You Are All I Need – Chapter 4
-O-
DISCLAIMER: I am not connected to Emmerdale and its characters, which belong to ITV
-O-
Aaron stood on the large, substantial stone bridge in the town, staring at the fast-moving river below. The bridge sloped upwards to the centre and had five wide arches spanning the river. It was quite narrow, necessitating the inclusion of traffic lights at both ends, so that traffic was only allowed across in one direction at a time.
There were buildings at the top of the steep banks on either side of the river, mostly of stone construction but some had white-painted stucco walls. Tunnoch Bridge was a bigger town than Aaron had envisaged before he arrived, not huge; but certainly bigger than Emmerdale!
As he looked towards the railway station, which was further down the river, Aaron saw a train, consisting of a two-car diesel multiple unit, pulling away from the platforms. It immediately crossed a lattice girder bridge which spanned the river, about two hundred metres away from the road bridge that he was standing on. He heard a loud rumble as the steel wheels rattled over the metal bridge, scaring some ducks underneath which took flight from the water and moved to a quieter spot! He mused; tomorrow he would board a similar train, with his beloved Jackson; and they would head back to Emmerdale; possibly for the last time ever!
Aaron's phone rang and shook him from his reverie and he saw that his boyfriend was calling him, "Hi babe!" he answered.
"Hi gorgeous!" Jackson's replied in his wonderful deep tones, "Well, it looks like Tunnoch Bridge will be our new home! Hamish has just offered me the job!"
"Hamish?" Aaron queried.
"Yeah, Hamish McTavish! He's the centre manager."
"Hamish McTavish!" Aaron burst out laughing, "I thought Campbell Macduff was priceless, but you've just hit the jackpot there!"
"I know...we'll have to get used to these Scottish names! Anyway, the job's in the bag!"
"That's brilliant, babe!" Aaron cried aloud, a lady passing by on the bridge pavement looked at him, almost as if she thought that he was addressing her! Aaron turned his back to her and faced the river again, "Have you finished at the ski centre, now you've had the interview?"
"Yeah!, But I won't be home until Campbell is finished his shift in a couple of hours; he's giving me a lift back," Jackson paused, "Sounds like traffic in the background; where are you?"
"I'm on the bridge in the town!"
"What are you doing there? I thought you were with my Mum back at the house?"
"Hazel went shopping...and you know I don't 'do' shopping!" Aaron joked and he heard Jackson laugh, "So I went for a walk to get my bearings; it's a nice little town!"
"I'm glad you like it, especially as it will be the place you're going to be living in for the next few years! Are you going to ring your Mum and tell her?"
Aaron thought about it for a second, "No! Not on the phone; I think I'd better break the news in person. I spoke to her earlier; Cameron's gone back to Jersey."
"Wasn't she going with him?" Jackson asked.
"She was going to go, but she changed her mind!"
"I see!" Jackson replied, "Not like a woman to change her mind, is it?"
"I wouldn't know!" Aaron grimaced, "You know what an expert I am on women!"
Jackson laughed, "Anyway, I'll see you later at home, OK?"
"There's a baker's shop at the end of the bridge, I'll get us some nice cream cakes to celebrate!"
"Aww...you spoil me!"
"Shut up!" Aaron was embarrassed by Jackson's gratitude.
"It's true!" Jackson chuckled, "Anyway, got to go! Love you!"
"Yeah, love you too!" Aaron finished the call and put his phone back in his pocket. Then he headed straight to the shop, to buy the promised cakes.
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The journey back to Emmerdale was, mercifully, quicker than the journey up to Scotland! The couple arrived back at Dale Head in the evening and made themselves a cup of tea; then settled on their sofa to drink it.
"You OK?" Jackson picked up on Aaron's pensive look.
"Yeah," Aaron smiled at his boyfriend to reassure him, "I was just thinking; we've been happy here, haven't we?"
"Yeah, 'course we have, well; most of the time! You having second thoughts about moving to Scotland?"
"NO! Never!" Aaron sought to put the record straight, "I'll be with YOU...that's all that really matters to me! I really want to start working at Glenside Motors and Angus seems like a nice bloke. Maybe you did work a miracle and find me a good boss!"
"All part of the service!" Jackson had a cheeky grin on his face, "You still seem a bit apprehensive though!"
"Can't hide anything from you, can I?" Aaron gave Jackson a wry smile, "I was just thinking about how I'm going to tell my Mum we're leaving!"
"She'll be OK and, like you said, you do want to escape the rest of the Dingle clan!"
Aaron thought about it for a few minutes, "That reminds me; I'd better go and see Cain tomorrow!"
"What for?" Jackson had a quizzical expression on his face.
"He owes me money!" Aaron stated, bluntly, "I know we're barely on speaking terms, but I want what I'm owed. He didn't pay me for the week when I quit!"
"Can't you just write it off?"
"NO!" Aaron had a look on his face that showed Jackson he meant business, "He must pay his dues! I don't care if he doesn't think I'm worthy of the family name, I'm still entitled to my wages as an employee!"
Jackson drew Aaron into a hug, "You show him, tiger! Do you want me to come with you?"
Aaron took Jackson's hand in his own, "Thanks, babe, but I can handle Cain on my own!"
"Well, if you're sure! I'm going to have to hand my notice in with Declan anyway!" Jackson looked a little sad.
"You like Declan, don't you? Are you sure you want to throw in the towel?" Aaron looked fondly at his lover.
"Yeah! Declan's always been good to me, but I really want that job at the ski centre; it's so varied and interesting! I'll have to sort out the maintenance on the ski-lift, look after the heating and lighting in the chalets, all sorts really! It's more of a facilities manager's job, with some 'hands-on' thrown in," Jackson looked excited.
"I'm glad we've both got what we want!" Aaron said.
"I've got what I want; he's sitting right in front of me!" Jackson drew Aaron into a kiss which he willingly returned.
Aaron gazed into a pair of gorgeous brown eyes, "I've got what I want too!"
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Aaron was full of trepidation the next day. He knew that he had to face Cain, but he also knew that his uncle owed him money and he was not going to let the man cheat him! He knew that it would not be easy, but he also knew that Cain wasn't ALL bad! After all, he had accepted it when Aaron had come out to him, so he knew that there was a 'softer' side hidden in there somewhere!
Aaron walked confidently into the garage; he was determined to put on a brave face! Cain was making a brew at the back of the garage; he turned and saw his nephew approaching.
"Oh here it is!" Cain smirked, "The bad penny that always turns up!"
"Very funny!" Aaron returned Cain's smirk, "Talking of bad pennies, I'm here to collect the pennies you owe me!"
"You what?" Cain's smirk became almost a snarl.
"You heard!" Aaron replied, "I'm owed some wages for that week when I quit!"
Aaron expected Cain to go ballistic, but was surprised when he crossed to the desk and pulled a large envelope from the desk drawer. He handed it to his nephew.
"I respect you for coming to face me!" Cain said, still stony-faced but more amenable than Aaron had expected, "It's all in there, plus a bonus for all the work you've done in the past! I've also done you a reference, in case your new boss asks for one!"
Aaron shot Cain a disbelieving look.
"Don't worry," Cain continued, "It's a good one! We may have our differences, but that's just family stuff! This is business and you're a good little worker, much as it pains me to say it; and I'll miss ya!"
Aaron stood in stunned silence, but then regained his composure and spoke, "I didn't expect that! Not after what happened last time! I thought you'd give me a good slap when I came in!"
"Look Aaron, I haven't shifted my position regarding your mother! But, I understand you sticking by her...she is your mother! Just like I have to stick by my daughter! It's the same thing really...family loyalty and all that! Oh; and I'm sorry I said you're not part of the Dingles; I've had time to think on...and I was wrong to say that! I lashed out!"
Aaron realised that it was a big deal for Cain to say 'sorry'. He shared that trait!
"Thanks, Uncle Cain," Aaron felt more relaxed and started to open up, "I've got an apprenticeship at a garage in Tunnoch Bridge and Jackson has got a job at a ski centre where Hazel's boyfriend works. So, I'm leaving Emmerdale!"
"Good for you!" Cain's hard face suddenly broke into a smile, "You're not a bad lad Aaron, your heart's in the right place. I hope that you and 'Twinkletoes' will be very happy...I mean that!"
Cain extended his hand and Aaron shook it warmly.
"No hard feelings, eh?" Cain said.
"No...no hard feelings!" Aaron replied, relief in his voice!
Aaron's next port of call was the Woolpack; he suddenly realised that he had unwittingly told Cain about his departure before telling his mother! Not that Chas and Cain were on speaking terms, but it didn't feel right that it had happened that way round!
Chas was in the back room, reading a newspaper at the kitchen table. She jumped up and embraced her son, "When did you get back?"
"Last night!" Aaron told her.
"Did you have a good time? How's Jackson?"
"One question at a time, Mum! Yes, we had a good time and Jackson's fine. Listen, I've got something important to tell you."
"I'm all ears!"
"I wondered what was different about you!"
"You've always been a cheeky one!" Chas smiled.
"It's about the apprenticeship I wanted," Aaron hesitated, not sure how to tell Chas his news, "I've been offered a place in Tunnoch Bridge."
Chas digested this information, "What, where you've just been, you mean?"
"That's right, a place called Glenside Motors, I'll be working for Hazel's boyfriend's cousin."
"What about Jackson?"
"He's been offered a job at the ski resort where Hazel's boyfriend works."
Chas looked pensive, "So, this wasn't just a holiday? You were planning to elope!"
"No, we weren't," Aaron became defensive, "We didn't plan anything...it just sort of happened! But I won't go if you need me here!"
Chas smiled, "My! You really have grown up! I'll miss you, a lot, but you have to take this chance! This is your future we're talking about! You must go, especially as both of you have somewhere to work...and I know that Jackson will look after you!"
"I don't need looking after!" Aaron's bravado was never far from the surface!
"I know you like acting the tough guy, my love, but everybody needs somebody!" Chas took Aaron's hands in her own, "Let Jackson take care of you! He loves you deeply, I can see that; and some people never find that kind of love in their entire lives! Go...with my blessing! I'll be expecting lots of reports on your progress! Oh, and promise me you'll invite me on lots of holidays in the summer!"
"I will...thanks, Mum!" Aaron gave his mother a great big hug!