Chapter 6 – A Night at Dani's

It was a quiet evening for Dani and Scott at the palace; they laid together watching TV until there was a knock at the door.

"I'll get it." Dani said, getting up.

She opened the door to find her little sister standing there in tears.

"What's wrong Kirst?" Dani asked, helping her into the kitchen, closing the door. She noticed the big bag under the pushchair, knowing something big had happened.

Kirsty could hardly speak as she sat down at the kitchen table.

"I've left Kane. We had an argument."

"Was it about Chester, did he find out?" Dani guessed. Kirsty nodded still in tears, "Must have been a pretty big argument. Look you're shaking. What happened?" Dani asked, holding Kirsty's hand to try and calm her down.

"It was really bad," Kirsty sobbed, knowing she'd have to tell her sister, "He hit me."

"What?" Dani looked shocked, even though she was certainly aware of his violent side. But she saw her sister crying and knew it wasn't a 'told you so' moment. So she got up and hugged her.

"You can stay here for as long as you like. Scott can go on the sofa; you and Liv can bunk with me."

"Thanks Dani. Just until I get things sorted out, get my head round things." Kirsty forced a smile. She looked down, knowing she would break down again, "I think my marriage is over." She said-a tear ran down her face that she wasn't able to keep in.

Dani looked at the sadness on Kirsty's face, realising how hard it was for her, facing life as a single mother. That night Kirsty and Dani laid together, they didn't talk, Dani just hugged Kirsty close as she had a proper cry. She wept for what seemed like forever, so much that Hayley and Noah could hear her, but they knew why as Scott had told them. Dani knew it was what she needed, a while later Kirsty finally drifted off to sleep and Dani looked after Liv that night to give Kirsty a bit of a break.

The next morning Kirsty woke up, wondering whether what had happened really took place. She almost expected it to be Kane sleeping next to her, in their bed at home and that nothing had happened. But when she turned over and saw it was Dani next to her it all came flooding back.

She automatically got up to check on Liv, who was awake in her travel cot that Irene had brought over when Kirsty called to tell her what had happened. Irene told her that Kane hadn't been home while she was there, but her wedding rings weren't on the side so Kane had been back but obviously took off again.

Kirsty picked up Liv and took her down to the kitchen for breakfast. Hayley and Noah were in there, when they saw her it went quiet.

"Morning," Hayley smiled, breaking the ice, "Can I get you some breakfast?"

"No it's OK, I'll have to feed Liv first, but thanks anyway. Has Kane called?" Kirsty asked, strangely looking hopeful. Hayley shook her head sympathetically, feeling sorry for her friend.

Kirsty felt like she needed to see him, even though she didn't even want to face him the night before, now all she wanted was to sort things out. It was almost as if she forgot Kane had hit her, she was now thinking their separation was her fault, because of Chester. Really it was denial-not wanting to think about the love of her life would do such a thing, instead blaming herself was easier.