Moment of truth

Jackie was staring at the two of them with her mouth open, then remembered to cover it.

"What were ya thinkin' Rose?" Jackie managed to gasp as Rose led her mother to the sofa.

"I'm not a little kid anymore Mum, I knew there was a risk. It didn't seem to matter somehow and anyway, I thought things were gonna change."

"Ya mean ya were gonna come to ya senses and go up with him and get married?" Jackie asked as she tried to recover. "Or get married before he left then go with him?" she added as she tried to think straight.

"Something like that," Rose admitted, sitting beside Jackie on the sofa and hinting for James to take one of the chairs. "I was waiting to see if he asked me, then he just left without even mentioning it."

James could tell it had been upsetting, Alec going off without seeing if she at least wanted to go with him. He didn't know the whole story though and he doubted Rose would tell him. It seemed to be very private and personal to her.

"Maybe he did intend coming back?" James dared to ask.

"Do ya think?" Jackie asked him. "The question is, what changed his mind? He even called a few days before so something drastic must've happened?"

"I wish I knew Mum," Rose admitted, hoping James wouldn't take it the wrong way.

Just why was James being so understanding over it, she wondered.

"James is going to the clinic with me tomorrow, I'm gonna get a proper test to make sure. I suppose I could be wrong?" she added.

"Well I hope ya are Rose," Jackie told her. "So how is this gonna work then, if ya don't wanna tell Alec? I take it ya don't want him to know?"

"How can I Mum?" Rose asked her. "He made it quite obvious when he didn't keep his word and come back. It had to be Tess, keeping him there and he could have got away, if he'd wanted to."

"Rose, maybe he couldn't get away?" James asked her.

"He could've tried, that's no excuse. No, Tess has too big a hold on him and even if he had come down, I would've known it. Things can't be the same as long as she's around, Alec would've had to leave where he was and come down here. I would've always had to compete with her."

James got up and went to sit on the arm of the sofa, putting his arm around her.

"I'm sorry Rose but you have to face the facts," he reminded her. "You should really be thankful you found out but maybe he could have told you face to face?"

"Yeah, I just don't get that," Rose had to agree, raising her hand to take his. "It's so unlike him. Tess has a firm hold on him and even if I went up there, she always would. It would've been a constant battle, with Alec in the middle. I don't think she would've given him so up easily, even if we'd got married, she would've still tempted him."

"Maybe ya being too hard on him?" Jackie wondered. "Maybe you being there would've been enough?"

Rose let out a nervous laugh.

"I wish that were true. I hoped when he came down last time he wasn't actually with her but somehow, I think he'd have stayed away that time as well, he wouldn't hurt me like that. Anyway, the question is what do I do about it, if I am pregnant?"

"You already know what I think Rose," James reminded her.

"What have ya cooked up between the both of ya?" Jackie wanted to know.

"I offered to tell everyone the baby is mine, I mean we'd have to tell a few white lies about dates but we can say its early, when the baby arrives," James told Jackie, taking Rose's other hand and squeezing it. "Let's wait and see tomorrow then? Well, what do you think Jackie?"

James was hoping she'd taken the news well and since she wasn't throwing him out yet, it seemed to be going well so far. There was still time to be chasing him along the balcony with a broom he supposed?

"I think ya should think carefully," Jackie replied, recovering a bit more. "Ya could still call Alec and tell him?"

"Mum, don't even think of calling him. I don't want him to know, it's between me and James now. James is here, Alec isn't," Rose pointed out. "I know Alec didn't know about how close it was to my monthly, he had no reason to know but with him being early, he never even asked. Like I said, I had no reason to think he was never coming back."

"Rose, you know I'm here for you," James kissed the top of her head. "I meant it, that I would take care of you."

"How are ya gonna manage on one wage when Rose has to stop working?" Jackie wanted to know.

Rose didn't know if James wanted anyone else to know about his family.

"Jackie, when my parents died and I went to live with my aunt and uncle, my uncle was made trustee of my father's estate. He looked after things for me until I was old enough and still does to some extent. The thing is, I have a house that I was left, someone was appointed to take care of it and I was left a great deal of money. I only told Rose a short while ago, after we started going out," James explained. "I get a modest sum every month until my uncle ends the agreement. He's not well at present and had to stop working so I have to discuss things now and I'll have to see my solicitor about adding Rose to any benefits, if she agrees."

"Geez, ya mean ya have a lot of money?" Jackie gasped, remembering to cover her mouth this time. "Rose, did ya know before?"

"What? Mum, ya know me better than that," Rose objected. "No, I only just found out, when I went back the other week with him."

"It's true Jackie, Rose had no idea," James backed Rose up. "I could have had any job I wanted but I chose to work in the store. I wanted to get to know her better after only seeing her briefly at Donna's house. I kept asking Donna about her and was always being told Rose would never leave Alec. I always knew the chances were slim that Rose would ever leave Alec."

"So ya were ready to pick up the pieces?" Jackie asked him. "A bit too quickly if ya ask me. It could be seen as a bit creepy."

"Leave him alone Mum," Rose leapt to James's defence. "It wasn't like that. James came to see me the night Alec was supposed to have turned up 'cos he'd had a feeling Alec wouldn't have arrived. Ain't that right James?"

"What? Oh, yes, when I left work and dropped Donna off, I came over to see if Rose was okay," James agreed. "Then I asked her out and to go with me on the store's day out. I was the one to suggest I went with her tomorrow."

"So are ya staying with him tonight?" Jackie wanted to know.

"I asked her to stay, the clinic's not too far away," James replied.

Rose thought he could act the idiot when he wanted to but also had a serious side. He could also make her laugh and clown around when he wanted to, she supposed that was why they had got together, after that first awkward time.

"Well call me when ya've been seen," Jackie told them.

"Yeah, of course I will," Rose told her. "I hope I'll get tested while I'm there and get to know right away. Then we'll let Donna and her family know as well. Donna is gonna be over the moon, that's why we can't let on it's not James's."

"I don't know why ya can't," Jackie told them as James went to help Rose up.

Rose had to smile at all the attention James was giving her.

"Because she won't ever stop going on about it and it'll be all around the store, Mum. James has to work there after I have to leave, can ya imagine how it'll be for him? It's not fair to ask him to put up with it, that we're together and the baby's not his," Rose reminded Jackie.

"Well I suppose there's that?" Jackie then wondered, seeing Rose being helped by James.

"Yeah, trust me, Donna is the store's biggest gossip. I'm surprised she never said anything about me pretending to be hurt so I could get the other Saturday off. She'll be going on about today for weeks."

"Rose, I probably won't even stay at the store once you leave," James told her. "You know why I took the job? In fact, I'll start applying for a few posts for the new term in September, we have another mouth to feed now," he smiled.

"Ain't ya takin' this a bit seriously?" Jackie asked him as Rose went for her jacket.

"Oh yes!" James's smiled widened. "I intend to give her all the attention she wants and I promise to look after her." Then, he went all serious, Jackie wondering how he could do that. "Besides, she was badly let down, I don't intend for her to be sad over it."

"Aw, that's sweet of ya," Rose told him as she returned and gave him a kiss on the cheek. "Come on then, let's be going?"

"Don't forget the things ya came for," Jackie nodded to a small bag. "Ya are gonna come back and stay for a few nights?"

"Yes Rose, we have to talk about that," James reminded her. "You should maybe come back here on Wednesday and Thursday nights maybe?"

"Is that all?" Jackie sounded disappointed and cheated out of seeing her daughter.

"Maybe Friday night as well, for now?" Rose wondered.

"Well, if that's what you want Rose?" James asked, going for the bag and Rose's hand.

"Yeah, like I said, just for now?" Rose replied. "Bye Mum, love ya."

"Bye sweetheart and make sure he looks after ya," Jackie told them, walking after them to the door.

"We'll talk, when I've been to the clinic," Rose promised her mother, letting go of James's hand to hug Jackie.

Jackie watched as James led Rose by her hand along the balcony, the memories coming back of when Rose used to walk Alec and John to John's car when he was leaving. Then when Rose used to get back, she would be in tears and needed comforting, especially if she'd seen that Mickey Smith either during saying goodbye or he'd been hanging around outside the block of flats.

She didn't trust Mickey as far as she could throw him and she'd learned recently he'd been fired from the pizza delivery job he'd only had for a few weeks, for being late and costing them money. He'd been given a final warning and that had been it – he was out and she'd heard more gossip it was because he was looking for someone whenever he had to come to the estate. She could only guess he'd been looking for Rose but what for? Was he jealous of seeing her with Alec?

Now, she could only warn Rose to be careful but she couldn't tell her new boyfriend he looked exactly like Alec. She didn't know what he'd do if he found out, then Rose would have to bring the baby up on her own. She could understand about not telling Alec, he'd made his choice and turned his back on Rose and for what? Someone who was willing to live up there with him?

Maybe he'd run out of patience waiting for Rose, she wondered.

"That seemed to go well love," James thought out loud as he helped Rose into the car and Rose wishing he wouldn't.

"Yeah, so far, so good," she managed to laugh. "I hope she knows it's not gonna be easy for any of us not to say anything?"

"Let's hope so then? Ready to go home, well your new home? I mean I hope you'll treat it as your home? Will you?" he asked nervously as he started the car.

"Yeah, I want to try," she replied. "There are things we need to know about each other now, don't ya think?"

James nodded in agreement as he drove off.

"Ah, what things exactly?" he wondered.

"You know, well I know when your birthday is and how old ya are," Rose started off.

"Well, I was going to ask you about our age difference? Does it matter that I'm older than you are?" he wanted to know.

"No, it doesn't matter to me James and you know my past, there was only ever Alec so no point in me talking about that, is there?"

"Ah, no, not really love, I always heard you and Donna talking. I only had one serious relationship, it didn't end well either, she left me for some American bloke so we can forget about that. Anything else we've not covered?" he asked, hoping the answer was no.

"Well, I know about your parents and you've met my mum," Rose teased him.

"Yes, well your mum seems used to having your boyfriend around," he teased her back.

"Alec and John used to come down all the time, when I had to leave Paisley," Rose told him sadly.

"Sorry love. I guess I'm always going to keep doing that but I don't mean to upset you. I used to have to put up with Donna talking on Sundays. My aunt would encourage her by asking how you were getting on and my uncle used to disappear, then my granddad would try to get me away but Donna used to tell me to stay where I was, since I apparently wanted to hear all about you."

"Did you? I mean did ya want to know all about me?" Rose blushed.

"Yes but Donna would never let me forget it," he replied. "So, anything else?"

"Don't think so," Rose replied, not wanting to say he looked like Alec. If and when it came up, she had to be prepared to defend not telling him. He could take it either way if he did find out but she was surprised Donna had never mentioned it to him. Maybe she had and he didn't want her to know? They were nearly back at Rose's new home before they spoke again.

"Are you okay about this Rose? I mean I can take you back, if you want?" James asked her.

"No, I'm fine James, it's just tryin' to get used to it, that's all. I'll be fine, thanks."

"Well if you're sure?" he asked as they reached the street and he pulled into the driveway. "I'll get extra keys cut tomorrow then? That'll be quite a moment, giving the keys to you," he beamed. "Imagine that!"

"Yeah, no-one's ever given me the keys to their house before," Rose tried to sound as enthusiastic as he was.

As they went inside, they were unaware that Mickey Smith had been hanging around and seen the pair of them come out of the back entrance to the flats, where James had parked his car not far from where John and Alec used to park. He'd not been expecting them, not seeing the man since the other week when he'd made a delivery to Rose's flat.

He'd not really known what number she lived at so it had been unexpected that time but the man hadn't sounded Scottish. He'd brushed that off as the man losing it in Rose's company and the fact he spent a lot of time down here. Now, they'd been leaving, hand in hand and the man had been carrying a bag. So, Rose was leaving home? Now, he'd never get a chance catching her on her own and talking to her, trying to convince her she needed someone who lived on the estate, not someone Scottish bloke who lived all that way away.

Now it seemed the man was living here unless either Rose was leaving or he'd come to live here and Rose had moved out.

The next day, Rose and James went to her appointment at the baby clinic, getting registered but finding Rose had to register separately for the doctor's so she was going to go to the other side of the building afterwards. They then sat and waited to be called.

"Do you want me to come in with you?" James asked nervously.

"Yeah, if ya want to?" Rose replied, taking his hand. "James, ya can change ya mind about all this ya know?"

"Why would I? I told you already, we're in this together. I can't let you do this on your own. So, if you want me to back out, then just say."

"James, I don't want ya to back out, I was just givin' ya the choice, that's all. It's not gonna be easy fooling anyone," she warned him.

"I know that but if we get past Donna and my aunt, we're halfway there," James smiled at the thought of fooling Donna. "She's your friend but being her cousin is twice as bad."

"Yeah, I can imagine then," Rose managed to smile back. "Geez, it's gonna get complicated, just pray my mum doesn't say anything then."

They sat silently until Rose's name was called, Rose hoping she'd get a result today or she'd have to buy one of those testing kits on the way home. She didn't think she could wait to find out, not when she'd felt so off lately. Meanwhile up in Paisley, Alec had got back to the stake-out, hoping something was going to happen and when it did, they'd been told to stand back and let the uniformed officers based around the corner do all the work.

"Don't forget what we were told," Carter was telling him.

"I know, I got the message," Alec insisted.

"Well, Tess would never forgive me if something happened to you," Carter joked.

Alec didn't bother replying. Why was he still with Tess anyway? She had some sort of hold over him and he knew it but it was too late to back away, she had her claws well into him. Maybe one day, he'd forget all about Rose and what they had and especially what he'd thrown away.

He often wondered why she'd not rung that day he'd supposed to have been visiting but he expected she was bitterly disappointed in him. It had already been too late for him to set off, Tess having tricked him that night and he'd just gone to sleep. He could only hope yet again that one day Rose might forgive him.

Tess was working in the office with her new partner, a newly promoted detective constable and was showing her the ropes.

"So, you're going out with DC Hardy then?" Tess was asked at break time.

"Yes, for a while now, though he was a bit shy at first, he already had a girlfriend, down in London of all places," Tess admitted.

"So, you stole him from her?" she was further asked.

"Not exactly, he did have a choice," Tess replied. "He chose to stay with me instead of going back to see her. I don't know how he did it, I never asked."

"Seems to me he didn't have much of a choice, did he?" the other woman replied.

"What's that supposed to mean?" Tess wanted to know.

"Well maybe he felt obliged to stay here? I mean since you were here and his then girlfriend was all that way away?"

"Well, that was the idea, I did tell him," Tess admitted. "I asked him who he'd rather be with, then I moved in with him."

"Well it didn't take long then, did it?" she was asked.

Tess went quiet and just finished eating.

"Well, he's up for a promotion soon, we'll see if he chooses to stay here or go back to her, won't we?" Tess told her new colleague.

At the baby clinic, Rose was having to answer questions about how far on she thought she was and the dates she had likely become pregnant. This was going to be a test, since she had to include James in it.

"Yeah, I think I know when it was," Rose was trying to bluff her way out of it and turning to James for support, who was looking back as if to say don't ask him. "I think it was about six weeks ago?"

The female doctor was trying to fill the form out but was quite used to young couples trying to remember when it might have happened.

"Father's name?" Rose was asked, making James jump. "Yes, you can answer if you want?" the woman smiled at him.

"Ah. James Noble," James replied in a low voice. "You could have answered that Rose."

"I know but she asked you," Rose replied, trying not to laugh at his obvious embarrassment.

"Well, that's all the questions for now. Rose, you can go get undressed and into the gown provided, behind that curtain. The nurse will assist you if you want?"

"I can manage, thanks," Rose insisted as she got up. "Does he have to wait outside?"

"No, he can wait here, if you want?" the doctor replied, seeing how nervous poor James looked. "It won't take long, I just have to examine you to see if you are pregnant or it's something else."

"I was sick this morning," Rose admitted, which was news to James.

"You never said," James spoke up. "Why not? How long's that been happening?"

"I didn't want to bother ya," Rose replied. "It's been happening a while but not every morning. Am I definitely pregnant then?"

"It sounds like it but let's make sure," the doctor seemed amused at the two of them as she knew most partners knew when their other halves were being sick.

"I thought I'd get a test?" Rose said as she went behind the curtains.

"Only when you're not a hundred percent sure and you seem like you're sure," the doctor replied, making some notes. "I'll know better when I've examined you and with you being so far on, it will be easier to tell. If I can't find anything, we'll get you in for a scan."

"You can do it now?" Rose wanted to know as she got undressed.

"I'll just see if it's free," the doctor picked up her desk phone. "Just in case but I could do one anyway."

James was just sat there taking it all in. Was this what it was going to be like if he volunteered to go to all the appointments with Rose? He had been the one to jump in and take over what Alec should have been doing. Should he go behind Rose's back and contact the other man and tell him to get himself down here and that Rose was pregnant?

The man was in the police, what was he doing messing Rose around? Rose wouldn't thank him though when Alec turned up, she'd either blame him or her mother for his arrival. The doctor had finished on the phone, James taking no notice of what she'd been saying.

"Don't worry, I've seen nervous expectant fathers before," the doctor joked to him.

"I suppose you have?" James tried to smile. "I've not been an expectant father before, that's all, it's all new to me."

The doctor disappeared around the curtain when the nurse indicated Rose was ready. James thought this was it – the moment of truth to see if Rose was really pregnant, then the fun would begin fooling his own family and getting Rose established as his partner for legal purposes such as with his uncle's firm who were managing all his financial affairs.

At least his family knew Rose and that she wasn't after his money, unlike he suspected his long gone ex was. He had suspected that was why she'd gone off, when he'd refused to go into details of what had happened when his parents had died. His ex had been offered a job over in the US and she'd expected him to ask her to stay and then she'd let him know she'd met someone else.

Rose was trying to relax whilst being prodded and had found the intrusions a bit off-putting but she was told it was almost over as the nurse handed a listening device to the doctor so Rose assumed it was to detect any heartbeat. She dared to open her eyes when the instrument was removed from her tummy and was greeted by the other woman smiling.

"Well, good news Rose, you are pregnant and the baby is fine, I could hear a heartbeat and everything feels like it should. I can fit you in for a scan but in about an hour, you have to drink some water and then wait twenty minutes without going to the bathroom. Think you can do it?"

Rose thought she'd managed to get to and from the seaside the other day on the coach so she could do this.

"Yeah, I can give it a go," she replied, accepting the nurse's hand to get off the examination table.

"We'll leave you to get dressed and I'll tell the other department to expect you. I'll leave you to tell your partner, he seems nervous enough," the doctor smiled.

James had been trying to hear what was being said behind the curtain but it was difficult, since the doctor had her back to him, he'd seen her back up a few times as she'd examined Rose.

"Well?" James asked when Rose came out and he'd come away from the desk.

"I'm going for a scan. Looks like I am though or she wouldn't be sending me for one and she said she could hear a heartbeat. Well, seems like you're gonna be a dad then?"

They'd already talked about what they'd say, should she actually be pregnant. Rose had thought they should act and say things as though James was the father, to get into practice. They were directed to the next floor and Rose gave her name to the nurse on duty.

"Help yourself to the water, you need to drink several cups, then wait twenty minutes and no going to the bathroom," the nurse repeated to Rose what she'd already been told.

"Don't you go making me laugh," Rose prodded James as he poured some water for her, having refilled the jug with fresh water, since it was almost empty anyway.

"Would I do that?" he asked. "Really Rose."

"Yeah, I wouldn't put it past ya," she laughed as she sat down and he handed the plastic cup to her.

There were several other couples waiting around and Rose thought they'd be ages and she was already nervous.

"What's wrong love?" James whispered to her. "Don't be nervous."

"How can I not be?" Rose wanted to know as another couple went in through another door.

"If you're not and the doctor was mistaken, it doesn't matter, it won't make me leave you. I love you Rose."

Rose already knew he did though they'd never really told each other, it had all been so rushed the last few weeks.

"I would have known anyway soon when my next monthly was due," she replied quietly. "I love ya too James."

James took her free hand as she began drinking the water and hoped that if she was pregnant she would accept his proposal of him offering to bring the child up as his own or at least accepting he'd be there for her. If she wasn't pregnant, would she be disappointed and go away?

The wait seemed to drag for the both of them after Rose was told she'd drank enough and she tried to sit still, James stroking her hand. Then finally, her name was called and James was told to wait where he was while they prepared Rose for the scan and then he'd be called in.

He was already past being nervous as he watched Rose go into the other room and he sat waiting to be called wondering if he was doing the right thing or if he should make her contact Alec.