(N.B-I also didn't know Rhys and Beth don't stay together when I wrote this, so imagine they are back together!)
Chapter 7 – Separation
Down at the Sutherland's place it seemed like a normal Saturday morning. Kids were having lie-ins while Rhys and Beth had breakfast. No-one knew of Kane and Kirsty's argument or where Kirsty had stayed. They didn't realise anything was wrong until there was pounding on the door. Worriedly Rhys answered it, half expecting a madman at the door with the sound of the thumping. Who he found wasn't far off his expectation. Standing there at the door was Kane, still fraught with rage. He looked tired; he hadn't slept all night, and fierce with anger.
"Where is she?" He yelled.
"Oi, keep you voice down, mate, there are people still sleeping in this house," Rhys sniped back, "I don't know what you're talking about."
"Kirsty-she's here, I want to see her. Get her out here."
"Kirsty? Why would Kirsty be here? Have you two had a tiff? Look mate, I honestly don't know where she is." Rhys innocently answered.
"She's here, she must be here, where else would she go. Rhys, you can't keep my family from me, she's got my daughter and she can't hide away from me forever."
"Kane, she is not here, you can search the house top to bottom. Look I have no idea what's gone on between the two of you. But if you've had a big argument maybe you need to just let her work things out for herself, alone. But coming down to my home and shouting off won't solve anything." Rhys advised, still completely unaware this man, he had grudgingly come to accept, had harmed his daughter.
Kane stormed off, still in search of Kirsty.
"What was that about?" Beth asked.
"Kane and Kirsty have had an argument. She must have stayed at Dani's last night, but Kane thought she stayed here. He was really angry, and looked terrible."
"Do you think it's serious?"
"Well I don't know, but if she left, I'd say it's pretty serious."
Down at Dani's place Kirsty was still very quiet and emotional. She just devoted her attention to her daughter and tried to keep her mind off of Kane. This didn't last though, when there was a knock at the door. Kirsty knew it was him, nevertheless letting Dani open the door. He saw Kirsty was sitting at the table and ignored Dani standing there.
"We need to talk." He said sternly.
"I think maybe you should go Kane." Dani said, not even waiting to see what Kirsty wanted to do.
"No it's OK Dan, we do need to talk." Kirsty softly said, voice still trembling with emotion. Dani reluctantly let him past and he went over to Kirsty.
"Why did you leave?" Kane asked.
"Why do you think?" Kirsty snapped, suddenly getting some courage.
"Look I'm sorry for what I did, but you can't leave. What about Liv?"
"Kane, this isn't going to work. I can't be with someone who may snap at any moment."
"Well if you hadn't have cheated then I wouldn't have snapped. How will I know you won't play away behind my back?"
"Because you know me, you know I love you and that I wouldn't cheat on you. The whole Chester thing was a misunderstanding."
"But you kissed him?"
"Yeah."
"And you met up with him the day after."
"Well I suppose, but I-"
"I can't see what I could have not understood."
"It wasn't like that. Anyway, you can't say our marriage was exactly on track. You tell me what to do, who to see and I'm not allowed to do anything. Now I don't know whether I'm gonna be safe in my own home."
"Don't you think you're exaggerating things a bit?"
"Don't you think you were exaggerating the kiss a bit?"
They sat in silence for a few seconds; both realising things were not going to go back to normal anytime soon.
"So what happens now?" Kane asked, knowing Kirsty would not stay.
"We need some time apart, I'll move out, see whether my Dad can have me for a bit."
"And Liv?"
"We'll just have to come to an arrangement." Kirsty said, sadly.
Things changed quite a bit over the next few weeks. Kirsty moved in with her Dad. It was a tight squeeze in the house but they managed. Kirsty and Kane didn't see or speak to each other much, only when he took Liv every now and again. But once everything was settled, Kirsty found life manageable, things started to look better for her, she did still love Kane but she enjoyed the freedom from marriage.
She bumped into Chester one day, after a month of separation from Kane. She was pleased to see him, and they had a good chat about her new life and what he had been up to. It was friendly and easy, without Kirsty worrying about Kane. They became good friends, nothing more. Nevertheless Kane found out and started to act jealous.
Kane did not find single life so easy; he felt he'd lost everything. He no longer had his wife or his daughter there all the time. He became jealous and erratic, his moods could change easily. He always seemed down in the dumps and often snapped at Scott while working. Scott noticed these changes, and also saw how Kane started becoming ill more and tired. He seemed to be getting weaker everyday. Scott was concerned but Kane ignored him, swearing he was fine. But it was obvious he wasn't.
