CHAPTER FIFTEEN
ONE WEEK LATER.
It was Lucas's 17th birthday, and he had decided to have a small dinner with his family and a few close friends. Martha wasn't going to attend because she had found out that Megan was going to be there. Martha didn't think she would be able to stand being in the same room as her for very long. But Lucas had talked her into going.
Martha had talked to Lucas quite openly about her dislike for Megan, and it seemed that Lucas had never liked her much either. He had always thought that she sneaky and conniving. Lucas was just happy that he found another person who disliked her as much as he did. And it made him even happier that he now had Martha to help him diss Megan openly in public. Martha couldn't help but laugh at that thought.
She walked up to the front door and was about to knock when suddenly Jack appeared in front of her. "I thought i heard you car pull up. Come in," he said.
Martha smiled shyly at him. "Thanks," she said as she squeezed past him and walked into the lounge room.
Martha had tried her hardest to avoid Jack this past week. But it had been very hard. Especially since they both liked to hang out at the same places and shared the same friends. Jack had approached her a few times and asked if they could talk. Martha always said no, and besides, she knew where them talking would end; in the bedroom.
Martha looked around the room to see who was there. Robbie and Tasha were talking with Tony. Matilda, Cassie, Ric and Belle were playing around with the CD player, and Lucas was standing at the kitchen bench looking at his presents with Beth and Megan.
Martha walked around the room and quickly said hello to everyone, and then made her way over to Lucas. "Happy Birthday Luc," she smiled and gave him a kiss on the cheek and pulled him into a hug.
"Thanks, I'm glad you came," he hugged her back.
"I have a gift for you, but I want to give it to you later when there aren't as many people around, okay," Martha told him.
"Why? Is it dirty?" Megan joked.
Martha gave a her a look. "No," she stated simply.
"Martha, do you want a beer?" Tony called from the fridge.
"No thanks," she replied. She really wished she could have a beer. But beer was a big no no now that she was pregnant.
"Since when do you pass up a beer?" Tony laughed.
"Oh. Um, I just don't really feel like drinking tonight," Martha stammered.
"How about a glass of this amazing non alcoholic punch that Beth has made?" Megan asked.
Lucas looked at Martha and rolled his eyes as he leaned in close to whisper in her ear. "She's been sucking up to everyone since she got here," he said.
Martha let out a small laugh and then looked back at Megan. "Thanks, I'd love one," she replied to her offer.
"So Martha, I heard that you and Jack broke up. I couldn't believe it when he told me. I was so shocked," Megan smiled knowingly at her.
"I'm sure you were," Martha scoffed as she walked off.
Martha walked across the room so she could talk to Cassie. On the way she looked at Jack. He was deep in conversation with Rob and Tasha. He suddenly looked up and caught Martha watching him. She held his gaze for a little while, but eventually looked away.
Martha stood in the corner talking quietly with Tasha and Lucas.
"Why do I have this sudden urge to just go out and key her car," Martha growled. Megan was really starting to grate on her nerves. She kept making smart comments, and was sucking up to everyone. And to top it off, she trying to make Martha jealous by flirting with Jack. But Martha wasnt worried; Jack wasn't paying much attention to Megan anyway.
"Just ignore her. She's doing it on purpose and she knows that she's getting to you," Tasha said quietly.
"I know what would shut her up," Lucas whispered. "Tell her that you're pregnant. I can just imagine the look on her face now," he smiled as he looked lovingly off into space.
"Snap out of it," Martha slapped his arm. "I can't tell her that," she hissed.
"But you do need to tell Jack soon," Tasha said.
"Yeah, I know," Martha sighed. She she went to speak again but Lucas shushed her. Jack was coming towards them
"What are you three whispering about?" Jack asked.
"Nothing," they all spat out at the same time.
"Right," he looked at them suspiciously. "Anyways, dinner's almost ready," he told them.
"Great, I'm starving. I could totally eat a horse," Martha exclaimed before walking away.
Martha looked around the table; watching everyone chat happily amongst themselves. Tony had borrowed one of the large outside tables from the diner; just so there would be enough room for everybody to sit. Martha was sitting between Belle and Tasha, and unfortunately, Megan had managed to squeeze herself in next to Jack.
Megan had thrown Martha dirty looks all throughout the meal, and she was constantly touching Jack. It was really starting to piss her off.
"Beth, this potato salad is really good. The best i've ever had," Megan commented.
And so continues the sucking up, Martha thought to herself. She didn't want to listen to anymore of that girls crap, so she turned to Tasha and started talking to her instead.
"Where's Kit? I thought she was coming tonight," Martha asked her. Kit had arrived in the bay a couple days before hand. Tasha had begged her to come down from the city just so that the three of them could go shopping for the wedding and bridesmaid dresses.
"She offered to help Kim and Alf at Noah's tonight," Tasha told her.
"Oh," Martha said, looking over at Megan again. From what she could gather, Beth had just asked Megan something about her job.
"Oh, it's a long story," Megan laughed.
"Well, I don't want to hear a long story unless there's a Kennedy involved," Robbie stated.
"Robbie," Beth scolded.
"What?" Robbie laughed, looking around innocently. "I was just saying," he said.
"So, Megan. You've known the Holden's for a while then?" Beth asked, still giving Robbie a dirty look.
"Yes, Jack went to school with my brother," Megan started to explain. "And Tony teached P.E at my school. He was always the cool teacher, and not to mention the best father. Just like Jack will be," she smiled.
That was it. Martha couldn't take anymore.
"Oh my god. Are your lips not chapped from all the ass kissing?" Martha exclaimed outloud.
Belle, who had just taken a sip of her drink, was now spraying it down the front of Ric's shirt. Robbie was choking on a piece of meat, and Lucas, Matilda and Cassie were covering their mouths; trying to stifle their laughs. Martha was sure that she even saw a small smile appear on Jack's face. Everybody else just sat there, not knowing what to do. But Megan was giving Martha the biggest death stare that she had ever recieved.
"That," Belle began, while wiping the dripping soft drink from her chin. "Has got to be the funniest thing I have ever heard you say," she continued to laugh while she spoke to Martha.
Martha looked around at the group; some of which, were still laughing to themselves. "Sorry," Martha apologised to them all, and looked away while taking a big gulp of her own drink.
"Okay," Tony said, standing up. "Who wants a piece of cake?" he asked, wanting a change of subject.
"I'll give you a hand," Martha offered and followed him into the kitchen.
"Tony, I'm really sorry about before," Martha apologised once they were out of ear shot.
"Hey, don't worry about it," Tony fobbed it off.
"No, I shouldn't have said anything to her. I guess everything that has happened over the last two weeks has finally gotten to me," Martha explained to him.
"Really, it's okay. Besides, you gave the kids a bit of a laugh," Tony laughed himself.
"I guess I did," Martha laughed along with him. "Especially Belle".
Tony and Martha started cutting up the cake and were soon joined by Jack and Megan. Megan coughed a little, trying to get Martha's attention.
Martha looked up at her. "Yes," she said.
"I was just wondering why all your hostility is being aimed at me," Megan questioned. "What did I ever do to you?" she then asked.
"Excuse me," Martha scoffed.
"I know," Lucas said, walking in on the conversation. "You're a pain in the ass," he told Megan.
"Lucas, stop it," Tony ordered.
"What is going on with you two?" Jack asked, looking at Megan and then at Martha.
"Nothing," Martha replied.
"Well stop nipping at each other then. It's getting old," Jack snapped..
Martha looked away and started rubbing her temple; she had a headache coming on. "You okay love?" Tony asked.
"I've just got a bit of a headache coming on, that's all," Martha told him.
"Do you want a panadol?" he then asked.
Martha laughed a little. "What I really need is a sedative," she muttered. And right now she really did wish she had one. Atleast she'd be in a happy place.
"Go and sit down. I'll bring you over a piece of cake," Lucas offered.
"Yeah, thanks," Martha said, and walked off.
"Is she okay?" Jack asked, sounding concerned. "She's been like this for awhile now," he worried.
"Ah yeah, she's fine," Lucas shot out. He grabbed a piece of cake and walked off quickly.
That was weird, Jack thought to himself.
Later that night, Martha and Lucas sat on the couch talking quietly. Beth, Matilda and Megan were still there, but everybody else had already gone home. After all, it was a school night.
"So, have you decided when you're going to tell Jack about the baby?" Lucas asked her.
"I'm not sure. Maybe sometime over the next few days," she told him.
Lucas sighed. "Good, because I don't think I can keep it to my self for much longer," he exclaimed.
"Keep what to yourself?" Jack asked as he plonked himself down next to Lucas.
Martha looked at Lucas, and then they looked at Jack. "Um, nothing," they told him at the same time. "Nothing," Martha added again.
Jack laughed. "Oh right, the nothing game again," he said sarcastically.
"Oh, I have to give you your present," Martha shot out; wanting to change the subject.
"Why do I even try?" Jack muttered to himself.
Martha heard what Jack said and laughed. "I don't know," she smiled at him. He looked back at her and gave her the famous Jack Holden smile. Realising she was getting lost in the moment, Martha shook her head and quickly looked away.
She picked up her bag and pulled out the wrapped present and handed it to Lucas.
"Thanks," he smiled and started opening it. "Oh my god. I love it. Thank you so much," Lucas exclaimed.
It was a black leather diary with his full name engraved in gold onto the front cover.
"Well, when we were having our little chat the other day, you mentioned that you needed to get a new diary soon. So I thought that I'd by you one for your birthday," Martha started to explain. "And then I thought that I'd make it a bit more special by getting your name engraved on it. Oh, and your name has been printed on the bottom of every page," she finished.
"It's the best present I've ever gotten. Thank you," Lucas pulled her into a tight hug. "Your welcome," Martha hugged him back.
"That's a beautiful gift, and very thoughtful," Beth commented.
"Well, I know how much he likes to write in his diary," Martha told them.
"Thanks again," Lucas smiled.
"Well it's getting late, so I better head off," Martha said, looking at her watch.
"I'll walk you to your car," Tony offered. Martha said goodbye to everyone and walked outside with Tony. But not before getting one last death stare from Megan.
Tony and Martha slowly made their way to her car. "That was a really nice present. It means a lot to Lucas. I think I may have even saw a tear," Tony said.
Martha laughed a little. "Well Lucas has been a really great friend, especially over the last week. I wanted to do something nice for him," she told him.
"Well, I really appreciate it," he started. "Look, I know things are a bit complicated at the moment, but I really hope that you and Jack can work things out. He really loves you, and Lucas and I love having you around aswell," Tony said honestly.
Martha nodded. "I better go," she said.
Tony stood on the sidewalk and waited until Martha's car disappeared in th dark. He really hoped that things would work out for Martha and his son. He hated seeing Jack so down. And he knew that the only person that could make Jack happy was Martha. He just hoped that Martha knew that.
NEXT CHAPTER - Martha makes a decision. And things heat up. But for who?