The next day, Cathy woke up with another hangover and shuffled past Ros in the hallway. Neither of them said a word. Cathy had stormed off after Ros’s ultimatum. She wondered what was going through her sister-in-law’s mind...and if she would change it?!

 

 

***

 

 

‘Hmm, something’s going on with that brother of yours, I can tell,’ Val pressed some money into Laura’s hand, to go shopping with that Saturday morning.

Ever since Ray had started to get better, they were spoiling their children a bit.

 

‘Er, well, there usually is,’ Laura was nervous about this line of conversation, and her mother picked up on it straight away.

 

‘You know what’s going on, don’t you, Laura? What’s Rhys hiding?’

 

‘It’s nothing, honestly,’ Laura wasn’t covering up very well.

 

‘Oh well, I’ll have that money back then shall I?’

 

The thought of going without her Saturday shopping cash encouraged Laura to drop her brother right in it!

 

‘Something happened between him and Cathy MacDonald,’ Laura’s voiced trembled a bit, suddenly scared of what may happen.

 

‘Something? What sort of something?’

 

 

‘Well, I thought he just fancied her, but he says that something went on between them!’ She could feel herself being childish, telling tales.

 

‘You mean..?’ The penny well and truly dropped.

 

 

***

 

 

Kris woke up, slamming her palm down on her alarm clock.

 

‘Damn thing, don’t even need to get up today,’ she mumbled. Grabbing her cigarettes, she sat up in bed and lit one as soon as possible, looking across at Nathan next to her.

 

‘You want one?’

 

‘Mmmm, nah,’ he gradually woke up as she moved.

 

‘Good night last night eh?’ Said Kris, exhaling loudly.

 

‘Sure was, how about a repeat performance? I don’t just mean in the club either?’ Nathan winked.

 

‘We’ll see, loverboy! I was seeing my boss at the college shop until recently, but that was just a bit of fun. There was some…’ Kris tailed off, not wanting to talk to him about anyone else.

 

‘Someone special?’ He was stroking her arm.

 

‘I guess...actually you remind me of him.

In more ways than one!’ With that, she put her cigarette down and leapt on Nathan!

 

 

***

 

Rachel had finished a morning’s work at the beauty salon in Wyatt-Williams and had met Ros for a coffee. They were planning to look at wedding dresses that afternoon.

 

‘I can’t believe we’ll actually be married this time next month...March 15th, put it in your diary! I’d like you to be my matron of honour, Ros. Would you?’

 

Ros beamed ‘Of course! I’d love to!’

 

Rachel looked at shoppers passing the coffee house.

 

‘Lots to do if we’ll be ready in time. I guess Sam will be your partner?’

 

‘Yeah, I think so, it’s going OK.’

 

Rachel nodded in agreement, but wasn’t so sure about the pairing…

 

 

***

 

Back at Number Ten, Cathy was watching TV when someone started hammering on the front door. Listening closely by the lounge door, she could hear what was being said outside.

 

‘Mum, stop it, please,’ it was Laura.

 

‘No, I won’t! Come outside Cathy! I want a word with you!’

 

Ros was right, it was all out in the open...and now she really was on the wrong side of Val Lucas!

 

 

***

 

 

At The Headless Pint, lunchtime drinkers were filling the place. Although it was cold outside, the bright sunshine seemed to be bringing people outdoors anyway.

 

Lil Johnson, Jack’s little helper and Alborford’s greatest gossip, appeared in the bar.

 

‘Jack, I’ve finished the bogs, darlin’, do you need a hand in the kitchen?’

 

‘Fiona’s got it under control in there, but could do with a hand behind the bar, Lil?’

 

‘No problem!’ Lil noticed that Jack had been a bit down in the dumps that morning.

 

‘Hey, you heard about Dick Curtis and Rachel Watson?’

 

‘Yep.’

 

‘Next month! They didn’t hang about, did they? She wasn’t even keen on the idea before. Mind you, I hear there’s a bun in the-’ He cut her off mid-sentence.

 

‘Someone waiting over there, Lil.’

 

‘You OK today, darlin’?’

 

‘Yep,’ he sighed heavily.

 

 

***

 

Phil arrived home from a morning’s overtime at the bank.

 

‘Thank God that’s over, it was manic! ‘Gis one of those cans Gary mate?’

 

Gary was looking a bit sheepish.

‘Where’s Nathan? He said he was going to look for work on the industrial estate today?’

 

‘Erm…’

 

‘Gary?’

 

‘He’s in Kris’s room at the moment...they’re still in bed…’

 

Phil slapped his hand over his own face.

 

‘Oh, that’s all I need!’

 

 

***

 

 

Ros walked back home with Rachel, both of them laden down with shopping bags.

 

‘And it won’t be long until I’m getting loads of baby gear either,’ said Rachel.

 

‘Well, things have certainly changed for both of us this last year, I remember you being dead against marriage,’ Ros replied.

 

‘A girl can change her mind!’ Rachel laughed, noticing that Val was coming towards them.

 

‘Ros Turner, I want a word.’

 

‘It’s Robinson now,’ snapped Ros.

 

‘Who cares? Do you know what your slutty sister-in-law has been up to with my son?!’ Val was furious by now, Rachel watched open-mouthed.

 

‘Unfortunately I do,’ Ros sighed.

 

‘Should have known a member of the Turner family would have no morals,’

Val hissed, just before Ros slapped her.

 

Moments later, they saw Cathy’s car speeding away.

 

‘What the,’ Ros gasped, all three women rushing into Number Ten.

 

‘It’s a note from Cathy...she’s gone, and I doubt she’ll be back,’ said Ros.

 

‘Good riddance! She’s lucky I didn’t get to her first! And you, Ros, if you think I’m going to forget that slap, you’re wrong. I always knew your LATE husband was trouble, now I know that you’re as bad, harbouring a tart and turning your home into a brothel!’ Val stormed back out of the house.

 

Ros stood in the doorway and shouted after her.

 

‘Go back to your drunk hubby, Val! Why not join him, crack open the whisky?!’

© 2010 Danny Alborough / DJA Publications
All characters, names and situations are fictitious.
Any similarities to places or people, living or dead, are purely coincidental.