DON'T OWN EMMERDALE OR IT'S CHARACTERS...ITV'S PROPERTY
Chapter 15/15 and Epilogue
XXX
Zac and Lisa were beside Marlon and Laurel as they walked away from Donna's grave. The funeral had just taken place and it was time to go to the wake hosted by Diane and Chas in the Woolpack.
"That was a beautiful service...", said Lisa.
Laurel took Marlon's arm, "Yes...apparently, she spoke about it at length one night to Bob...from hymns right down to the coffin...so thoughtful was Donna"
Marlon could detect some opposite sound of compassion there...was she being sarcastic when she said that Donna was thoughtful.
Zac turned and removed his hat, "Well...she'll have a good send of in the pub...we'll all drink to her"
"That we will", seconded Lisa.
Bob meanwhile was still had the graveside. Brenda came over to him, "Come along love, they'll be waiting for us over at the pub"
Bob looked up at her, the September sun losing its late summer warmth, "I don't feel like it to be honest...the funeral has taken it out of me...plus, we'll have to settle April...how do you think she was?"
Brenda shrugged, "Don't know...it's hard to understand and take it all in at that age, at any age...I'm sure she'll be okay, give her some time..."
Bob nodded and they turned to leave the grave.
"Do you get a vibe from Marlon and Laurel that not all is well with them?"
They walked the gravel path towards the gate, "What do you mean?"
"They just seem abit...I don't know...distant with one another...it's not good...it's not good for April"
"Well...Marlon did feel a lot for Donna, didn't he..."
"Maybe TOO much..."
XXX
At the pub, Diane and Chas made sure that everybody had a drink. Debbie turned as Marlon and Laurel came to the bar, "Victoria's just bringing out the food", she said.
Marlon nodded and looked up to see Debbie link an arm around Pete Barton.
"At least your brother wasn't here to spoil things..."
Pete raised his eyebrows at him as he lifted his pint, "well it would be a bit hard even for him mate, him being inside and everything..."
Laurel shuddered, "ohhhh and there was me thinking he had turned over a new leaf over Donna and everything...that poor girl he car-jacked...I saw it in the paper...I KNOW what that girl went through...your brother should ROT where he is"
Pete just shook his head debating whether it was actually a good idea of being here at all, but Debbie thought a lot of Ross and she was there for him. That's what the impression he got anyway.
Debbie turned to him, "I've got a visiting order...I'm going to go see Ross tomorrow...tell him how Donna's funeral went"
"Finn won't see him"
"I know...but that's just because he's disappointed in him...you have to talk to him, that's all"
Pete nodded, then he swallowed and asked that burning question on everybody's lips, "What is it with YOU and HIM? I know you and him...well...he was giving you the eye when I was trying to get with you..."
Debbie put her hands around Pete's neck and looked into his eyes, "there's a connection between us...I admitt that, and you knew that anyway...but Ross LOVED Donna...there was no doubt about that...and him not being here just makes things even sadder than they are"
Pete understood, "and what about us? Do YOU love ME?"
Debbie smiled at him and met him for a kiss, "What do you think..."
XXX
Over at Tall Trees cottage, Laurel gave the box of bits to Bob, "This was her world...I thought it best YOU had them"
Bob took the box from her arms and frowned at her, "does Marlon know you are giving me all this stuff?"
"It SHOULD go to you...you were the closest thing Donna had to a dad...I think YOU should have it...or you can give things to April"
"Family's eh? I got a text from Scott this morning...HE thought the funeral was next Tuesday and when I said it was today, he said he'll just send a donation to cancer research...as for Kelly"
"No word..."
"Can't get hold of her...in America somewhere...it's a good job Donna had us to look after her, isn't it..."
Laurel gave a sad sigh, "Yeah...Marlon has really taken it badly...all this"
Bob decided it was time to air his concerns, "You and him...I'm worried about you...you will be okay, won't you? We've got April to think about now"
Laurel sat on the sofa, "I just think that his feelings for Donna were a lot stronger than he makes out"
Bob tried to reassure her, "but Donna didn't love Marlon...she, and for the life of me I don't know why, loved this Ross lad, didn't she"
Laurel blew out a chuckle, "Yeah...and that's why I excepted him here...I excepted that vile man I hate most of all in the world in our lives because he could keep Donna away from Marlon...what does that tell you about me, Bob"
"You put Donna first, love...that's all...Ross is a badlad...Wasn't suited for Donna at all...but SHE must have seen something in him...she's a bit silly...but, I suppose love can make you blind"
Bob took her hands, "...this is a fresh start now, love...you, Marlon, Arthur and April..."
Laurel nodded at him and they hugged.
XXX
THE NEXT DAY...
Debbie was led into the prison visitors suite and sat down at one of the tables near the water machine. She put her hands together and waited quietly. Ross was in Maidstone Prison down south, it had been a long trek to get here...but Ross deserved a visitor. Finn had refused to go when he received one.
She looked to the other tables and the other visitors. Most were women. Wives or girlfriends no doubt.
Then the barred door at the end opened with a clang of the keys that brought her own memories of being inside to the surface, she shuddered.
Ross, in his orange visitor vest, came over and slumped into the seat opposite her. Debbie gasped, the state of him. A black eye, a cut lip and his hair was a mess.
"Blimey...whos had a go at you?", she said. Actually it was all she could think of.
"The other guy was worse off, believe me"
Debbie could detect the under current of hate in his tone.
"Look...I thought I'd come to see you...saves wasting a visiting order and all that..."
"How's Finn?"
"Finn's okay...I sure he misses you"
Ross blew out a laugh and sat back, he stared at her through his dark cold eyes, "You expect ME to believe that shite? Finn don't want ANYTHING to do with me...why would he? Look at me"
Debbie swallowed and looked around her, then back at him, "It was Donna's funeral yesterday..."
Ross looked at her, hard eyes, "WHO"
"Stop it...you can't just forget about everything Ross, it just doesn't work like that"
Ross shrugged, "she was some tart I shagged...copper in all...gave us a right buzz did that...but SHE is gone now...live goes on...mine has"
Debbie waved her hands at him, "What this? THIS is moving on? Ruining and wasting your life locked up in here"
Ross's eyes were fixed to the table.
"You are heartbroken, I get that...you are hurting and it is still all raw for you...but...you WILL get over it...life DOES carry on Ross...it might not feel like that now...but over time...you will learn to..."
"FORGET!"
"No...accept"
Ross looked up at her and swallowed, "but i don't want to accept it...I WISH I never clapped eyes on her...out of ALL of us, me, Pete...Finn...it was ME who had grown up first...I was prepared to Marry that girl...bring up her kid...maybe have one of my own if she wanted...NEVER have I ever felt like that before...out of the three of us I didn't think it'll ever be me"
"They are all shocked it was you, believe me"
He became more serious, his voice a tad gentler, "but what is there for me now...I can't see past the wall..."
Debbie could see he was torturing himself, she knew he would...she swallowed and from her pocket she slipped over a piece of card.
"there"
Ross frowned and lifted it and turned it over. It was a picture of smiling Donna.
"I asked Bob for it...and he gave it to me...you could, I don't know, pin it on your wall...or you could just screw it up and threw it away, because it doesn't change anything Ross...YOU have to MOVE ON"
Ross looked adoringly at the photo and closed his eyes in pain.
Debbie reached out for him and grabbed his hands and squeezed them as he tried to fight the sobs, "just let it out Ross...let it all out..."
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
EPILOGUE
9 MONTHS LATER...
Ross Barton drove into the village in a flash car and looking all smart. It was Debbie and Pete's wedding day. He had hired out a nice suit and it was a good fit.
Since getting out of prison for good behaviour if you'd believe, he had tried to put right his sorry excuse for a life. He had got a good mechanic's job in Leeds and he was managing to keep his nose clean.
He went up the path and knocked on the door. Charity opened it and stood back, "My my, look at you...is this Ross Barton we see before our eyes?"
Debbie was inside and twisted around in her nice two match pale cream wedding suit, she didn't want anything too princessy.
But Sarah looked like one.
Ross looked at her with that half smile and tilt of the head.
"Ross...I thought you couldn't make it..."
"a lad can change his mind, can't he?"
She went up to him and smiled, "you look nice...scrubbed up well infact..I think I must be marrying the wrong brother!"
Ross looked into her eyes, "Pete is a lucky bloke..."
"Don't be silly"
"So...now he's managing to put a ring on your finger, you'll be my sister in law...that's just so wierd"
Debbie was getting Sarah ready, "Have you been up to the farm? Seen Finn?"
Ross nodded doing up his suit, "Just gonna go up there...I'm abit nervous if I'm honest...ME honest...what's happened to me, eh?"
Debbie smiled back at him, "it'll be fine...he's forgiven you...you are his favourite brother, you knew deep down he always would"
Ross nodded and made for the door and turned, "Thanks Deb...thanks for not giving up on me"
Debbie smiled and watched the door close behind him. Blimey...in another life...
XXX
Ross walked up the street in the hot June sunshine and saw Bob walking to the café with April in his grasp. Ross stopped and watched them, he sadly smiled as he saw April jumping about. And then, before he could hurry off, she saw him.
"ROSSSSSSSSSS!"
Letting go of Bob, April went flying across the street and as Ross stooped he caught her in his arms and lifted her up. The Young girl wrapped her arms around his neck.
"You went away like Mummy...where did you goooo!"
"I've just been away...I'm back now"
Bob was now coming over but he paused and there was an understanding nod between the two men.
April looked at Ross, "I missed you...you make silly noises when you read me stories...daddy can't do your voices like you can"
"You okay? Are you looking after your dad and Laurel and your granddad...because your granddad will need a lot of love and kisses from you"
"...you do too"
And she kissed him on the cheek. Ross closed his eyes. Savouring the moment till he had to hand her back to Bob.
"Bye Rossss"
Bob turned as he was about to walk off, "thanks...for making Donna happy at the end...", and with that said, Bob and April were gone.
He sniffed back the threatening tears and turned and looked to see the family and friends gathering outside the church for Pete and Debbie's wedding.
Licking his bottom lip, he turned and went into the cemetery and went across the neatly cut lawn towards the nice new headstone that so recently had been erected.
Here lies Donna Windsor
1986-2014
Loving Mum to April.
Daughter of Vic and Viv.
God bless.
He touched the top of the stone with his hand and looked down at the grave.
"Sorry I'm late...I've been a naughty boy again...but I'm gonna be good from now on...well, that's what I'm saying to them but you know I can never promise that...you wouldn't have loved me if I was boring like my brother Pete.
I miss you so much, Donna...I've been thinking about you a lot today...maybe it's just all the emotion of a wedding. Not that I'd show it, but you are not gonna be telling them, are you...
Just want to tell you...I'll never love anyone Like I loved you...I know I have to move on and I have...but...the tattoo stays...Donna forever and no woman can make me remove it..."
He looked up as the bell tolled.
"...looks like the precedings are starting without me...Donna I just wanted to say...
I understand WHY you didn't tell me...If I'd know you were ill from the start, would have I not fallen for yah? I think I would have...because I was in love with yah from Moria and Cain's wedding..."
He stooped low and was looking about him like he didn't want to be seen. Then, reaching inside his suit, he pulled out a single red rose and laid it onto the grave.
He smiled sadly. Stood, buttoned up his suit and walked away to the church with a cheeky grin Donna would approve of. Not that he was into weddings, but one of those flower girls looked rather tasty!
THE END
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
That's me. Hope you enjoyed the tale, I tried to tie things up on a high that lifes moving on, like it should do, but not forgetting what's past. I hope it came across that way, let me know.
Feedback is gratefully received and your opinions are as always welcomed.
I like to take the opportunity to thank those who have reviewed and for those who have put me as their 'fav' author, it means a lot to me.
Markab X