Morning!’ Lisa yawned as she walked into the kitchen, where Kris was making breakfast.

 

‘Shut up,’ Kris said casually, buttering toast.

 

‘Look, Kris,’ Lisa was interrupted when Phil walked in.

 

‘Hi Phil, was just saying to Lisa we’re all running a bit late this morning!’ Kris smiled at the both, changing like the flick of a light switch.

 

‘Yeah, too many drinks last night, eh?’ He laughed, as Kris took her toast into the lounge. He noticed Lisa watching her.

 

‘See? Things seem to be OK between you two today!’

 

‘Er, yeah,’ Lisa was stunned.

 

 

***

 

Val and Ray had breakfast together before heading off for work. Rhys and Laura had already left the house.

 

‘You OK, love, bit quiet this morning,’ Val smiled.

 

‘Fine,’ he snapped.

 

‘Look, we should talk about it if there’s something wrong...that’s been our problem before.’

 

‘Right! Let’s talk about why you killed our child shall we?! And didn’t think it was worth mentioning to me!’ Ray slammed his fist on the table with rage.

 

Er….look,’ Val’s lip trembled straight away as the horror of the situation dawned on her.

 

‘Yes! You really shouldn’t leave letters like THIS where I can find them!’

 

‘Ray…’

 

‘We’ll talk about it later, after work!’

 

Ray stormed out, as Val sat alone with her head in her hands. He turned out of Rex Road...but he wasn’t going to work.

 

 

***

 

 

Sam went to work in a daze, he was trying to get his head around the idea that Ros was carrying his baby. Did he really want to be a father yet? No, not really, but Ros was more than ten years older than him, so it was pretty likely than she would want to keep it. They still hadn’t discussed it properly, both avoiding the issue.

 

‘Sam! Over here, snap out of it!’

 

 

***

 

 

Kris was going through more of the papers about Gary’s estate, when she was alone in the house. Going through everything, she produced two cheques belonging to Phil and Jo, together with copies of their signatures, and began attempting to copy them…

 

‘Hmmm, not bad!’ She smiled.

 

 

Laura had been getting texts from Nathan all morning at college, and her resolve was starting to weaken. She arranged to meet him at lunchtime in the Union Café.

 

‘What’s all this about, Nathan?’ She asked angrily, trying to pretend that she didn’t really want this.

 

‘I want you back. All that mess with Kris made me realise how much I care about you…’

 

She paused for a while, trying to think of a way not to leap in.

 

‘You really hurt me….I lost our baby for crying out loud!’ Although, she was  still hurting over that one.

 

‘I know, I’m so sorry…’ Laura looked away, just as Nathan spotted Lisa Hudson walking by. The pair smiled at each other and he was distracted for a moment.

 

‘OK, let’s go out for a drink tonight, but don’t think I’ve forgiven you yet!’ She tried to give him her best fierce look, but looking at his grinning face made her break into a smile.

 

 

***

 

Sam arrived at Number Ten after work.

 

‘You having your dinner here or at your parent’s?’ She asked.

 

 

Here, if that’s OK with you?’ They were acting like virtual strangers.

 

‘Of course….Look, we need to talk, and tonight’s as good a time as any isn’t it?’

 

‘Sure.’

 

 

***

 

 

Ray arrived home, and Rhys opened the front door when he heard his key faltering in the lock.

 

‘Dad! What the hell’s wrong?’ But he knew straight away that his father was very drunk, and started to feel scared.

 

‘Out of my way,’ Ray practically pushed his son to the floor as he made his way inside, stumbling against the wall.

 

‘Where’s your mother?’ Ray slurred.

 

‘Gone out with Josie somewhere,’ Rhys stuttered.

 

‘Typical, off on a girl’s night when I need to talk to her...Stop staring at me, boy! Get out of my sight!’ Ray slapped him around the face and Rhys started to cry.

 

 

Dad! Don’t! What’s wrong?’

 

‘You may as well know...not only have I got a daughter that got pregnant, your mother was too, but unlike Laura she chose to kill it!’ Ray was red with fury, as Rhys choked back his tears.

 

‘What? Are you serious?’

 

‘Of course I am! Well, if she’s not here, I’m going out again!’ Rhys tried to block his path, but was shoved out of the way again.

 

 

***

 

 

In The Headless Pint, Laura had met Nathan for that drink.

 

‘I know I’ve got no right to expect another chance, have I?’ Nathan tried to hold her hand, but she pulled it away.

 

‘No, you haven’t at all. You should have dumped Kris when you had the chance...and there were plenty of chances,’ Laura was pleased with herself, she was managing to stay calm.

 

Look, Laura, I know that I messed up, but I promise you that I’ll never treat you badly again...you have my word on that, just give me another chance? Please?’

 

‘I guess so….let’s go back to Holland Road and talk about things more,’ Laura replied with a knowing smile.

 

‘Just one more drink here? I’ll get ‘em in!’ Nathan trotted over to the bar, where Lisa Hudson was waiting to be served.

 

‘Hello,’ he smiled.

 

‘Hi,’ Lisa smiled back, the two them giving the other a lingering look. Nathan had spotted her come in...and now he had plans...

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