Hi, so here is another chapter and I hope you enjoy it. We have six more chapters of this story left and then it comes to it's end so I hope you enjoy what's still to come.

Disclaimer-Nothing is mine just this chapter and the character of Isla and Alexandra both of whom I increasingly grow to love.

And Please Read and Review and let me know what you think.

Glory Days

Chapter 11-When Bad Conversations Happen To Good People.

The Boswell's deal with Freddie's arrest. Roxy puts her plan into action when she puts something to Isla and Joey and Martina attempt to move on past their kiss without addressing their feelings for each other—because that's always worked.

The days after Freddie's arrest were long and complicated. His Dad was clinging to the belief that he had done nothing wrong in the stealing of the cart and Adrian's comment that it was like a bank robber claiming the money was not his but it just felt like it was much the same. Considering that his Mam was likely to go off like a steam kettle these days it was hard not to want to go away from it all.

The only good news was that Isla seemed to be speaking to them all again. She still flinched a little when his Dad's voice got too loud but Joey had long ago perfected the look of doom (named by Billy) and his Dad nine times out of ten caught his eye and settled down. Really though the man didn't help himself—how had he expected his wife to react when he left the police station with Lilo-Lil only to come staggering through the door as if it was an afterthought Joey really did not want to think about. The sad reality was he had probably come because he wanted a hot meal and never before had he supported his Mam's decision to sue for divorce as he had done in that moment when his Dad had sat down at the table as if nothing had happened and they were still the same happy family they had been all those years ago.

But Isla was talking, she was smiling too, she still had that look behind her eyes of a kid who had a secret but she was six. Joey had had lots of secrets, he reasoned, when he was that age so what did it matter that his daughter had one she couldn't tell him. He knew if it was anything truly urgent or terrible, if she was in danger or scared of something then she would come and tell him but if she wanted to keep something back from him then he supposed it was due to her growing up. Besides…as bad as it made him he didn't have the time to sort it out when all of his efforts seemed to be on keeping his family from imploding as they arrest date got nearer and nearer.

And that meant a trip to the DHSS.

When his Mam told him he felt his hands grow cold. He had not gone near the place since he had kissed Martina and then had stormed upstairs ran a bath and contemplated drowning himself in it for an hour and a half.

He still did not know what had come over him. Actually that was a lie he knew exactly what had come over him and that was the problem. He liked Martina, he really, really liked her, she had quickness of wit that made it almost fun to be in a shitty office with his hand out asking for money, she really was good looking even though he personally wanted her to smile more and more to the point Isla liked her. And…he had been doing this whole song and dance with her for so long she made him feel safe. He knew without even going there that Martina was not going to leave in the middle of the night. He knew that Martina was going to be there for him regardless and he found as the days blurred into one that he wanted to be there for her. It was not like going out and finding a relationship, more like falling into one but really? What was the problem with that? If it was good.

He deserved a little bit of good in his life he thought.

Jack was right, it was about time he got himself a woman.

A good woman, one that would love him and Isla and would never make him feel like shit because he loved his family just as much.

Carefully he didn't think about Roxy.

He wasn't sure if he ever wanted to hear or think or speak about Roxy again.

Martina was waiting for him with that crisp look that spoke of efficacy. That being said that was her usual expression. Joey was quite sure that the world could be falling down around them and the bomb could be coming towards them and there Martina would be there ruthlessly efficient until the very end.

"Greetings?" he said though he hated that it came out more of a question.

"Mr Boswell" she said dryly. "What's happened this time? One of your brothers needs a gold filling? House need an extension or perhaps you are buying up pedigree puppies to train as guard dogs?"

"Not quite sweetheart, not quite. No this time it's about my father. He's been arrested you see"

Carefully she did not laugh and Joey found that he was relieved beyond measure that she didn't. It was a sign that things at least in public were going to stay the same and as she put her head in her hands bemoaning about his family he found that he was more relieved about that than he could say.

He was not going to admit even to Jack who he trusted with his life (and Isla's and that was far more valuable) that he had been afraid that his actions would fuck this up. He would ask her out on another date at some point but he supposed it was only fair to his Mam that they make sure his Dad wasn't doing a decent stretch for theft and stupidity before he did it.

Christ if they put him in the witness box…

Joey thought it really could go either way.

"Now!" he said into the silence. "Can we discuss a claim for new clothes for my brothers as we head along to Her Majesty's justice to seek our rights under the legal system—"

He was interrupted by another long groan and he laughed feeling lighter than he had done in days.

It was all going to be alright.

Because he still had this.

And this was rapidly becoming the most precious thing in the world.

She was walking to school when her mum pulled up. It was getting easier now to recognise the little red car and not feel the stab of fear that came with it. It wasn't that she was scared per say…Isla thought that she was a mixed cocktail of all emotions and she was not sure what to do for the better.

"Hello darling"

She wound down her window and Isla dithered. She was at the school gates now, there was no other choice but to go in and attempt to cram her head full of knowledge that she was ninety percent sure she would not need in real life.

"Hello…" she still could not say the word. She did not know if she could ever say the word.

"Would you like to ditch school today?"

Again there was that slow smile that did not seem to meet her eyes. Isla did not know what to make of it but she thought that it was not like Daddy's smile. His whole face lit up when he smiled and especially when he smiled at her. It made her feel all warm inside. When her Mum smiled at her it made her insides feel just a little bit icy and for the life of her she couldn't understand why.

It was all so confusing and other than Alexandra Yizzel (of all people!) she found she did not have many people to talk to. She might not go to her Dad with this but Uncle Jack was always fairly reliable and would always listen but the problem was any spare time they had (and she did not have a family filled with an abundance of spare time) was entirely dedicated to trying to get Grandad Freddie out of the clink.

Typical.

But she found that she was trying to carry on regardless.

She wanted to tell her Dad what was going on, there had never really been any secrets between the two of them before but she also knew that despite it all he would do his upmost to stop this from happening and Isla found that she liked these spontaneous meetings. She wasn't sure if she was ready for them to become regimented. And besides…perhaps her Mum really did just want to get to know her? Surely she had the right to do that in her own way in her own time?

She was six.

She wasn't stupid.

"Not today Mu…Mum…no"

There she had said it.

So why had it felt wrong?

"Oh. Do you want to come and meet your brother then? Don't you want to?"

"Yes. But not today"

"Well…we have to meet each other soon Isla. I want us to go away the four of us like a family. I can take on your Dad for a bit, I'm sure once I explain the situation he will be alright with that. Wouldn't you like to go to an airport?"

Isla blinked.

"Yes but…not right now…Grandad Freddie's about to be but in the clink"

She laughed as If this was truly funny but Isla who had seen the horror and the pain etched on her Nan's face didn't know what was funny about it. To her it seemed painful and cheap to laugh at stuff like that.

"Do you know when there hauling him off?"

"25th"

"Are you going?"

"No. School"

"Well then how about you come and meet Oscar on the 25th? And my husband…see how you like our family. I promise we can have whatever you want for tea. Then I can call your Dad…how would you like a weekend in America?"

Isla thought that sounded marvellous. It was easy to get excited about America. It was the kind of place where you got excited about.

America.

America.

"That sounds nice" she said smiling and this time she meant it. Her Mum reached out and patted her on the head through the open window. For some reason Isla was reminded strongly of Mongy.

"Well" she said distractedly. "You be off now and remember…I'll surprise your Dad"

"Can he come with us?"

She smiled but this time it really did not meet her eyes.

"We shall see" was all she said.

And then she was gone and Isla was left feeling if possible even more confused than she had done before, only this time there was a bit of excitement mixed in with it.

America. With her Mum and Dad.

Like a normal family she thought.

It wasn't that she didn't love the Boswell clan but sometimes all you wanted was a bit of normality and holidaying with her Mum and her Dad and her little brother was something that she had never done before.

She was smiling all the way home.

The kid was so like Joey it was hard not to smile. She had loved Joey she really had but Roxy knew him well enough to know that there was not a chance in hell Joey was coming to America. She also knew there was not a chance in hell that he was letting her take Isla to America. Which was good really because Roxy was not really planning on asking permission.

What was the old saying? Better to ask forgiveness than permission.

Besides she was the girl's mother. Nothing was going to happen to her while she was with Roxy. Even Stan stopped short of hurting Oscar. He would not dare hurt Isla.

It was just Roxy who felt the ends of his fists at all hours of the day.

And this would fix it. They would be like a normal family she thought, her and her little girl and her little boy and her husband. Soon Stan and her would have a baby (though she'd have to be careful—Christ knows her husband didn't have the stamina to create one on his own) and soon she would have it all.

And Joey was still going to be with his family. By Roxy's reasoning that didn't mean he was totally on his own. God knows with that lot they probably wouldn't even care that Isla was missing. Just one less space at the dinner table. The way Billy ate it wasn't like any food was going missing. And the Dad was back now…and on his way to prison. That had to give her a card…

Yes…yes this was all going to work out, she would take her daughter and her son and they would live far away from this city and the Boswell family and she and Isla would never see them again.

She only had to wait until the 25th.

Yes. This would work.

She winced as she moved to put her seatbelt back on. After all she was parking in a school space—her ribs still hurt from where Stan had thumped her and she ran her finger over the bruise wincing again.

This would work.

This had to.

She didn't have any other options after this, after all.

And there you go, I hope you enjoy. I will bring you the next chapter sooner rather than later.

Next Chapter-Isla falls into Roxy's trap. Alexandra keeps a secret though she as a feeling she shouldn't and Joey deals with his father, his brother and then falls into his worst nightmare.