Chapter 2

At 8:30, Scarlett finally left the house. She had stayed in her room until eight, which was when Janine left for work, then quickly made herself toast and got dressed in a simple black dress with a denim jacket over it. As she walked up the road, she felt herself drifting in her mind, due to the lack of sleep. She blinked several times to try and wake herself up, and then stopped, and realized she was outside the local pub, the Queen Vic. Someone was brushing the doorstep outside. It was Alfie Moon, the owner. Scarlett had never actually spoken to him, but since the night when Janine had told her her dads name, she had been meaning to speak to him and ask him questions, but she just didn't know how to go about it. She had realized that over the years, whenever he saw her he gave her a friendly smile, but as Scarlett was quite the loner, she had tried to avoid him and had blanked him in the past when he'd tried to strike up conversations.
He took a break from brushing, and looked up and spotted her. A friendly smile appeared on his face.
"Hi, Scarlett," he said.
"Hi" Scarlett replied.
Alfie's smile turned into a grin. "You off to college?" he asked.
"Yes.." Scarlett said slowly. "But I don't feel so good.." She swayed a little, and Alfie's face became concerned.
"Maybe you shouldn't be going?" he said, "you don't look very well. You should go home."
"I can't," Scarlett said. "My mum takes the key so I can't get back in until four." This wasn't entirely truthful. While Janine did indeed take a key with her to work, Scarlett also had one of her own. Alfie didn't know that, though..
Alfie paused, and looked at the door of the pub. "You'd better come in," he said. He pushed the door open, and indicated for her to go inside.
"Thanks," Scarlett said, and she stepped up into the pub. Alfie followed behind her, and closed the door.
Scarlett had never been in the pub before. It had a nice atmosphere, despite being empty. It seemed almost homely.
"Do you want some water?" Alfie asked, going behind the bar.
"Yes, please," Scarlett replied, sitting down on one of the bar stools. Alfie nipped to the back of the pub and returned a few moments later with a glass of water, and handed it to her.
"Thank you," Scarlett said, taking a sip.
Alfie watched her for a few seconds, then smiled.
"Eighteen years," he sighed.
"Sorry?" Scarlett asked.
"I can't believe we haven't spoken in eighteen years," Alfie said. "Your dad wouldn't of wanted that, I don't think. What happened, did Janine warn you against us?"
"No," said Scarlett, "She never told me anything. I didn't even know we were related. I didn't know my dads name until a couple of years ago."
Alfie didn't say anything for a few moments, in fact he looked gobsmacked.
"You are joking?" he said.
"No" said Scarlett.
"You've lived on this Square your entire life, and you didn't even know you had family here?"
"I didn't know anything," Scarlett repeated. She felt odd, almost emotional, which wasn't like her. She didn't like to show emotion as she felt it made her look weak.
Alfie rubbed his chin in disbelief.
"You seriously know nothing about Michael - your dad?" he asked.
"I know nothing," said Scarlett. "She won't tell me. I've asked her my whole life. I don't know what he looks like."
Alfie shook his head slowly.
"Janine.." he groaned, quietly. He looked at Scarlett. She looked like her mother, except she had a thin face, like her father.
"I have pictures, if you'd like to see."
Scarlett's eyes widened a little, but she once again tried to remain cool and calm.
"Yes, please," she said.
"They're a bit faded, mind you," Alfie said, "But you can still make them out. Follow me." He walked to the back of the pub, and Scarlett followed him. He led her upstairs, to the living quarters. She stood in the hallway as he entered his bedroom. He was in there for a couple of minutes, then came out with a shoebox.
"Come into the living room," he said. She followed him, and sat down onto a faded brown leather couch. There was a football on the floor next to the couch.
Alfie sat next to her, and lifted the lid off the shoebox.
"I ain't looked at these pictures for a while," he said. The first picture at the top of the pile in the box was of Alfie, and a woman who Scarlett knew to be his wife, Kat, looking a lot younger, with a small baby.
"That's my Kat and our Tommy," Alfie said, fondly. He took the picture out, and fished out a few more and moved them to the side. Then he picked one out and looked at it for a moment, then handed it to Scarlett.
The picture was of Alfie, quite a bit younger, and a man she didn't recognize.
"My dad..?" she whispered.
"Yeah," said Alfie.
Scarlett stared at the picture for a while, trying to take it all in. He was tall and thin, with quite a gaunt face. Alfie was smiling in the picture, but the other man.. her dad.. was not. Alfie seemed to pick up that this was what she was thinking.
"He wasn't one for smiling," he chuckled.
"Are you brothers?" Scarlett asked, dragging her eyes away from the picture at last to look at Alfie.
"Cousins," he replied. "He came and lived on the Square for a few years before.. well.." He broke off, and looked away awkwardly. Then he fished out another picture and handed it to her.
"This is him and you," he said.
Scarlett looked at the picture. There was the man again, this time with a little baby in his arms. He still wasn't quite smiling, but the look on his face made her think he was happy.
Scarlett felt like there was ice in her stomach, and she felt sick.
"Your dad adored you," Alfie said, looking at the picture.
Scarlett felt her eyes sting and fill up. Alfie saw, though she tried to hide it. He remained silent for a few minutes and let her continue to look at the picture.
"I've only got one more," he eventually said, and picked it out and handed it to her. This time it was of two young boys.
"This is your dad and his brother," he said. The picture was very faded and Scarlett could barely make it out. She gazed at it for a few moments, then looked up.
"I guess this means you're my uncle," she said, quietly.
"I guess it does," said Alfie. He smiled at her, sympathetically.
"Your dad wasn't perfect, but who is? I think he taught everyone who met him something. I'm not sure what, but something. After he passed, it made me realize some things, so I owe him that. And I know how much he loved you, Scarlett."