Twenty minutes later
"Right, I'm going to go and make us some lunch" said Jill, getting up
Jill went inside, she stood at the sink watching the kids, that was when she let the tears fall, she had kept strong in front of Ash, but she needed to let it out, how could they have let Ash blame herself for things that were out of her control
Ash looked up and at the house, the others were talking and laughing but she wasn't really listening, she could see Jill, was crying, she got up to go inside but stopped when she heard a car pull up, so she went around to the front of the house and was glad it was Gordon
"Dad" Ash said running up to him and giving him a hug before he had fully got out of the car
"What's this all about" asked Gordon shocked
"I'm, sorry, I've made mum upset, she's crying in the kitchen" sobbed Ash
"Listen, it is not your fault, I'll go and talk to her, you go back with the others" replied Gordon
"Sorry" sobbed Ash
Gordon let himself in the front door, Ash went back around the side of the house
"Hello" shouted Gordon as he put his bag back under the stairs
Jill wiped her eyes
"Just in time" said Jill as she put the sandwiches onto the tray, that already had glasses and a jug of squash on it, she then grabbed another glass for Gordon and placed it on the tray
"So, how are you doing" asked Gordon
"I'm, fine" replied Jill
"Really, what she said was" started Gordon
"I'm, fine really" interrupted Jill
Before Gordon could say anything else Jill got in there again first
"Can you take these out, I'll be out in a second" said Jill, not waiting for a response, she left the kitchen and went upstairs.
Gordon did as he was told, he knew there was no good in trying to push Jill into talking at the moment
"Hello" said Gordon as he approached the table
"Hi, dad" replied the kids, they made room for him to put the tray down
"Don't, worry" whispered Gordon to Ash as he pulled up a chair and sat next to her.
Ash nodded, but she couldn't help but feel guilty, she knew she had upset both of them. All she wanted to do was to be on her own, but she knew her grandparents were coming to see her soon. Jill came down having freshened up her make up
"Has everyone got, what they need" asked Jill before she sat down
"Yes, thanks" they all replied
Ash suddenly didn't feel all that hungry, she picked up a sandwich and started picking at it, she knew they were keeping a close eye on her, they had even sat either side of her, Jill poured everyone a drink and handed everyone a glass
"Ash, are you alright" asked Gordon, noticing she wasn't really eating
"Yeah, I'm just not that hungry, I might just go and lie down for a bit" replied Ash
"I, can make you something else" replied Jill
"No, really, I'm fine, I'm just a little tired, but thanks" replied Ash, getting up and taking her drink with her
"Is, she alright" asked Jonathon
"Yes, she's just a little tired, after last night" replied Gordon
"What, because of us" asked Katie
"Well, we think it was a bit too much" replied Jill
"Sorry" replied Katie and Jonathon
"She wanted to know" replied Tom
"Yes, and we would have told her, but that wasn't the right time" replied Gordon
Meanwhile Ash had gone up stairs and had put her music on, she then led on her bed weeping, how could she have upset her parent's, why had she been so selfish and told them all about that, she should have been insistent on talking to someone else, anyone else would have been better, even Sister, at least she wouldn't be feeling so bad
Back outside, they had just finished eating and drinking, Jill gathered the plates and glasses and was going to take them back in
"Mum, I'll do that" said Katie
"I'll give you a hand" added Jonathon
"We, are sorry" said Katie taking the tray from Jill
"It's, alright, no harm done" replied Jill
Jonathon and Katie, went inside and made a start on the washing up, there was a knock at the door, Jonathon went to open it
"Hello, Nan, Grandad" said Jonathon, moving aside to let them through
"Hello, Jonathon" they replied
"They're outside, go on through" replied Jonathon
They said hello to Katie on their way out, and then found Jill, Gordon and Tom sat outside
"Hello, how are you" asked Harold
"Hello, I'm fine, sit down, I'll make us some drinks" replied Jill, getting up and going inside
Harold and Bunty sat down
"So, how are they really" asked Bunty
"They're, getting there, I think they are both blaming themselves" replied Gordon
Meanwhile Ash had heard the front door and had turned her music off and had gone into the bathroom to wash her face, she then went downstairs, she heard Jill talking to Katie in the kitchen
"Right, sweetheart can you put the cups on the tray, and pass me the teapot" said Jill
"Yeah, do you want me to go and get Ash" replied Katie
"No, I'll do this and then if she's not down then, I'll go and get her" replied Jill
Ash walked into the kitchen, just as the kettle flicked off, she kept her head down she didn't want Jill to see she had been crying
"Ash, are you alright" asked Jill
"Yeah, you" replied Ash
"Nan and Grandad are here, why don't you go on out" replied Jill, evading the question
Ash went on outside, she didn't look any one in the eye
"Here, she is" said Gordon, as Ash sat next to him
"How, are you" asked Bunty
"I'm, good thanks, how are you" asked Ash
"We're, both fine, we were worried about you thou" replied Bunty
"Sorry" replied Ash
"What are you sorry for" replied Harold
"Everything" replied Ash
"Sweetheart, you have nothing to be sorry for" replied Gordon, just then Jill and the others came out with the drinks
"Don't tell mum, please" pleaded Ash, Gordon nodded, just as Jill reached the table