CHAPTER TWO

Emma, Sutton and Laurel had joined the group at the house, and Justin had taken Eduardo out for a drink, so it was just the three sisters, Char and Lexi left to greet Mads…except that Phyllis had insisted on staying as well and no-one had the energy to object. She was standing at the edge of the room, a glass that Char had made sure was filled with nothing stronger than apple juice in her hand, while Mads was sat at the table. Emma, Char and Lexi were sat too, with Sutton and Laurel hovering close by.

"I know Mum and Graham have been campaigning to get Thayer out for years,"Mads explained. "I didn't have anything to do with it…"

"But you didn't try and stop them,"Phyllis put in.

Mads looked awkward. "He's my brother."

Emma laid a hand on her arm. "It's okay, we know you were in a difficult position."

Char laid a hand on her other arm. "Yes, we do." She shot a pointed look at Phyllis.

"Fine, Madeleine isn't the problem,"Phyllis accepted. "That doesn't exactly solve anything, does it?"

"I rang you as soon as I knew he was out,"Mads told Char. "But I didn't know they were bringing him back here until…well, until Mum called me and told me they'd arrived."

"What's he doing back here?"Lexi wondered.

"Yeah, I thought he'd want to stay well clear,"Laurel agreed.

"So did I,"Mads noted. "I think it was Mum pushing it, really."

Phyllis nodded. "So is it all right to say she's the problem?"

"I think part of her wants to make a point,"Mads went on. "To prove to everyone that they're wrong about Thayer, that he's not a monster, that he was just ill…"

"Do you think she's right?"Emma asked.

Mads didn't quite understand the question. "About bringing him here?"

"No, about him being better now."

"Don't say you're going soft on him again?"Sutton complained. Emma gave her a glare and she held up her hands. "Okay, okay, backing off."

"Whatever we had was over a long time ago,"Emma insisted. "But if he has got rid of all the issues that made him do all that stuff, I'd be happy for him."

"I haven't really seen him that much since he got put away,"Mads admitted. "Mum thinks so but then she's always just seen him as misunderstood. The doctors thought it was okay to let him out…"

"But what's he doing here?"Sutton pushed.

"I don't know." Mads got up. "I'll see what I can find out." She paused in front of Sutton. "Is now a good time to congratulate you on your engagement?"

Sutton gave her a hug. "I'll take it."

Thayer came downstairs at the country club. He noticed Jordan on duty at the front desk. "Ethan around?"

"He's gone to see his brother,"Jordan answered. "Who's still the sheriff around here, by the way."

"A lot's changed and a lot's exactly the same,"Thayer observed. "Like, for instance, you dumped my sister and married Laurel." Jordan just glared at him silently. "I mean, hey, you did Mads a favour. And from what I remember of Laurel, I can definitely see the appeal." Jordan still didn't speak but he took a step towards him.

"Thayer!"Mads snapped as she entered. "Do you have to?"

Thayer turned to her with a smile. "Hey, sis."

Somehow, there was something genuine in the smile, something that reminded her of the brother she grew up loving, that caused her to smile back. "Hey." She nodded towards the stairs. "Mum here?"

"Yeah."

"Okay. Try and stay out of trouble while I'm up there."

Mads headed upstairs. Thayer nodded to Jordan before heading outside.

Mads was pacing as Caroline sat on the bed in her room, frustratingly calm. "Do you not get the fact that everyone here hates Thayer?"

"Not everyone,"Caroline claimed.

"You're right. Some are just indifferent." Mads stared at her. "What do you want to happen here?"

"I want Thayer to get his life back. If we could move into the old house…"

"I'm not kicking Char and the others out,"Mads replied. "Char owns half of it anyway. And it hasn't been our home in a long time." She paused before continuing,"This town hasn't been our home in a long time."

"Maybe so,"Caroline agreed. "But while you and I might have moved on, Thayer hasn't. This is the last home he remembers. If we want him to get better…"

"Is that really what this is about?"Mads asked. "Not just to prove a point?"

Caroline looked at her sternly. "Nothing matters more to me than Thayer getting his life back. And nothing will stop me from making sure it happens."

Ethan heard Dan's voice as he came into the police station. He saw that Dan was speaking to someone on the phone. "Yes, I know it doesn't seem fair. There's not really anything we can do. I really wouldn't advise doing anything rash. Just…let me know if you actually see him doing something he shouldn't."

"Who was that?"Ethan asked as Dan hung up.

"Nancy Rogers,"Dan explained. "Not happy that her son's killer is back in town. I can sympathise."

"Well, he doesn't have to be here,"Ethan argued.

"I'm not Alex,"Dan replied. "I don't run people out of town."

Ethan still didn't look happy. "I don't want him here. I'm worried about the effect he's having on Emma."

"I'm worried too. But we have to keep our heads here, not let our tempers get the better of us. If we're going to get rid of him, we have to be clever."

End of Episode Three