Becca closed the door behind Jake, leaned on it and sighed. That had been a mistake, she was glad he'd left before Justin returned, the thought of another confrontation between the pair of them made her shudder. It had seemed like the adult thing to do, to accept his offer of help, she hadn't realised how heavy the bags were before she'd waved Nancy off in town to a date with Foz. Seeing him outside Drive n Buy she'd thought about dodging back inside and avoiding him altogether but her dodging days were past for a while she thought ruefully, rubbing her stomach. Far too much bulk! He'd been friendly though and offered to help and with Justin nowhere in sight she'd felt happy to accept. Being back in the flat together had felt weird, she'd moved the obvious things out of the way, the clothes on the drier, the pile of music mags and his schoolbag but she realised it was the little things that made the difference; pictures of Liz and the twins, a snap Nancy had taken of them both on the pin board, grinning inanely into the camera and the scan picture only a few days old. Justin had added a chalk arrow from it and written 'Footballers Feet!' underneath. She smiled wryly at his unflagging belief it was a boy, and had already vetoed Rooney or Gerrard as possible names for their offspring. No, it had been decidedly uncomfortable having Jake here and she had almost reneged on her offer of coffee, until she realised she was just being churlish, he'd offered help and she could hardly chase him out as soon as he'd arrived. She put the kettle on and sorted the cups, adding the extra sugar without thinking, "Whoooah! just the one thanks! You forgotten?" "Oh sorry! It's just, Justin takes.." He smiled dryly "Never mind, I'll drink it" He wandered around the flat while she added water and milk to the cups returning to the kitchen when he heard her stir them. "It feels different, nice but different" he took the cup from her and sipped. She had a different life now he thought, it was reflected in the flat, it no longer felt like home. She sat at the table, grimaced at him, "If I sit on the sofa, it takes me half a day to get back up again" she joked. "How are things, really?" he asked "After the police and the job?" She shrugged "I'm ok now I suppose, it was hard at the time but..." she looked at him "we've come through it" Her words stung, he took another slug of coffee and summoned up a cheerful smile from somewhere "Glad to hear it, moving on that's good isn't it?" She smiled back at him relieved "Yeah" she said "It is". He finished his coffee and made a pantomime of looking for somewhere to put the empty cup, she stood and took it from him "Thanks Jake" "What for? I just carried the shopping!" "For being understanding, for not being bitter when you've every right, I'm glad we can talk, I'd hate to think we couldn't talk to each other" He swallowed the bile that rose in his throat, "What would be the use? Wouldn't fix us would it? We're past fixing and I can see..." he looked over at the pin board, at the scattered belongings, at her "I can see how happy you are. Anyways" he added hastily "better be getting back, I'm supposed to be minding the pub though it seems to run itself Saturday afternoons!" "Bye then Jake" she smiled and walked over to the door. He followed her, kissing her cheek as he passed "Bye" he answered wistfully. She left the cups on the side feeling suddenly tired. She'd just lie down on the bed for a while, till Justin got back, perhaps they'd have a takeaway tonight and a dvd as Nancy was away. She closed her eyes and smiled she might even lift her veto of his beloved action flicks...
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