Prodigal Son – Chapter 6

-O-

DISCLAIMER: I am not connected to Emmerdale and its characters, which belong to ITV.

-O-

Chas wanted answers. She had managed to collar Doctor Williams in the corridor outside Eden's room. It was obvious that Eden did not recognise either her or Aaron and she was worried.

"Don't alarm yourself, Mrs Spencer," the lady doctor looked directly into Chas' eyes, she was slim and dressed in a white coat, Chas was reminded of the phrase 'white coat syndrome' but she was determined not to be fobbed off with any medical jargon. "Eden's reaction is typical of someone who has been through a head trauma such as his," the doctor continued, "It could just be temporary amnesia."

"Could be? Don't you know?" Chas sounded agitated.

The doctor smiled, "It's not as easy as that, it's too early to tell. You'll need to wait a few days and see if things start coming back to him."

"But, what if they don't?"

"Please, Mrs Spencer, you will just have to be patient and let nature take its course. You said that he remembers about his foster mother dying?"

"Yes."

"Well, that's a promising sign. At least he has some memory of his past life. The rest could well come back to him later."

"But: what about the clock? When I told him the time, he looked at the clock blankly and said that he didn't recognise the clock face, he couldn't read the numbers or tell the time!" Chas was obviously upset.

"The brain is a very complex instrument," the doctor smiled reassuringly; "No one can predict which functions will be affected by a head injury. That ability could return tomorrow, or in a week or a month's time. If he has lost any capabilities, such as reading or writing, he can learn them again if necessary."

"But," Chas replied, "That will mean him having to be taught all over again, like a child!"

"We're jumping the gun here," the doctor's beeper went off and she looked at it, "Eden's memory might right itself after a while. Please, just take it one day at a time. Sorry, I'll have to go now."

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Aaron looked at Jackson in disbelief, as they sat in their living room, "Hazel's done what?"

"She's given us a villa on Formentera Island."

"Where in God's name is that?"

"In the Balearics."

Aaron furrowed his brow, "Thanks, that's really helped to clear things up!"

"You've heard of Majorca and Minorca, haven't you?" Jackson hoped that he did not sound patronising.

"Yeah."

"Well, they're in the Balearics, like Formentera, it's in the Med. We've got somewhere to go on honeymoon now."

"So, she's just giving us a place to go on honeymoon, then?" Aaron still looked puzzled.

"No...well, yes. We are going there on honeymoon, but she said that she wants us to have it as our own place in the sun, to escape to it whenever we want."

"Wow!" Aaron looked dumbfounded, "Thanks Hazel. That's what comes of having a partner with a rich widow for a mother."

"I suppose," Jackson mused, "But she's rather be a rich wife than a rich widow."

Aaron felt that he was speaking out of turn, "I'm sorry babe, I didn't mean anything by it...I know how your mum felt about Carlos."

Jackson took hold of Aaron's hand, "I know you didn't mean anything by it. That's why I know I've made the right choice in you...you have become so considerate and caring, just like I always knew you would."

Aaron drew Jackson into a kiss, "Caring and considerate, eh? Well, I care for you and I consider myself lucky that you want to spend your life with me."

"You're an old softie at heart, ain't ya?" Jackson had a goofy grin on his face.

"Don't even think of telling anyone," Aaron smiled, "Otherwise I'll have to gag you and lock you in the cellar!"

Jackson looked Aaron in the eye, "I'll just have to watch my tongue then, won't I?" he said, with a giggle.

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Franco popped his head round the door of Eden's room at the hospital to see Chas sitting on a chair next to her sleeping son's bed.

"Hello, Franco, come in," Chas invited.

"I can't stay long," Franco replied as he approached the bed, "Aaron texted me to say that Eden had come round: though he looks spark out at the moment."

"Yeah, he's just resting, bless him. The doctor gave him some painkillers and I think they've knocked him out."

"I just wanted to tell you both that they've arrested the drivers of those two cars that ran Eden over. They were two parking attendants who were supposed to be looking after some clients' cars at a swanky hotel. Instead of doing their jobs, they were racing the customers' cars round the streets of Hotten! Anyway, they'll probably be sent down for what they did, plus they'll lose their jobs."

"I should think so too!" Chas exclaimed, "Little buggers! Look what they did to my son, he can't remember me or Aaron...he can't even read or tell the time."

Franco could see how upset Chas looked, "Don't worry, Chas, I've seen this sort of thing before, that might come back later."

Chas smiled, "You're a nice man, Franco. It's a shame you didn't get to know Eden before this happened."

"I'd still like to get to know him, if that's what he wants. I could help him with his recovery if he'd let me," Franco returned Chas' smile.

"You'd do that for him, even though you don't really know him?"

"Yeah," Franco looked at Eden, "I know it sounds stupid, but I feel a bond with him although I haven't even spoken to him yet!"

Chas looked a little uncomfortable, "I think there's something you should know about Eden," she said.

"Don't tell me," Franco had a disappointed look on his face, "He's not gay?"

"No, no!" Chas was keen to set the record straight, "He's gay alright. It's just that..."

Franco sensed Chas' hesitation, "Yeah, go on."

"Well," Chas wondered how much to reveal about Eden's past, "He's been a bit of a bad boy."

"Haven't we all," Franco chuckled, "None of us are whiter than white! You're not telling me he's an axe murderer or a serial killer, are you?"

Chas laughed, "Good God, no! He's stolen money and told lies about Aaron's husband, but I don't think he's ever murdered anybody."

"So, he's no angel! So what? I'm sure he's sorry for whatever misdemeanours he's carried out."

Just as Franco was speaking, Eden roused.

"Hello, sunshine!" Chas cooed, "Had a nice sleep?"

"Yeah," Eden sounded groggy, "I was dreaming about a sandy beach and swimming with dolphins, it's a bit disappointing to find I'm actually still here."

"This is Franco," Chas gesticulated towards her companion, "He gave you first aid until the ambulance arrived to bring you here."

"Thanks!" Eden said and extended his hand to shake Franco's.

"You're welcome," Franco replied, "I'm glad to see you're on the mend."

"When I'm better, I'll buy you a drink," Eden smiled at Franco.

"I'll hold you to that," Franco said, "In the meantime, is it alright if I come and visit you?"

"I'll say!" Eden liked the look of handsome Franco, then he seemed to have a flash of recognition, "Wait a minute...you were at the bar...Bar West, wasn't it?"

"You remember that?" Chas was shocked.

"Yeah, I remember being there with someone...three blokes," Eden screwed his face up in concentration, "No, it's no good, I can't remember."

"You were there with your brother Aaron, his husband Jackson and Aaron's best mate Adam," Chas tried to piece things together for her son.

Eden looked dejected, "No, it's no good...it's still hazy." He looked closely at Chas and studied her face carefully, "Mum?" he said.

Chas embraced Eden, "Yes, sweetheart, I'm your mum."

"I'm sorry," Eden's tears fell, "You're my mum yet I don't feel I know you...I'm so sorry!"

Chas drew back to look at Eden's tear-stained face, her own tears rolled down her cheeks, "Don't worry, darling, you're doing great. It's going to take time but I'll be with you, every step of the way."

"So will I," Franco said softly, he was so moved by the touching scene in front of him.

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Aaron bumped into Adam in the Woolpack. They had not arranged to meet, but Moira had insisted that Adam needed a proper lunch break and he decided to drive the quad-bike into the village.

"Hello skiver!" Aaron was always ready for a wind-up.

"If I'm a skiver, what does that make you?" Adam retorted.

"Pint, is it?" Aaron ignored Adam's comeback. They ordered their drinks and food from Diane and sat at a table.

"I'm glad I've bumped into you, I've got something to tell you," Aaron began.

Adam held his phone up to show Aaron, "Have you heard of these? They're called mobiles!"

"Do you want to hear my news, or not?" Aaron scowled.

"Alright...I'm all ears," Adam chuckled.

Aaron could have made a cutting remark, but decided to continue with his story, "Hazel's given me and Jackson a villa in...now, what was it called...the Bollocks Islands, or something?"

Adam laughed out loud, "Now, even I know that there's no such place as that!"

"Yes there is, they're in the Mediterranean."

"Ah, you mean the Balearic Islands. Why didn't you just say Majorca?"

"Because, smart arse, it's not in Majorca."

"Where is it, then?"

"Fornicator Island, I think it was."

"You get worse! What are you like?" Adam was still laughing, "You mean Formentera Island."

"That's it!" Aaron exclaimed, "Since when did you become such a geography expert?"

"Anyone looks like an expert, standing next to you!"

"Div!" Aaron replied, dismissively.

"Anyway, did you say Hazel's given you this place?"

"Yeah, we're going there on our honeymoon!"

"Oooo, get you, honeymoon," Adam was in fits by now, "Is Jackson going to carry you over the threshold? Or are you the 'man' in the relationship?"

"You're looking for a thick lip, Barton!"

"OK, Aaron Livesy...sorry, Walsh, is the 'alpha male': I should have known."

"Why don't you go back to dating those 'she-males', or whatever you call them?" Aaron had a wicked smirk on his face and felt that he had won that round!

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Chas had returned home to freshen up and apologise to Diane for having missed her duties at the pub for a while, but Diane told her not worry and take as much time as she needed. Diane had been livid about Eden stealing the money from the Woolpack, but she felt that the lad did not deserve the bad luck that had befallen him and she knew exactly how Chas felt about having a child in hospital. She was a mother herself and no explanations were necessary.

Aaron called into the Woolpack and saw Chas behind the bar, "I thought you were still at the hospital," he said.

"I've just come home for a change of clothes and to prove to Diane that I'm still in the land of the living," Chas smiled at her eldest son, "I want to ask you something."

"Shoot!"

"Well," Chas looked unsure of herself, she did not want Aaron to fly off the handle, but she felt that she needed to ask the question anyway, "You know Eden's getting better and he might be able to come home soon?"

"Yeah," Aaron replied, "What's that got to do with me?"

"Well, I was wondering," Chas still seemed hesitant, "Could he have an invite to your wedding? I know he's still not your favourite person, but it would be nice if all the family were there together."

Aaron looked shell-shocked, he had not even thought about asking Eden to his wedding: in fact, he had previously decided against the idea. However, the cogs were turning in his brain, he now owed Eden a debt of gratitude and he mulled over the suggestion. Chas was just pleased that he had not, so far, exploded in a fit of rage.

"I'll have to ask Jackson," Aaron said, being non-committal about it, "If he says that he can come, I don't see why not."

Chas was delighted and leaned over the bar to put her hands either side of Aaron's face, "Thanks, son!" she said.

"Wait a minute," Aaron responded, "Don't get the idea that everything's forgiven and forgotten. He's still got a hell of a long way to go before I can trust him again. I owe him for pushing me out of the way of that car, but an invite to the wedding will just be payback for that. It's not like we're bosom buddies or anything."

Chas was pleased, nevertheless. Aaron had not 'gone off on one' and she could see that he was really maturing nicely into a responsible adult. There was hope that, one day, her family might be reunited.

Later on, when Jackson arrived home, Aaron informed him of his mother's request.

"I can't see the harm in inviting Eden," Jackson smiled, "As long as you don't get into a punch-up at the wedding."

"What's a wedding without a good punch-up?" Aaron smirked.

Jackson chuckled, "What worries me is that you could just possibly be totally serious!"

Aaron simply answered with an enigmatic smile.