty girl.' He slammed her head harder against the cabinet, using his other hand to silence her, putting it across her throat. 'I'll make you pay, and I can do it all over agai-'

The door to the office swung open.

'What the hell are you doing? Get your hands off her, now!'


Hello again!

I just wanted to say a massive thank you for the reviews on the last chapter - some of them were so lovely, and I am so relieved you like the direction its headed!

This chapter is a little shorter, but it's a two-hander so Chapter 38 will pick up where this left off.

I'd love to hear your predictions for what's to come - I love reading the guesses about who's pregnant! All will be revealed soon enough, but keep your eyes peeled for hints along the way.

I'll try and upload the next chapter soon!

Also, please do give my newest fic, Sweet Little Lies, a read as I plan to update that again this week!

Stay safe, and keep positive everyone!