Sorry for neglecting this one...

Face to Face

Part 37

Jackson had brought Chas' stuff inside while Aaron had taken her arm and steered her in out of the cold and over to the sofa. Seated now Chas was dabbing at her eyes with a tissue trying to wipe away a new crop of tears.

The two young men looked on waiting for her to regain some composure. But as the minutes passed, Aaron, not known for his patience was unable to hold back any longer and asked, "Have you had a row?" His mam and Carl bickered all the time but their rows were few and far between, but when they did row they were usually spectacular events.

"You could say that." Chas sniffed.

"It'll blow over." Aaron insisted, they always did. He thought that had been the right thing to say, that it would give her some comfort but instead she'd buried her face in her hands as sob after sob wracked her frame. Horrified he looked at Jackson, he always knew what to say so why wasn't he saying something now and helping him out? Jackson was staring back at him looking as unsure of what to do as him.

"Maybe I should leave you two alone..."

"No!" Don't you dare, Aaron thought, then on a sudden impulse he sat down beside his mother and wrapped his arm around her shoulders. "Mam, c'mon. It's not that bad is it?"

Through her tears and in between sobs Chas had said something. It took a little while for it to register but when it did Aaron wasn't convinced he'd heard right, he didn't want to have heard right, "What?"

Chas spoke the words again, louder and clearer, more in control now as if the saying of them had given her strength. "He's been having an affair."

Jackson's eyes were now on Aaron, his concern centred there too. What he'd feared on hearing Chas' explanation now manifesting itself before his very eyes. The tension was spreading through the younger man's body like wildfire, eating effortlessly through the barriers. Flashing dangerously in the blue eyes, before igniting a rage that drove Aaron to his feet and towards the door.

But having seen the reaction coming Jackson was ready for him. Grabbing hold of Aaron's arms he was now wrestling with him, trying to prevent him from leaving as he tried to break through the anger with words, words designed to talk him down.

In the background irritating his already raw nerves Chas, now on her feet and pleading with her son to calm down. He wanted to tell her to shut up, to get out, that this was all her doing... but that would keep. Aaron always came first, he always would. Right now he hated Chas for never putting him first in her life.

Aaron was calmer now, no longer struggling against him, he was listening to him now, his blue eyes focused on his. Letting himself be led back over to the sofa but refusing to sit, instead pacing out what was left of his ire.

Chas was watching his every movement, desperate to say the right thing to her son, "He's not worth it! I know he's not."

"Then why the hell did you come here?" Jackson demanded, no longer able to control the anger he felt.

"What?" A startled Chas eyed Jackson warily.

Aaron had stopped in his tracks taken aback by Jackson's outburst. His gaze settling on the older man watching as he took a step closer to his mother invading her personal space.

"You knew how Aaron would react. Or is that what you wanted, him losing it and going after Carl?"

"No of course it wasn't!" Chas screeched back. "I was going to Lisa's but then I saw your light on."

"What's going on?"

All three sets of eyes turned to look at Paddy; pyjama clad he was now standing in the doorway looking back at them through bleary and questioning eyes.

Aaron was more than a little relieved to see him, emotions were running high and someone needed to take control of the situation.

"Carl's been sleeping with Eve!" Chas stated matter-of-factly before dissolving into floods of tears.

With Aaron and Jackson seemingly rooted to the spot, Paddy hurried to her side, wrapping her in a comforting hug.

Aaron didn't like what he saw now; alarm bells were going off in his head. But when Paddy gestured to the kitchen and the words ''Tea with plenty of sugar" rolled off his tongue he quickly headed to the next room eager to escape the unbearable tension that lingered in the living room.

He heard the door shut behind him and knew Jackson had followed him; he spun around glaring at the older man. "What was all that about?"

"You tell me." Jackson spat back, his temper wasn't back in its box yet either.

"She's upset enough!"

"You were all set to deck Carl!"

"He's asked for it."

"No he hasn't!" Jackson stormed closer to Aaron worried he was still intent on lamping Carl King. "He's done the dirty on her yes but that doesn't mean you can go round his and punch his lights out. You'd be in the wrong then and for what? She'll go back to him she always does."

"No! Not this time."

"Aaron, they're like a pair of slippers, ones no good without the other! No matter what happens between them they'll always get back together."

"No. You heard her she said he's not worth it."

"How many times has she said that before?"

"It's different this time."

"Why because you want it to be?"

The door was opening, Paddy stepping in through it, glaring at the two of them as he quickly closed it behind him.

"Do you two want your heads banging together or what? We can hear everything you're saying...shouting to each other in there you know! And what happened to the tea?"

As Aaron turned back around switching on the kettle and busying himself putting milk into cups, Jackson sat himself down at the kitchen table, wondering if he should just go home and leave them to it. He heard Paddy heave a sigh then open the door, a second later he was calling Chas' name, then he was belowing over his shoulder to the kitchen's occupants that she'd gone.

'Good' Jackson thought but when Aaron hurried after Paddy he found himself quickly following him.

"I'll go get her." Aaron said as he made for the door.

"No I think it's best I do. Paddy insisted.

Jackson shook his head, he didn't trust either one of them with their feelings where Chas was concerned. "I'll go! I owe her an apology anyway."

TBC