Ash made her way out into reception and took a seat, she looked at her watch and picked up a magazine and thought she would give them at least ten minutes before she went to get the drinks
Meanwhile Gordon was busy telling Jill all that had happened when they had left, before they knew it ten minutes had past
"I might just go and see where Ash has gotten to" said Bunty, knowing Ash shouldn't have been this long, and she was probably blaming herself for everything and it wasn't even her fault
"It's alright mum, I will go in a second, I need to have a word with her anyway" replied Jill
"Do, you think that wise" started Bunty
"What do you mean, what haven't you been telling us" interrupted Jill
"Nothing, I just mean, Ohhh it doesn't matter" replied Bunty
"Well, clearly it does" replied Jill, annoyed
"I think what your mother is trying to say is maybe let Ash come to you, she is clearly blaming herself" replied Harold, doing his best to keep the peace
"How, would you know what is best, you spend one day with her and now you're an expert" replied Jill
"Jill, darling we don't mean that, it's just sometimes you get this idea fixed in your head and you don't stop until you get what you want" replied Bunty
"Why, don't you tell me how it really is" replied Jill
"I don't mean anything by it, but you were both questioning her earlier and you kept on until you were happy with the answers that she gave, how do you think that makes her feel" replied Bunty
"I don't have to sit here and listen to this" replied Jill, she knew her mother was right but didn't want to admit it, but they had only Ash's best interests at heart, she was so angry she could feel the tears coming, so looked towards the door,
Ash was making her way towards the ward, she was struggling with the tray, her cast was really starting to annoy her, Jill could she Ash and went to help her
"Jill don't go, your mother doesn't mean anything by it" said Harold
"I know, but I'm just going to help Ash" replied Jill not waiting she made her way towards the door
"Ash, sweetheart let me help you" said Jill, taking the tray from her
"Thanks mum, what's wrong" asked Ash as she looked at Jill and could see she was upset
"It's nothing, honestly, we'll talk later" replied Jill
"Okay" was all Ash said before she held the door open for Jill, but she knew it wasn't her that had upset Jill at least not this time
They made their way towards Harold's bed, Ash could feel the tension between them all when she went to sit down
"Do, you need more time" asked Ash
"No, right now we are going to enjoy our drinks, so nan was telling me about your day" replied Harold, trying to change the subject, Ash looked nervously at Bunty
"Yes, I've been telling him about our lovely shopping day" added Bunty
"You will have to let me come next time" said Harold
"You only want to go for the cake" replied Bunty
"No" said Harold, pulling a shocked face, which made Ash laugh
"Right, I think we had better let you get some rest, come on Ash you can give me a hand making dinner, let's give mum and nan some time with grandad" said Gordon
"Okay, bye" replied Ash getting up and giving Harold a kiss goodbye before going around to Bunty
"Thank you for today, it was good" whispered Ash to Bunty as she gave her a kiss
"You are welcome anytime, you know where we are" replied Bunty
Ash looked towards Jill, she still looked upset, so Ash went towards her
"Bye mum, see you later, love you" said Ash giving her a hug and a kiss
"Thank you, I needed that" whispered Jill to Ash before letting her go
Ash followed Gordon to his car in silence worried that she was in trouble she didn't want to break the silence first
"So where did you go to" started Gordon as he was getting in the car
Ash didn't know what to say, what did he mean she hadn't gone anywhere, she got in the car as well
"I told you to help Lizzie" added Gordon as he put his seatbelt on
"I was helping her, only she didn't want me to do anything she was worried I was pushing myself, so I asked about tiding the stock room, the phone rang but she nodded her head, so that's what I went to do" replied Ash
"You had us worried" stated Gordon
"Sorry, Mum did see me and don't worry I wasn't doing anything I shouldn't have" replied Ash
"I didn't mean it like that" replied Gordon
"So, why were you worried about me" asked Ash, hoping he would be honest with her and not change the subject like he sometimes did when it got too much
"Well, all I meant was you haven't been very well lately, and we don't want anything bad to happen to you" replied Gordon
"I know, but you can't be there all the time, and I wouldn't want you to be" replied Ash, knowing that Gordon hadn't told her the truth, she could see the hurt on Gordons face
"Dad, I don't mean it like that, I love you all, but you have to live your lives and I don't want to become a burden, that you wish you had never had" replied Ash, she was glad they had pulled onto the drive and they were home because that meant the talk could be over, or so she thought
"Don't, you ever think like that" said Gordon getting out
Ash got out the car as well and waited by the front door while Gordon got his bags
"Right, can you put the oven on, I've just got to make a call, then we can finish this little chat" said Gordon opening the door and letting Ash in
Ash went through to the kitchen and switched the oven on, the others were not outside so she slipped upstairs, they weren't up there either, she went into her room and put some music on
Mean while Gordon was on the phone to Matron, hoping she would be around tomorrow and could keep an eye on Ash for them, Matron said she was willing to help out but was worried about what Ash would think, Gordon told her not to worry, Ash would understand, he put the phone down and went into the kitchen expecting to see Ash
"Ash get down her now" shouted Gordon, he waited for a minute and when he couldn't hear any movement
"Ash, I mean it get down here now" shouted Gordon
Ash switched her music off and came down the stairs
"Right young lady, first things first we are going to cook dinner" stated Gordon
"Okay" replied Ash
They were working together in silence apart from the few instructions that Gordon gave her, Gordon was trying to think of what to say, but really all he could think was he needed to talk to Jill
Just as he was thinking it Jill came through the door with Bunty,
"Hello" said Jill
"It's just us" replied Gordon
"Where are the others" asked Jill
"I have no idea, there's no note" replied Gordon
"So, what can we do" asked Jill
"Well, Ash is just going to lay the table, I was going to make drinks and then we are going to sit outside and talk" replied Gordon
Ash took the hint and went and laid the table, Bunty went and gave her a hand
Gordon told Jill about what had happened in the car
While Bunty was talking to Ash
"So, our little trip today, you did remember something didn't you" said Bunty
Ash looked at her and shook her head, she knew she could tell no one what had happened at least not for now