Face the consequences

Alec left his aunt, not feeling any better about letting Rose go but what had he expected? That his guilt would vanish by talking about her to his aunt? He didn't think so, if he was honest about it. He had to face reality, that Rose was gone, probably already involved with Donna's cousin since the man would be close by to pick up the pieces of Rose's broken heart.

His aunt had told him to bring Tess with him if he wanted, one Sunday but not to expect miracles, such as they would welcome Tess the way they used to welcome Rose. As he went home, it hurt to think of it, when Rose would sneak out of the apartment she had lived in and after they had hugged, they would walk the short distance, hand in hand and talk excitedly.

He had to get it out of his mind and being reminded of those times hadn't helped. It was Tess he was involved with now, he could leave Tess, if he wanted but he'd have to face the consequences, such as the embarrassment at the station as Tess told everyone and she knew more of the staff better than he did. His only other course of action was to take his aunt's advice.

That would involve packing up, moving to London and accepting a lower paid job, which would put a strain on his finances and he'd have to beg Rose to take him back. That was, as he suspected, that she wasn't already involved with James.

While Alec had been at his aunt's, Tess had been talking about him to her friend who worked in the office at the police station.

"How's your training going Tess?" Sally was asking her at a fancy restaurant Tess had found. "Can you really afford to come to a place like this? You seem like you've been here before," she laughed.

"Don't knock it Sally, do you really want to be seen at that cheap chicken place? Even Alec wouldn't take me there, though I expect he went when he was younger, probably with his ex girlfriend when she lived in the town," Tess scoffed.

Sally let out a nervous laugh, not knowing if Tess was joking or not.

"Tess, we all used to go there when we were kids, Alec would have been no exception," Sally replied. "So has he stopped seeing her then?"

"Of course he has, he was supposed to go down a few weekends ago but I got him to stay," Tess admitted.

"I won't ask how you managed that then," Sally told her. "He's not asked for any more time off as far as I know. So are you putting in for a promotion?"

"Soon, I have to catch up on a few things. Alec's almost ready though, he seems quite pleased with himself, he's been on a stake-out, watching a ring of counterfeiters of all things," Tess revealed.

"Oh, I heard about that from Jeannie," Sally replied. "She's so proud of her new husband, I bet it won't be long before she leaves to start a family? She can always come back afterwards. What do you think Tess?"

"What?" Tess asked as she finished her slice of melon and saw a waiter with a tray approaching to take the plates. "Good for her then? I expect she'll let everyone know, if she does? See, I told you this was a better place to eat, getting waited on."

Sally had to admit she'd never come to a place like this on her own or with her boyfriend, who was just a uniformed police officer.

"How did Alec get to take the sergeant's exam then? I mean he just got transferred here," Sally asked her.

"He never really said," Tess admitted. "All I know is, he got transferred back here after getting on fast in Aberdeen. I never asked for details. Does it matter?"

"You're not jealous are you Tess?" Sally laughed as another waiter approached with their main course and hoping she had enough money on her to pay for it.

"Don't be silly, why should I be jealous of him?" Tess denied. "He probably came here for the same reason as I did, the training programme."

Sally doubted it, if Alec Hardy already knew enough to take the sergeant's exam, to become a detective sergeant of all things. That involved extra as far as she knew and her boyfriend hadn't even become a detective constable, let alone thinking about it. How had Tess managed to get her claws into Alec, when he'd already got a girlfriend, before Tess had arrived here?

"Alec comes from the town doesn't he?" Sally asked when the waiter had placed their plates in front of them.

"Yes, he does, he doesn't deny it," Tess replied, taking the fish knife into her hand and Sally thinking Tess was a bit of a snob, knowing which knife and fork to use out of several on the table. "I suppose living in Paisley is better than living in Glasgow itself?"

Sally was about to say something, that Tess was indeed a snob.

"I come from Glasgow," Sally admitted. "Well just outside, I come from Leith."

"Oh, I meant no offence," Tess half apologised. "Even so, you're not actually from Glasgow, are you? I mean Leith is probably a nice enough place. I think I've seen an album of Alec's mentioning the town by some band or another. His ex probably got it for him at some point I expect?"

Rose had sent it to him one year, when Alec hadn't been able to go down to London on his actual birthday. It had been the pride and joy of his record collection ever since and they had always talked about how they went to that concert as a surprise for him.

Tess and her friend finished their meals and the waiter brought their bill over, Tess just glancing at what she'd had and getting a large note out of her wallet without even thinking about it, while Sally was getting two small notes out of hers.

"I don't expect you have much to pay out now Tess?" Sally asked her. "I mean with moving in with Alec? How did you even manage to persuade him?"

"It wasn't that difficult Sally," Tess replied as the waiter came back and they put the notes on the silver tray. "I told him the lease was up on my place."

"Was it?" Sally wondered.

"Almost, I would have had to move anyway. It wasn't hard getting him to agree, I moved in while he was away that time," Tess admitted.

"So, he didn't have much choice?" Sally asked, wondering if she would get any change and thinking she would have to skimp on something at the weekend when she went shopping.

Sally thought living away from home wasn't as easy as everyone made out but Tess wasn't even batting an eyelid over it, living with Alec. Lucky Tess.

"I'm going to the department store now," Tess announced as they got outside the small but expensive restaurant in the centre of the town.

"I have to get off," Sally replied, thinking she'd have to go to one of those ATMs she hated using or queue up at a branch of her bank in the lunchtime rush hour.

Life must be so much easier being Tess Henchard and having Alec Hardy as a boyfriend, Sally thought as they parted company. Tess was a career woman and Alec was probably getting used to having Tess as his girlfriend. He was probably also still missing his ex one badly, he never looked comfortable when Tess had been waiting for him to finish work and she always complained when he'd gone off somewhere.

When Tess had phoned her to arrange to meet at lunchtime, she had thought her friend had an ulterior motive. That probably meant Alec was going somewhere on his own and Tess hadn't wanted to be outdone. Sally was sure Tess would brag about where she'd had lunch when she got home.

Alec was enjoying the peace and quiet, picking out an album to listen to and choosing 'Sunshine on Leith' at random. This was the one Rose had sent him, not long after they had been parted. He wished he'd known then that was what was going to happen - that they would be parted for good. The question was, what was he going to do about it?

The hi-fi unit was playing the title track and he remembered listening to it when he'd first been sent the album, having heard a few tracks on the radio and telling Rose it was his favourite after the one they had both loved to listen to.

He heard the door opening and for a moment, his heart leaped that it would be Rose coming in, instead of Tess.

"I'm back Alec," Tess announced as she put a dress carrier bag on the kitchen counter and heard music in the lounge.

She wished he wouldn't keep playing records that reminded him of Rose, or she may have to insist he forgot about the past.

"Hope you've not spent up Tess, need I remind you who pays all the bills?" he shouted over the music.

"Yes, you do keep reminding me Alec," Tess huffed back. "I have an image to maintain you know?"

"Who to?" Alec wanted to know as he got up to turn the music off.

He knew Tess didn't appreciate his taste in music, she was rather more classical.

"Really Alec, I meant when we do go out, which we don't seem to these days. Have you thought about going out at weekends then?" she had to remind him.

"I will have to see. What have you been buying now?" he asked as he entered the kitchen, needing to make a strong coffee.

He was glad he was one of those people who hadn't taken to alcohol, though these days, he was sorely tempted to start. Tess wasn't even hiding the name of the store as she went to the carrier bag.

"Don't worry Alec, it was in the sale," Tess snapped at him before he said anything else about her spending habits.

She took the dress out and held it in front of her, Alec wondering how many more going out dresses she needed, he'd seen enough in her wardrobe. He thought if that was Rose, it would be another t-shirt. The dress looked like it had been expensive before a discount had been applied.

"Well you will have to stop buying dresses that you won't wear Tess, your wardrobe is getting out of hand," he warned her.

"I would wear it Alec, were we to go out somewhere for a meal," she objected. "We should make more of an effort."

Alec wondered what sort of upbringing she'd had, it was a far cry from how he and Rose had been raised, Rose more-so than himself. Jackie had put on a few airs and graces when they'd lived here, according to Rose but nothing near as snobbish as Tess acted. Then Jackie had gone back to being her old self, once they had got back to London, so Rose had laughed in front of her about it.

He supposed he should be grateful Tess's family didn't live in the same town. Little did he know of Tess's plans once she completed her training and she gained a rank or two in the police. Tess had thought that Alec wouldn't leave it too long after he got promoted before he'd start on becoming a detective inspector while she herself would find it more difficult, being a woman and in Scotland.

Rose and James were now on their way to his aunt's house and were talking. He pulled up outside and they sat for a few minutes.

"Sure you want to go ahead with what we planned on telling them love?" James was making sure as he was already nervous and not sure they could pull this off.

"Yeah, I'm okay, as long as Donna doesn't ask too many questions we've not thought of," Rose smiled nervously as James turned the car engine off.

"She'll already be suspicious when she gets home and finds us here," James laughed. "She'll be complaining I swapped my day off to a different one to hers and she has to get the tube home."

"Geez, I never thought of that," Rose admitted.

Donna had already been warned though, as her mother had phoned the store and asked the switchboard to put her through.

"Of course it's urgent," Sylvia was trying to convince the operator when being told only emergency calls were allowed for staff, even office staff in charge of the personnel department.

"Very well, one moment," Sylvia had been told.

Donna was wondering why the switchboard operator was calling her as she picked up her desk phone and pressed the lit up button.

"Well if my mother says its urgent, then it must be," Donna had insisted on being challenged. "I'm not on the shop floor you know?"

The operator wondered what that had to do with getting a personal call?

"Donna?" her mother wanted to make sure. "I'm calling to tell you that Rose and James are coming round for tea tonight."

"That's an emergency?" Donna half joked.

"Well it is now, since James phoned me earlier and said he and Rose wanted to tell us something. What on Earth was he hinting at? They've not been going out that long, have they?" Sylvia wanted to make sure. "Have they been hiding how long they've been going out?"

"Calm down Mum," Donna was trying to process the information. "All I know is, James admitted he'd gone to see Rose the night Alec was supposed to be turning up. He said Rose had been upset so he'd stayed with her a while. The next thing I know, they were seeing each other after work."

"Well there we are then," Sylvia replied, trying to keep up. "He even asked if your granddad would be here, I'll have to call him to get him round. Mind you, I wonder how long he has to move out of where he is? It's a shame they're knocking his old house down to make room for new apartments."

"Yeah but where will he go now Mum?" Donna wondered. "Back to Rose and James though? I think she's been staying at weekends, maybe she's moving in?"

"Don't be daft Donna, it's a bit soon for that," her mother insisted.

"Not these days Mum," Donna reminded her. "I thought maybe he'd ask granddad first though?"

"I don't think that's a good idea, with James being out all day and now Rose is his girlfriend," Sylvia told her. "Anyway, I just wanted to warn you. Is that why James has swapped his day off, to the same as Rose's then?"

Donna wished sometimes her mother would keep up.

"Maybe he wants to talk to dad, about those investments his dad had a share in?" Donna wondered as she drank her coffee.

Donna was glad she'd sneaked hers back to the office in a paper cup with a lid, now the café was doing take-outs for customers. She'd not fancied sitting without Rose and James to talk to.

"He wouldn't do that, he'd go to your dad's office, while he still has one," her mother replied. "Besides, will he have told Rose?"

"Don't worry about that Mum, Rose isn't a gold-digger, trust me," Donna laughed.

"No, I never said she was. You've known her a good while Donna. If it hadn't been for her going on about Alec, James would have asked her out a long time ago," her mother told her. "They'd probably be married by now instead of Rose getting upset that Alec didn't turn up last time."

"Well that was Rose, not wanting to go up there," Donna reminded her mother. "I hope James doesn't mess her about, she doesn't need it."

"I don't think he will Donna," her mother insisted, going to his defence. "You know how long he's pined after her."

So Rose and James had just knocked on the door shortly after his granddad had arrived.

"What's so urgent then?" Wilfred had wanted to know as he sat in the kitchen.

"Well I don't know until they get here," Sylvia had told him. "I hope they're not splitting up already."

"Nah, look how long he's been waiting?" Wilfred asked. "I got notice today, I have three months to move."

"Oh I'm sorry Dad, you were expecting it though?" Sylvia reminded him.

"Yeah, where else am I gonna find around where I live eh? They're regenerating the whole area. Why can't they leave things alone, there's not gonna be as much in its place, what with the open spaces on the plans at the community centre."

"You'll sort something out Dad," Sylvia had insisted. "You can always come here for a while."

She didn't see Wilfred's reaction to her suggestion. That was the last thing he wanted, Sylvia could be a bit overbearing at times.

"Granddad, you remember Rose?" James asked when Wilfred opened the door after Sylvia called to him.

"Of course I do," Wilfred replied, letting them in. "How are you sweetheart?" he greeted Rose.

"I'm good, thanks Mister Mott," Rose smiled.

"Still star-struck James?" Wilfred laughed. "Have you told Rose why Donna calls you spaceman?"

"Yeah, he told me, thanks," Rose replied as they were led into the sitting room. "I think his hobby is great, he promised he'd take me stargazing one night, didn't ya James?"

"Well I'm gonna see about getting that allotment I was telling you about, I can take my telescope up there," Wilfred promised. "Rose and you can come up and visit, it's right on top of that hill. I got notice I have to leave in three months, they'd better keep those allotments for us, I can't tell you how long I've been waiting for one."

"Sorry Granddad. You'll find somewhere suitable, won't he Rose?" James asked as he sat in the chair and indicated for Rose to squeeze beside him.

Rose was just trying when he leaned forward to reach for the stool to put his feet on, since he'd been told off for putting them on the polished coffee table. Rose had to smile at his red and white Converse shoes, which he seemed to favour on his day off. He always wore his black and white ones for work.

Donna acted like they were always there when she got home.

"So go on then, what have ya got to tell us?" Donna wanted to know as they went into the dining room after James had pulled the table extension out for his aunt.

Rose had to sit opposite James, since Donna beat her to it. She noticed James's granddad sat at one end and his uncle made his way to the other end, Rose thinking he didn't look well.

"You may as well tell us before we eat," Sylvia told James as everything was in covered dishes, Donna having helped carry them in. "A bit more notice next time would be nice James, I didn't have that much in."

"Sorry. Anyway, it concerns both Rose and myself and I think maybe we have two things to tell you, do we Rose?" he looked across at her.

"Well yeah. You tell them then," Rose encouraged him.

"Well okay. Rose is thinking about moving in with me, aren't you Rose?" James asked, not sure if it was all the time or not. "She's been staying over weekends but I asked her. It's a big step, we know that but it's for the best. Rose is pregnant, we went to the clinic earlier, didn't we Rose?"

Rose thought you could hear a pin drop as everyone looked at her.

"Rose?" Donna questioned her friend. "You're pregnant and you never came to me? Why on Earth not?"

"I didn't mean to upset ya Donna," Rose told her. "James wanted to go with me. I'm not that far on but I was feeling a bit sick so I decided to go there rather than get a test."

They had talked again about working it out and Rose thought she could cover how far on she was by evading such questions.

"Rose is pregnant and she never told me," Donna repeated to no-one in particular.

"Yes Donna, we heard," her mother replied, Donna still with her mouth open. "That was a bit quick wasn't it? You've not been together long."

"It was my fault, I forgot what date it was. I was upset that Alec hadn't turned up and well, James was there and he was really nice to me," Rose offered to explain.

"You mean the day he didn't turn up?" Donna wondered after recovering slightly.

"No," James joined in, feeling hungry after smelling the food.

"James, it's no good, they'll work it out," Rose told him, seeing what he was trying to do.

Rose knew they'd never get away with it if he was denying it.

"Too right we will, spaceman," Donna told him. "Or is that daddy spaceman?"

"Stop it Donna," her mother told her, uncovering the food and James diving in.

Then he thought maybe he should offer the food to Rose.

"Sorry, you're eating for two now," he grinned as Rose watched him pile food on the plate, then he passed it across the table to her and Rose gave him her empty plate.

"You eat up sweetheart," Wilfred encouraged her. "I'll say it if no-one else does. Congratulations."

"Thanks Granddad," James told him, waiting for Donna to finish.

"I want to be godmother," Donna told them. "So will the baby be a second cousin?" she tried to work out.

"Yeah, I think so, I've got loads of them anyway, I think one of my second cousin's is pregnant. Goodness knows what her baby will be to me?" Rose laughed.

James was pleased they were getting away with it so far. This was going to be easier than either of them had thought.