It was Wednesday, and Jo’s twentieth birthday. The recent heatwave seemed to be over, and she walked with Kris through Alborford’s High Street, the wind pushing them along.

 

‘I think we’d better have some lunch in the pub to start you off!’ Kris announced as Jo nodded in agreement.

 

‘What shall we do tonight? Go into Norwich?’ Jo asked.

 

‘Yeah, I think so, everyone seems to be up for it,’ Kris laughed, as they went into The Headless Pint.

 

***

Richard was sleeping on the sofa at Max’s in Holland Road, after turning up there the night before.

 

‘There you go,’ Max handed him a coffee, as he sleepily rubbed his eyes.

 

‘What time is it? I’d better see Rachel.’

 

‘Eight o’clock,’ Max sat beside him, ‘was it a really bad row?’

 

‘Yeah, things got worse not long after Harry was born, I think she might have post-natal depression? She’s suddenly become this unreasonable woman that I don’t really know anymore…’

 

 

***

 

 

Meanwhile, Rachel was pushing Harry in his pram around Alborford and bumped into Ros.

 

‘What’s wrong? You look awful!’

 

‘Thanks, Ros, I could always rely on you to be honest!’ Rachel was nearly in tears during her first conversation of the day. They walked and talked.

 

‘So you just threw him out? I just don’t get it?’ Ros was horrified that her friends’ marriage was in such a state.

 

‘It’s just...well, I really do feel sick of the sight of him to be honest! I’m not even sure that I’m in love with him now…’ Rachel came across as quite hard and cold now, thought Ros.

 

‘Really? You know, you ought to think this over properly,’ Ros was worried that she was being far too hasty.

 

‘It’s all I am thinking about, for Harry’s sake.’

 

 

***

 

 

Rhys arrived home, clutching a pile of papers.

 

‘Hello, where have you been? You’re looking happy!’ Ray cried.

 

‘Been to the Job Centre and found out about a few things,’ Rhys grinned.

 

‘Jobs? What, for holidays coming up?’ Val asked.

 

No, I’ve decided that I want to earn some proper money and get a job instead of going to Sixth Form.’

 

‘What?! I thought it was all planned? You’ve got your place and you’re due to start soon!’ Val tried to stop herself looking furious, but she felt it.

 

‘I’ve changed my mind, Mum, I want to work,’ Rhys looked so happy that they daren’t shout at him.

 

‘Did it go well?’ Ray asked.

 

‘Yeah, got some interviews lined up for next week!’

 

 

***

 

 

A week went by and Don was celebrating his birthday, having a drink and a meal with Josie in The Headless Pint.

 

‘Sam and Max are going to meet us here later,’ said Josie.

 

‘With Ros and Fiona?’ Don asked, he seemed to be growing quite fond of his sons’ girlfriends.

 

‘Maybe, depends if they’re busy or not.’

 

‘Have you been up to much today?’ Don asked, after his hard day at work, it always lightened his mood to hear about Josie’s days of leisure.

 

‘I met Val earlier, Rhys has decided not to do his A levels...well, not yet anyway.’

 

‘A bright lad like him? Why on Earth not?’

 

 

He wants to get a job and make some money. Can’t blame the boy I suppose, but nothing’s easy these days is it?’

 

‘No, jobs aren’t that easy to get, but education isn’t a guarantee either!’

 

 

***

 

 

The housemates at Number Six had another meeting with Gary’s solicitor that afternoon.

 

‘Ah, Mr Shaw, do come in...and you must be-’

 

‘Jo Arnold.’

 

‘and Kristen Slater.’ They were led into a grand old office and sat down opposite the old fashioned looking gentleman, feeling a little nervous.

 

‘Well, let’s get down to business shall we?’

 

***

 

Rachel invited Richard in after his persistent attempts to see her. She didn’t want to stop him seeing Harry anyway, and she smiled as he cuddled his son.

 

‘Hello, Harry, how are you doing son?’

 

‘He can’t answer you just yet!’ She laughed.

 

‘Let’s talk, Rach, what’s gone wrong for us?’

 

 

….I’m not sure that I want us to get back together…’

 

Richard’s eyes welled up.

 

‘But after everything we’ve been through...and this little fella. Do you want him to come from a broken home?’

 

‘Of course not, but I don’t want him living in an unhappy home either...and I’m not happy Richard,’ Rachel couldn’t look him in the eye.

 

‘But why? I still don’t understand why?’

 

‘I don’t totally understand it myself, Richard. What I do know is that I can’t bear to live with you now, and I don’t want to argue with you anymore…’

 

Richard went to hold her hand.

 

‘No,’ she flinched, ‘get off me!….Sorry, there I go again…’

 

‘There’s something wrong with you, maybe it’s post-natal depression?’

 

Rachel scowled.

 

‘Or post-marriage depression?’

 

 

***

 

 

Back at the solicitor’s -

 

‘Mr Jacobs asked me to read this letter to you…

 

You’ve all been like family to me these past years, so I’ve decided that my real family will get nothing. Phil, you were like a brother, and I’d like you to have a third of my savings—that’s twenty thousand pounds, and some of my personal belongings that are of some value...Kris, my little whiny sister! You’ll also get a third, and my Gran’s jewellery...finally, Jo, my other sister, you helped me so much and I’ll never forget that, you get the final third, and the shares that I own, I hope that they are lucky for you. Please remember that I love you all, and you made me happier than I have ever been in my life, I really feel that with your help I can put the past behind me…’

 

The three of them sat lost in their thoughts, unable to speak...

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