They sat outside talking about nothing much, but both Jill and Gordon were becoming worried about Ash, she hadn't taken her eyes off her cup, which she had in her hand, the phone rang, Ash quickly put her cup down
"I'll go" said Ash getting up before anyone had a chance to reply, she picked up the phone
"Ormerod residence" said Ash
"Hello, Aisling, can I speak to Jill please" said Sister
"I'll, just go and get her" replied Ash, before sister could say anything else she put the receiver down and went to the back door
"Mum, it's for you" shouted Ash
"Okay" replied Jill, getting up
Ash went back to the phone
"Hello" Ash said checking Sister was still there
"Hello" replied Sister
"She's just coming" replied Ash
Jill came in and mouthed who is it, it was now she realised why Ash hadn't been looking at them
Sister mouthed back Ash, handing the phone over
"Hello, Sister" said Jill
"Hello, Jill" replied Sister
"What, can I do for you" replied Jill
Ash had gone upstairs, why had she not even asked how she was, so she decided to listen in to see what was going on
"Well, I can't make it tomorrow, I've been asked to stay on for another week" replied Sister
"But, you're not going to" replied Jill
"Yes, I feel I'm needed here more, besides she is home now" replied Sister
"No, you are needed here, she is not coping well, once was bad enough" replied Jill
"Well I've said yes now, I will pray for her" replied Sister
"Well, you will have to tell her yourself, I hope you are willing to take the consequences" replied Jill, getting annoyed
"Well, about that, I was hoping you would, I haven't got time" replied Sister
Ash started coming down the stairs
"Ohh, no chance you can talk to her now" replied Jill
"Sweetheart, can you come here please" said Jill to Ash
Ash went towards Jill, Jill went to hand the phone over
"Jill, I really have to go" said Sister hanging up the phone
"Typical" said Jill putting the phone down
"Can, you go and get your dad, I need to have a word with him" said Jill, going through to the kitchen with Ash
Ash did as she was told and went to the table, Gordon looked up and realised the same as Jill
"Dad, mum needs a word" said Ash
"Okay, sorry I'll be right back" said Gordon getting up and going inside
"Ash, has been crying what's going on" asked Gordon as he went through the door
"I believe she was crying after lunch, as to the reason I don't know yet" replied Jill as she sat down
"I don't know how to put this" continued Jill
"What, who was on the phone" asked Gordon, also sitting down and taking Jill's hand
"Sister" replied Jill
"Asking about Ash" asked Gordon
"No, to tell me she won't be coming, she's staying on another week" replied Jill
"What" said a shocked Gordon
"I tried, I really tried, how do I tell Ash" replied Jill, starting to get upset
"I tried to make her tell her, herself, but she hung up on me" continued Jill
"Hey, don't worry, we all know how hard you tried, Ash was there with you so she knows" replied Gordon
"Ash, wasn't there she was upstairs" replied Jill
"Don't worry she knows, we will tell her together" replied Gordon getting up and going to the back door
"Ash, can you come here, please" shouted Gordon
Ash, got up and went inside
"Ash, sweetheart we need to talk" said Jill, motioning for her to join them at the table, Ash knew it was serious,
"I was right, I did upset you" said Ash, Jill and Gordon were shocked
"I'm sorry, if I need to talk, I'll find someone else" added Ash
"No, that's not what we need to talk about" replied Gordon
"We, love it when you talk to us, we can discuss that later when Nan and Grandad have gone" replied Jill
"No, we need to talk about Sister" added Gordon
"What, did she say to you" asked Jill
"Nothing, she asked to talk to you and that was it, honestly" replied Ash, it took until now for Ash to look them in the eyes
"So, as you know, she should have been coming to see you tomorrow, well the thing is" started Jill
"Something, more important came up" interrupt Ash
"Let, your mother finish" said Gordon, knowing Jill was finding this hard
"Sorry" replied Ash
"She, won't be coming, she has been asked to stay on for another week, I'm sorry baby" replied Jill rubbing, Ash's arm
"It's not your fault, she should have told me" replied Ash
"I, tried" replied Jill
"I know, and I'm grateful for all you have done" replied Ash, getting up and going outside
"See, what did I tell you" said Gordon
"I think, she's putting a brave face on things" replied Jill
"Well, we will sort it all out later, like we said" replied Gordon getting up and putting his hand out for Jill
"Ohhhh, I forgot, I have to phone Matron, and tell her not to bother tomorrow" said Jill
"Why, why don't we just have a nice day tomorrow, we could all go to the beach, make a day of it" replied Gordon as they walked to the table
They reached the table, the boys had gotten bored so were kicking a football around, but it was getting closer to the table
"Boy's be careful, please" said Gordon, kicking the ball back to them before sitting down
"Okay" replied the boy's
Jill sat down next to Ash and took her hand and squeezed it, Ash smiled back
"Could, anyone do with another drink" asked Jill
"I'll make them" said Katie after everyone had replied Yes
"I'll give you a hand" said Ash getting up and following her in
"So, what was that all about" asked Katie
Meanwhile outside Bunty was asking Jill and Gordon the same question
"Sister is staying there another week" replied both Ash and Jill
"How did she take it" asked Bunty
"Too well" replied Gordon
Back inside
"Are you alright with that" asked Katie
"I have to be" replied Ash
"What do mum and dad say" asked Katie
"Not much, I didn't really give them a chance" replied Ash, picking up the kettle and filling up the tea pot before filling up the kettle again
"You know, they are there for you, we all are" replied Katie
"I know, but I just need time, I mean she didn't even ask how I was" replied Ash
"I'm not sure I even want to see her" added Ash picking up the kettle again and filling up the coffee pot
"Right, well we had better take this out" replied Katie, not sure what to say
Katie picked up the tray and carried it to the table
"Thanks girls" said Jill
"It was more Katie" replied Ash sitting down
"Yeah, you weren't much help" replied Katie jokingly,
"Well, I did only offer one hand" joked Ash, before a shocked Gordon could tell Katie off
"Right, we have to talk before we leave" said Bunty
"What about" asked Jill
"Well, we can see you are both blaming yourselves" replied Bunty
Jill looked at Ash, who was looking at the ground again, they both really didn't want to do this in front of everyone
"Well, I think that, that is for me and Ash to discuss, alone" replied Jill, taking Ash's hand
"You have to get this sorted for everyone" replied Bunty
Jill looked to Gordon for support, who could also see the change in Ash
"I think, Jill is right, it is for her and Ash to sit down and talk" said Gordon
"Right, well maybe we should go, I know when I'm not wanted" replied Bunty
"No, mum that's not what we are saying" said Jill
"No, it's time for us to go" replied Bunty, clearly upset
"Please don't go" begged Ash
"I, do blame myself for lots of things, like making mum cry today, and causing them so much pain, but I want to talk to them about it, later when it's just us, but I want you to stay and talk about normal things so things are normal for a while, before I cause more pain" continued Ash
No one said anything for a second they were all trying to take it in
"Sweetheart, you are not to blame" said Jill, she knew it was not enough to stop her from blaming herself though, but it was a start
"Okay, we will stay for a little longer" said Harold
"Thanks" replied Ash