CH 9

When they arrived at the restaurant they were greeted by everyone. They all enjoyed themselves and the birthday cake which Evan try to blow out the candles then realized that they were trick candles which had everyone laughing.

"Mum are you ok" evan asked her "i'm fine, did you like rose and my gift surprise"

"Sam, yes i am mum thank you" he gave her a hug.

"How did it go"

"It went great mum, i didn't realize how much we got in common"

"I knew how much, you just like him"

"I know mum, thank you" he kissed her check.

Two weeks later they had an engagement party at the back of Rose's parents place. They wanted a barbeque engagement party. Everyone enjoyed themselves showing up with gifts for the couple. Laura couldn't make it cause she had chemo the day before and they understood since they went around that morning giving her a copy of their prom photo.

It was one when they were prom king and queen plus Rose was facing the left side to the camera so it can catch her engagement ring in the shot.

Three weeks later when Evan showed up for work on Sunday, his boss wanted to see him. "You wanted to see me"

"Yes i do, i notice you have been taking a lot of time off Evan and every time you do you say if family reasons. Yesterday was the last straw. I'm sorry but your fired" Evan was shocked

"what you can't fire me because i took time off and i do have family problems"

"I don't care i want you to get your things and get out"

"After seven years of working here every day, I suddenly started taking time off and you fired me. You can't do that"

"Oh yes i can"

"Not without a good reason"

"I do, now get out" Evan shook his head and walk out of the boss office

"Evan are you ok mate"

"boss fired me because i've been taking time off work"

"He what?" he said in shocked

"Yeah after seven years, he fired me"

"What are you going to do? your wedding next week"

"I don't know yet" then he walked to the locker. The guy he talked to was also a classmate. He spread the word around about what happened. One one staff member walk up to the manger

"Hey Julie have you heard about what happened to Evan Jones"

"no what happen"

"He was fired"

"what?" the manager said in shocked

"Why"

"Cause he was taking too much time off work"

"He had his reasons"

"I know he is getting married next weekend. We got to do something"

"Sid has gone too far, leave it with me who else knows"

"Every one"

Hour later one of the staff members called the paper and spoke to a reporter about what happened to a staff member. "This is very interesting, how long has Evan been working there for"

"Seven years. He getting married next weekend"

"Ok how old is he?"

"He nineteen years old and he and his fiancee voted prom king and queen three months ago plus at the same time he purpose to her in front of there classmates, she said yes"

"this is great stuff, question is why was he taking time of for"

"His mother got cancer and been having chemo which making her ill"

"Ok what about her other family are any of them looking after her"

"He has a younger brother, he is too busy with his mates and his step dad is the inspector in the police force"

"Inspector, you telling me that inspector Reg Jones is the Evan step dad you say"

"Yes. Oh Evan fiancee Rose Wilson and her mum Joan have been taking time off to help look after Laura after she has chemo"

"Ok thanks for calling me about this."

"You're welcome." Then they hung up.

When Rose arrived home from Work she saw Evan sitting on the steps looking down. She walk over and sat next to him "Evan what wrong is it your mum" he look up and turn to her

"I was fired from work today" rose was shocked

"what why"

"Cause i took to many days off work"

"what, you only took one day off a week"

"according to sid it was to many days off"

"that crazy he can't do that"

"He has and staff not happy with what he has done"

"don't worry about it, we got plenty of money saved up for the wedding"

"I know i was planing of getting a second job next year so we can rent an apartment"

"You know we don't have to worry about money"

"i know but i've been working since i was seven years old, this is the first time i've been fired" She put her arm around his shoulder and her other hand on his lap

"We will work it out, it what we good at doing"

"I know" he leaned over and gave her a kiss.

"Look why don't i go and get change and order us a pizza for dinner and watch a movie while having dinner"

"sounds good"

"Everything is going to be fine, think about this…. Mrs Rose Jones" she said smiling at him which made him smile

"It reminds me of an old song called mrs jones"

"I know the one you're talking about" she gave him a kiss before standing up and walking to the house while Evan sat there thinking.

When Reg Jones was leaving the police station the reporters was there waiting for him "Inspector Jones, can we ask you some questions"

"About what"

"your family"

"My family got nothing to do with you, if you don't mind i'm going to be late and miss my flight to canberra"

"Inspector how long are you got to be in Cambra for"

"Few days why all these questions"

"so why your in canberra who looking after your wife Laura jones" a reporter asked

"what are you talking about, she can take care of herself" he got in the car and close the door

"Inspector, you expect your sick wife who got cancer and is having chemotherapy to take care of herself while you're in Canberra. You should be ashamed of yourself" a reporter yelled out to him.

Then the window wend down "no comment and she not sick"

"From reliable sources says she is and your not attending your step son Evan jones wedding next weekend"

"I'm too busy" then the window went up just as the car drove away with the inspector in the back seat.

"What a barsard" a cameramen said

"Yeah I feel sorry for his family" a reporter said

"I agree," another reporter said.

The next morning it was on the front page of the paper 'Inspector Jones too busy to look after sick wife and attend step son wedding' there was a photo of Reg and Laura from the year before at a metal ceremony and prom king and queen photo of Evan and Rose on the front page. It talks about what is happening in the family and how Evan got fired from his job because he took time off to help look after his sick mother. Plus it mentioned the name of the place where he works and how long he worked there for.

Rose was reading the front page when she was walking back in side "Evan you better give your mum a call"

"Why"

"This is why" she turn the paper around for her parents and Evan to see

"Oh my gosh" joan said

"It got in here when asked about Laura being sick with cancer and is having chemotherapy, inspector Jones said she is not sick and when the reporter said that a reliable source says she is and you're not attending your step son's wedding the inspector reply is…. I'm to busy"

"Your joking" Dave said

"nope oh it was also mention about you being fired from your Job Evan cause you, i and mum took turns in taking time off work to help look after your mum after she has chemotherapy which made her sick and tired from each treatment"

"what" Evan said, she pass him the paper so he could read it himself

"It all in there, looks like your ex boss is in for one hell of shock when he reads the paper" Rose said as she sat down to breakfast.

Evan picked up the cordless phone and called his mum "hi Dylan it Evan can i speak to mum… no i haven't been talking to reporters Dylan…. No Rose, just show me the morning paper…. Couple minutes ago…. Dylan, I had no idea who told them… I was fired yesterday afternoon, so I don't know how the media found out about that… Mum has told you then… Put her on please i'll talk to her….Mum…. I didn't know about it until Rose showed us the front page…. I'm shocked that the media found out about your cancer like they did… sure i'll drop by after school… now you relax till i get there… ok mum sure i will… love you mum…" then he hung up and put the phone on the counter. "Dylan found out about mum's cancer in the papers. I'll be going around after school and talk to him and to mum"

"good luck" Dave said

"thanks"

That afternoon evan saw Dylan "Dylan" he look around and saw Evan pull up next to him

"go away"

"Get in we need to talk"

"We got nothing to talk about"

"We do now get in" Dylan got in and Evan drove David home

"i'm in so talk"

"Look you knock that chip off your shoulder Dylan mum doesn't need that now not with everything that has happened"

"Why should you care"

"you read the paper"

"Yeah so"

"How do you think i lost my job aye, i lost it cause i took time off to look after mum. You should have realized what was going on at home with what was happening with mum but you are busy doing your thing, playing video games, spending hours with your mates when you could be there for mum to help her when she needs it the most."

"she got you"

"I'm not living there, you are. You got to learn to take responsibility or you going to end up like dad"

"what is that supposed to mean"

"Dad was married before he married mum"

"what, no that not true"

"I checked it out. a close friend of dad told me. His marriage lasted five years, and you got a half brother and sister"

"No that not true"

"It is, and we know them"

"We do"

"Yes Terry and Tina Dawson"

"your joking, they my half brother and sister"

"Yes and they are friends of Eric, well that is if you call them friends"

"Why that"

"Cause they didn't show up to Eric's funeral."

"your joking"

"nope"

"Dose mum know"

"Yes she does." They talked till Evan pulled up in the driveway to see the media and reporters there.

"Don't say a word" Evan said they got out and walked up to the front door where Evan used his key to open the door.

He got Dylan inside first then he followed him in then turned around to the media

"Will you please leave my family alone? This isn't a good time right now to talk to my mum" then he closed and locked the door.

He walked into the living room to see his mum there looking outside. She turn to him as he step ford and hug her "Why don't they leave us alone"

"I don't know mum, how long have they been there"

"all afternoon"

"Leave it with me" he walked over and looked up a phone number and made a call. When he hung up he walked into the kitchen and put the jug on then return

"come and sit down mum" He helped her into the kitchen and sat down in the dining room then he went and made them a drink.

Then he went and got Dylan then returned when they heard cars pulled up outside so he went to see who it was then went to the front door and opened it to see two officers there while the others took care of the media.

"Hi Evan, how your mum"

"She set up, thanks for coming, come in, but i better warn you, she lost weight" He let them in and they walked into the dinning room. They were shocked when they saw Laura.

"Laura my gosh"

"Hi Ted" he walk around and gave her a hug then he sat down next to her putting his hat on the table

"Why didn't Reg tell me or even take time off"

"he doesn't know"

"He should have said something was wrong. It it true that you haven't got much time"

"It true"

"Oh Laura, if there anything i can do let me know"

"thanks Ted" then he turn to Evan

"so you getting married next week, getting nervous"

"nope"

"you will"

"We shall see"

"So prom king aye, good on ya"

"thanks" they talk for an hour before Ted left with a new constable who just joined the force. They left the family alone.

They talked as well, helped cook dinner and sat down and ate it. It was late by the time Evan arrived home and went to bed.