Long Time No See
Chapter One
This wasn't any particular day in Manchester really or at least it wasn't meant to be. Leanne had only gotten more committed to 'The Institute' since Simon left. She was distancing herself from everybody. On this day however, she found herself out with some members of the cult she was beginning to call home. They were giving out leaftlets in the middle of Manchester. Spreading the message of positivity and reality coding. The faces became a blur after a while and the rejections became more common as the shops began closing. Though in the midst of the crowd, she saw a familiar yet distant face. A man with a dirty old coat hung over one shoulder and a bin bag slumped on another. She lowered her last four or five leaftlets and could barely say the usual jabber of 'The Institute'. The dishevelled man stopped as he looked at her back. Though instead of embracing after all these of lost, he quickly retreated. Leanne quickly following behind as she began shouting...
"Dad! I seen you!"
This made him stop in his tracks again. Les Battersby turned back around as he knew the jig was up and he was secretly glad it was. He looked deeply ashamed, he gave up getting back into contact over fourteen years ago. He thought he could have got back on his feet after his roadie job fell through but he never did. He was always tempted to just rock back up but he didn't have the nerve to. Cilla's divorce was the final straw and boy he remembered that final argument they had in 2008. After she ditched Chesney again and refused to return as well. He hasn't heard from any of them since despite the best efforts.
"Leanne. How are you keeping?" Les asked casually as if the last fourteen years didn't happen.
"How am I keeping?"
"You know...How are you doing?"
"Better than-" Leanne paused before asking "What's going on, dad?"
Les seemed like he wanted to answer but he soon dispersed back into the crowd. Leanne having to follow again as she grabbed gently onto his arm. He stopped again but he could barely look at her. She began walking with him back towards her fellow 'The Institute' members. They looked puzzled, she handed over her remaining leaftlets to one of them.
"I got to go early. I'm so sorry but I'll be back tomorrow I promise" Leanne assured them while keeping a tight grip on her father's arm.
She led him away and walked him to the nearby carpark. He got in quietly, stuffing his coat and bin bag in the backseats. Leanne could see him a lot more clearly now as they sat silently in her car. He had a couple of faded bruises and was unshaven a little bit more than usual. His clothes looked as if they haven't been washed for weeks or maybe more. Leanne couldn't miss the bad odour.
"Look dad. I'm going to take you back to mine and Nick's. Right? And you're going to shower and change. Nick has some spares you can borrow. Okay?" Leanne asked as she was keen to get him back to somewhere safer.
"Okay"
"Toyah's there as well. And so is Sam, Nick's lad. Right?"
"Right"
Leanne just nodded as she could tell she wouldn't get much more out of him. Not until he's sorted himself out.
...
"Oh my God. Dad...What happened?" Toyah asked as soon as they entered the much warmer flat.
"I found him while I was doing my promotions. Just go and get some of Nick's things for him please. Something comfortable" Leanne responded on his behalf.
Les could sense tension between his daughters. Toyah wiped away a few tears as it's been so long. Trying to compose herself as she went into the bedroom and began rooting through the drawers. Leanne leading her father straight to the bathroom as she picked up some of Nick's shower gel. She switched on the shower and warm water came down. Toyah came in with a towel and some of Nick's clothes, a jumper and jogging bottoms. The sisters thus left their father to it and closed the door, hearing the faint sound of him moving around.
"He looks so unwell" Toyah spoke when they were alone again.
"I think he's been homeless, Toyah. It would explain why he seldom calls but why he didn't just come home. I don't know why. Should we tell Janice?"
"I'd rather not tell mum...She doesn't know anything about Rose and I'd like to keep it that way. I know she will just blame herself-"
"This isn't about that! This is about dad"
"It's about everybody! Why can't you think of others for a change, Leanne? Mum doesn't need the stress. She's settled in Sheffield and I'm not going to burden her with things she has nothing to do with"
"You're just worried she's going to find out what a useless mother she was when you had to give birth alone"
"Don't you dare mention that! I wish I hadn't told you now...All you do is use it against me. As for my mum, she was a brilliant mum. Right? It wasn't her fault I didn't tell her so don't you use it against her either"
Leanne just scoffed before retreating into the kitchen. Looking in the cupboards for something to make for her father and herself. Les was still in the shower and the sisters didn't expect him to come out for a while as no doubt the warm water on his skin was the best he has felt in months. Leanne slapped pasta on the kitchen counter before getting out the sauce.
"Leanne. I don't want another row, okay. We need to focus on helping dad right now" Toyah suggested as she had to be the voice of reason as always.
"My dad, yeah"
"Wow. You haven't used that one on me for a long time...Yeah your dad. Because my dad didn't want me. Well Les is the only dad I ever known and you will never take that away from me"
"I just don't understand why he didn't tell me sooner about this" Leanne responded as she began to boil the pasta.
"We'll talk to him together"
"No I don't think so. You'll just scare him away with your constant questions. I was out doing my promotions when I found him. The universe brought him back to me, not you. To me"
"You can't stop me from talking to him"
"Yes I can when I'm concerned for his welfare. All you need to do is give up your bedroom for him. Because no way is he going to sleep on the couch"
Toyah was about to reply when the shower turned off. Sounds of Les wandering around the bathroom was heard. She just stood there as Leanne began getting out two plates. Switching the stove off and shivering out the pasta over the kitchen sink as she dished it out. The sauce in the microwave and by the time Les came out (looking a bit more respectful). The pasta was ready as Leanne placed it down on the dining room table.
"Eat up dad" Leanne spoke as she plastered on a smile and sat on the opposite side. Well aware of Toyah's gaze.
Les ate very fast and it looked like he hasn't eaten for ages. Toyah sat on the couch arm, feeling angry that Leanne would put her in this situation. Isolating her from the man she thinks of as her dad. Leanne eating her own pasta on the opposite side as silence filled the room. Les looked towards Toyah when he was done and noticed her sitting alone. He didn't know what went on but he could sense something has, even if he has been away for so long.
"Dad. Why didn't you tell me sooner? How long have you been like this?" Leanne questioned which made him look back at her.
"Years. I...I lost my job as a roadie and couldn't get back on. Cilla told me Chesney hated me and I didn't think there was any point in coming back. I let the can go down the road too long" Les began to explain.
"Cilla was a liar. She even lied about having terminal cancer-"
"I know but I couldn't face going back. I've been in and out of hostels for years. Kipping in and out of run-down squatters houses. By the time I was a year into it, I felt dirty and ashamed. I still feel dirty and ashamed"
"So nobody knows?"
"No. I mean I stayed with Charlie West for a bit but he died and I was back to square one after a few months. Toyah, please come over. I couldn't bear you hating me too" Les urged as he thought that's why she was being so aloof.
"I don't hate you. I love you" Toyah responded as she walked over despite Leanne's scoff.
He grabbed onto her hand as she stood behind the chair. Leanne was now the one being aloof. Les grabbed onto her hand too but she barely responded as she was secretly seething. She believed Toyah was giving a negative energy into her life and she would only be free without her interference. Leanne removed her hand from her dad's.
...
That night felt strange as Toyah laid on the couch with a pillow and blankets. Les was in her bedroom as he needed a bed. That was the one thing the sisters could agree on despite everything. Nick wasn't best pleased when he came home to find him there but he understood Leanne wanted to help him. Toyah could hear her dad pacing around her room. He was restless and that was understandable but it's clear living on the streets has made him paranoid. He kept opening the door as if he was checking Toyah was still there. He did it again for the third time, Toyah sat up this time.
"Dad. Come here and talk to me" Toyah suggested which made him walk over and sit on the edge on the couch.
"I'm sorry, Toyah. I keep thinking I hear footsteps"
"I understand. I heard you have to be on high alert at hostels and drug dens. But you don't have to be like that here"
"What's up with Leanne?"
"She's just missing Simon"
"She doesn't seem like herself. I feel like she hates me and I don't blame her but I wish I could try and make her see why I didn't tell her"
"Leanne could never hate you"
"I missed everybody so much. You, Leanne, Chesney...Even Cilla and your mum. I didn't want to divorce Cilla but I felt like I had to. She was my world you know. I know I sound like an idiot but I need a woman around me otherwise I end up how I was. I didn't know what to do when Cilla left me"
"You could have gone to my mum. I know she doesn't love you like a wife anymore but she still loves you as a friend. She would have helped you. We all would have helped you" Toyah tried to tell him.
The other bedroom door opened as Leanne walked out in her dressing gown. Looking like she was pretending not to notice them. She was quietly angry and Les could sense it as he walked over. Leanne filled up a glass with some tap water and downed it like she was having shots.
"Are you having a nice chat?" Leanne asked with sarcasm as she looked right towards Toyah.
"You're welcome to join it" Toyah answered as she didn't want a row.
"Have you told dad everything yet? Or just the nice bits?" Leanne paused as she turned to face her father for the first time, seeing his confused face in the dim moonlight that shone through the kitchen window..."Did she tell you, dad? About how she's been trying to make my life a misery?"
"She's talking rubbish-" Toyah went to say but was quickly rebuked.
"Oh am I? Well, dad. She's not only been after my one source of happiness which is 'The Institute' but she's also been trying to turn everybody against me. Nick now thinks I'm mad because of that negative bitch. Maybe we should ring Janice for her instead...What do you think, dad?"
Silence filled the air after this bit of bile. Toyah got up from the couch as she stormed into her bedroom and turned on the light. Nick came out from the bedroom to hear Toyah opening drawers and getting down a suitcase. He switched on the living room light and could now see the tension. Les didn't know what to say or even what had gone on as he looked confused.
"I think she's got the message, Nick. Loud and clear" Leanne uttered with her arms crossed.
"What's going on?" Les questioned Nick as he thought he could get more sense out of him than the girls.
"They had a falling out, Les. Something to do with this new friend Leanne has made-"
"Friend? No, tell him who Rowan really is, Nick. He's my guide and is helping me where these two never could. And it's not an affair or anything seedy that Nick thinks it is. It's no different than a priest and a parishioner. Do you think Emily Bishop got this much abuse from her partner?"
"Emily Bishop wasn't paying hundreds a month and spending days at some daft retreat!" Nick shouted back.
Toyah came out a few minutes later with her suitcase packed with clothes and other essentials. She put on her jacket and trainers, Leanne looked slightly overjoyed as she gave a loud sigh of relief. Something Toyah didn't doubt was for her benefit and her benefit alone.
"I'm going to my mum's for a bit. I'm going to drive up there...I can't cope with being in the same flat as her any longer" Toyah announced.
"And what did Janice do to deserve that? Are you going to tell Janice how to live her life as well?" Leanne asked but Toyah ignored her sly questions.
"I'm sorry, dad. You call me anytime you want...Just ask Nick for my number, okay? I got to go" Toyah spoke softly as she gave him a hug.
Leaving the flat in tears as she went down the steps and outside towards her car. Ready for the drive to Sheffield to her mother's.
...
TBC