Lucy looked at the name on the list again. "Richard Jones?" she called. She felt her heart sink slightly looking at what he'd come in with. A five-year-old with a suspected broken arm. Just great. She was so nervous about this date tonight, she needed something a bit more distracting than that!

A small boy and his mother walked up. The woman did a double take, before glancing at her badge.

"Lucy Benbridge?" she said.

"Hart, actually," Lucy replied, suddenly fearful. This woman knew her somehow. Now she looked again, she could see that despite the weary expression the woman wore, she was about the same age as her. But who the hell was she…?

"Kayleigh," the woman prompted her, beaming.

The penny dropped. "Kayleigh Jackson?" Lucy said, suddenly very fearful. Kayleigh had been part of the gang back at school, she'd known Jamie. Jack was already watching in fascination, and she was sure that Anna and Tony couldn't have that much to talk about in the waiting room. Even Charlie and Max were lingering longer than was strictly necessary outside Charlie's office.

"Lucas actually." Kayleigh waggled the cheap wedding ring under Lucy's nose. "Married three years now. Hart… so you did marry Jamie after all! Oh the girls will love to hear that!"

"The girls?" Lucy was just able to say without stuttering. What girls? Were the whole of King John High School about to descend on her?

"Yes, I still keep in touch with most of the gang," Kayleigh informed her. Lucy was aware they were still in reception, but she was barely able to stand, let alone lead Kayleigh and her son through to the cubicles. "Lost contact with a few, including you and Jamie. So, how long has it been? How is the old rascal, still fiddling with cars?"

"Actually he's…" Lucy felt her nerve fail at the last second.

"Oh surely hedidn't swap careers!" Kayleigh was continuing. "My Garry, he's in retail management, just been relocated down here. I can't see Jamie doing anything but cars, he was always so keen on them. Oh, I'd love to see him, would we be able to meet up?"

Lucy was conscious of everyone watching her, and could bare it no longer. This woman, barging in here, ruining everything. How dare she? She deserved to be shocked, deserved to feel bad about bringing this all up. Why the hell couldn't she have stayed in London where she belonged, instead of moving here, to upset her life just when she was starting to get a grip on it again?

"Actually Jamie died," she said flatly. When Kayleigh's face dropped, she continued. "Yeah, about two years ago. In a car accident." She forced herself to smile, forced herself to ignore the shocked silence amongst her colleagues. "So, shall we go through now?"

Charlie stepped in. "Erm, Mrs. Lucas and…"

"His name's Richard," Lucy supplied the name, seeing as no one else was able to speak. For once she felt completely in control.

"Richard," Charlie acknowledged the boy. "Spencer, why don't you show them into a cubicle, and I'll find someone to look at you. Lucy, why don't you take a break?"

"I'm fine," Lucy insisted. "I'd rather work. I can see to Richard's arm."

"I think that might be a bad idea," Charlie said. "Go and see if they need any help in recus. If you're sure."

"Perfectly." Lucy nodded, before heading out the double doors.


Lara closed the door carefully behind her as she entered recus. Lucy was remaking a bed, and looked just the same as usual. Not even red-eyed. She looked up as she became aware of Lara's presence.

"Hi," she greeted her. "Is it busy out there, am I needed?"

"No, I don't think so." Lara shook her head. "Lucy, I've heard what happened today, I… Is this some sort of challenge Patrick's set you? Because if it is, it's ridiculous, you shouldn't have to deal with this kind of thing this way, you…"

"Patrick had nothing to do with this," Lucy replied calmly. "Well, unless he broke Richard Lucas's arm, and I think that's a bit beyond even him. No, today was chance happening. And my own decision."

Lara nodded. "Okay. Patrick hasn't mentioned you lately, I was wondering…"

"It's finished," Lucy informed her. "I don't need him anymore." She finished the bed. "I'm fine, Lara, honestly. I know everyone out there will be talking about me, but… well, at least it takes the heat off you and Patrick for a few hours."

Lara smiled thinly. "Lucy, you do know that… well… I am here if you want to talk or… if you need a shoulder to cry on…"

"I don't do crying," Lucy said matter-of-factly.

"You are allowed to cry sometimes," Lara insisted. "You've just done something big. It's only natural for it to affect you emotionally and -"

"It's not that I don't want to cry," Lucy continued as though Lara hadn't spoken. "I just can't." She hesitated before continuing. "I can't start crying because I'm afraid that if I do, I'll never stop." She shook herself out of her reverie. "I'm going to have a quick fag, can you cover for me if anyone asks?"

"Sure." Lara nodded. Suddenly she wanted Patrick more than she could explain, just to have him nearby. No wonder he'd been so wrapped up in Lucy's life; she was possibly the saddest girl she'd ever met.