Jill and Gordon weren't fooled for one second
"Sweetheart" said Jill going over and sitting on the edge of the bed
"Mum" replied Ash turning to face them, now they knew why, she had been pretending, her face was still all blotchy from the crying
"Are, you alright" asked Gordon
"I'm fine, I guess it was just a shock" replied Ash
"Like we said, we will take it at your pace, now have you eaten anything" asked Jill
Ash shook her head
"Dad" shouted Jonathon from the bottom of the stairs
"Okay, I'll be there in a minute" replied Gordon
"What, can I get for you two" Gordon asked Jill and Ash
Ash, looked puzzled
"We're having fish and chips for tea" said Jill
"The usual for me" added Jill to Gordon
"I'm, not that hungry" replied Ash
"And the normal for this one as well" replied Jill, looking at Gordon who was just as worried as her
"Right, well, I'll go and get this, I'll be back soon" replied Gordon
"Sweetheart" was all Jill could say before Ash interrupted her
"I don't want to talk" said Ash
"Okay, well how about we wash your face and then you can help me get things ready" replied Jill
Ash was thinking about it, she looked at Jill and she could see how worried she was about her
She just nodded, and then went to get up
"I'll go on down, and see how the others are" said Jill
"Okay, I'll be down in a minute" replied Ash, going to the bathroom
Jill made her way downstairs and out into the garden
"Right, has everyone got a drink" asked Jill
"Yes, thank you, is Ash alright" asked Matron
"Yes, she's fine, she'll be down in a minute" replied Jill
Jill sat down and was talking to Matron, while the others played football
Ash was upstairs washing her face, she knew she had upset her mum when she didn't want to talk, but she just wasn't ready, she made her way downstairs, she saw Jill talking to Matron and felt like she didn't want to interrupt them, so she stayed inside and started to get the plates and cutlery ready
Jill caught movement out of the corner of her eye
"I'm Just going to" was all Jill had to say, before Matron nodded giving her approval
Jill made her way in, Ash looked up from what she was doing, she smiled at Jill
"I've got the plates out, what else do you think we'll need" asked Ash
"No, I think you have got everything, would you like a drink" replied Jill
"It's alright, I'll do it myself, do you want one" replied Ash, she turned and got herself a glass
"No, I've got one thank you" replied Jill
Ash started filling her glass with water from the tap
"Ash, sweetheart" started Jill, not quite sure how to put what she wanted to say
Ash looked at her mum and could tell she was finding this difficult, but before either of them could say anything, Gordon came through the front door
"I'm, back" he shouted as he made his way through, thinking they were still upstairs
"Ohh, sorry" said Gordon, he had the feeling he had walked into the middle of something, he looked at Jill, who looked away
"Right, come and get it" shouted Gordon
"What, was Matron having" Jill asked Gordon, while handing Ash a plate
"Don't worry about me, I can help myself, like everyone else" replied Matron
"Here, you go" said Ash, handing Matron the plate, Jill had just handed her
Jill, knew Ash was trying to put off eating with them, she didn't know what if anything had happened once they had left the royal, but something was clearly upsetting Ash
Once they had gotten their food they went outside, Ash had sat in between matron and Katie, but when Jill and Gordon came out they had different ideas
"Katie, can you sit here please" said Gordon
Katie did as she was asked, which meant Jill could now sit next to Ash, Ash rolled her eyes and once everyone was seated, Ash made to get up
"Sit down, and eat your food" said Gordon
"But, I thought I heard the door" replied Ash
"I, didn't hear anything, now sit down" replied Gordon
Ash did as she was told
Just then Sister popped her head around the corner
"Sorry, is now a bad time" said Sister
"No, there's some left if you want some" replied Jill, who looked at Ash afterwards to apologise but Ash was just looking down at her plate
"No, that's alright, I've already eaten, but I might just grab a glass of water if that's alright" replied Sister
"Yes, that's fine, just help yourself" replied Jill
Gordon waited until sister had gone inside
"I'm sorry Ash, I didn't mean to snap" replied Gordon
"It's fine" replied Ash, but she wasn't fooling Jill
There wasn't time to talk anymore as sister reappeared from the kitchen
Jonathon got up
"Here, you go sister, you can have my seat" he said
"Thank you, Jonathon," replied Sister taking the seat
Ash, was grateful at least there was the table between her and sister
Jonathon grabbed another chair
"Budge up Ash" said Jonathon, deciding to sit next to Ash,
Ash, moved closer to Jill, so Jonathon could squeeze in
"You, haven't eaten much, can I have some" said Jonathon
Ash, nodded
"No, there's more inside if you want some, Ash has to eat all of hers" said Gordon
Jonathon got up
"Don't worry, I'll help you out when they're not looking" he whispered as he went passed
"So, what can we do for you" asked Jill, wanting to get this over and done with
"I, came to see you Ash" replied Sister
"Why, bother" muttered Ash
Luckily the only person that heard her was Jill, when no-one had said anything Sister continued, thinking that Ash, was happy to see her and willing to listen
"I, wish you had been there, there was a lot you could have learnt" started sister
"I don't care, the only thing I want to know is why" replied Ash
Sister, didn't listen and carried on talking
"I'll be helping out again in a few weeks, you could come with me" said Sister
"No" replied Ash
"Don't answer yet, wait until, I tell you all that you will learn" replied Sister
"I, will never, ever go with you" replied Ash, getting upset
Jill and Gordon could tell Ash was never going to get the answers that she wanted
"I think Ash, is trying to understand why you still went" said Gordon to Sister
"Well, it's not that simple, I had made commitments" started Sister
"That's, not good enough, I want the truth" replied Ash
"This is down to you, isn't it" said Sister looking at Jill
"No, this has nothing to do with them, I need to know" replied Ash
"Well, it's complicated" started Sister
"Try" replied Ash
"Yeah, you owe her that much" added Tom
"Yeah, we would all like to know" said Katie
"Well, I had made a commitment and I couldn't let them down" started Sister
"What, you could not have even stayed one night" asked Ash
"No, the trains, and knowing you were never going to come" replied Sister
"Don't turn this on Ash" said Jonathon jumping to her defence
"It's fine, but now you have to understand where I am coming from" said Ash
Sister went to say something, but Ash got in there first
"I, never want to see you again, you made your choice now I have made mine, I no longer want you in my life" said Ash
"Ash, are you sure about this" said Gordon
"Yes, I'm fed up of being let down and being expected to drop everything because that's what she wants" replied Ash, calmly
"Well, then you heard her, please leave us to finish our family dinner" said Gordon
"I, bet this is all your doing" said Sister to Jill
"No, it is not, in fact I'm so sorry mum, dad, for all the fights we had, when you forced me to go and see her" said Ash
"It's fine really, we knew it was hard watching the others do what they wanted, and we hated forcing you to go" replied Jill, squeezing Ash's hand
"I, will not let this happen, I will not let you take her from me" said Sister
"Come, now sister, you have to respect Ash's decision" said Matron
"Never" replied Sister getting up and storming off
They watched her leave and then turned to face Ash, Ash was a little embarrassed and looked down at her plate
"Way, to go Ash" said Katie, impressed Ash had it in her
"Yeah, you really showed her" added Tom
But before anyone else could say anything sister came back to the table
"Jill, Gordon, we need to talk" said Sister
"Okay" said Jill, motioning for her to sit down
"In, private" replied Sister
"No, whatever you have to say, you can say in front of us" replied Ash stubbornly
"Kid's, go inside please" said Gordon
"No, not if she's going to blame you, for what I have done" replied Ash
"Ash, sweetheart, it's fine, go inside please" replied Jill
"Fine I'll go but the others stay" replied Ash
"No, all of you have to go" said Sister
"As, if we would do what you tell us to, this is our house" replied Tom
"Can, Matron stay" asked Ash
"Yes" replied Gordon
"Okay, but if you so much as blame mum or dad then there, really is no coming back" replied Ash, getting up and taking her plate inside
The others followed reluctantly, carrying the other now empty plates