Chapter Six

Leanne sat at the window in her yellow dress and black jacket. Her father and boyfriend in black suits (Les had to borrowed Nick's clothes yet again). Leanne has promised though after the funeral to help him buy a new but cheap wardrobe. The men had a yellow rose in the top pocket. She got out of view when the expected car pulled in. Toyah, Janice and Sam Kingston thought it best to come here as Rose will be buried besides her maternal grandparents (Janice's parents Rod and Dottie Lee) in a nearby churchyard. A slightly younger but similar looking woman came out of the car. That's 'Aunt Janet', younger sister of Janice.

"Aunty Janet is here so behave" Leanne told her father (almost sounding like her older self).

"Is she? Well what's good for Toyah is good for me" Les responded as they prepared to go downstairs.

The three of them thus made their way down. Toyah looking towards her sister with a nervous but small smile. Janet was the first to approach Leanne as she gave her old step-niece a big hug. Les moving over towards Toyah as they embraced again, it was a sad day for the Battersby-Lee clan. Sam giving Nick a polite handshake, he was here because 2001 was an important time in his life for him and Toyah. She didn't mind him coming as she hated the thought of Rose having a sparse funeral so anybody who wished to come was allowed.

"She's going to be buried next to mum and dad is Rose. I hope you don't mind you two but we put her down as 'Rose Lee-Battersby' on her tombstone" Janet began to explain as they all quietly walked towards 'Shuttlworth's.

"No. As long as she's got the Battersby name still" Les replied while placing an arm around Toyah.

Nick grabbed onto Leanne's hand for the first time in goodness knows how long. They walked like a normal family. George giving a polite nod as they all got closer, the tiny coffin in there was too upsetting. Toyah felt tears coming down again as she got another hug from her dad. Janice looked at Leanne as she said...

"Leanne. Let's forget about everything...Please"

"I'm sorry I slapped you"

"Already forgotten. We all slapped each other at one point or another, come here you daft cow" Janice replied.

The two women thus embraced for the first time in years. Janet was talking to Nick and Sam meanwhile. Talking them through the flowers and whatnot, her sister and niece were just relieved she was here really. She was saying she was would have loved being a great-aunt for Rose. Leanne breathed in as she pulled apart from Janice, wiping away tears.

"We drew a line now, Toyah. Haven't we, Leanne?" Janice asked her.

"Yeah of course. Come here" Leanne managed to say as she hugged her sister next. Being civil for today at least.

They all took a look at the coffin as they made their way to the cars. Toyah just wanted Rose to be laid at rest now. They all thus dispersed to the cars, Toyah, Les, Janice and Sam in one car. Janet, Leanne and Nick in the other. Janet however couldn't overlook Leanne's aloofness as she sat besides her in the car.

"Toyah's been ever so brave you know. Your sister...She's arranged almost everything, me and Janice just lent her the money. I do know by the way about the whole rift, can't you forget about it?" Janet began to ask as the car slowly but surely began following the other two cars.

"I can forget about it for today" Leanne replied with her arms crossed.

"You got your dad's stupid stubbornness. That's your problem, Leanne. Look I won't pester you, pet. Not today of all days. But just know that Toyah wants to draw a line under everything. Don't fall out over a fella-"

"It's a bit more than just a fella...Besides, you and Janice never made up, did you?"

"We have now actually. Hence why I'm here to support my niece and little great-niece. I'm not aruging with you, Leanne. Just know that, alright? You got your work cut out, Nick. She's as stubborn as a mule this one" Janet responded with her own arms crossed now.

...

The funeral car pulled up outside the old church where most of the Lee family had their christenings, weddings (back in the day at least) and funerals. Leanne paused as she watched Toyah, Les, Janice and Sam get out of the first car and be greeted by the vicar. Nick grabbed onto her hand as he went to walk but she shook her head...

"I can't do this, Nick. Just pretend I'm okay being here" Leanne spoke to his shock.

"Come on. You're this close...We can just sit in the back if you don't want to sit by them but we have to go in" Nick responded with slight desperation in his voice.

"Leanne. You are doing this for your sister because if you don't, you'll never forgive yourself. And Toyah and Janice might not neither...Come on now, it's just a few prayers to say for your great-niece. Don't do this to them" Janet began to scold as she came closer to woman she saw as another niece.

"It's wrong. This is wrong...Can't I just say my own goodbye? I already hugged them, didn't I? I don't need to sit down and pray with them, do I?"

"You do if you have any empathy at all. And I know you do...I know you do"

"It might ruin my progress and I've done so well up until now. My heart is breaking even more by being here. It's not good for me to be near Toyah and Janice for such an emotional time as this. I can't do it"

Les walked over to see why they were taking so long. Nick looked visibly angry as he thought she wouldn't do anything like this. Not on an important day like this and he really didn't know her anymore after all. He looked at Les with a defeated look, Janet excused herself as she went over towards her sister and niece to explain what was taking so long. She shook her head as she did so. Toyah looked back over with tears in her eyes, she thought she was really going to be there for her today. She wanted everybody there today for Rose if nobody else.

"She says she can't do it. It will ruin her progress apparently" Nick spoke with such bile as he hated that he even had to explain it.

"Are you serious? Just come inside the church and be there...You don't have to sit with them" Les insisted.

"No I can't, dad. I'm sorry...It's too much. I said hello to them, I will just say goodbye to my niece in my own time. Like I said I was going to yesterday. I can already feel myself losing the good energy I tried so hard to get. Rowan told me I have to cut out all the negativity, that is Toyah and Janice. Why don't you understand?"

"Why would I understand that?! Oh I can't even do this right now, Leanne. You miss out onyour niece's funeral then. Whatever makes you sleep at night...I don't want to look at you right now" Les responded harshly before walking back towards the rest of the group.

He told them to just go in, Leanne's refusing to come. Toyah and Janice gave her one last look before turning back towards the car. Leanne stayed for a bit longer with Nick, he was still hoping she would change her mind. The faint sound of 'The Rose by Westlife' was heard as the church door opened. The sight of Toyah holding the tiny coffin made Leanne finally burst into tears as she was reminded of all the children she and Toyah have lost between each other. Nick held onto her as she fell into his arms, letting him comfort her for the first time in months.

"You will regret this if you don't go in. That's why I'm pestering you to go in, I'm not being mean" Nick spoke softly.

"I know. Okay...I'll go in, I promise" Leanne replied as she held back onto his hand.

They thus walked towards the church and opened the door. The song just ending as they approached the middle pews. Les breathing a sigh of relief as he saw she's done the right thing. Leanne rested her head on Nick's shoulder as she only half-listened to the sermon and prayers. She heard as Toyah got up to say a few words after another prayer, the vicar allowing her to take the stand.

"I didn't really know what to write because all my memories of her are sad. And I didn't want this to only be sad because...I was happy I had her, even if it was a few seconds. And you know they say, smile because it happened. It's hard to do that when your baby didn't draw a first breath" Toyah paused as she felt tears falling down again, her mother got up quickly from her pew as she stood with her arm around her..."Sorry" Toyah added through tears.

"I can finish it...I'm going to finish it, it's alright" Janice assured her as she let Toyah go back to her pew, Les wrapped his arms around her again as she leaned in closer to him.

"She may not have a drew a first breath did Rose. Now I may not be religious but I still like to think God wanted her as an angel early. She was so special and even though I was too scared to say anything. I know her nan and granddad would have loved her as much as they loved me and Leanne. Rose may not have got a chance to see the outside in life but that yellow rose I saw made me think she would have loved nature. I wish I had more to write but I can't write how much I love her on paper anyway because it'll be too long. I know I will see her again one day and that will be for etenity. We'll make up for lost time then" Janice finished.

She managed to hold herself better than her daughter but behind closed doors, it's different. Janice returned to the pew, Toyah gave her a hug as a thank you. Leanne's tears were falling down equally fast as she still leaned into Nick. The vicar saw a few more words and another prayer. Another song picked out by Toyah was played as 'Goodbye' by Spice Girls' filled the church as the small crowd began to walk towards Rose's coffin to say a final goodbye before she's taken to her burial plot. Besides her maternal grandparents Rod and Dottie Lee. Leanne managed to pull herself away from Nick as she walked quietly up.

"Thank you" Toyah spoke tearfully to her sister as she saw her approach.

"It's fine. I wouldn't let Rose down" Leanne responded with her own tears falling down.

Les approached her again as he gave her a hug, apologizing for being so harsh before. Though she understood and didn't hold it against him. He thankfully seemed to be immune but her being a daddy's girl, it was hardly surprising. Rowan could turn her against everybody but him it seemed.

...

They all returned to the cobbles after the burial. A few more residents were outside by this point. Only two of the factory lot who really remembered Janice came over as Fiz and Sean nervously greeted her to offer their sympathies. Rita took this as her cue too as she walked over. All saying sorry to them all for their loss which meant a lot to Toyah as she didn't think anybody ever noticed sometimes.

"Honestly I can't even imagine. I hope we're not intruding but it's not often we see you around here anymore. You're all holding up so well" Fiz began as she was the closest to the family out of three that came over.

"Thanks Fiz, it's been a tough day but we managed. Honestly I feel bad for you two too...Still working in that factory" Janice responded as she tried to break the ice for them.

"Well I nearly left last year but Carla begged me to stay on so" Sean insisted in his usual half-joking, half serious manner.

"Sure-"

"No honestly she did. Begged me...Seriously though Janice. And you Toyah. I think you've been so brave after all that stuff that's come out" Sean spoke out.

"Thank you, Sean" Toyah managed to reply but she really wasn't up for talking right now.

"We'll leave you too it then. You must be exhausted" Fiz finished as she could see this talk was understandly going to be short.

Fiz and Sean just gave Janice and Toyah both a hug each before departing. Rita did the same thing as she just wished to give them her deepest sympathy as she wanted them to know they weren't alone in thinking it. She gave Leanne a hug next, Leanne was her old ex-employee.

"Come and talk to me any time you wish, Leanne" Rita spoke quietly as she felt her holding on tighter than expected.

"Thank you, Rita" Les spoke for her.

"You're very welcome and I would hug you too but let's not go that far" Rita spoke with a glint in her eye.

He just gave a faint smile as she walked back to the shop. Thus they were left alone again and began making their way to their car and flat.

...

TBC