Rose wasn't sure about what was going on with her mother and Bob as she unpacked some of her things. She knew she had to talk to Alec about it the following morning and was in two minds whether to grab her school things and go to his house right now.
They'd had a great weekend, she'd been really surprised he'd taken her dancing, she'd not expected that as her birthday treat. Now, she'd come back to this and she was completely confused as to her mother defending her from Bob when all she normally did was either agree with him or get her to agree to go along with it.
She'd never disagreed with her mother, not before she'd met Bob, although she'd tried it on a few times but nothing like what was now going on. She got everything ready for school and decided to wait to use the bathroom, this was getting stupid hiding in the place she lived, she didn't consider it her home.
Jackie had gone back into the living room alone.
"Where's Rose?" Bob asked her.
"She went to the bathroom," Jackie lied, hoping he'd go for it.
"She had better not sneak to her room," he replied.
After waiting a while, their visitors decided to leave, Jimmy's father expressing their disappointment.
"You are going to have to do something soon Bob," he reminded him.
"I will, as soon as I get back from Aberdeen, you can be sure of it," Bob told him.
"Well you'd better," Jimmy's mother told him. "Come on Jimmy, or next week, we'll have to start joining the others."
"There's no need for that," Bob replied. "Just give it until next Sunday, I can get her to comply."
He looked across at Jackie.
"Did you tell her to go to her room Jackie?"
"What? No, ya know what she thinks Bob. Besides, she may have had some last minute homework to finish and she had to get her things ready for morning."
"Well she should have come back earlier," Bob told her.
"Where had she been anyway?" Jimmy's dad wanted to know.
"Does it matter?" Jackie asked. "She's old enough now to do what she wants."
"Bob, we'll have to think very carefully about this," Jimmy's dad told him.
"I tell ya, give it another week eh?" Bob insisted.
When he had seen them out, he turned on Jackie.
"What was all that about?" he wanted to know. "I tell you Jackie, she had better change her tune by next weekend. Have you told her you signed that agreement yet?"
"No, I never got the chance did I? She's been away all week," Jackie replied.
"Well you had better talk to her and tell her what we agreed is now written down formally."
"Bob, what else was in that agreement?" Jackie asked him as she collected the wine glasses.
"You already know Jackie, it's what we talked about," Bob replied.
"It looked longer than what we talked about Bob," she disagreed. "Why did ya insist I signed it without reading it all?"
"It was nothing Jackie," Bob insisted.
"Well I should have read it then. Are ya getting packed for tomorrow?"
"Tryin' to get rid of me?" he joked, going to put his arm around her.
"No, I'll miss ya, that's all. At least Rose is back I suppose. I'd better get on cleaning up then."
"Leave it until morning then Rose can help ya. I have to leave early Jackie, I'll get something to eat on the way."
He went off to their bedroom as she went to the kitchen, then she heard him going into the bathroom so she hurried to their room and went to his drawer in the dresser where he kept all his letters and things. She found the solicitor's letter and took it out, hoping he'd not catch her.
Her mouth gaped open when she read to the bottom of the letter and almost dropped it on the floor. Why the hell had she signed it without reading it all? She hurriedly folded the letter and put it back in the drawer then dashed back to the kitchen, hearing the bathroom door opening.
She couldn't believe what she had just read. Why had she been so blind? She had thought Bob wanted what was best for Rose, now she knew the truth. She tried to forget it when she heard him going back in the bedroom and Rose's door opened. She caught Rose going into the bathroom.
"He's mad ya didn't go back in," she told Rose.
"Well too bad, he has to be joking if he thought I was going back in there Mum. I'm tired, I'm off to bed, I'll see ya in the morning."
Jackie let her go and finished up in the kitchen, then she found Bob packing his small case for a week away. She thought back to when they'd met, just under three years ago. She'd thought he was charming and had taken a liking to him and wondered why she'd had no rivals.
Then she'd told him she had a teenage daughter and thought it would put him off but he'd told her he didn't mind and wanted to meet Rose. Now she knew why and Rose had been right to be worried. She got ready for bed, wondering what to do about it. When he went away, would he do the same and tell them to leave when he got back? Would he move someone else in who had a thirteen year old daughter?
Why the hell had she not seen what was going on? All the signs had been there, Rose had seen it yet she'd not taken any notice of her. What had Rose told Alec's family? No wonder her teacher had been to see her, well that and the fact he was Alec's cousin.
She got into bed and Bob turned to her.
"Going to miss me?" he asked, touching her arm.
"Yeah, 'course I'll miss ya Bob. It's the first time you've been away. Rose is going away again this year, why don't we book something?" she asked him.
"I suppose so? I don't see why Rose can't go with us," he replied.
Jackie thought back to the first time they'd gone without Rose, he'd been a right misery and she thought he'd just missed not having her around but last year had been the same and Rose had hardly been at home. She laid awake after half-heartedly giving in to him, then she wondered if that hadn't been the reason she'd been doing it.
Why on Earth had she let him fool her when all he was interested in was for some reason to get Rose to make friends with Jimmy, weren't they a bit young? Then she remembered when Bob had asked Rose if she and Alec were already having sex and he'd looked annoyed.
So that was it? Some sort of game all his friends played with their kids? She wished she'd dared say something earlier and told them it was too late, it had to be at least a year since Rose had wanted to go to the family planning clinic, which meant Rose was already having sex with Alec.
Normally, she would have been against it but something had made her give in and take Rose, maybe at the back of her mind, she knew what Bob's friends were up to. She knew she had to do something about it before Bob got back from working away, the way he had been talking to Jimmy's dad tonight.
Had they all made a pact with each other and that was the reason Bob felt like he was missing out?
Rose was having trouble sleeping. What had been going on in the lounge that her mother would want to keep her out, when she'd never been bothered before? She wished now she'd just grabbed her school bag and uniform and asked Alec's dad if she could stay the night.
The next morning, Rose got up early as usual, even though she'd not slept very well and only because she knew Bob would probably already be gone and she could talk to her mother for a change, instead of Bob being all over her.
Little did she know she was going to wish she'd stayed in bed. Jackie had gone back in Bob's drawer when she got up and read the letter from the solicitor's again, not believing what she'd read last night. She threw it into the drawer and got dressed then as she'd heard Rose moving around, she went into the kitchen.
"Rose, sweetheart, don't get ready for school."
"What? You are joking mum?" Rose asked, wondering what had come over her mother. "Alec might be early."
"Rose, we're leaving," her mother replied solemnly.
Rose saw the look on her mother's face as she stopped eating.
"What are ya talking about Mum? I've got school."
"Yeah I know Rose. Go get packed, we're gonna leave first thing tomorrow morning. I have to go out to use the phone and call your cousins, see if they can put us up."
Rose dropped her spoon, an awful feeling coming over her.
"What?" she asked. "Tell me I'm dreaming this? Is this to do with last night? If it is, I can talk to my teacher and get him to call child services."
"No Rose, they can't help, trust me," her mother replied sadly. "I don't know any of their surnames and Bob would go crazy and throw us out anyway. I think when he gets back, he will, I think he'll meet someone else, like he did with us."
Rose was about to get up and storm out to call Alec and get John to phone her.
"Listen to me Rose. I've defended you the last few years, ya already know that but when he comes back, well ya won't have any choice in it. He tricked me into agreeing to something, when I agreed he'd be responsible for ya. Ya know I only wanted the best for ya Rose, I swear I did and I thought moving up here, you'd have a better chance."
"I did Mum, I met Alec. Tell me you're not serious about going back to London? I can't just go and leave Alec, don't make me Mum. You go back, if ya have to but I can stay with his aunt, like I was already gonna do."
"You can't Rose, I swear you can't. You have to trust me. I'll call work and your school, tell them ya not going in today."
"I can go to school mum, I have to see Alec and John."
"Your teacher is Alec's cousin. Ya can't go to school Rose, it'll just make things worse when ya don't go in tomorrow. Stay and pack sweetheart, while I go call our relatives."
"What about when Alec calls for me mum, what do I tell him?" Rose cried.
"I'm sorry Rose but we have to leave, I'm doing it for your own good."
"That's what ya said when ya moved us here Mum," Rose reminded her.
Rose hadn't realized what time it was though since Alec was on his own, he decided he'd call for Rose early and surprise her, forgetting she'd said Bob was going away. He'd really managed to surprise her on Saturday night and he'd been quite pleased he'd needed no help from John except getting a ride. He let himself in the building and went to press Rose's doorbell.
"That's him Mum, you go, I can't talk to him."
Jackie got up, knowing this was tearing Rose apart.
"Is that you Alec?" Jackie asked as she pressed the intercom.
"Yes Mrs Tyler, is Rose ready yet?" Alec asked, wondering why Rose hadn't answered.
"She's not going to school today, I'll call them later, she was feeling off today."
"Can I talk to her?" Alec asked, clearing a lump in his throat at the thought of her not being there.
"Sorry she stayed it bed, she'll call ya later, after school maybe?" Jackie told him.
Alec went off, feeling confused as to what was going on. Rose had been fine over the weekend and looking forward to going back to school. He wondered if something had happened when she'd got back last night. He walked towards his aunt's house since he was a bit early and John answered the door.
"You two are early today," John joked. Then he saw Alec was on his own. "Where's Rose?"
"Her mother said she wasn't well but I don't believe her John," Alec replied.
"What's going on?" his aunt wanted to know as they stood in the doorway.
"Rose's mum says she's sick," John told her.
"That's not like her, is everything alright between you two Alec?" she asked him.
"Yes, she was fine last night Auntie Mary. If her mother calls the school, will you tell me ?" he asked John.
"Sure I will Alec. Do you want me to go round now?"
"No, we'll be late but going without her just feels strange," Alec replied.
John and his mother looked at each other, knowing he and Rose were inseparable and there must be another reason.
So Jackie went out to call her relatives back in London, not wanting to alert Bob when he came back although he'd know they would go back to London, she just didn't want him to know their whereabouts. She'd called the school and told them the truth, so as not to give Rose a bad report when her school records were called for then told her boss Rose was ill and needed looking after but she was leaving anyway and going back home, her boss not being too happy about it.
Rose was in a daze, cramming what she could into a suitcase and the large holdall she used for their holidays and staying at Alec's aunt's but then there were her records and other things she'd got since being there and hoped Alec would take the records.
She only came out of her room at lunchtime, seeing her mother debating what was hers.
"I'll have to leave all this," Jackie complained. "I spoke to a few of our relatives, we can go stay a few days with one of them."
"Do ya know what I'll be leaving behind Mum?"
"I know ya gonna say Alec. Rose, if ya stay, I can't tell ya what would happen."
"Ya don't have to. Ya should never had made any agreements with him Mum, what were ya thinkin'?" Rose wanted to know. "I'm going round after school and don't think I'm not gonna tell him the truth Mum."
"His cousin will find out anyway, I told them ya were leaving, you'll need a good reference when we get back. What else are ya gonna have to leave? It'll be a miracle if we manage with what we've got and we'll have to get a taxi to the station and another back to the estate, goodness knows how much that'll cost."
"I'll have to get Alec to take a few things, like what he bought for me and my records. Mum, please let me stay, I'm old enough."
"Yes, I know ya are and maybe you can come back when you're eighteen but for now, you have to leave or Bob will go after you."
"What the hell did you agree to Mum?"
"I swear I never knew most of it Rose, only what I thought was best for you. I wanted to make it up to ya, for being without a dad all those years. We leave now, before he gets back or it'll just get worse for ya. He was talking with Jimmy's dad last night, Bob was telling him things will change when he gets back."
"Well, he can't do anything since I'm sixteen," Rose told her.
"Ya can do things Rose but moving out, well it takes both parents' consent and I know I agreed, which should be enough but it's this agreement I have with Bob."
"What does that mean Mum?" Rose wanted to know.
Jackie remained silent as they ate.
"Rose, the agreement was until you're eighteen, Bob made me agree, he said even at sixteen, you still needed a male figure to keep you on track."
"Then what about all this rubbish over his friends?" Rose asked. "What are they up to Mum?"
"They never told me Rose, only the others, their kids who are old enough are going out with each other, you and Jimmy were the last so they were pushing for it."
"Pushing for what Mum? No, I don't want to know, Alec and his family already worked it out. They wanted to do something about it, unlike you."
"Whatcha think I'm doing now?" Jackie asked her.
"Taking me away from Alec," Rose replied.
"Rose, trust me, do ya want the alternative? Think about it. Do ya want another two years here and not being able to see him? Bob will stop you, you won't have a choice."
Jackie knew Rose was upset enough, she dare not mention she'd been a fool and signed before reading what had been put down but even if she tore up the letter, the solicitors would have another copy.
John had already noticed the change in Alec's mood as others in their class asked him where Rose was, John thinking they had seen the two of them together after all. He went to join his cousin at break time.
"Cheer up Alec, you can call and see her after school."
He'd not yet heard what her mother had said to the school secretary.
"I know but it's not like her," Alec replied. "Even when it's one of her off days. It has to be something more."
"Well, best not talk about that here eh?" John grinned.
As John called in the staff room for his lunch, he heard some other teachers talking.
"What was that about Rose Tyler?" he butted in.
"Her mother called to say she's taking her out of the school and they're moving back to London," Rose's class teacher told him.
"Well Alec Hardy is not going to be happy," the art teacher told them. "They are like twins."
John wondered how Alec was going to take the news but with all that had been going on, should he be that surprised? He finished his lunch and went to find his cousin, seeing a crowd around him.
"Seems your girlfriend's deserted you today," Billy was teasing him.
"Shut up Billy, she's just unwell, her mother told me," Alec replied.
John stood and watched, it seemed Rose had been the one that had kept them invisible. They all ran off as he approached Alec.
"Need rescuing?" John asked him as Alec moved to the back of the bench where he and Rose always sat.
"I can handle them. Any news about Rose?" he wanted to know.
"Ah, yes but you're not going to like it. Alec, wait until you go see her eh?"
"Why can't you tell me? Something happened last night, I know it did. Maybe Bob told her she had to stay away from me?"
"Didn't she say he was going away?" John reminded him.
"She's scared of him. I knew something was wrong when she never answered this morning."
John felt sorry for his younger cousin. Rose was leaving so how could he tell him? It was best Alec heard it from Rose herself, she must be all torn up about it, no wonder she was off school. He wondered exactly when she was leaving unless her mother had meant they were just leaving Bob but somehow he didn't think so.
Poor Rose didn't know how to tell Alec, he would probably call after he finished school. What could she say? Her eyes were still puffy from being upset when her mother had got back from making her phone calls and Rose didn't blame her for not using the phone in the flat.
Jackie had thought it through, they would leave early in the morning, she'd phoned the rail enquiries, they'd have to get the train to Glasgow and then a connecting one to London, it was going to be a long journey. She'd been happy when they'd been on their way to the town but now, how could she stay and put Rose through what she'd inadvertently got her into?
John dropped Alec off after they'd talked to Sandra, who wanted to know where Rose was.
"Do you want me to come in with you?" John asked him.
Alec looked up at the building.
"No, thanks anyway, I have to see her on my own. You know, don't you?"
"Yes, that's why it's best you talk to her."
"Things have got bad with Bob after last night."
"Alec, just ask her, okay? I'll see you in the morning but call me if you need to."
Alec let himself into the building then rang the buzzer again. Rose beat her mother to it and just opened the door.
"Alec. Come in."
"What's going on Rose?" he wanted to know, seeing she looked okay apart from her puffy eyes. "What the hell happened last night?"
"It's not about last night, well not completely. Can we just go to your house, please?"
"Rose, don't be late back," her mother called after her.
"Why do you have to be back early?" he asked as they got in the lift.
"I'll tell ya when we get to your house," she told him, putting her arms around his neck and giving him a kiss.
They walked in silence to his house, just holding hands. When Alec let them in, she took his hand again.
"Can we just go to your room?" she asked.
"Tell me what's going on Rose. You know I love you, what happened?"
