Chapter Thirty-Two: Mistakes
Gabrielle spent the night in Audrey's room. Hence why she was out quickly the following day. She drove to 'Coronation Street' to defend Stephen on his behalf but mainly she wanted to test the waters. She parked outside the factory, knowing Sarah would be in there this morning. It was the only time she could talk to her without another Platt present. Thus she walked over and opened the door, walking through the factory until she came across a startled Sarah. She didn't expect to be the first one to be graced with a visit but she knew one of them from that so-called fraction would come around eventually. She really hoped it would have been her gran, they all just wanted to see if Audrey was okay.
"Have you been staying with my gran?" Sarah asked her shakily.
"Yes. She's doing fine actually, Stephen and her are good now. You know that David has started all this. You know he didn't kill this Leo...He was with me that day"
"Where's the roofbox then?"
"Sorry?"
"Teddy's missing and his old roofbox vanished around the same time. I don't even want to imagine. Please tell me he's being normal with gran"
"Your gran is fine, Sarah. It's you and David who are acting strange, calling Bethany and Martin back over. No doubt you and David have been filling their heads with garbage about Stephen. He's a wreck over there"
"Do you think I want this?"
"I don't know. You tell me...You know me and Stephen must have spent half a million on the family. All those free holidays and jobs, all those expensive gifts. And this is how you repay us"
"Oh. There's an us again, is there? There wasn't an us when he ran away and stole your money!" Sarah snapped, making the factory lot look over.
Carla came out from her office to see what the shouting was about. Gabrielle clocked eyes on her. This was her then, she heard many bad things about Carla Barlow. From both Stephen and Sarah actually. The woman crossed her arms as she looked Carla dead in the eye.
"I'm sorry Carla...This is Stephen's wife, Gabrielle" Sarah informed her while looking down.
"My condolences to you. Now do you mind telling me why you think you can waltz into my factory and argue with a member of my staff in front of my other staff? Because I don't remember giving you a slot, darling" Carla began as she walked closer to her.
"I'm talking to my niece. Not to you...And you treated Stephen badly from day one. So don't go acting like you're all innocent" Gabrielle responded as she turned closer to face her.
"Look. I'm not here to argue the toss about your slimy little husband" Carla paused before adding..."You need better taste in men by the way, love. Anyway, use the door please. If you and Sarah want to talk, she can do it on her lunch break"
"Who do you think you are? If I spoke to any of my staff like that-"
"I'm not asking for your opinion. I'm asking you to leave...So please, Gabrielle. Make your way out"
"Fine. But Sarah, remember what I said" Gabrielle spoke before taking her leave.
...
"I do want to pop round and see your sister today. I don't want her to think I'm ignoring her. I don't want to pick sides, I just want to explain myself. I love you both the same but you both need different things from me"
"Please mom. If you do that, they will think you have come round to their way of thinking. Besides, there's something I want to ask you. Can I have everything now? I won't force you out of here. I just want your businesses now"
"What about David? My salon and barbers are his main source of income. He and my great-grandchildren rely on it"
"He can get another job. I'm getting past my prime here and need a lot of money quickly. I really need help, besides; you only got them because of Alf. And I know that's unfair to bring up but it's true"
"It doesn't matter how I got them. Besides, David needs the salon and barbers because they help upkeep the house. He can get a job but it will be lower wages and he will have to downsize"
"Not the end of the world then"
"So you're happy to see your sister, nephews and niece struggle?"
"What about my struggles? Can't I have a little bit of your precious help? For once in my life"
"Don't bring that up again, Stephen. You know I love you the same but you had everything once. It's not my fault you messed up...Look I can spare one of them for you but one of us will have to go to the salon to collect the lease"
"I'll do it"
"Stephen. You can't go to the street right now. Everybody is out for you...I don't want you to get hurt" Audrey pleaded but it fell on deaf ears.
She watched him pick up his familar brown jacket. He collected the salon's keys on his way out.
...
The bus pulled into 'Coronation Street' thirty minutes or so later. Stephen got out and began walking towards the salon for the lease. Rita watching him from 'The Kabin' keeping her hand firmly on the handle. Jenny was just up there actually, hiding away after Leo's death and the recent closure of 'The Rovers'. She instantly went in and locked the door before he even clocked eyes on her. He just heard the faint sound of the shutting of the shop door. Eyes went on him as he walked closer to the salon, he unlocked it and went in. Searching for the lease as he opened every cupboard. He ventured further into the back. He found it in what was Audrey's small office's drawer. Thus he stuffed it in his pocket and made his way out, locking up again. He was planning on just going back to 'Grasmere Drive' but he noticed Gabrielle's car parked outside the factory still. He thought she might still be in there and a part of him was tempted to go in. He thought he didn't have much to lose by this point but at the same time, he didn't want to risk prison over something minor when he knows he's still under suspicion for more serious matters. He was weighing up his options when he spotted Elaine coming out of the Metcalfe household, he walked straight to her...
"Elaine" Stephen called out to her which made her gasp.
She stood frozen to the spot with her empty shopping bag on one hand and her handbag on another. He walked over to her, he knew that she was shaking as she wearily asked him..."What do you want?"
"Just a talk. You know I didn't do what people think. I know I made a mistake but you pushed me to it. I never smacked a woman before, you just triggered something that day. I don't deal well with bad times. That's all...My dad just died and you were so cruel to me"
"So...So-"
"So I'm just trying to explain to you why I did it. And I felt bad about it for days, ask my mother if you don't believe me. I was just wondering if you would give me a good character reference if it's ever asked"
"No-"
"Please Elaine. You know me...I told you stuff that nobody else knows. I still love you and I need somebody to help me. Otherwise the real killer will get away with it, you don't want that on your conscience, do you?" Stephen asked as he tried to manipulate the situation.
Elaine looked close to tears as she was reminded of another man in her life, Geoff Metcalfe. She knew he was just trying to put false ideas in her head but she didn't want to anger him again. Yet her silence and obvious distrust seemed to make him angry anyway as he asked louder...
"Will you help me or not? Do you want Leo's actual killer to get away with this?"
"No-"
"Then you help me and tell them what a good partner I was to you. How we broke up because you wanted different things. And if they ask about my father, tell them I was with you all night and that you were helping me through the grief. Okay? Are you remembering all this?"
"Y-Yes"
"I'm not buying it, Elaine. This isn't fair, people think I did something when I didn't. I make one mistake with you and you're suddenly acting like I'm a monster. Well I'm not. I just need help! Just give me help!" Stephen snapped as he gently grabbed onto her arm but she reacted badly as even a gentle touch from this man was too much.
"Please just go. I'll do what you want but just go!" Elaine begged.
"Why are you arguing with me right now?"
This argument attracted attention as Yasmeen came out from next door. Instantly walking over as she got in the way of her friend. To block Stephen's attempts to get closer again. Gabrielle wasn't far behind as she came out of the Platt household after trying all morning and early afternoon to try and build up Stephen's image. Now it was staring everybody in the face, Martin walked over to the situation. Jenny looking out of 'The Kabin' flat's window.
"Stephen. Come on...I'll drive you back to Audrey's" Gabrielle suggested in an annoyed tone. What a waste of time she thought.
"I'm just trying to get this stupid-" Stephen was cut off.
"The only stupid one here is you. Thinking you can just waltz back on the street and intimidate Elaine" Yasmeen chimed in as she put one arm around her friend.
"I don't remember this being your business!" Stephen snapped at her.
Sarah and Bethany finally accepting what he was as they watched from afar. Martin just shook his head as he told him..."Just leave the women alone, go on. I don't even think you should be going back to Audrey's in this state"
"He's fine. He's just got a lot of stuff going on" Gabrielle tried to say.
"A lot of stuff going on? So that gives him the right to scare women until they cry, is it? Are you even safe with him, Gabrielle?" Martin asked with general concern.
"Of course I am. Come on, Stephen. Let's go...People clearly don't want to help. You shouldn't have came back here this soon" Gabrielle gently spoke.
Elaine looked at Gabrielle and wondered if she knew. Did she know about the lies he was peddling about her? She managed to find her voice again as quizzed her..."Gabrielle. Did you know he told me you were abusive to him?"
"Shut up" Stephen hissed at her in exasperation.
"What are you talking about?" Gabrielle questioned.
"Stephen told me you were abusive. That he was skint because you two had a joint-bank account and you took everything during the divorce" Elaine quickly explained before he could deny it.
"That's not true but he did mention he lied about me. I just didn't know it was that...I'm sorry for your troubles, Elaine. I never should have let him out of my sight" Gabrielle responded.
"Let's just go now, Gabrielle. I'll explain at the house" Stephen insisted.
The woman gave a last glance at Elaine before agreeing. Which surprised everybody that Gabrielle was acting so calm despite these lies. The Platts standing outside the household. They wondered if anything about him was true or was he just this mad conman? Martin walked back towards the house, putting his arm around Sarah as the Reid couple got in Gabrielle's car and drove back to 'Grasmere Drive'.
...
"I couldn't sleep. And I knew you'd still be awake...I got everything you said before going round and round in my head" Gabrielle spoke that night as she sat on Stephen's bed.
"I said what I had to say. She wasn't budging...She had an abusive ex and I pretended I did too. We had nothing in common"
"So you thought you would make something up to get that thing in common?"
"Yeah"
"God. You know I was this close to getting Sarah, Bethany and Gail on our side. Why is your temper back so aggressively? You couldn't even have one disagreement without flying off the handle?"
"Because I don't have you to calm me down. I never wanted a divorce, you wanted the divorce"
"Maybe because I was sick of playing second fiddle to your business friends and the old women that you were trying to get money from. Who was the last one again? Joan? Eighty years old and rich...Your dream woman"
"I didn't enjoy it, okay. And I didn't do it that much...Only three times. And I know it was only three times because I had a small bond with them"
"I know Stephen but it still hurt me. We were barely intimate on our last year together. What was I suppose to think? I thought you had an actual woman on the go, I didn't know that Joan was just another meal ticket"
"It didn't matter in the end anyway. I didn't get any money...Just a smack from her one and only son"
"Sarah mentioned something before about a roofbox. Is that where...One of the you know who is?" Gabrielle asked quietly in case Audrey was still awake.
Stephen looked at her with suspicion. She didn't quite realize how paranoid he had gotten. She was only asking questions so she could help him get out of his crimes eaiser but he didn't understand this concept. He thought everybody must be out to get him.
"Why? So you can tell the police lies?" Stephen questioned as he moved further away from him.
"What?"
"You got wires or something, haven't you? I should have known"
"Stephen. You think I'm an informer? Well I can assure you I'm not, I care about you and I want to help you. I'm asking these questions so I don't make any mistakes if I'm questioned again"
"I can't go to prison"
"You won't-"
"I won't last five minutes in there. I'd rather have the chair!"
"Shut up. You will wake your mother and I really don't want to have to calm her down again. I hate seeing you like this, why would I want to add onto your stress? I still care about you. Besides, would I do this if I was an informer?" Gabrielle asked as she leaned in for a kiss.
He leaned back in surprise before reciprocating. This was partly sympathy on her part but it was partly for the thrill. She wasn't a person with great morals herself; her lack of reaction to his crimes was the proof. Though she did minimize the severity of them in her head. The kiss soon led to more and they were suddenly acting like man and wife again.
...
TBC