Having changed back into her normal clothes she sighs as she glances at her reflection in the tiny mirror situated in her locker. Reaching back she pulls the grips out of her hair letting it untwist and fall down around her face, not that it hid much now the side of her face was starting to bruise but it helped. She always did bruise so easily anyway. Turning to leave she just about makes it to the door before an irate Charlie storms in.
"I can't believe you of all people won't let me tell the police Duffy." He starts again, bringing up their earlier argument his eyes meeting hers.
Sighing she wasn't up to this, her head was pounding and she needed to go home before her mother arrived with the kids. "They are already in trouble with the police Charlie, what would telling them about a small cut achieve? I shouldn't have tried to split them up in the first place." She tries to explain, her eyes falling to the floor.
"Small cut? Duffy your hair isn't hiding the bruising and I did see the blood before Max seen you. It doesn't matter how big or small the injury is you shouldn't come to work and leave hurt and more so we shouldn't just accept it." He argues back, arms folded and a frown covering his face.
"I know, I do know. Look Charlie I need to go now or mum will beat me there with the boys. I'm already running late..." She pleads, still avoiding his stare for fear he'd see through her.
Stepping back he glances at the clock before relenting. "Sorry. We'll discus it tomorrow yeah?"
Nodding she mumbles some half meant promise before rushing off out the department leaving Charlie watching her vanishing figure.
She only just manages to get her jacket off before the quiet house was replaced with her noisy kids shouting for her. Shifting her hair across to cover more of her face, hopefully, as she heads back down the hall to the kids she plants a big fake smile on her face.
"I"m here. How was your day with Granny?" She inquires, hoping to distract them from asking questions, as her mother busied with helping her youngest get his jacket off.
Peter however remains silent having instantly spotted his mother's face but instead of questioning her he decides to pretend he's not noticed, he couldn't ask in front of his grandmother. His face is full of concern despite not uttering a word. Realising his mum was expecting some sort of reply he sighs and shrugs. "Fine." He answers before wandering off down the hall. "I'm going for juice."
The interaction is enough to gain Kate's attention, having got Jake's jacket off she stands back up straight, her face creased as she tries to work out the change in attitude. "What was that about?" She asks, her eyes following his figure down the hall. "He was fine before..."
Before Duffy can think up some reason, or lie, her youngest finally stops complaining now his grandmother had stopped fussing and instead gasps. "Oh mummy! Did you fall again?"
Kate's eyes spring to her daughter's face as soon as Jake's words register. "Lisa? What on earth did you do?" She quizzes with a hint of a tut.
"Oh...Um yeah Jake I just tripped." She lies with a smile. "Why don't you go find Peter for me?" She asks refusing to meet her mother's eye until the youngster was away in the kitchen.
"Tripped? Again? What is he talking about?" She questions, her tone more frustrated this time.
"It happened at work, it's fine, it's just a small cut." She briefly explains. "I don't want to explain to the boys that this kind of thing happens a lot my job. I don't want them to worry so I lied the last time."
"Last time? How often is this happening? You aren't paid peanuts to be beaten up Lisa!"
"Mum please...Not now, I'm too tired for this." She pleads her earlier cheeriness that George remarked on long gone.
Some hours later after a usual day with the kids, still without sleep bar a quick nap, she was beyond exhausted as she forced herself to cook dinner. Andrew had been away at some conference all weekend, well that's what he told her anyway, and her mother of course was busy with church on Sundays so she had no choice but to solider on. Twisting to put something in the oven she jumps slightly having not realised her eldest was watching.
"I didn't hear you come in Peter, you okay?" She explains with a smile, still busing around the kitchen.
"Yeah...Mum?" He asks, moving his weight to one foot as he stands awkwardly watching her.
"What sweetheart?" She replies, not really paying her full attention to him.
"You know how come you tripped?...Did Dad push you?" His voice is quiet, unsure as his large eyes scearch hers.
"What? No!" She gasps, thrown completely by this. "I promise you Peter your dad didn't hurt me. You've nothing to worry about."
His young face was still so unsure as he searches for clues his mother was lying but before he could ask anything else he spins round having heard the front door unlock then shut again. Dad was home, no chance of asking anything now.
Duffy thoughts were very similar to her sons, no chance to press further where he got this idea from. She could hardly ask in front of Andrew could she? Smiling more, although forced, she addresses her son. "Why don't you go back to your film?" When he barely moves she enourages him again. "I'll be fine, I just need to speak to your dad about work stuff." She explains, another lie, with that fake smile.
Sighing Peter relents before heading back through the hall, passing his father who only nods his acknowledgement to him, he somehow didn't quite believe his mum but then this wasn't the first time his mum had got hurt.
Back in the kitchen Duffy was pouring a glass of whisky for her husband before he'd even managed to utter a word. Her voice is quiet, a lot like her sons just was. "Hello, good conference?"
"Hmm...Just the usual, not much to report there." He answers, not having looked in her direct as he picks the whisky glass up and tries to figure out what was for dinner. "Thanks." He adds half heartly.
"Dinner won't be long, I'm just waiting on the..."
Having finally looked up he frowns, interuptting her. "What the hell happened Lisa?" He demands but she doesn't get the chance to answer. "Was this work again? You'll worry the boys with your face like that! This is exactly my point when I said you shouldn't be working!" He yells, his frustration spilling out. "Why won't you just bloody listen to me?!"