"Were you just gonna skip dinner altogether?"
Alice turned from leaning on Robert's cot to face her step daughter. She sighed, smiling to herself sadly, not saying a word to Rosie as her eyes once again fell to Robert. Rosie waited quietly at the door, not wishing to force her step mother's hand or add to her increasing stress.
"It'll be awkward." Alice finally said in a down hearted manner, "Danny doesn't know about her comments and so another argument would probably begin about bringing the family into our mess." Alice shook her head, "I'd rather eat a pot noodle alone."
"It's not fair." Rosie announced walking into the room and joining Alice by a sleeping Robert's cot. "You always bear the brunt of everything, everyone's crap get's thrown at you."
"You're crap, Charlie's crap, Liv's crap and Robbie's crap are meant to get thrown at me, Evan too... even Danny's crap...but I can't take crap off Caroline Rosie." Alice admitted, "It's already laughable that his late mother in law lives with us... in fact it's ridiculous in many ways... but I know no different, this mixed up family is the one I love."
"We're certainly dysfunctional." Rosie laughed, "Listen, how about I go grab a couple of plates off Nomsa. I'll eat with you."
"Rosie no... you're gonna end up in the bad books. You'll be accused of taking sides and I don't want you being penalised for something that isn't your fault." Alice insisted patting Rosie's back.
"Alice! Stop putting us before yourself! Look... maybe if I was younger yeh... but I'm the oldest! Don't worry about me and what they think of me. I'm not just going to let you sit and stew in here on your own... and Robert cos I know how pedantic you are! Just..."
"I'll come to dinner... just let me sort Robert out."
Rosie nodded, squeezing Alice's hand before walking away. Alice sighed, shaking her head... this was bound to be terrible.
(x)
"No surprise Alice isn't here." Caroline remarked snidely looking at the empty seat beside Danny. Rosie's seat was also vacant and Dup, Liv and Fatani all looked at one another uncomfortably. Charlotte stabbed her food as though it was her worst enemy as Nomsa busied herself with serving dinner.
"She's probably sorting Robert out." Danny defended, "I'm sure she'll be here soon."
"Alice is just sorting Robbie out." Rosie announced walking out of the house, smiling at an approaching Ed and Fiona who had been invited over for dinner. They took their seats awkwardly, sensing the tension amongst the family.
"See." Danny smiled, "Alice was just being a mother."
"Well if that child grows up anything like her..." Caroline ranted angrily. Dup frowned at her, even taking the extreme of removing his beer bottle from his mouth.
"What the hell does that mean?" Danny stated angrily.
"Caroline stop it!" Rosie snapped moodily.
"Bad time?" Ed added but was soon overridden by an irate Caroline.
"She told me to... she was very rude and swore at me... told me to F Off." Caroline replied elegantly.
"What?" Danny spat standing up angrily and stomping into the house.
"Dad!" Rosie called, "Dad! Listen you don't know the full story!" She called after him, "Dad!" As her Dad ignored her with one gesture, Rosie angrily turned to Caroline, "What the hell? Are you trying to break them up? Why didn't you tell him what you actually said?"
"That's irrelevant!"
"No it isn't!" Rosie fumed, "You're a selfish old bag."
"Hey!" Liv screamed standing up. "You don't call my Gran!"
It wasn't long before the entire family was shouting at one another, Ed and Fiona trying to pacify them and restore some form of order and peace, however it was all in vain as the family tore right down the middle.
(x)
"Alice!" Danny bellowed angrily, stamping through the house, flinging the door to their room open so hard that it slammed off the back wall with a thud.
"Danny! Be quiet! He's asleep." Alice snapped in a harsh whisper. "What's up with you anyway?"
"You!" Danny growled signalling her to come outside of the room. She did so, her own anger building.
"This better be good." Alice spat.
"Oh it is. Who the hell do you think you are shouting at Caroline?" Danny asked her, his green eyes clouded with anger.
"What?" Alice asked incredulously; did he agree with Caroline? Did he not think that the Sarah comment was below the belt? Hurt filled her for a moment until rage covered it.
"Telling her to fuck off?" Danny shouted angrily at her, "She's my late mother in law!"
"I can't believe this! You know what happened yet you're shouting at me? Blaming me?"
"Yes." Danny told her, "It's your fault!"
"No Danny! It's yours! You're the one who was so high and mighty he had to stay at Leopards Den! It's all Danny this and Danny that!" Alice screamed back at him, "Danny's hurt, Danny's sad yeh well guess what Alice is hurt and Alice is fucking depressed if you're sad!"
"When did you become so selfish? So heartless?" Danny asked, "I don't know what you think gives you the damn right to shout and swear at this family but nothing excuses that you did."
"Nothing?" Alice screeched, "I can't take this." Alice said quieter this time throwing her hands in the air trying to step past him. Danny grabbed her arm roughly, halting her from leaving.
"No! You're gonna listen. You don't ever shout or swear at a member of my family again." Danny threatened.
"Get your hands off of me." Alice warned, her blue eyes almost black with anger, "Now." She added sharply. He did so, staring down at her. Rosie walked through slowly and quietly, "Caroline deserved what she got and if you can't see that then I don't want to be married to you. A man who thinks that what she said is acceptable is not a man worth having. So... I'm going to take my family."
"We are your family." Danny rowed, "Or are you gonna abandon us? When the going gets tough... the Alice get's running." Danny mocked.
It happened in an instant. She hadn't meant for it to happen, not at all. The emotion inside her was like a hurricane gathering force and his mocking made it grow and grow until it became lethal. She wasn't even aware of what she had done until she felt the throbbing in her right hand and the red mark upon her Husband's cheek. She was breathing heavily; tears in her eyes but ones she refused to let fall. He was staring at her with soft, apologetic eyes but hers were colder and harder than ever before. He didn't even recognise her in that moment.
"I think it's for the best I leave." Alice said emotionlessly.
"Alice..." Danny began, his hand rubbing his jaw.
"I'm only going to Mara." Alice replied, "But I can't stay here... You can explain to Rosie and the others why. You chose everything over your wife."
"You won't need to explain." Rosie spoke up, her arms crossed, "I don't blame you Alice." She crossed the room slowly, "The separation will do you both good... give you time to get your heads together and as for you!" She growled poking her Dad in the chest, "Wait til I tell you the full story of what happened."
"What?" Danny asked, not noticing Alice walk into their room.
"Go sort your face out. Then I'll tell you." Rosie said harshly. She pushed her Dad out of her way making her way into the room Alice had gone into. She sighed as she saw Alice tearfully throwing a few bits into her still packed suitcase. "Alice."
"Don't try and stop me." Alice spoke, "You heard most of that! I know you did and I can't Rosie!" She trembled, "I can't... I love him so much but..." Alice fell to the floor in tears, "I can't."
"It's ok." Rosie soothed moving over to hug Alice tightly, "Come on Alice... Don't cry." Rosie whispered feeling helpless. Alice had always seemed a strong woman, incapable of this, "I won't stop you. I'll help you not because I want you to leave, I don't but so you don't have to worry about Dad stopping you. Come on."
Alice and Rosie stood up together, Rosie grabbing both of Alice's suitcases, one full of Robert's things, Alice grabbing a sleeping and oblivious Robert placing him in his car seat (which also doubled up as a carrier). She sighed, taking one last look at the room before walking out.
"Going on holiday?" Dup asked as Rosie walked outside.
"Ed, Fiona." Alice began, "Can I have a room at Mara please?"
"Of course." Ed smiled sympathetically, "We were just going. I'll give you a lift."
"Thank you. Charlotte, go grab your suitcase."
Charlotte nodded without complaint as Rosie and Alice made their way down the stairs together. Alice began securing Robert in the car as Ed helped Rosie heave the luggage into the Jeep. He took Charlotte's bag off her as she struggled out with it and without any thought Charlotte jumped in the Jeep.
"Alice..." Dup began softly.
"Dup... please." Alice sighed, "It's just to clear my head."
"It's not his fault... I stopped him." Dup told her.
"It's not just that anymore Dup. Ask your wife." Alice nodded kissing her weathered cheek gently, "I don't blame you and I'm not..." She stopped, patting his arm.
"Alice, take care, I'll come see you tomorrow, I promise." Rosie told her, hugging Alice tightly, "I love you."
"I love you too." Alice croaked back pulling away and holding Rosie's lower arm with one hand, "Look after everyone yeh?"
Rosie nodded, stepping back as Alice climbed into the back of Ed's Jeep as she was closing the heavy door Danny came rushing outside; jumping down the steps in one go to try and reach Alice. She shut her door hastily, turning away from him.
"ALICE!" Danny shouted, "Please..."
"Do you want to talk?" Ed asked turning around to face Alice.
"Don't ask stupid question Ed." Fiona replied, "Drive."
Ed pulled a face before driving off; he felt somewhat awkward for his part in this but equally he knew how hard it was to be stuck with someone driving you insane. It was at that moment a thought struck him.
"Every time I meet you Alice you and Danny fall out." Ed laughed, "I think I'm your bad luck charm."
"Ed." Fiona scolded hitting him.
"It's ok." Alice laughed sadly, "You're not best known for your tact Ed."
"Well you're welcome at Mara for as long as you need." Fiona replied smiling, "I hope you and Danny sort things out."
"So do I..." Alice cried, "So do I." She whispered as emotion crept up.
A/N – Uh-oh!
Alice has left... but has she left for good?