Chapter Seven: In Another's Spider Web
The Platt family suddenly found themselves split into two. As Audrey's forgiveness of Stephen didn't set right with Gail, David or Sarah. Nick being the only one to not ignore his gran and uncle the following day. As the two of them got the bus back the street to try and work things out. Nick was having a conversation with them near the salon. Stephen looking much more forlorn as he stood there in jeans and a jumper (rather than his usual smart suit attire).
"We all been there. I struggled to get back on my feet after a blip once. It's not nice and makes you do stuff you don't want to" Nick said with his hands in his pockets.
"Exactly. Meanwhile they are all sitting together like they are perfect and have never made a mistake in this family. Try and speak to your mother for me...She put the phone down on me last night when she found out I was still letting Stephen live with me" Audrey answered, giving her grandson a light tap.
"Will do" Nick promised with a smile.
The three of them however soon found out that they had extra company. David looked angry as he shouted out...
"Oi! Nick...What are you doing?!"
"Exactly what it looks like...Grow up, David. You, mum and Sarah closing ranks is not going to help us out of this" Nick said as he turned around to face his younger brother.
"Us? When did his debts turn into an us problem? You're on your own you three...I'm not helping him pay anything. If Max can't get help out of his mess, why should he? No, sorry. It's not gonna happen" David spoke firmly.
The three of them just looking at him with defeated expressions. David was clearly the captain in that part of the Platt family right now. Though it wasn't just Gail, Sarah and David against them. Adam (as the husband of Sarah and a lawyer) was also against him. Michael and his family too. Carla and Peter wouldn't be far behind once the drugs wear off. Elaine and Tim would get word next and that doesn't leave much of the street left. David could almost sense Stephen was joining the dots in his head and just gave him a sarcastic smirk before walking away and back inside his house.
"Mum and Sarah will come round even if he doesn't" Nick insisted to them.
"I'm sorry for causing this mess. I didn't mean to let it get this far...Look, you two don't have to defend me. I'm not a real member of this family anyway" Stephen said.
"Yes you are! Don't say that...You're my son" Audrey rebuked quickly.
"Thank you, it means a lot"
Audrey locked arms with him and suggested they go to the factory. Try and make things up with Sarah. He couldn't say he longed to do that, walking into the factory with his mother to try and say sorry to niece. Wasn't a great image but what did he have left? He just nodded, saying goodbye to Nick and thank you for his understanding. The two of them walked to the factory, Audrey ungrasping him as she let him go in first. He walked through the factory and avoided eye contact from the gossiping factory lot. Only to pause as he saw Sarah, Michael, Adam and Peter on the couch with a bunch of papers...
"I should go" Stephen muttered to his mother.
His voice made them all look up. Adam looking furious and Sarah could tell as she grabbed onto him. Though he wasn't stopping as she stormed over and shoved him hard. Making him fall backwards and his bad hand prevented him from stopping the impact. Adam having to be pulled back by Peter from doing further damage as he was about to go for a second attack.
"You had no right!" Audrey hissed at him.
"Without any disrespect, Audrey. Keep out of this and don't get involved" Adam managed to reply despite his anger towards the man she calls her son.
"Look at him. He isn't fighting back...He's as pathetic as he looks. Don't bother with it, Adam" Peter chimed in,
Watching as Stephen forced him back up. Not raising a hand in response as he understood the thin ice he was already treading. Sarah just biting nervously onto her fingernails in the background, not wanting to say another word. Audrey looking towards her granddaughter as if to urge her to say something in his defence. Though they were past that now.
"Sarah. What have you said?" Audrey asked her like it was all her fault.
"I just told him what happened, gran. He was so angry...I don't want him near me for a while" Sarah admitted.
"Drama queen. That's what you are...Stephen does want to say sorry but obviously you're loving the drama too much"
This response just made her turn around. The family really were going against one another over this. Audrey was firmly on Stephen's side despite what he's done. Adam looked ready to give him another hard shove just on Sarah's behalf but his lawyer instincts kicked in and he restrained himself.
"It's a bad look when you have to hide behind your elderly mother, Stephen. Just get out of here" Adam told him firmly.
"Can I at least collect my things or are you all going to prevent me from doing that too?" Stephen finally spoke up.
Adam just scoffing as he told him to just get them and go. He briefly walked past Sarah and into the office. Collecting his papers, pens and whatever else he left behind. He was even petty enough to take the kettle which he brought in recently as he came out with it in his hand. He paused as he faced Adam and told him not to talk to his mother like that again.
"Like I said. It's a bad look when you have to hide behind her" Adam responded.
"And just for the record, Carla has sacked you. You won't be getting any shares in the business" Peter spoke up to give him a final dig.
"Did she say that while slurring her words?" Stephen asked quietly.
He felt himself getting another shove and he felt it too. Peter was much stronger than Adam. Both men following him and Audrey to make sure he has left the premises. Stephen got out the factory keys as he chucked them onto the floor and told them to go fetch. As a last minute jibe before getting kicked out of the factory altogether. The factory door slammed shut as soon as his second foot touched the factory step outside.
...
"Listen, Stephen. As much as I would like to see you drink yourself into a stupor on this early afternoon. I got to get back home on the bus" Audrey spoke up with sarcasm.
She was still upset about the car and he knew that. Though at least she still talked to him and let him have a roof over his head. That was the best he could hope for as he told her he would be back later. Jenny giving Audrey a polite smile as she watched her leave. Watching as Stephen finished his own glass before taking his mother's half-drank glass cherry and drinking from that too. Daisy pulling a face as she spotted that bit of desperation. He was acting like a drunken homeless beggar.
"I don't think we should give him anymore" Daisy suggested to Jenny.
"I'll try and talk to him" Jenny assured her.
Making her way over to the man she almost courted. She dodged that bullet she thought. The whole thing with Leo and Ted was just too much, his involvement was too much. She didn't want to go there again and wanted to move on from that entire sorry saga. Stephen however didn't have many options and thought he might try his luck again.
"Want a drink with me?" Stephen asked her.
"No. Actually I came over to tell you quite the opposite...I will get you a glass of water so you can get the alcohol from your breath. The bus driver might not let you on at this time otherwise" Jenny replied as she picked up the two empty glasses.
"I'm not drunk"
"Well no because I'm stopping it. You need to sort yourself out, Stephen. And not drink yourself into oblivion in my pub. If you want to, go elsewhere. It's that simple"
"Not very good business. Telling your punters to drink elsewhere"
"Well you're a friend and not just a punter. Key word being friend" Jenny responded softly.
"Oh I see what you're saying. Well I will take my friendship elsewhere in that case" Stephen answered.
...
Elaine heard the door knock as she was sat bored on the couch. Sally and Tim currently out at work. She made her way over and opened it to find Stephen, she was his final resort. Her house was his final resort in other words. She was about the shut the door on his face due to knowing he was never going to pay her back. He took her for a mug. He put his foot in the door to prevent her closing it, making her open it wide again with a sigh...
"Please Elaine. Hear me out...I've lost everything" Stephen spoke.
"You stole my money"
"I didn't. I really thought it was a good investment...Sarah's intent on ruining me. She's being flaky"
"She's the one being flaky?" Elaine asked back in disbelief.
"Gabrielle has taken it all. She's run me dry as she said she would. And I deserve it, don't I? I am useless...Look, I'm sorry for bothering you. I'll get a job and pay you back weekly" Stephen responded.
Purposefully making himself sound pitiful to get on Elaine's weak side. Elaine was still under the impression Stephen was a victim of coercive control like she was. Gabrielle has all his money and that's why he can't do it. His lies were getting on top of him however and he didn't realize that's what he's even suggested.
"You're not useless. Look, come in for a cup of tea and we can talk about this properly" Elaine told him.
Not seeing the ghost of a smile Stephen had on his face. She stood aside to let him in. Retreating into the kitchen to make them both a cup of tea. She even remembered how he liked it without asking. Elaine liked him a lot and thought she could fix him. A mistake she made with Geoff Metcalfe once upon a time. Besides, he wasn't bad looking.
"Gabrielle has no right to your money. You need to tell the police and tell them she's holding it hostage. You're entitled to it" Elaine spoke as she sat besides him.
"It doesn't matter. I let you down like I let everybody down...I lost my temper with Sarah the other day and now she hates me too. I don't know how to get out of this, Elaine"
"It's not your fault. People don't understand sometimes that it's not as easy as taking it back. I'm sorry for going off on you. I should have been more understanding having been here myself"
"I got mugged as well. That was the final straw"
"And nobody is giving you any support? Not even Gail? She knows what's Gabrielle's been doing too"
"Yeah but she's Sarah's mom. She's going to take her side over mine. Besides, it doesn't matter now"
"Well it does because she's still controls your life with this money. She's got half of the money which is rightfully yours. Don't give up and let her win. I mean, you surely got something things left"
"I haven't honestly and I'm sorry for bringing you into my mess"
Elaine shaking her head as she put her arm around him. Believing the sob story in it's entirely. Not knowing he was taking advantage of her empathetic nature towards his story. Stephen briefly looked towards her but not too closely as he didn't want her to lean in for a kiss. He didn't fancy her and was just using her for money and some sort of support.
"Well does this mean we are friends again?" Elaine asked with a smile.
"Again? I never thought we stopped" Stephen responded back.
Making her give another smile.
...
TBC