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Chapter 5: One Step At a Time

Rachel had no complaints about the slightly romantic setting of the restaurant, it just didn't do anything to quell the question that was buzzing around in her mind. Was she ready to jump straight into a relationship with Eddie? That along with the day's events, were stopping her from relaxing entirely, and Rachel was well aware that her deputy more than anyone would decode that.

It was what she realised as her breath caught upon looking towards him, noticing his eyes had obviously been on her for some time as she'd browsed the menu.

"Stuart will be off your back now, Rachel."

Eddie himself wasn't entirely sure of what was playing on Rachel's mind, he just knew it was something. Going straight for Stuart Hordley seemed like an accurate enough guess, given the way that recent hours had unfolded.

She smiled and Eddie wondered if she was realising he seemed to know her inside and out. The best part was the mutuality of it all - Rachel knew him just as well.

"I'm not so sure about that. You know, every time there's a problem… or… even if it's out of my control. He's going to hold my past against me Eddie. That's not going to go away."

He wouldn't have been able to deny that she did have a point, it was just a question of reassuring her, "maybe. I think we just have to take each day as it comes."

Eddie loved the way Rachel looked down, and even in the slightly dim light, the candle allowed him to see the pinkness that had formed on her cheeks as she failed to suppress a smile.

"We," she almost whispered as she looked back towards Eddie, having been torn between saying her thoughts aloud or not.

Rachel saw Eddie's furrowed brow, knew that there was no backing out now even if he had figured it out and was simply humouring her.

"I still can't comprehend that you've accepted my past. That you're still by my side."

That's what Eddie had gathered, "I've already told you, Rach. I'm not going anywhere."

"Maybe I am finally starting to believe that. That… you're not going to run off as everyone else has."

"How do you mean?"

"No one who has found out about my past… has stayed. Even my own sister, she couldn't accept it. Or wouldn't. Haven't seen her since. Fifteen years."

Eddie felt his throat constrict at the thought, pondering how Rachel must feel because of that, but utterly understanding why she had struggled to believe he would always be there to lean on - despite her past.

"Rachel…"

"It's okay. I… can completely understand why. You know… it's a huge thing to sort of, wrap your head around. Even if it was twenty years ago."

All over again Eddie felt like the biggest idiot. Even though he was by Rachel's side now, he had acted like a right prat in the first instance, and had planted that seed of doubt in her brain. He was willing to spend as long as it took to make amends, if she would let him.

"I still just feel… so guilty Rachel. For how I acted," he rolled his eyes at his own stupidity, "on Friday."

Rachel had a sudden urge to reach across the table and take his hand, just to give Eddie the ultimate reassurance. But there was something she couldn't quite consolidate that appeared to be holding her back.

"And I still don't think you have anything to apologise for. As I said, you're the only person who has continued to stand by me. I hardly think that calls for me to hold a grudge against you for the way you reacted."

Rachel felt as though she had persuaded him from the way Eddie smiled, tilting his head.

"If you say so Mason."

"I do. So come on, what are you having? Because I fancy the spaghetti carbonara."

Rachel knew Eddie had gotten the message as he laughed before glancing down at the menu, relaying his options to order.

….

Obviously this meal had an entirely separate tone to that of Friday night's. That was a given. Yet Eddie would even go as far to say he'd put it up there with one of the best evenings he'd had. Something which had everything to do with the woman sitting opposite him.

Conversation had never faltered, whether that be some shop talk or finding more and more about each other - Eddie wasn't about to complain, and nor was Rachel. Neither of them thought they'd ever tire of being in one another's company.

"How is Michael?" Rachel took a mouthful of her dessert as she asked, certainly not missing the way Eddie's eyes wandered to her lips and back. She struggled to suppress a smirk at the realisation, "and how about Alison, has everything calmed down with her since yesterday morning?"

Attention taken away from his admiration of Rachel, Eddie couldn't deny the way in which his heart warmed upon being reminded just how much she cared. At the end of the day, without Rachel, he still wouldn't have a relationship with his son. He would forever be grateful to Rachel for that.

"Spoke to him on the phone briefly last night. Alison wasn't too happy about it. Apparently past his bedtime. But she probably failed to realise that was due to her having her boyfriend round."

"Just as I thought the both of you were coming to an understanding."

"Trust me, that's never going to happen. We are just trying to stay civil for Michael's sake."

"And failing," she couldn't help but quip, glad when the comment received a beaming grin from Eddie.

"And failing," he repeated, cherishing the eye contact they were currently partaking in.

"Any word on when you'll get to see him again?"

"Alison's said this weekend. Just… don't want to get my hopes up."

Eddie watched as Rachel's expression softened, features turning serious. That was another thing about her, she never failed to read a situation in the right way. She always knew exactly what to say, exactly how to act. He… loved her for it.

"I can certainly understand that. What with her… phone calls out of the blue telling you... you can't see him."

"Just makes the time I spend with him even more precious."

Rachel's smile returned brighter than ever at Eddie's words, he was always one to find the silver lining of a situation, "I think that's a fantastic way to look at it all."

….

The conversation about who paid the bill was inevitable - Eddie had been set on doing so all evening, planning to take everything seriously when it came to the term of taking Rachel out. But of course he was well aware of how stubborn she could be, so was expecting a little bit of a resistance.

"I said I would take you out Rachel."

"Eddie I… can't expect you to pay. I've had three glasses of wine whilst you've only had two beers. Plus my main course is more expensive than yours."

"That doesn't matter. Not in the slightest."

"Well… let's split it shall we?"

Rachel recognised the light in Eddie's eyes, the way they danced with amusement as she realised what she'd said. She knew what was coming next instantly, it was inevitable that Eddie would question whether this occasion had been a date or not. Rachel just found herself curiously wondering how subtle he'd be about it all.

"Can't let you do that Rach."

"Eddie, why not?"

"Well… if this is a date then… technically…"

"Is this a date?"

Rachel even surprised herself at the directness of her question. She wouldn't usually be so open, especially when she was still questioning whether or not she was ready to jump head first into a relationship - strong feelings or not. So all in all, it had to come down to a mix of the alcohol and this overwhelming effect Eddie seemed to have on her.

"I don't know, is it?"

She smirked at Eddie's response, knowing that the nervousness she had noticed in him earlier had returned, "I asked."

"Rachel… I do like you. But I also don't want to push you into anything you don't want."

Eddie was aware of his own cheeks heating slightly before he saw an almost identical flush to Rachel's. He waited with baited breath as she tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, daring to bring her gaze back to his.

"Eddie I… I feel the same. How about we see how everything goes?"

"I'm more than happy to do that," Eddie paused, relishing in the way he was currently feeling, having not particularly been anticipating a conversation likened to this one from the evening, "as long as you let me pay the bill."

Rachel rolled her eyes affectionately, tapping her foot against his leg gently under the table, "you're just as stubborn as me, Lawson."

"I'll take that as a yes then."

"I suppose," even as she agreed Eddie couldn't look past the mischievous glint in her eyes, "on one condition."

"What's that?"

"You let me take you out next time, the end of term perhaps? Hopefully when we have means to celebrate."

Next time. So this really was happening, Eddie reminded himself. It wasn't some fantasy or dream that he would wake up from and wish that he could dive right back into. He wasn't a user of the phrase 'pinch me,' yet he felt as though it could most certainly be paralleled with the current atmosphere.

"I like the sound of that."

….

"Watch where you're going Bolton," Rachel found herself huffing the next morning as the teenager rounded the corner in a daze, slamming straight into her and inevitably sending her paperwork flying.

"Ah right, sorry miss," Bolton mumbled, rubbing his eyes before mentally kicking his brain into gear to help his headmistress collect the strewn sheets.

"What's got you so tired? Happen to have a late night?"

"Dunno miss. Just knackered innit."

Rachel found herself frowning, still not entirely convinced though equally having no desire to make the boy any later to lesson one than he already was, "go on, get to class. And I don't expect to see you turning up late again this week. Or I'm afraid it will be a morning spent in the cooler."

"Yes miss. Thanks, yeah?" Bolton nodded, blinking as he made an attempt to refocus his vision on the path in front of him, not wanting to barge into any more teachers or stragglers. The upside was he had Budgen first lesson, at least he could join his English teacher in a slumber.

….

"Bolton Smilie," Rachel made an appearance in the doorway of Eddie's otherwise empty classroom, still wearing the frown that had been planted there by Bolton's exhaustion just moments ago, "have you had any trouble with him in class lately?"

"Trouble?" Eddie queried as he stood, coming closer whilst welcoming his pockets with his hands, "not since your little intervention. Why?"

He had immediately recognised the set expression upon Rachel's face, the way her brow was creased slightly or the way her lips didn't quite curve up as they normally would following his comment. Unfortunately, Eddie pondered, it was a demeanour he had witnessed all too often in recent days.

"I've just seen him… ten minutes late to first lesson. His eyes practically closed."

Eddie was left feeling equally as confused as Rachel looked, sure he was carrying almost an identical expression to that of the headmistress'.

"Well that's unlike Bolton. Certainly recently anyway."

With now being almost directly in front of Rachel, Eddie was privy to the thought process she had - watching as her features altered to fit the way she was feeling. Realisation was the only term that came to mind.

"What is it?" he found himself asking.

"Oh, Eddie," she found herself exhaling sharply as she placed a hand on the door frame, more for support than anything else, "you don't think… Stuart."

"Bolton's working for him."

Rachel looked wary, all shade once colouring her skin replaced with a ghostly white at her thought process, "I could be barking up the wrong tree entirely here but I… what if Stuart is breaching child employment regulations?"

"A possibility. Speaking to Candice is our best bet. Find out exactly what hours Bolton has been working."

"If this is the case Eddie. I… can't help but feel responsible for this. I'm the one that attracted Stuart Hordley to this place."

"Hey," Eddie spoke softly, feeling his features slacken instantly as he noted the vulnerability in Rachel's tone, "you've done nothing wrong Rachel. Absolutely nothing."

He was sure that, with a small smile from Rachel, the shoulder squeeze he gave was welcomed. Though still, Eddie only took a slight amount of contentment from the comfort he was bringing. There was no other way as his stomach churned uncomfortably- both at Stuart's possible actions and the tears that were threatening to overspill in Rachel's eyes.