Sorry for the long wait on this one…I'm trying really hard to catch up on things.

…

Chapter 16

…

Sheila returned to work the day after her conversation with Davey, despite her reservations. Sam had been released from Hospital and was on bed rest for the rest of the week which a suited Sheila because she didn't have to talk to her. At the end of the week Sheila was just finishing up a conversation on the phone when the office door opened and Sam appeared before her. Sheila's smile quickly faded when she saw Sam, she placed the phone on the receiver and the pair remained silent for a few moments. Sam began to wonder if coming down to see her had been a good idea but as she was returning to work the following Monday, she knew she'd have to get the awkwardness out of the way.

"I'm not disturbing you am I Sheila." Her voice uneasy.

"I was just finishing up with a client."

"Oh right, good….Sheila I…."

"I spoke to Mr McIntosh about the other week, I apologised for my behaviour, blames family issues and he's willing to sign his business to our Estate."

"He's agreed to come back?" Sam asked, not quite believing it.

"That's what I said." Sheila replied, her voice conveying no emotion.

"I don't know how to thank you Sheila, it couldn't have been an easy thing to do."

"Well, there's no reason the business should suffer just because we're at odds."

"Fair enough, look Sheila…."

"Well it's nearly finishing time so if you don't mind, I should be getting home."

Sheila stood up from her desk and made her way for the door when Sam came to stand in front of her, blocking her exit.

"Sheila please, we need to talk."

"I don't think you and I have very much to discuss Sam."

"Well I disagree…please, sit down."

….Sheila let out a small sigh and went and sat down on the sofa by the door, Sam took a deep breath and took a seat on the edge of the table so that she could do this face to face.

"Sheila, I know that there's nothing I can say that can ever make up for what I've done. It was the stupidest moment of my life, you and David always said alcohol would destroy me and you were right. I will always regret what Dominic and I did but….I can't regret having this baby."

"Sam…."

"No please Sheila, I know I've never been the most thoughtful or caring woman you've ever known. I've been a tough, hard nose bitch all my life, I've had too. It's how I survive in a business world full of Men who think a Woman can't do the job as well as them. Sometimes I tend to forget that I don't always have to be that way, I've closed myself off from so many people in my life that, without even realising it…I ended up alone…until Peter came back into my life. He made me feel again Sheila, he made me smile again and I did want to marry him, I really did. He made me feel special…I never imagined that he could be capable of murder, that he could kill Gary like that, let alone have an affair with Sarah."

Sheila sat listening to Sam and the hurt in her voice as she spoke of Peter, it was the first time she'd ever seen Sam truly upset and venerable. Without thinking, she reached over and took a tight hold of Sam's hand but retreated quickly.

"Sam…what you've done, Dominic's so young. Being a Father is the last thing he should be thinking about right now. He should be going to University or going to America like he was meant too."

"I'm not stopping him from going Sheila, I made it quite clear that I could handle this on my own."

"Yes but he was raised properly, he knows right from wrong and he knows how to respect people and do the right thing…which is why he chose to stay here, why he chose to stand by you. He'd only feel regret if he left."

"I don't know what to say to you Sheila, I don't know how to fix this?"

"You can't fix it Sam, the damage has already been done. All we can do is try to move forward. Whether I like it or not, you are having my Grandchild and I need to accept that…and I will."

"Thank you Sheila, I can only hope to be as good a Mother as you." She smiled.

"You will be, it won't be easy but you will and we'll help you."

"Do you really mean that?"

"I do, give me time Sam…that's all I ask."

"Alright."

Sheila got up and pulled her coat on before heading to the door.

"Goodnight Sam." She smiled.

"Goodnight, I'll see you Monday?"

"Bright and early, night." She smiled, as she left.

…

Davey was walking up the stairs as Sheila was heading out for the evening.

"You off already?"

"I am, Sam's in the office if you're looking for her."

"She okay?"

"I haven't killed her if that's what you mean." Sheila said, turning to him.

"Did you talk?"

"We did."

"And?"

Baby steps Davey…baby steps, night."

"Night."

He watched her leave before turning and heading to Sam's office, when he entered he found her standing by the window, looking down onto the grounds of the Estate.

"You're on bed rest missus."

Sam turned around to see Davey standing in the doorway, smiling at her.

"I've been on bed rest all week, I was bored and anyway….I wanted to talk to Sheila before Monday."

"Everything go okay?" He asked, coming up behind her and wrapping his arms around her waist.

"We had a good talk, I wouldn't say we're best friends again but we came to an understanding. It will all take time David but…it's a start."

"I'm glad Sam, really I am."

Sam turned around in his arms and looked up at him and kissed him softly.

"I couldn't have done any of this without you by my side, thank you David."

"You know I love you Sam, always have…that'll never change. I'll always be here for you."

"The thing is…I never should have let any of this happen in the first place. Sheila was right, I'm old enough to know better. If I hadn't been a drunken fool it wouldn't have happened."

"At least one good thing has come out of all of this."

"What's that?"

"That little one in there, no matter how bloody stupid you both were…there's still going to be a baby at the end of it."

"True, it's changed me already, hasn't it?"

"I think so, you'll become a soppy woman before you know it." He joked.

"You wish…I love you David."

"Yeah, I love you too, you daft woman…come here."

She moved in for a kiss, feeling so much better that thing's would hopefully work out for the better.

…

-Fin

…

Liz I am planning a sequel, I promise. We have to see what happens after the baby comes