We do not own Eastenders, Ashes to Ashes, Waterloo Road, Doctors, Emmerdale or River City
Chapter 13
Jack gaped at the text from Alyssa and then looked at Gene.
"Sammy's at Rowan's, he's been found, Alyssa just texted me," he gasped. Gene narrowed his bloodshot eyes at Jack, not quite believing. He stared at Jack, whose gaze never wavered and then started his car and sped off down the street. Jack watched him go and smiled.
"Gene's on his way," Jack texted Alyssa and went back to his car.
/\\\/\/\\\\\\/\\/\/\/\/\/\/\\\/\\\/\\
Molly looked at her phone, gasped, then flung her arms around Peter with a small sob.
"He's been found!" she said in relief. "Mum's got him, he's okay," she said in a hushed voice.
"Well, then, let's go," Peter said and grabbed up the car keys.
/\\\/\/\\\\\\/\\/\/\/\/\/\/\\\/\\\/\\
Ray smiled back and picked up his phone.
"Everything okay with Sammy? Lyss says he's been found x"
/\\\/\/\\\\\\/\\/\/\/\/\/\/\\\/\\\/\\
Rowan waited until Alex was done with her phone and then led her over to Gem.
"Gem, this is Alex, she's Sammy's mother, Alex, this is Gem, she raised me after my parents died," Rowan told her.
Gem stood up and nodded at Alex.
"He's a good young man," Gem said. "Nice to meet you."
"That's Louisa, she was my best friend growing up," Rowan added and then walked back to the kitchen.
Louisa smiled up at Alex. "How are you?"
Alex smiled at Gem. "You too, and thank you," she smiled gratefully.
Alex turned to Louisa with a small smile. "Much better now, I haven't been so good for the last few days, but now," she looked back over at where Sammy was happily eating. She smiled and looked back at Louisa and Gem, shooting Gem another grateful smile. "Now I'm fine."
"Well, you are very welcome I'm sure," Gem said. "I do seem to happen across things."
Alex smiled. "I'm very glad that you did," she said sincerely.
She glanced across the table at Louisa and smiled.
She watched Gene walk in and grab up Sammy.
"Looks like someone else is also feeling better," she commented.
Alex turned around and sighed happily at the sight of Gene and Sammy. She glanced back at Gem and Louisa. "Excuse me," she said before hurrying over to her family.
Gene pulled up in front of the diner and quickly jumped out of the Quattro. He strode into the restaurant.
He caught sight of Sammy and rushed over. He grabbed the boy up from the seat and held him tight.
"If you didn't want to go to the match you should have said," Gene muttered to his son with a hoarse, half-chuckle, half-sob. He was so relieved to have his son back he couldn't even be angry that the boy had run off.
Sammy held onto his father. "I wanted to go to the football, but I didn't want to go to Nursery," he mumbled.
"Well, next time, stay at the nursery so you don't miss the football."
"I'm sorry," Sammy said quietly.
/\\\/\/\\\/\\\/\/\\\/\/\\\/\/\/\\/\\
Rowan read Ray's text and smiled. "Sammy's fine. Gem found him standing at a bus stop. She came along with Louisa," she sent back. She held back a chuckle. She wondered what Ray's reaction would be when he found out Gem was here.
"Will you be coming for lunch?" she sent.
Ray's eyebrows went up. Gem? He thought it was only Louisa that was coming over. He shrugged, that meant 3 fantastic cooks under one roof. No complaints from him.
"Depends who's cooking. You, Mam or Gem? ;)"
Rowan paused and looked at her phone. She shook her head at Ray's question.
"I don't know, if Gem gets in the kitchen she will kick everyone else out, including me," she sent back.
"Fair point. See you in a bit."
Ray looked over at Lucy. "You up for getting some lunch?" he asked her.
Lucy glanced up from folding the maps and tossing the lists of groups in the bin.
"Yes, I'm pretty hungry I think," she agreed and dropped the last of the papers and stood up.
Ray nodded and grinned at her. He led her outside and looked in on Chris in the main office as they passed it.
"We're going to get some lunch, you coming?" he asked.
"Yeah, sounds good," Chris said and followed them out.
/\\\/\/\\\\\\/\\/\/\/\/\/\/\\\/\\\/\\
Molly ran into the Restaurant and pulled Sammy from Gene's arms. She hugged her little brother tightly, ignoring his protests that she was squeezing too tightly.
"Moll-eeeee!" Sammy said grumpily as he struggled in her arms. She finally set him and down and planted a large kiss on his forehead "You had us all so worried Sammy!" she gushed out and he hung his head.
"I was going to yours," he mumbled. "I didn't want to be in nursery."
Molly sighed and pulled him into a gentler hug. "Oh Sammy," she half-chuckled.
Peter followed in behind Molly, glad to see her family finally back together. He walked over and ruffled Sammy's hair. "I guess you should learn the way to our place," he said. "You certainly got very lost."
Gene picked Sammy up and put him back in his seat. "Let him finish his food now."
He sat down next to his son. "In fact, I think I'll have something to eat, too," he decided. "Rowan, love, any chance of some food here?" he called over. Rowan looked over and nodded. She put a hand on Alex's shoulder.
"Do you want something to eat?"
Alex shook her head. "No, thank you," she said quietly as she watched Molly climb into the seat next to Sammy and steal a couple of chips from his plate. She looked at Rowan and smiled. "Thanks for all your help with trying to find him, Ro," she said and squeezed Rowan's hand before making her way over to the table and slipping into the seat next to Gene. She watched Sammy eat and couldn't help but smile at her son.
Alex slipped her hand into Gene's and squeezed it before looking up at his face with a small smile.
Rowan blew out a breath. "I didn't do that much," she said and waved her hand at Alex.
/\\\/\/\\\\\\/\\/\/\/\/\/\/\\\/\\\/\\
Jack walked into the restaurant and smiled at the sight of Alyssa. He walked over and took her hand.
"Hey, love," he said and slid a careful arm around her shoulders. "I'm thinking I could use some lunch."
Alyssa looked away from Gene, Alex and Sammy and looked up at Jack. She felt herself lean into him slightly and she smiled at him.
"You'd best talk to Rowan, then," she said to him flippantly.
Rowan walked back toward the kitchen, sending texts off to Syed and Trevor that Sammy had been found and she could use their help in the kitchen if they were able.
She stopped next to Jack and Alyssa.
"Either of you want anything?" she asked.
"I could do with some food, whatever you want to make," Jack said.
Rowan smiled. "Why don't you two sit down then," she suggested. Jack quickly grabbed one of the chairs at the table where Gem and Louisa were seated and pulled it out and gestured Alyssa to sit.
Alyssa looked at him once before taking the seat he had pulled out for her and sitting herself down.
Gem sat and quietly studied Jack and Alyssa, these people Rowan had chosen as family. She approved, though they seemed a bit troubled at the moment. They also seemed to be getting past it. She smiled to herself and took another drink of her iced tea.
"So, this wedding is to be at your house, so Rowan said," Gem finally spoke.
Jack nodded. "I've been working in the garden all week, well, except for when we were all looking for Sammy," he added.
Alyssa smiled and nodded as Jack spoke. She'd seen the work he'd done in the garden, although she hadn't really commented. She knew he'd nearly finished preparing it, the hedges were trimmed, the flowerbeds tended to. She'd stood and watched him from the kitchen window as he had gone around and removed all of the weeds he could find. All he had left to do was the lawn.
/\\\/\/\\\\\\/\\/\/\/\/\/\/\\\/\\\/\\
Ray climbed into his car and drove to the Diner, he strode inside, smiling at the sight of Sammy with Alex and Gene. He scanned around and smiled as he spotted Gem and Louisa sitting with Jack and Alyssa. He made his way over and pulled up a chair.
"So, what's new?" he asked with a grin.
"Hey, you," Louisa greeted and patted Ray's hand.
Ray smiled at Louisa. "Hiya."
"Hello, young man, hope you've been taking care of yourself and my girl," she said. "When do you plan to get her pregnant again, or have the pair of you decided two's enough?" Gem asked bluntly. Louisa snorted a laugh.
Ray nodded at Gem and then chuckled lightly. "We're good with just the two of them for now," he smiled at her.
Gem eyed Ray and then Rowan as she walked past and went into the kitchen.
"Just because you aint' having more though, don't mean you stop doing what brought em about in the first place," she stated and raised an eyebrow at Ray. "You best keep each other happy."
Ray nodded at her and shrugged. "I know, we will," he promised her with a small nod. Talking about this sort of stuff with Gem made him a little uncomfortable, but he knew that there wasn't much he could do to stop her.
Gem patted Ray's hand. "Long as you're both satisfied," she said affectionately and turned back to Jack and Alyssa. She looked at the pair of them and tilted her head.
Jack's mouth dropped open slightly. He wondered if they shouldn't sit somewhere else and glanced at Alyssa. Alyssa looked at Jack and shrugged.
Louisa looked at Jack and Alyssa. "She's plainspoken and nothing is forbidden territory, you get used to it," she whispered to them.
Alyssa nodded silently at Louisa as she kept her gaze fixed on Ray's face and tried not to laugh.
Jack breathed out a small laugh. "I can see that," he whispered back. Gem turned her attention to Jack. She looked him over carefully, the slightest smile on her face when he began to squirm a bit under her scrutiny. She looked at Alyssa.
"That boy needs to grow up," she remarked and then studied Alyssa a moment. "And you need to learn to not walk away so quickly. Finish an argument once in a while, you both might learn something."
Jack gaped at Gem and spluttered and looked at Alyssa. Even after all Rowan had told them about Gem, he wasn't sure how to quite deal with her. He had a feeling she wasn't easy to charm. He looked over at Ray. The man had no right to look so relaxed. Though, he'd met Gem before and spent quite a lot of time with her, no doubt, he'd gotten used to it.
Alyssa stared at Gem, but kept her mouth shut. She wasn't entirely sure how to respond, so she opted for silence.
"Nothing to say," she said blandly, shifting her gaze from one to the other. "Hmmm."
Rowan walked out with the food and smiled when she saw Ray. She placed Jack's plate down and went over to see what Chris and Lucy wanted.
Rowan hurried back into the kitchen.
"Ray's here, why don't you go join them. I'll be fine and Trevor and Syed will be here soon," she urged and began working on Chris and Lucy's food.
Maggie nodded and left Rowan to it. She moved out of the kitchen and spotted her son sitting down with Rowan's friend, Jack, Alyssa and a woman that Maggie didn't know. She stood next to Ray and frowned at him.
"Don't bother to come and see your Mam, then," she said in mock-irritation.
Ray gave her an apologetic look and rose to hug her. "Sorry Mam," he murmured. "Hi," he smiled as he gently pushed on her shoulder to make her take his seat. He went to grab another one and put it next to her and sat back down. He looked at Maggie then at Gem and Louisa then back to Maggie.
"D'you know everyone?" he asked her and Maggie shook her head as she looked at Gem and held out her hand.
"I don't believe we've met," she smiled. "I'm Ray's Mam, Maggie."
"Folks just call me Gem," Gem said and took Maggie's hand. "I raised Rowan after her parents died, but I expect you know that," Gem drawled.
Maggie nodded. "She's mentioned you a few times," she smiled.
"All bad, I'm sure," Gem said with a slow smile. "I do hope your son here is taking Rowan someplace nice after the wedding," Gem said and glanced at Ray.
Rowan walked out and put the plates down in front of Louisa and Jack and made a noise at Gem.
"Gem, if he is then it's a surprise, so leave it alone," she said.
Gem leaned back in her chair. "Well, I never..." she began, her tone one of mild outrage.
"I hardly think that's true, Gem, not from what I've heard," Rowan retorted.
"Now, don't pester him, let him eat," she said and leaned closer to Gem's ear. "And find a different subject, not everyone is comfortable with certain things being said in public."
Gem narrowed her eyes. "I will say what I will say."
"Just please not in public like this, okay," Rowan asked. She gestured at the others. "Not everyone wants everyone in the world to know their intimate details. So, pretty please?"
Gem sighed. "For you and for now."
She looked over and Jack and Alyssa again. "However, I still think those two should get past themselves and make up pretty quick."
Alyssa frowned at Gem and looked at Jack briefly.
Jack couldn't help but blush and looked down at his food. Rowan patted Gem's shoulder gratefully. She put her hands on Ray's shoulders and leaned over to his ear.
"You owe me for that, you can thank me later," she whispered in his ear and headed back to the kitchen, waving at Syed and Trevor as they came in.
Ray smiled at her and nodded. "I will," he promised her with a grin and watched her walk off. He smiled to himself until he noticed Maggie smiling broadly at him. He pulled a face at her and stood up.
Alyssa looked at Jack and then eased the fork from his grasp and took a mouthful of his meal.
Maggie watched Ray wander off then looked at Gem, she was certainly a very straightforward person.
Jack leaned over to Alyssa.
"Do you want some of this, I'm not sure I can eat it all now?" he asked softly.
Jack edged the pie over closer to Alyssa and picked up a chip and stuck it in his mouth. He and Alyssa needed to have a serious talk.
"So, um, about my hair for the wedding?" Louisa asked Alyssa, trying to get onto another subject.
Alyssa pulled the top off the pie and picked a piece of meat out of the middle. She looked up at Louisa and nodded.
"I can do it for you, or I can get one of the girls at the Salon if you'd prefer," she smiled.
"I didn't know if Rowan had anything set up already, she didn't say," Louisa glanced around. "Did she get a good dress?" she asked quickly.
Alyssa nodded eagerly. "It's beautiful," she gushed. "It took us a while to find, but it's perfect," she smiled.
Louisa smiled back. She couldn't wait to see it.
Lucy sat down near Gene and Alex. Chris followed her.
"How is he? Is he okay?" she wanted to know.
Alex nodded at Lucy and smiled. "He's fine," she replied, relief still filling her voice. "Just a little hungry," she said as she gestured at Sammy who was busy eating up his chips.
"Thank you by the way, for everything you did to help," she said gratefully.
"You're very welcome. I couldn't just stand by and do nothing," Lucy said. She glanced at Chris and he gave her a quick nod.
"Especially when the rest of us were a bit useless," Gene put in.
"No, you were upset," she was quick to reply. Gene shook his head.
"Yes, we were, but that's no excuse to lose our heads," he said and Lucy gave him a small smile and nodded.
Alex sighed, Gene was right but she couldn't help being out of her mind with worry.
"I'm just glad I could help out some," Lucy said. "I was starting to get really worried."
Whitney came bolting into the cafe and hurried over to Molly, quickly wrapping her arms around her friend as best she could.
"I just heard, I'm so glad for you," she said happily.
Molly hugged Whitney back and smiled at her happily. "Me too," she said quietly as she looked back at Sammy.
Sammy finally finished up his food and drank down all of his chocolate milk. Alex smiled at him as he yawned.
"Right, how about we get you home and have a bath?" she asked him and he nodded. "Yeah," he agreed.
Alex smiled. "Good, because you are a little stinky," she grinned at him.
"Yes, I have to say there is a certain odor hanging around," Gene agreed. "Let's get you a bath and then maybe a nap."
Gene swung Sammy up to his shoulders and sat him down securely. He grabbed hold of Sammy's legs. "Let's go."
Peter stood up and fished his wallet out of his pocket.
"I'll get this," he told Alex and waved her away. He looked at Molly.
"I have to get to the pub, so I'll see you later," he said and pressed a quick kiss to her forehead. Whitney gave him a wave.
"You going with them?" Whitney asked with a gesture at Gene and Alex. "You can come around to mine if you want," she offered.
Molly waved at Peter and looked at Whit. "I'll come with you, Sammy's fine now," she smiled. "Besides, I want to know how you're coping with Jodie and Poppy," she teased.
Whitney looped her arm with Molly's. "Put it this way, I have done a lot of sewing since Poppy started working there. But the customers seem to like them. They think the girls are 'quirky' and that maybe it's just an act."
She giggled and led Molly out of the restaurant.
/\\\/\/\\\\\\/\\/\/\/\/\/\/\\\/\\\/\\
Ray wandered over to the kitchen and leant against the door frame and pulled a pathetic face.
"Ro, will you make me some lunch?" he asked her.
Rowan put down the pan she was holding and walked over to him.
"I was just getting ready to start it," she told him and tapped his lip. "Now I see where Claire gets that from," she told him. She pressed against him and looked up at him coyly. "I have sausages and mashed potatoes all ready," she told him. "I hope that will be okay."
Ray slid his arms around her and smiled.
"Sausages and mash is fine as long as there's gravy to go with it," he told her.
"Of course there's gravy, what do you take me for?" she asked him tartly.
Ray shrugged. "Had to check didn't I?" he said back. Ray smiled at her and gave her a quick kiss. "Hurry up, I'm hungry," he told her with a grin then turned and went back to the table.
"I'll try to keep Gem from shocking your mother too much, but I won't be around to watch her all the time. I hope your mother can handle it."
He looked over his shoulder at the table and smiled. "I think it's Jack and Alyssa we need to worry about more than Mam at the moment, Gem's certainly picked up on what's going on between them," he chuckled.
"Of course she did," Rowan said and glanced around him. "You should get back over there and keep her distracted," she said and grinned. "And then I can get you your food."
Gem watched Ray walk away with a slight smile on her face. She looked back at Maggie.
"He's been good for my girl. I think she's been pretty good for him, too. He's the first person she ever brought to meet the family. She never brought that Brian she went off with. I think she must have somehow known he wouldn't be approved of. He took her from her family and herself."
Maggie nodded, she remembered her conversation with Rowan about Brian.
"She has been good for him. He'd never brought a woman to meet me before Rowan, I was beginning to believe that he wasn't going to settle down," she sighed as she looked over at the pair of them in the kitchen. "And now look, two children and getting married," she smiled.
Gem nodded. "Least they finally found each other."
Maggie looked over at Ray and Rowan and sighed happily. "I'm glad they did," she smiled.
She noticed her glass of tea was empty and glanced around. "Time for some more, I reckon," she said. She gestured at Maggie's cup. "More?"
Maggie smiled at Gem and nodded. "Please."
She caught sight of Syed and Trevor in the kitchen. "Looks like she's got help now. Good, maybe we can get ourselves settled then."
Chris looked at Lucy.
"Just us now," he whispered.
"Chris, don't."
"Shaz is working tonight, why don't you come around?"
"Chris, you know I don't like to do that when you've got Olivia."
"She'll be asleep."
Lucy shook her head.
"Then what about we hurry up and eat and have a quick stop around yours?" he asked. Lucy looked at the last bite of food on her plate and then nodded.
"Okay, let's go."
/\\\/\/\\\\\\/\\/\/\/\/\/\/\\\/\\\/\\
Hale sat in his car and watched Lucy and Chris walk back to the station. Shame she hadn't been alone. He'd teach her a lesson. He would wait.
/\\\/\/\\\\\\/\\/\/\/\/\/\/\\\/\\\/\\
Alex put Sammy in the bath the minute they got home and made sure that he was clean. She wrapped him in a towel and then put him into his pyjamas and took him into the front room. She settled him on her lap and just sat there cuddling him.
"Promise me you'll never run off again, Sammy," she whispered.
"I didn't run off," he protested. "I was goin to Molly's and I got lost," he told her drowsily. He'd been sleeping on the cold streets for the last couple of days, now he was home and warm and safe and he was feeling very sleepy.
"Well, next time don't leave without telling someone where you're going," she told him as she kissed his forehead.
"Kay," he murmured as he nestled down in her arms and closed his eyes. Alex sighed as she looked at him fondly and lifted him up and carried him to his room. She tucked him into his bed and sat on the edge of his bed, watching him for a few moments. Finally she left his room, shutting the door quietly behind her and went back into the front room. She sat down on the sofa next to Gene and leant against him
"I've never felt so relieved," she said quietly.
Gene slid his arms around her.
"I know. I think I went half-mad when he was gone. I think I probably stink as bad as he does," Gene mumbled and let his eyes close. Days without sleep were finally taking a toll on him.
Alex lifted her head and looked up at his face. She smiled quietly and patted his leg.
"Come on, sleepyhead, go to bed if you're tired," she told him as she shifted in his arms and gave him a gentle push. "Don't sleep on the sofa or you'll hurt your back," she warned him.
Gene frowned at her tone, but got up and walked to the bedroom with a sigh.
/\\\/\/\\\\\\/\\/\/\/\/\/\/\\\/\\\/\\
Rowan fondly watched him walk away and looked at Syed and Trevor with a shrug.
"He's always hungry," she remarked and dished up the food onto Ray's plate. She walked over to the large crock pot and dished up two bowls of ham and beans and then picked up a smallish plate and put some pan-fried cornbread on it.
"If you can just get a few more general things ready for lunch, that would be good. I don't have any stuff for salads done," she told them as she headed out of the kitchen.
She walked back out and gave Ray his plate and put the bowls in front of Louisa and Gem then put the cornbread on the table. Ray beamed at Rowan as the food was placed in front of him and tucked in greedily.
Gem looked up at her in surprise. "You serve this here?" she asked as she poured Maggie more tea and sat down.
"Yes, actually I do. It's pretty popular," Rowan replied and went over to grab a chair and dragged it over so she could sit.
"I serve your chocolate cake, too, you have no idea how many people ask me for the recipe," she said.
Gem swallowed some food and looked at Rowan. "I think I can imagine, yes."
She ate some more of her food.
"Now, when do I get to meet the twins?" she wanted to know.
"Surely you'd like a nap first?" Rowan said. Gem shrugged.
"I'll see how I feel when I'm finished eating, but the day I'm too tired to spend time with a couple of little ones..." she trailed off.
Rowan glanced at Ray.
"Okay, I'll go get them then, if you're sure."
Gem gave a short nod.
Rowan nodded and went back into the kitchen and got her car keys.
"Going to get the twins, back in a bit," she told Syed and Trevor and left.
Gem smiled. "Never too tired for little ones," she said again and picked up a piece of cornbread.
He looked up at the talk of the twins and smiled, he loved those two little troublemakers. He grinned at Rowan as she left to go and get them, maybe he'd get to see them before he had to leave for work, not that anyone would notice if he was back a little late; Gene and Alex would be at home with Sammy and Chris and Lucy wouldn't mind so much. They could cope without him for a while.
"Oh no," Maggie said to Ray with a frown and he looked at her.
"What?"
"You're thinking of skipping work," she told him.
"No," he protested. "I wasn't Mam."
"I know you Ray Carling, and that look on your face when Rowan said she was going to pick up your children..." she shook her head. "You're not missing work."
"Fine," he grumbled as he looked back at his food grumpily.
Maggie laughed softly and ruffled his hair. "Cheer up, Curlylocks, you'll see them when you get home won't you," she pointed out.
/\\\/\/\\\\\\/\\/\/\/\/\/\/\\\/\\\/\\
Rowan hustled the twins into the car and drove back to the restaurant.
"Now, you make sure you behave. Aunty Louisa and Gem have come a long way to see you," she told them.
"Okay," the twins chorused.
She nodded sharply and led them inside and over to the table. Claire caught sight of her father and immediately shrieked. "Daddy!", bolted across the room to him and began trying ineffectively to climb onto his lap.
Gem's eyes widened at the piercing shriek. Claire would never have trouble making herself heard. Rowan picked Denis up and walked over and sat back down on her chair.
"That's Gem and that's Aunty Louisa," she told Denis.
"Hi," he said and waved at them.
"Nice to meet you," Gem said to him and Denis laughed.
"You talk funny," he said.
"S'pose I do at that," Gem agreed. Rowan picked him up and passed him to Gem, who settled him on her lap and began talking to him quietly.
Ray looked down at Claire with a smile and picked her up.
"I'm eating, Claire," he told her and planted a kiss on her cheek then passed her over to Maggie. "You sit with your Nan," he told her before smiling at Denis and carrying on with his lunch.
Maggie smiled down at her granddaughter and then over at her grandson. He was happily talking to Gem. She looked back at Claire.
"How was nursery?" she asked.
Claire frowned and almost protested, but caught sight of her mother's face and for once, remained silent.
"Fine," Claire said noncommittally. She shifted slightly. "Did you gets a puppy yet yes or no?" she asked curiously. She was determined in her campaign for someone she knew to get a puppy that she could share.
Maggie smiled at her. "I have a cat Claire, I can't get a dog, too," she said gently.
"Okay," Claire sighed heavily. She knew cats and dogs could get along, teacher at nursery had both, but you didn't argue with Gramma Maggie.
She noticed the food on the table and turned back to her grandmother, her blue eyes wide and pleading.
"Can I have some?" she asked and pointed. "Yes or no?"
Maggie raised her eyebrows at Claire, but nodded nonetheless. She shook her head as she pulled the food closer to Claire and gestured at it.
"Go ahead."
"We din have lunch yet," Claire explained and picked up a piece of cornbread. "I be careful," she added and leaned over the plate as she took a bite. She broke a piece off and held it out to Maggie.
"Mummy makes this good," she told Maggie. "Did you has some?" she asked. "Yes or no?"
Maggie smiled and took the piece. "I've had some before," she said as she popped the piece into her mouth. She chewed, swallowed then looked back at Claire.
"Your Mam's good at everything she cooks," she smiled.
Claire nodded. "Mummy says Gem teached her how."
Rowan looked at the twins quietly talking and winked at Louisa. The door caught her attention and she sighed and rubbed her hand against Ray's back before getting up and going to help them.
Louisa watched Rowan go and turned to Ray. "So, are you taking her somewhere?" she wanted to know.
Ray nodded. "Of course," he snorted. "It's all booked up, but I'm not telling her," he added hastily. "So you're not allowed to tell her anything," he said.
He looked at the twins and frowned. "And you two had better keep your mouths shut, too," he warned them, pointing a finger.
Denis and Claire both looked at their father with identical looks of confusion. Neither one had been paying attention to him.
"We is being good," Claire said with a frown.
"Not being loud at all," Denis agreed. "Just like Mummy said."
Louisa snorted a laugh. "Apparently not everyone listens to every word you say," she teased him.
Rowan walked back over. "What's so funny?" she wanted to know.
"Oh, nothing, just giving your husband to be a bad time," Louisa said.
Rowan leaned over and draped her arms over Ray's shoulders, letting her hands dangle against his chest.
"You know, that didn't work back when you first met him and it's certainly not going to work now," Rowan told her.
"Yes, but see, now he has to endure it because he's practically part of the family," Louisa reasoned and grinned.
Rowan sighed. "She's got me there," she admitted and kissed the top of Ray's head. "I can't stop her now."
She went into the kitchen to get the food for the table she was taking care of. Louisa watched her go and then leaned over again.
"Where are you taking her, and no, I won't tell," she promised.
Ray frowned at his children, but sighed and looked back at Louisa with a smile.
"Greece," he said quietly. "I'm taking her to Greece," he told her.
Louisa's mouth made an "o" of surprise. "I've always wanted to go there," she breathed and then quickly took a bite of her food as she saw Rowan coming back.
Ray smiled at Louisa and looked up at Rowan as she came back. He smiled at her then carried on with his food, chuckling slightly at the sight of Denis wolfing down his sandwich.
He shrugged at Gem and then smiled at her as he finished his own meal and pushed the plate away a little. He looked at Claire on Maggie's lap and smiled at her, winking at his daughter.
Rowan placed a plate with a sandwich and chips by each twin and then sat down next to Ray again.
Claire took a bite of her sandwich, but at the sight of her father pushing back his plate, the sandwich was dropped forgotten to the table and she stretched her arms towards him.
Louisa chuckled and bent to pick the sandwich up off the floor where it had fallen and put it on the table.
Maggie smiled and lifted Claire from her lap to her father's. Ray sat her down and thanked Louisa as he pulled the plate back so that it was within Claire's reach.
"Here, eat up," he told her with a small frown.
Claire shook her head. "I not hungry," she told him and leaned against him.
"Will you color with me when you is home from work?" she asked and looked up at him. "Yes or no?"
Ray frowned at her. "You're a Carling, Carlings are always hungry," he told her but wrapped his arms around her middle in a hug.
"Of course I will, if you're good I might get the paints out, too," he told her.
"Painted at nursery," Claire told him with a shake of her head and then leaned against him again. "Can't you stay home and play?" she asked plaintively.
Ray shook his head at her. "Nah, your Nan's already told me that I have to go back to work, and I have to do as my Mam tells me," he told her with a small smile at Maggie before looking back at Claire. "Just like you have to do like your Mam tells you," he explained to her.
Claire turned her head and peered around at Maggie then quickly looked back at her father.
"Would she make you sit on the naughty step?" she asked him curiously and began to pluck at his shirt.
Ray smiled down at her and nodded.
"She did make me sit on the naughty step yeah, a lot actually," he told her.
Claire sniffed and then pushed her hair back off her face with the flat of her hand with great care and deliberation and then patted his shoulder.
"I guess you hafta go to work," she sighed. She noticed Maggie and Denis going to the stairs. She looked back at Ray. "I go watch tv, too," she told him and kissed his cheek noisily before clambering down from his lap and hurrying across the room to follow her brother up the stairs.
Ray chuckled after Claire as he watched her run off.
Rowan walked over and began to stack the dishes.
"See you when you get home," she told him and brushed a soft kiss against his lips. "Don't be late."
She smiled and picked up the dishes and carried them to the kitchen.
Ray smiled after Rowan and then stood up with a sigh. He watched Rowan disappear into the kitchen then strolled out of the Restaurant.
/\\\/\/\\\\\\/\\/\/\/\/\/\/\\\/\\\/\\
Denis made a noise of excitement and picked up the sandwich. Gem looked at Denis eating and then looked at Ray and raised an eyebrow.
She leaned over. "Slow down or you'll choke," she told Denis who nodded and slowed slightly.
"Mummy," Denis said in a plaintive tone. "We're being good and not loud, but Daddy said we has to keep our moufs shut," he complained.
"I'm sure he just thinks you heard something he doesn't want you to repeat," Rowan explained. Denis furrowed his brow, but looked unconvinced. He turned back to Gem.
"I'm gonna keep talking," he said, his tone slightly rebellious.
"Well, that's just fine. Your ma was right, he just didn't want you to repeat something you heard," Gem reassured.
"So, then..." he began and launched back into telling Gem about the story they'd been read at nursery.
Denis had finished his sandwich and started on his chips, handing one to Gem occasionally, who took it and politely ate it.
Gem sighed and stifled a yawn.
"I think I might be needing a nap now," she remarked and Louisa nodded. She let Denis climb down from her lap and walked over to where Rowan stood at the register. Louisa got up and followed her.
Denis walked under the table and emerged next to Maggie. He put his hands on her leg and smiled up at her.
Rowan looked up as Gem and Louisa approached. "It must be time to sleep," Rowan observed and Gem nodded.
"The stairs are just there and Louisa knows where to go. The twins have given up their room," Rowan told her.
Gem gave Rowan a hug and then followed Louisa up to the flat.
Ray waved after Gem and Louisa as they left.
Maggie smiled down at Denis and picked him up off the floor and onto her lap. "Hello, poppet," she smiled at him.
Denis smiled at Maggie and wound his arms around her neck.
"Can we go watch the TV?" he wanted to know.
Maggie smiled at her grandson and sneaked a glance at Ray and Claire. She looked at Denis' empty plate then nodded.
"All right then," she agreed.
Jack finished the last chip and leaned over.
"Let's go," he whispered to Alyssa. "We need to talk."
Alyssa looked at him and frowned slightly. "Okay," she replied, confusion filling her tone.
Alyssa stood up and said her goodbyes to everyone then headed outside to get back into the car.
Jack noted her tone, but said nothing more about it. He made his goodbyes and got Rowan to agree to stop by and look at the garden for any other changes. He climbed into the car and glanced at her as he started it up and drove home.
He smiled slightly as he followed her into the house. He dropped the keys in the bowl on the table by the door and moved towards her and put his hands on her shoulders.
"There's just one thing I need to say," he told her seriously and kissed her hard, his hand sliding behind her shoulders and pulling her close.
Alyssa brought her hands up and placed them on his chest. She pushed gently and broke the kiss, tilting her head up to look at his face.
"That's not talking," she remarked quietly as she studied him then sighed and wrapped her arms around his middle and rested her head on his chest. "But it does say a lot," she added in a soft murmur.
Jack gave her a slow smile. "I know something that says even more," he told her and bent his lips to her neck and slowly trailed kisses to her lips as his hand made its way to the buttons of her top and began to unfasten them. He kissed her thoroughly as his hands slipped inside her top and slid it off her shoulders. His lips moved from hers and trailed down over her neck and to the swell of her breasts.
Alyssa clutched at his shoulders as she fought within herself; She couldn't help but remember that the last time Jack had slept with anyone it had been with Annie! But then the feel of his lips on her skin felt wonderful and in all honesty she had missed him. She ran her hands down his chest, undoing the buttons as she went. She ran her hands up his bare chest and sighed, a small smile on her face as she pulled back a little.
"In the hallway?" she asked curiously.
"It's our house, we can do it wherever we want," Jack said, his voice thick with lust as he pulled at the straps of her bra. He pushed her towards the wall and his hands went to the waist of her jeans as his lips and tongue traced over her breasts.
"I've missed you," he murmured against her skin.
A small groan left Alyssa at the feel of his lips and her hands pushed at her jeans too until they were in a heap on the floor, then they made their way steadily to his trousers and pushed at them until they fell. She ran her hands back up his bare chest and pulled at his head until he lifted his face so that his eyes were level with hers. Her hands cupped his face and she rested her forehead against his.
"I love you, Jack," she whispered to him. She pressed her lips to his softly then wrapped her arms around his neck and pressed herself against him as she deepened the kiss.
Jack smiled. "I love you, too," he said softly. He groaned into the kiss as he pushed her harder against the wall. He reached down and grabbed her legs, encouraging her to wrap them around his waist as he thrust into her with a sigh.
How had he managed without her? No one was like Alyssa.
Alyssa moaned and her head fell onto his shoulder and she pressed her lips to his neck. She hugged him tightly as he moved and wondered how she'd managed to go so long without him. She ran her hands through his hair.
"Jack," she moaned softly as she pressed kisses up his neck and along his jaw, rocking her hips against his to get him to move faster.
"Oh, Lyss," he gasped and clutched at her harder.
He cried out as he came and gasped for air as he leaned against her.
"Alyssa," he breathed.
His name left her in a loud moan. It had been far too long.
"How about after the wedding we go away?" he asked her. "Not the cottage, though, I'm thinking someplace hot and exotic," he said and nuzzled her ear. "I'd like to see you naked in the sand," he grinned at her.
Alyssa sighed happily and leant back against the wall, her legs still wrapped tightly around his waist and her arms resting on his shoulders.
A small laugh left her and she pressed a kiss to his shoulder. "Can we afford a holiday?" she questioned curiously.
"We don't have to go far," he told her. "We could just take a long weekend in Spain," he told her. "I'm sure we can find something affordable."
He pressed a quick kiss to her lips. "But for now, I think we should continue this elsewhere," he told her and wrapped an arm around her tight. He turned and headed for the stairs, laughing as he awkwardly made his way up them to their bedroom.
Alyssa sighed happily as she rested against Jack's chest. She had to admit, it felt good being back in his arms and having him back in her bed. She lifted her head and smiled at him, then kissed him again. Alyssa climbed out of the bed and grabbed her dressing gown from the door, slid it on the ventured downstairs. She gathered up all of their discarded clothes and turned to go back upstairs. She paused as the gift caught her attention. She smiled to herself then picked it up and balanced it on top of the pile of clothes.
Alyssa dumped the clothes on the floor, removed her dressing gown and crawled back into bed next to Jack, the gift in her hand. She looked at him.
"I think it's time I opened this," she told him quietly as she idly looked at the box before carefully opening it up. A small smile lit her face as she pulled out the bag and inspected it. It was the one she had wanted, and it was the real deal. Designer. She beamed at Jack and leant over to kiss him.
"That's one hell of a grovelling gift," she said.
Jack grinned. "Yeah, well, I think I had a lot of groveling to do. I hope you like it," he said. "I think it cost our life savings," he teased and pulled her tight against him.
Jack sighed. "I suppose one of us should think about dinner. I think I'm hungry after all that."
"Too right you did," she frowned at him and poked him in the chest. "Don't you ever cheat on me again Jack, please," she said as she sighed and rested her head on his shoulder and wrapped her arms around him and hugged him tightly.
"We could always order takeaway, that way we only have to move as far as the phone until it arrives," she suggested.
"Promise you won't leave me again," he countered and made a noise as he tried to breathe. "Too tight," he managed and took a big breath when she eased up.
"I didn't leave the first time," she mumbled. "I went to calm down so that I didn't end up hitting you."
"But I didn't know that," he said and then waved his hand. "Anyway, past now," he said.
"I suppose we could. But we'd have to go downstairs to answer the door," he reminded her.
"I suppose I volunteer to go and get the food," he said and handed her the phone. "You can call."
Alyssa nodded.
"Okay, but don't forget the forks when you go down," she told him as she reached over and grabbed up her phone. She grabbed the takeaway menus out of the bedside drawer and spread them out on the bed. She smiled as she picked one up.
"Pizza? Then you won't need to remember the forks," she suggested.
Jack made a face at her. "I wouldn't forget the forks," he snorted. "You just pick what you want."
"Yeah, but only one of us would have to get up to go and pay the guy and bring the food back up here." she smiled at him. "We can eat out of the containers so all we need is a fork each," she smiled.
Alyssa nodded and sifted through the menus until she found one that caught her eye and picked it out.
"Thai," she said with a smile and glanced through it to find what she wanted then handed the menu to Jack as she picked her phone up and dialled the number.
Jack pointed at what he wanted and got up to pull his trousers on. He might as well be ready.
Alyssa admired Jack as she ordered the food then put her phone back on the side and looked at him.
"So, my wonderful husband, how's the garden coming along for the wedding?" she asked him as she lay back into the pillows of the bed. She was sure the bed had never felt so inviting.
"Well, I suppose you should take a look at it later and let me know what you think. I really want Rowan to have a look and tell me what she thinks, though, I think she probably won't."
Alyssa frowned. "Why not? Surely she wants to see it before the wedding happens?" she asked, puzzled, then her lips curved in a small smile. "I know I wouldn't trust you with preparing the garden if I was my wedding," she teased.
"Well, that was uncalled for," Jack huffed. "It looks great out there."
He folded his arms and stuck out his bottom lip.
Alyssa smirked at him and nodded along. "Uh huh," she grinned.
"How much have you got left to do now? Or are you nearly all done?" she queried.
"Pretty much done," he said. "I have to put that arch thingy up, but that's it I think," he told her. "Maybe we can go down and take a look after we eat."
Alyssa nodded agreeably "Sure, I'll give you some constructive criticism," she smiled at him.
"Oh great," Jack said unenthusiastically and made a face at her. He jumped up.
"Food's here," he said and hurried off.
/\\\/\\\/\/\\/\\\\/\\\/\\/\\/\\/\/\\/\\\
Jodie frowned at the laptop.
"You know, Pops, still nothing on this dating website. I don't know why it's not working, I mean look at your picture! Could you look more gorgeous? And we said you're looking for 'The One', what more do they need to know?" she huffed in annoyance.
"I know!" said Poppy mournfully as she rested her elbows on the desk sadly and stared at the screen. "Why does no one like me, Jodes?" she asked quietly.
She glanced up at Whitney and Molly as the came in.
"Hiya, Whit," Jodie greeted and then looked back at Poppy.
Whitney leaned over. "They're trying to find Poppy 'The One'," she whispered to Molly.
Molly looked at Whitney and sighed. As much as Poppy and Jodie annoyed her, Poppy did look upset.
"Come here," she said as she took the laptop, turned it around and began to fill in Poppy's Profile information.
"There," she said as she handed the laptop back. "People want to know more about you than you're looking for 'The One,'" she said with a small smile.
Jodie leaned over to look at what Molly had written and nudged Poppy.
"Why didn't we think to write all that?" Jodie marveled aloud. "You're sure to find someone now, Pops."
Whitney winked and Molly and jerked her head and pointed towards the stairs.
"We'll leave you girls to it," Whitney said and walked off.
Poppy stopped reading through what Molly had written, a look of amazement on her face. "Thank you," she said, wonder in her voice as she turned back to the laptop. She could barely speak.
Molly chuckled and followed Whitney upstairs.
Jodie slung an arm around Poppy's shoulders.
"We should start planning where you can meet up when they want to meet you. I'll have to come with you, I could bring Darren, too, if you want," she offered with a smile.
Poppy gasped excitedly. "Like a double date!" she squealed. "Oh my god, Jodes! How amazing would that be!"
"It could be just like a double date," Jodie agreed enthusiastically. "And if it doesn't work out, we'll all still have fun. It's what they call a win-win, Pops," Jodie advised Poppy sagely.
Poppy nodded along to Jodie as she spoke, her eyes wide and a smile lit her face.
"Jodie this is going to be so much fun!" she exclaimed excitedly.
"This is going to be brilliant, Poppy," Jodie agreed and began to fold more scarves.
/\\\/\/\\\\\\/\\/\/\/\/\/\/\\\/\\\/\\
Whitney put a mug of tea in front of Molly and a plate of chocolate biscuits on the table.
"Lauren's getting very annoyed that she's not getting anywhere with Charlie. She's managed a couple of kisses, but not much more than that. She's convinced he's still hung up on Annie, and she's probably right," Whitney said with a sigh.
"How is it she doesn't fall for available men?"
Molly sighed then smiled. "Because Lauren falling for an available man would make her life far too simple," she said. "She falls for the people she can't have, every time."
Whitney nodded. "Maybe not every time, but certainly a lot of the time," Whitney took a sip of tea. "I think she's handling it well, though."
Molly nodded. "She'll be gutted if Annie and Charlie do get back together, but she will get over it," she said with a small sigh. "Personally I'd love to see Lauren and Charlie together."
She tapped her finger on the table in thought a moment. "Maybe I could have Bolton see if he can set Poppy up with one of his mates, just so she thinks she's making progress," she suggested.
Molly's eyes widened and a smile filled her face. "Do you have any idea how grateful Poppy, and Jodie, would be?" she half-laughed.
Molly laughed. "You'd be labelled as some sort of goddess or something!" she exclaimed. "Could you imagine what she and Jodie would be like?" she said and shook her head.
Bolton looked down at his phone and smiled. He'd be there as soon as he finished this training session.
/\\\/\/\\\\\\/\\/\/\/\/\/\/\\\/\\\/\\
"Yeah, well, of course, but I don't think we'd tell her. He could just get a mate of his to answer her ad. I don't think I could cope with Poppy being grateful," Whitney said. She picked up her phone and sent off a quick text to Bolton to drop by when he was free.
"There, when he comes over I'll talk to him," Whitney said and smiled as she picked up a biscuit.
Whitney shuddered. "Which is why I don't want to set it up in person. This way they won't know. It was bad enough hiring Poppy to work here. I'm glad they appreciated it, but there comes a point when the gratitude is annoying."
/\\\/\/\\\\\\/\\/\/\/\/\/\/\\\/\\\/\\
Jodie finished organizing a rack of dresses and looked at the clock.
"Are you hungry, Pops? I'm hungry. I'm going to walk over and get us some lunch. I'll be right back," Jodie said. She opened the door and then stopped and looked back.
"Should I get us some cake do you think?"
Poppy chewed on the top of the pen while she thought and then nodded.
"But only a little bit though, Jodes," she said with a smile.
/\\\/\/\\\\\\/\\/\/\/\/\/\/\\\/\\\/\\
Charlie hurried to the restaurant. Rowan had texted around and asked anyone who would be able to work to come in. Now that Sammy had been found, it would be business as usual and Rowan wasn't sure how busy it might get, but she wouldn't be able to do it on her own.
Charlie nodded at Jodie who was waiting patiently at the counter.
"What can I get you?" he asked and noted the dreamy look on her face. He followed her gaze to Rowan who was giving Ray a quick kiss and he cleared his throat. Jodie turned and looked at him.
"It's so romantic those two, so lovely," Jodie commented. Charlie nodded. She told him what she and Poppy ordered and he went to have the order made. Jodie sat down and pulled out a nail file and began to tidy her nails as she waited. She glanced at Charlie out of the corner of her eye as he came back to the register.
She stood up and stuck the nail file back in her bag.
"You know what else is romantic?" she asked him. Charlie looked up from the calculator and shook his head.
"You and Lauren. You're so cute together, honestly," she told him. Charlie furrowed his brow. He and Lauren weren't a couple. They were just mates. He had an idea she fancied him, he remembered that kiss that night in the pub when everything with the affair had kicked off. She'd kissed him a few times since then, but he hadn't thought much of it.
"But Lauren and I..." he began.
"You know when you can just see that two people are perfect together," she interrupted, "like me and my Darren, or them two over there," she gestured at Ray and Rowan. "You and Lauren just totally belong together," Jodie said in a knowledgeable tone and nodded.
Charlie opened his mouth and then closed it again, confusion dominating his face again. He looked up to see Syed bringing over the bag with Jodie's order in it.
Jodie smiled hugely at Syed and looked at Charlie. "Or like Syed and Christian belong together," she added and put the money for the food on the counter. "Bye," she said and gave them a little wave.
Syed looked at Charlie as she tottered out of the restaurant.
"What was that about?" Syed asked.
"She said Lauren and I are a perfect couple, except, we're not a couple," Charlie told him.
"Well, maybe you should be then," Syed said as if it was perfectly obvious and walked back to the kitchen. Charlie looked after Syed. It bore thinking about, he supposed.
/\\\/\/\\\\\\/\\/\/\/\/\/\/\\\/\\\/\\
Bradley drove back towards the Square. Three months holiday with his mum had been great. He knew it had irritated his father slightly, but Max did have Darren to help with the cabs. He glanced at the bag next to him: presents for Lauren, Abi and Oscar. He pulled up in front of the shop where he knew Lauren lived and watched Darren's wife Jodie walking out. He waited until she was gone and then pulled the box for Lauren out of the bag and climbed out of the car.
He went inside and noticed the shop had a lot more racks full of clothes and he could hear the low hum of several machines running. Whitney must be doing well, then. He caught sight of the pretty brunette behind the counter and walked over and gave her a smile.
"Hi," he said. "I'm Bradley, my sister Lauren lives upstairs, is she here?" he asked. Lauren was likely at work, but any excuse to talk to a pretty girl.
Poppy looked up from the website to see Bradley standing in front of her. She smiled back and then her brow creased in thought at his question.
"Lauren isn't no," she said, a little sadness in her voice at being unable to help him. A thought occurred to her and she smiled brightly "but Molly and Whitney are if you want to talk to them" she offered helpfully.
"I just have this present I wanted to give Lauren, is Whitney upstairs? I can just take it up if she is," he said and smiled at her, "if you don't mind, that is."
Poppy's face fell slightly. He had a present for Lauren, clearly he liked her then. She put her smile back on her face and nodded.
"I don't mind," she told him and pointed at the stairs. She sighed, it was a shame he already liked someone, he was cute.
Bradley started to move towards the stairs and then walked back over. The girl sounded quite sad.
He leaned on the counter again.
"Do you know my sister Lauren very well?" he asked, "because I need a favor. No one knows I'm home yet, so please don't tell her that her brother stopped by? Would you do that for me?"
Poppy's eyes widened. He was Lauren's brother, they didn't look very alike.
"You and Lauren don't look very alike," she commented. "I mean, not that I have any siblings so I can't say that I look like anyone, but normally you look like your brother or sister don't you? I mean, obviously identical twins look the same, but I'm not talking about being identical, just looking like each other," she smiled at him.
"I won't say anything to her! I'm brilliant at secrets, ask Jodie! Jodie tells me everything and I never tell anyone else...well," she frowned. "Except that one time when I told Henry, but that was only because he wanted to know, and if someone asks you a question you have to answer don't you? And I was always told to tell the truth and I'm not very good at lying, because that makes you a liar doesn't it? And I don't want to be a liar, so I don't lie, and that meant that I had to tell him the truth," she explained to him.
Bradley's eyes widened as the girl began to witter on. He clenched his teeth to keep his jaw from dropping in shock. He nodded along mindlessly as she spoke and tried to think when she stopped.
"Errr..." he managed and then gathered himself. "We, uh, we have the same father, but different mums, she's really my half-sister," he told Poppy. "I really should get this up there, I want to get him and let Dad know I'm back," he said.
"Nice meeting you," he said, trying to keep a friendly smile fixed to his face before hurrying away. He left the present on Lauren's bed and asked Whitney to keep silent and then left through the side door. He wasn't sure he could cope with listening to that girl again, although she seemed nice enough and she was pretty. He sighed.
Poppy nodded and waited patiently for him to come back down, he seemed nice enough. After 20 minutes she realised that he'd either used a different door or wasn't coming down. Poppy sighed unhappily and hoped that Jodie got back soon.
/\\\/\/\\\\\\/\\/\/\/\/\/\/\\\/\\\/\\
Rowan closed up the restaurant early and went upstairs to make sure the flat was tidy. She was sure Gem had already looked the place over, but it never hurt.
She walked over and sat down next to Maggie and smiled at the twins lying next to each other on the floor with their chins propped in their hands, watching TV.
"Now I have to think what to make for dinner," she mused. She turned to Maggie. "What do you think of steak and kidney pie?" she asked. She knew Gem and Louisa wouldn't have had it before.
"Are they behaving?" she asked with a gesture at the twins.
Maggie smiled at Rowan. "I think Ray will be delighted if he comes home to steak and kidney pie," she said with a small smile. "You know, he used to go to the chip shop, not for chips, but for the pies," she said. "Because I wouldn't make a pie unless it was chicken and mushroom, and he always wanted either beef and onion or steak and kidney," she said with a small shake of her head.
She looked at the twins and nodded. "They're being fine," she smiled.
Rowan nodded. "He does like pie, and he really likes red meat," she said and chuckled. "He'd eat it every day if I let him."
She sighed and looked at her watch. "I better get started then," she realized and went into the kitchen. She quickly assembled the pie and put it in the oven. She glanced over at Maggie.
"Don't suppose you'd like to help me get the vegetables ready for salad?" she asked. She knew if she didn't get the cooking done before Gem got up, she'd be kicked out of her own kitchen. At least the pie was in. She also had fish fingers for the twins, they didn't like steak and kidney pie. She was sure Gem would have something to say about allowing the twins to eat something different, but it wasn't as though they hadn't tried the pie before. Gem had very firm views on trying something before you could say you didn't like it.
She piled all the makings for the salad on the counter and put out the cutting boards and knives.
"Oh yeah," Maggie smiled. "It was tough trying to get him to eat vegetables when he was little, potato wasn't hard. He liked mash, but he wouldn't eat tomatoes, or cauliflower, or cucumber. But he liked peas and strangely, he loved sprouts," she chuckled.
"Of course," Maggie smiled. "If you need a hand," she said as she picked herself up off the couch and followed Rowan through to the kitchen. She picked up the knife and began to chop and peel vegetables for Rowan.
"I've managed to convince him to eat other vegetables, except cauliflower. I haven't been able to get him to eat that." Rowan quickly began to chop up lettuce. "He does still like sprouts, though," she noted and smiled at Maggie.
Maggie smiled. "I used to make cauliflower cheese in an attempt to disguise it and trick him into eating it. It didn't work though, he'd just clean all the cheese off the cauliflower and eat around it," she sighed and shook her head.
Maggie smiled. "Strange boy."
"Well, we all have foods we don't like. Although I haven't come across anything yet that Denis won't eat. He'll even eat food he doesn't like. He'll complain about it, but he'll eat it," she shook her head. "Kids."
She glanced over to the front room when she heard Ray come in. "Speak of the devil," she remarked with a small smile.
Maggie chuckled. "He's a better eater than his dad used to be then," she smiled.
Maggie glanced over her shoulder and smiled briefly at Ray before turning back to the vegetables that she was chopping.
"Denis eats constantly and Claire hardly eats at all, she's so busy talking. Sometimes I think he's eating for both of them," she said with a laugh.
"It's a good thing he likes his food," Maggie smiled as she glanced over at her grandchildren.
/\\\/\/\\\\\\/\\/\/\/\/\/\/\\\/\\\/\\
Chris rushed home. He hadn't meant to be so late, but leaving Lucy was tough.
Hale gazed at Lucy's flat for a few more minutes before starting the car and heading home. He had to get home and make sure the wife had his dinner ready. There would be plenty of time to take care of that bitch Lucy soon enough. He smiled to himself as he drove away.
/\\\/\/\\\\\\/\\/\/\/\/\/\/\\\/\\\/\\
Charlie waited outside the office where he knew Lauren worked and waved at her when he saw her come out.
"Hey, Charlie, nice to see you," she greeted him.
"You too, um, you wouldn't fancy going out for a meal with me would you?" he wanted to know. Lauren's eyes widened in surprise. Was he actually asking her out?
"I...I'd love too, when?"
"Maybe...tonight?"
She thought for a moment. "Okay, shouldn't be a problem. I just need to change out of my work clothes."
"Fine, I'll walk with you," he said and gestured her to go and walked next to her.
She led Charlie to the side entrance to the flat, she really didn't want to go through the shop if Jodie and Poppy were still there.
Whitney turned with the pan and spoon in her hands and nodded when she saw Charlie and Lauren.
"Hey guys," she said cheerfully.
"Charlie's taking me out for a meal, so I'm just home to get changed. Hope you don't mind," Lauren said as she hurried to her room.
"Not at all, Bolton is coming around for dinner," Whitney called after her.
Lauren hurriedly shucked her clothes and pulled on jeans and a nice top. "So, it's best I'm not here anyway," she yelled from the bedroom, her tone teasing. She caught sight of the box on her bed and picked it up. She quickly tore into it and smiled at the blown glass figurine in it. She carefully placed it on her dresser and came back into the front room.
"Bradley was here," she said and Whitney nodded. "He said he just got back today."
Lauren gnawed her lip a moment. There was no doubt a meal at home to welcome Bradley back. She wanted to go, but she knew what her father could be like. She wasn't sure she wanted her first date with Charlie to be marred by her overprotective father.
"I'll have to give him a call and see when he wants to meet up," she said and walked over to Charlie. "Ready," she said.
"Bye," Charlie said to Whitney. She waved them off and turned back to the stove to finish the gravy.
/\\\/\/\\\\\\/\\/\/\/\/\/\/\\\/\\\/\\
Bolton had a shower at the club before he left then made his way to Whitney's. He waved briefly at Poppy and Jodie in the front of the shop, but didn't hang around long enough to talk to them. He'd had enough experiences of that to last him a long time. They did his head in. He smiled at the sight of Whitney cooking as he came into her flat and went to lean against the counter.
"Home cooked meal? You're spoiling me," he grinned at her.
"It's just bangers and mash," Whitney told him. "I'm hardly a gourmet chef."
She quickly put the food on the table and sat down. She made small talk and waited until he was halfway through with his food before bringing up why he was here.
"So, um, I really wonder if you could do me a favor?" she broached hesitantly.
Bolton swallowed his mouthful and raised his eyebrow at her.
"Depends what it is?" he said curiously.
"Well, would you consider helping Poppy out? Just, you surely know one person who might go out on a date with her, please?"
Whitney held up her hand to stop Bolton talking. "She won't have to know, okay. She's got an online dating profile, they could just you know sort of...find her on there. I know it's asking a lot but I don't know anyone she doesn't already know," she begged.
Bolton nodded "I'll ask around and see, but I can't guarantee they'll go out with her again after they've spent some time with her" he warned her. He knew a few guys who were single, and Poppy was pretty enough, it was just when she spoke.
"Just a date here or there would be good, so she thinks the internet thing is really working. I feel really bad for her. I know she's not that bright, but she's very sweet and she means well," Whitney defended. She shrugged.
"Please pick someone nice, though, not someone that would be mean to her," Whitney requested.
"All right Whit, I won't let anyone know if I think there's even the smallest chance that they'll tease her or be cruel to her," he vowed.
Whitney reached across and took Bolton's hand.
"Thank you. So, who springs to mind?"
Bolton picked up a forkful of food and chewed it thoughtfully. He swallowed with a small smile and looked at her,
"You remember Paul?" he asked.
Whitney furrowed her brow in thought. "Barely," she said. "I sort of was paying more attention to you than anything else," she said. "I do remember he kept trying to flirt with Molly, that was funny. Didn't he end up going to the party with Lauren?" she gasped.
Bolton grinned. "Yeah, Molly kept turning him down didn't she," he chuckled and then nodded. "Yeah, he did I think," he smiled at her. "I was a bit preoccupied to be worrying about him if I'm honest," he smiled at her.
"He's a nice guy, not all that bright but he's not nasty," he smiled.
"Do you think Paul remembers Lauren? I mean, do you think there would be a problem? It has been a long time though, and she's into Charlie..." she trailed off and gnawed her lip. "Nah, it probably won't be a problem."
Bolton shook his head. "Doubt it, it's been years, Whit," he smiled. "Besides, I don't think it was much more to either of them than just having each other as a date to the party," he shrugged.
"Besides, if Lauren's not interested then I doubt that Paul is going to go mooning after her," he added.
"Good," Whitney said and nodded. "Set it up for next weekend, then?"
Bolton nodded and grinned at her. "Sure, no probs," he agreed.
/\\\/\/\\\\\\/\\/\/\/\/\/\/\\\/\\\/\\
Gem faintly heard the clatter of activity in the kitchen and could smell food cooking. She must have slept quite a while, she realized. At least the bed was fairly comfortable, she thought as she sat up. She yawned and stood up and walked slowly down the steps.
She went into the bathroom and tidied her hair and then went into the front room. She noticed Rowan busy in the kitchen and smiled. She'd keep out of the girl's way, she decided and sat down on the couch.
/\\\/\/\\\\\\/\\/\/\/\/\/\/\\\/\\\/\\
Ray grinned to himself as he left work, waving at Adam as he passed. He clambered into his car and drove home, parking in his usual space. Ray wandered up the stairs and nodded at Gem on the sofa and looked to see Rowan and Maggie in the kitchen. His eyebrows flew up but he said nothing. He looked at Gem.
"Louisa still asleep?" he asked her. He wanted to know how quiet he had to be, the twins had a tendency to get a bit boisterous and loud when he played with them.
Gem saw the direction of his gaze and the surprise on his face.
"Those two were in there when I woke up. I imagine Rowan doesn't want me to take over," she said and smiled.
She nodded at his question. "Yes, but it wouldn't hurt her to get up before it's time to eat," she told him and glanced at the twins. She had an idea he wanted to spend time with them and she was sure they could be loud. Louisa's pair could wake the dead.
She narrowed her eyes at Ray.
"You do know she has boys herself, right? And they're but a few years older than that pair," she said and gestured at Claire and Denis. "I wouldn't worry about noise."
Ray nodded and chuckled as he looked back over at Rowan and Maggie in the kitchen.
"Well yeah, but you both had a long journey," he shrugged. "And yeah I do know she has her boys, been ages since I saw them," he said with a small smile.
Ray turned to look at the twins then fell onto his stomach next to them on the carpet and nudged them gently. "What're we watching?" he whispered.
Claire looked at him and put her finger across her lips.
"Shhhh, they is sneaking into the castle," she warned him.
Ray nodded a her, a smile tugging at his lips but he looked back at the TV screen and rested his head on his fists.
Claire got up and climbed onto her father's back.
"You could be my talking donkey," she said to Ray, "and I be the Princess."
She looked at the screen again. "But I need my hair to do that," she said and grabbed her braid and pretended it was whipping around, making sure to add sound effects. She finished by thumping it on her father's head.
Denis looked up at her and shook his head.
Ray frowned and twisted his head to look at Claire on his back. He looked at Denis, his frown still in place as Claire thumped him with her hair. He shrugged then let his arms and legs fall out from beneath him so that he fell the short way onto the carpet on his stomach. He winked at Denis and shut his eyes, unmoving.
Claire gasped as she felt Ray flatten on the floor. She knelt over and put her hands on his shoulders and peered around at his face then looked at Denis worriedly.
"You killed him," Denis accused. Gem put a hand over her face and tried not to laugh at the tone of Denis' voice.
"No!" Claire wailed and clambered off her father. She ran for the kitchen and flung herself at her mother.
"I sorry Mummy!" she wailed.
Rowan stopped chopping cucumber and looked down at Claire and then at Maggie.
"What?" she said putting down the knife and picking up her daughter.
"Daddy," Claire wailed and buried her face in her mother's shoulder. Rowan looked into the front room and sighed.
Maggie looked at Claire in alarm and then also looked over at Ray. She shook her head before turning back to finishing off the veg.
Ray couldn't help it, he gave a small chuckle then tried with all his might to keep his lips pressed shut. He couldn't. He carefully turned his head and opened an eye to look at Denis, he smirked at his son.
Denis smirked back.
"She's crying," he whispered gleefully, earning himself a stern glance from Gem. He ignored it and giggled.
Ray frowned at Denis. He hadn't meant to make Claire cry.
Maggie gently rubbed Claire's back and leaned close "You didn't kill him sweetheart" she said softly.
Claire kept sobbing. Rowan sighed and went over and nudged Ray with her foot.
"Will you please show your daughter that you are only playing dead," Rowan grouched.
"Look, Claire, he's fine," she said, her tone annoyed. Claire sniffed and looked down.
Ray sat up and reached for Claire, he took her out of Rowan's arms and hugged her tightly. He stroked her hair gently.
"I'm not dead, Claire," he said to her quietly. "I didn't mean to make you cry."
Claire tightened her arms around Ray's neck and sniffed.
Rowan looked at him.
"You know you have to let her know when you're playing," Rowan reminded Ray quietly.
She glanced down at Denis who had been quietly giggling. He was immediately silent.
"Sorry," he mumbled. Rowan nodded and went back into the kitchen only to find Gem had gone in and taken over. She sighed.
"And now I'm kicked out of the kitchen," she muttered.
Ray sat down on the sofa and hugged Claire tightly as he nodded apologetically at Rowan. He cuddled Claire tightly and kissed the top of her head.
"Hey, Claire, look at me," he said gently as he lifted her chin and kissed the tip of her nose. "Stop crying, everything's okay," he told her.
Claire leaned back and pushed her hair off her face with the palm of her hand as she sniffed and nodded. She pointed at Denis.
"You not funny," she snapped at him and he made a face at her before turning back to the movie.
Claire looked at Ray again.
"You color with me now?" she asked and slid from his lap to open the drawer and pull out the box of crayons.
Ray sighed at his kids, at least Denis had known he had only been pretending. He tended to forget that Claire took most things seriously. He shrugged to himself, she'd learn.
Ray smiled at her and nodded. "I'll get the paper," he said and looked down at Denis.
"You wanna do some drawing, too?" he asked as he wandered over to the drawer to get out the paper and laid it out on the coffee table so it was well within Denis' reach if he wanted to do some drawing with his sister.
Denis shook his head. "I watching this," he said and turned back to the TV.
/\\\/\/\\\\\\/\\/\/\/\/\/\/\\\/\\\/\\
Jodie came back with the food.
"Here we go, and I got us once piece of cake to share," Jodie said. "I was thinking of your diet," she added helpfully.
Poppy smiled at Jodie.
"Thanks Jodie, you're such a great friend," she smiled and then looked briefly back over to where Bradley hadn't come back from. She frowned and looked at Jodie.
"Brothers and sisters do look alike don't they?" she asked.
"Well, they can, but sometimes they don't look a lot alike. Look at Tamwar and Syed, or all Bianca's kids," Jodie replied and then paused before taking a bite of her food. "Why? What's going on, Pops?"
Poppy stared off into space and shook her head. "I just met Lauren's brother," she sighed.
"Bradley? I thought he was off on holiday," Jodie said in surprise. "He's nice and he's very fit, Pops, but he's kind of strange," she began hesitantly. "He likes all that science stuff, like that Doctor What thingy and Star Battles and stuff. I'm not sure he's your type at all Pops. But he's very fit and sweet," she explained.
"OH!" Poppy said, suddenly distressed. "I promise I'd keep it a secret that he was back," she said mournfully and held her head in her hands. "Now I've let the secret out, and he asked me especially to keep it a secret," she said unhappily.
"Don't worry, Pops, I won't tell anyone. He'll never know," she comforted and put an arm around Poppy's shoulders.
"Let's eat, come on," she suggested.
Poppy nodded at Jodie and felt her smile coming back. Jodie was a good friend.
/\\\/\/\\\\\\/\\/\/\/\/\/\/\\\/\\\/\\
Bradley went home and surprised his father and Tanya. He hadn't minded too much when they finally got back together. He happily ate dinner with them and then he and Max went to the pub.
/\\\/\/\\\\\\/\\/\/\/\/\/\/\\\/\\\/\\
Annie sighed, but nodded at Peggy.
"I can pull an extra shift, no problem," she said and went back to serving customers. Bradley smiled at the pretty blond behind the bar. Things had definitely improved here, he thought.
Charlie led Lauren into the pub and caught sight of Annie behind the bar.
"Maybe we should go somewhere else," he suggested.
"No, it's fine. We all have to get along, don't we," Lauren said with a shake of her head. She caught sight of her brother and ran over to him.
"Thanks, bro," she said as she wrapped her arms around his waist.
"We missed you at dinner," her father scolded.
Lauren looked at him. "I was busy, Dad," she said and glanced over at Charlie. Max followed her gaze and frowned.
"That's my mate, Charlie," she told him and gave her father a look. He narrowed his eyes at her and turned back to his drink.
"Do you want to come sit with us?" Lauren asked Bradley.
"Maybe in a bit," he said and waved her off. She grinned and walked over to Charlie who was getting their drinks. Lauren avoided looking at Annie as she served them. She wondered if Charlie would ever make up his mind, playing it cool was getting harder and harder.
/\\\/\/\\\\\\/\\/\/\/\/\/\/\\\/\\\/\\
Max got up.
"I'm going home, see you later," he said to Bradley. Bradley nodded and smiled at his father then turned back to Annie.
"So, been here long?" he asked her.
She looked at him.
"Not too long," she replied. "Charlie and I moved here just a few weeks ago."
Bradley glanced over at Charlie and looked back at Annie.
"Are you..." he trailed off.
"We had a row awhile back, I'm not sure if we're going to get back together or not," she answerd with a sigh.
"Do you want to?" he asked carefully.
"Sometimes I do, but sometimes I wonder if I should bother," she shrugged.
"Well, my sister fancies him, I can tell," he told her.
Annie looked over at them and then back at Bradley.
"Moving here was my idea. I'm not sure if he's going to stay if we don't get back together," she mused.
"But you will?"
"Oh, yeah, I couldn't wait to get here," she said and gave him her first real smile of the night.
"I think she's flirting with my brother," Lauren observed. Charlie looked over.
"She's just being nice," Charlie said.
"Yeah, well, Bradley's flirting with her," Lauren chuckled. She sighed and looked at Charlie's face.
"Do you want to get back with her?" she asked, trying hard to keep the hurt from her voice.
"Sometimes," he said. "I do still care for her, but all this, I'm not sure anymore," he said softly. Lauren covered his hand with hers and squeezed.
"We can go if you want," she told him.
"Okay," he said. "I wouldn't want to cramp her style," he said as he watched Annie burst into giggles at something Bradley said. He drained his drink and stood up.
"I'll walk you home," he offered and Lauren quickly finished her drink.
"Okay," she said and walked with him to the door.
Annie watched them go, but quickly turned her attention back to Bradley.
/\\\/\/\\\\\\/\\/\/\/\/\/\/\\\/\\\/\\
Rowan went into the kitchen and pulled the pie out and put the fish fingers and chips in. She looked at Gem and Maggie who were talking quietly, she wondered what about, probably her and Ray, or maybe food.
She put the pie on the table and went back into the front room and sat down.
Louisa woke up and went downstairs. She noted Maggie and Gem were in the kitchen and grinned. Rowan had been kicked out of her own kitchen.
She sat down in the chair and smiled at Rowan.
"I feel loads better," she commented.
"Good, it will be dinner soon," Rowan said.
Louisa smiled. "I'm hungry."
Rowan got up and went to get the food out of the oven, looking at Gem and Maggie who were still talking. She quickly made the plates for the twins and put them on the table. She put the rest of the chips in a large bowl and grabbed the bowl of salad and put it on the table.
"Dinner's ready," Rowan called out and tried not to chuckle when Denis rushed to the table.