Work had become exceptionally dull and awkward for Emmet Hawksworth since giving Carline the elbow. She made things awkward by telling the other girls in the office how he had broken her heart in front of a busy pub. Gradually, most of his colleagues stopped speaking to him. Except a man called Terry Simpson. He was your typical 'blokey' bloke. Someone Emmet didn't really want to associate with but somehow he had become his only work ally. This bond had been made stronger since the other weekend when Emmet went to pick Rose up from work and found Terry in the bookies. The fact Rose was Emmet's 'bird' as he so coarsely put it had caused Terry to respect Emmet a lot more.

One particular morning Terry arrived at work to find Caroline was the first person in the office.

"You must be well ticked off, love."

"What are you on about Terry?" She sighed, looking up from her paper work.

"That Emmet traded you in for a better model."

"I beg your pardon?"

"He's seeing that Rose who manages the bookies on Edmonton Street. She'd knocked me back a few times saying she was taken and this time it was serious. I never would have expected it to be by shy, boring Emmet. Not if I hadn't seen it with my own eyes. You must be pig sick he dumped you for someone as gorgeous as Rose. She's known for having the best legs in town. I must be the only fella in town who hasn't had a private viewing of those legs."

Caroline felt sick, not only did Terry's male chauvinistic attitudes creep her out, it would appear Emmet had ditched her in favour of the local floozy. If she had known then who he had left her for, she would have put up a better fight. She felt like a laughing stock, Terry will have told the whole office by lunchtime. She had adored Emmet and the heartbreak of him finishing with her and then to have to share an office with him each day was hard. He wasn't going to get away with making her look a fool.

Despite Emmet's professional life getting him down, his personal life was on the up. In the last couple of months he had moved into the flat Violet had agreed to let him and his relationship with Rose was going from strength to strength.

"I think I'm going to start up teaching piano again." He said to his girlfriend one evening when they were cuddled up on the sofa.

"Oh what a lovely idea. Why ever did you stop teaching?"

"Too many commitments I suppose, and the few pupils I had wouldn't come back because that sister of yours scared them away with her singing." Emmet explained.

"Well at least we don't have to worry about her singing at you anymore. Though, I wouldn't mind her talking to me again. I can't believe she's kept it up this long. How long is it now, three months?" Rose asked solemnly.

"Three months and nine days," he replied gleefully.

Rose sighed and looked disappointed in her boyfriend. The only arguments they seemed to have were about Hyacinth.

"I'm sorry love, I shouldn't have said that." Emmet replied, knowing full well he had crossed a line.

"It's fine," she sighed. "So tell me when are you going to do these piano lessons?"

"I'll put an ad in the local paper and the newsagent window. It depends on the pupil but hopefully I can start with a few lessons at the weekends and maybe a couple in the evenings."

"I hope you will still have time for me." Rose said, fiddling with the buttons on his shirt.

He kissed her, "of course I've always got time for you, Rose. I'm just hoping that if this goes well it could lead to something full time."

"Work still getting you down?" She asked, looking up at him.

Emmet sighed and looked into her blue gaze. "Yes, it seems to be getting more awkward. I've never really enjoyed it there but when I had to start again after my divorce it was a job I couldn't refuse, the pay was too good."

"Well if it's any consolation, work wasn't too great for me today. That Dave Whitehall accused me of short changing him when his stake came in and then we had this really strange woman in the shop. She didn't place a bet for a while and when she did she got a bloke to do it for her. She just stood and watched t'telly and kept looking over at the counter. Luckily Onsow was in so I got him to keep an eye while I rang our Violet. I don't know what it was about her but I found her disturbing."

"Do you think she was involved with a plan to rob the place?" Emmet asked, concern grew in his voice.

"That's what our Onslow seems to think but I don't know. I don't why but I have a feeling she was trying to psych me out. Probably a wife of an old gentleman friend who still can't trust their hubby. Or that swine Bruce has sent someone in to spy on the competition. Anyway are you going to take me to bed? You look as if you need cheering up." Winked Rose.

A few days later it was Emmet's turn to stay with Rose. Despite the majority of the property looking an absolute shambles, he enjoyed staying there. He enjoyed the company of Onslow and Daisy. After an awful day at work he enjoyed the relaxed atmosphere. Plus Daisy was quite a good cook. She did the best fry up and her homemade chips were always appreciated. Even if her dirty crockery wasn't.

"Have you seen owt of that woman in the shop today, our Rose?" Onslow asked.

"Yes, you'll never guess. She only went and asked me for a job." Rose replied as she threw Onslow the tomato sauce bottle.

"Did you offer her one?" Her brother-in-law replied as he laced ketchup on his chips.

"No. We don't have any vacancies and besides our Violet says the next opening is yours, Onslow."

"Oh nice, does your Violet realise if I turned gamekeeper the shop would go bust!"

Intrigued by this mysterious woman, Emmet asked, "What's she like this woman?"

"I dunno, quite plain really, mousy. Not the sort you would expect to find in a bookies. There's something about her I don't like." Mused Rose.

Sensing Emmet was concerned by this woman Daisy changed the subject. "Are you all set for 'The Sound Of Music,' Emmet?"

"I think so, we've our final dress rehearsal on Thursday so hopefully it will all go to plan. Though the Anna Cartwright who's playing Maria keeps getting stage fright. So that's worrying me a bit. You are all coming on Friday aren't you?"

Before Onslow had the chance to be offensive Daisy replied, "me and our Violet will be there. She's booked us a table at that new fancy restaurant in town for a girlie catch up so we will come straight from there."

"I hope you don't mind Emmet, its not my kind of thing but break a leg Friday." Onslow politely said.

"Thanks Onslow. I had told Rose she should audition."

"Ha! Her as a nun. That one never works out does it Rose?" Sniggered Onslow. "Anyway you can't have her on the stage, she's not used to being vertical. She'd get vertigo being stood that high upon t'stage."

"Shut your face, Onslow! You made that joke when I modelled that dress for our Sheridan. It wasn't funny then. Anyway, I keep telling you Emmet, it would ruffle feathers of the members of your amateur operatic group if I turned up to audition. Besides, you only wanted me in it to upset our Hyacinth."

"Now that's not strictly true. You have a good singing voice but I would have loved to see Hyacinth's face if you had been cast."

"Did our Hyacinth audition?" Daisy asked cautiously.

"No, she hasn't been anywhere near." Emmet replied smugly.