Jules was furious and was letting everyone including the neighbours know it. 'That fucking man, I knew it. I told you Pete didn't I? I knew something wasn't right' Jules charged up and down the garden shouting to herself and throwing a comment Laura and Petes direction every few minutes.

'I'm gonna bloody kill him.'

'No you're not, just sit down Jules. You are giving me a headache so christ knows how Laura is feeling.'

'Sorry I'm just so angry and…'

'Jules please just stop. I cant deal with you right now sit down please.' Laura spoke quietly but it stopped Jules and she walked back to them dropping into a chair.

'So what happens now?' Pete spoke first keen to get a plan in place he didn't know Jake well but even he knew the guy loved her and was probably going out of his mind with worry.

'Ellie has Charlie and has organised to stay with her parents tonight. Charlie's not happy but I told him I will get him tomorrow. And well I need to find somewhere to live the new owners move in tomorrow so my house is out of the question, what a mess.'

Laura closed her eyes leaning her head back on the chair. How had this happened to her? She opened her eyes as Jules mobile rang and watched as Jules jumped up her voice cold and abrupt as she spoke quickly to the person on the other end.

Pete sighed as she hung up. 'Jules.'

'What, I was polite I told him she's okay and to fuck off.'

Laura sat up as Jules spoke. 'It was Jake what did he say? He's not coming here is he? I don't want to talk to him. Cant face him.' Her face crumpled as the tears rolled down her face. Jules sat on the edge of Laura's chair putting an arm around her. 'If he knows whats good for him he wont come near me. I cant be responsible for my actions.'

'Jules.' Pete stood up motioning for her to follow him. She stood reluctantly and walked into the house. He pulled her into the hall shutting the door behind them.

'It's not your fight Jules, you cant get caught up in the middle of this?'

'But she's my best friend.'

'Right so support her, don't get into a fight with him. You don't know his side of the story he is feeling a lot worse than her right now.'

'Huh yeah right,'

'Jules. I don't like what he did but he must have his reasons. They are married, she's gonna have their baby in a few weeks. What you need to do is help fix this and get her home.'

'You are joking right?' Jules stepped back spluttering as she spoke. Pete stood in front of her shaking his head, a sigh escaped as he rolled his eyes at her. 'No I'm not its obvious they love each other. Talk to him, listen to what he has to say.'

Jules shook her head walking away from Pete. 'I can't, I hate him for doing this to her and I feel like shit because I orchestrated the start of it. Maybe if I hadn't…'

'What did you do?' Pete looked her in the eye as he leaned against the wall. He knew she had meddled in this and now it was coming back to haunt her. She shook her head and her shoulders slumped as she listened to him.

'Learn a bloody lesson from this don't get involved in other peoples business unless you are prepared for the fall out.'

With that he turned on his heel and headed out the front door. 'I'm going to the pub need some fresh air.' The door was given a resounding slam as he quickly left, leaving her in no doubt how angry he was.

Jules walked back out to the garden and flopped down in the chair next to Laura. She turned to her friend and touched her shoulder. 'Laura?'

'What am I going to do Jules? The baby is due in a few weeks, Charlie how do I tell him, what do I tell him? And if that is not enough I'm homeless.'

Jules took a breath. 'You aren't homeless you have a perfectly lovely house that you drove away from today. Why the hell do you have to move out. I say you go back and tell him to get out.'

Laura closed her eyes feeling tears welling up, the thought of telling Jake to get out seemed so outrageous that she started to giggle. She leaned her head back as she thought about Jules suggestion. 'Hmmmm I like it but I don't want anything to do with Jake right now. I didn't even see upstairs you know.'

'What?'

'I never saw the bedrooms, I was so tired fell asleep on a sofa downstairs. Then I woke up and heard everything. Bloody Anna meddlesome woman I mean what the hell who does this? Why do people think they can behave like this?'

Jules shook her head wearily. 'I dunno kiddo. Rich people follow different rules I guess. I could get him to move out. What am I saying I will tell him to get the fuck out'

Laura eased across her chair gently patting Jules on the hand. 'You're a great friend but I don't think even you can throw Jake out of the house he owns. I just cant get my head around it. I never knew who Charlie's father was. But, why wouldn't you just write me a letter or pick up the phone saying who you are and lets deal with this like adults. Instead subterfuge, lies, secrets. So many secrets. This has all been a lie hasn't it?' She rubbed her stomach. 'And now look at the mess I'm about to have his baby didn't he think that at some point I would find out.'

'I don't think he thought, he probably panicked.'

Laura nodded slowly trying to focus on her friend. 'He will always be there once the baby is born I cant stop him seeing her. Then there's Charlie my head is spinning there is just so much to deal with. I don't even know where to start. I'm tired just thinking about it. Maybe I, well I think I will turn in if thats okay?'

'Of course love's. The spare room is made up there are towels in the shower room and I've put out one of Pete's old tee shirts for you to wear. Its clean I swear.'

Laura stood up slowly and leant down to kiss Jules on the cheek. 'Thanks you're the best.'

'Yeah yeah, try and sleep Laura. We'll sort this out okay.'

xxxxxxxxxxxx

Laura woke up it was still dark; she looked over at the empty space in the bed wondering where Jake was. For a split second she forgot what had happened and when the realisation of her situation kicked in she started to cry and once she started she found she couldn't stop.

She felt the baby kick and this made her cry more. When she had woken up 24 hours ago she had never thought that she would wake up in Jules house and her life would be a complete mess. It had been the opposite happiness, excitement at a new chapter in her life. What was she going to do? She didn't have parents to help her through this and she couldn't stay with Jules and Pete indefinitely. She needed to formulate a plan. She was good at planning she looked at her watch nearly 5 am. She should get up but she felt tired so tired she closed her eyes

She heard a noise outside the door and knew that Jules was hovering probably checking on her. She held her breath she couldn't talk to her right now. She couldn't talk to anyone. She closed her eyes and let sleep wash over her.

She heard someone calling her it was Jake they were in Italy he was smiling at her as he took her hand tucking it in his. They were so happy anyone looking at them could see it. She felt total bliss as she gazed adoringly at him as they walked. But, then he was disappearing his face moving away from her. She looked down at their hands and saw just hers, she called to him but he didn't respond. She was crying calling for him. 'Jake, Jake where are you?'

'Laura wake up love you're having a bad dream.'

Laura felt someone hover over her. 'Jake I was so scared you were there then not there.'

'Its not Jake Laura its Jules.'

Laura slowly opened her eyes trying to focus in the dim light. She sighed and then began crying as her eyes focused on Jules and the last 24 hours flashed through her mind.

Jules sat down heavily onto the bed and leaned forward to hug her. 'Shhhh it will be okay.' She let Laura cry and just sat holding her. The tears flowed as Laura thought back to yesterday. Jakes face as he stood in front of the car pleading with her to stop speak to him. What would have happened had she done that? Did she care?

After a few minutes she pulled back and leaned against the pillows. 'What am I going to do?'

'Okay today you don't need to think about anything. Im gonna make you a cuppa and some food. You take a shower, get dressed you are not spending all day in bed. Lets not start that Laura you need to get your head straight and then you'll know what to do.'

She nodded slowly and swung her legs out of the bed. Jules helped her up and she padded to the bathroom.

She looked over her shoulder at Jules. 'I need to see him, I need to understand why. But not yet, not until I'm ready.'

Jules nodded. 'I know you do but, if this is going to have a happy ending it needs to be on your terms and well as much as I hate to say it he sounded terrible yesterday.'

'I know I cant get his face out of my head as I drove off. How did I manage to run I just don't know when I've spent the last month waddling.' She laughed sadly and walked away.

Walking downstair thirty minutes later she smelt food and realised she had not eaten much yesterday. Her stomach rumbled and the baby kicked as she sat down at the kitchen table. Jules put a mug of tea and a bacon sandwich in front of her.

'Im starving.' She said as she tucked into the sandwich. Having finished it off she sat back with the mug of tea resting it on her bump.

'So what do I do first?'

'I don't know love. You know you can stay here as long as you like so don't worry about that. But you will need some clothes and stuff. I can go to the house and get anything you need.'

'Right yes I guess so. Charlie will definitely need his toys and clothes. How do I explain everything to him?'

'You don't. Just say Jake is away and you decided to stay here for a few days. The boys can bunk in together so Ellie can have a room and Charlie well we will put a bed up in your room for him. It will be a bit cosy but we'll make it work.'

Laura leant forward and covered Jules hand which was on the table. 'You are the best you know that?'

'Hmmmm i'm not so sure on that I knew there was something I should have researched it myself instead of that this all happened.'

'I don't think anything could've be done this was never going to be contained I mean when you think of it all…. I don't understand how his brother and my sister knew each other and had Charlie.'

'Its bloody bizarre whats what it is.'

'I know but I cant help thinking and I know I shouldn't but did he intend it to get this far? Was the plan just to get Charlie? Was I a complication? He told me that once why didn't I think harder about it all? Maybe I would've seen something.'

'Listen you can dissect this week by week, day by day, minute by minute and still you won't know what is going on in his head. Today don't think about him just rest, your body had a shock and you need to think of the baby and you. I've pulled the lounger out come and sit outside get some fresh air. Charlie will be here soon.'

'What, whats the time?'

'It's nearly 3 you slept all day.'

'Wow I, I didn't realise. I feel exhausted.'

'Course you do. Come on lets go outside and wait for hurricane Charlie to arrive.' As Laura looked up. Jules spoke quickly. 'I spoke to Ellie this morning and she knows where we are don't worry.'

Laura nodded and rose from the table wandering out to the garden she put her hand up to block the sunlight hitting her eyes. No sunglasses she thought as no handbag.

She sat down and swung her legs up closing her eyes as she let the sun wash over her. She wasn't sure how long she laid there as she feel asleep again. She opened her eyes and looked across at the other lounger she struggled to focus on the person sat there. She put her hand over her eyes as she squinted in the sunlight. Stunned at who was sat opposite her.

'Anna - What are you doing here?'