Cathy MacDonald’s sudden Christmas appearance was lasting well into the New Year.

 

‘So when do you think you’ll be heading back home?’ Ros asked, carrying Holly through the lounge as Cathy slumped on the sofa in her dressing gown.

 

‘Oh, end of the week I expect, if that’s alright with you?’

 

‘Sure.’

 

‘It’s been great seeing you and the little one, she’s such a cutie!’

 

The bad feeling was more or less forgotten in the months since Cathy fleed Rex Road, after getting up to no good with Rhys Lucas. Cathy had met up with Ros elsewhere and they’d made up, Ros slightly more reluctantly. She couldn’t quite make the break, feeling a bit sorry for Cathy—she was quite lost since Nick’s death.

 

‘Yeah, and you’ve been welcome Cathy, but if I were you I wouldn’t stay around too long, not everyone makes you as welcome as I do!’

 

Cathy frowned.

 

‘I know I’m your late hubby’s sister, but Sam’s been really nice to me, very nice bloke he is…’

 

‘Cathy! Don’t be evasive, I’m talking about Val Lucas! If she catches sight of you, you’ll be for it!’

 

Cathy laughed.

 

It’s amazing that I’ve escaped so far! Don’t worry, I’ll go soon, people to do and things to see! All that fuss over breaking her son in!’

 

Ros couldn’t help but smile, Cathy had always made her laugh.

 

 

 

***

 

 

Kris was back at home.

 

‘New Year and a new start for all of us I reckon!’ Jo made an over enthusiastic toast.

 

‘Cheers,’ Kris said coyly, raising her orange juice, she couldn’t drink yet because of her medication.

 

‘And new pastures coming up for you, Phil, off to Colchester my boy!’ Phil frowned slightly at Jo’s cheeky banter, but soon regained his composure. They’d agonised over whether to tell Kris yet, but thought honesty was the best policy from now on.

 

‘Yeah, lots to prepare before I can go of course…’

 

‘You’re not going too soon are you?’ Kris started to look a bit tearful and Phil panicked.

 

‘Oh no, not for a couple of months I should think, lots to do, and I may have to commute at first.’

 

 

Phil and Jo were beginning to realise that the same Kris was not in the room right now...and would their friend ever be the same again at all?

 

‘I’ll really miss you Phil,’ Kris said pathetically.

 

‘Oh, I’ll miss you too, but it’s not straight away, and you won’t get rid of me that easily!’

 

 

***

 

 

Nathan and Lisa were walking through the centre of Norwich, fighting their way through the sales.

 

‘Oh, I’ve had enough of this!’ Nathan shouted after her, as she squeezed through the doorway of a shop.

 

‘This’ll be it, we’ll go to a pub after this, shall we?’

 

Thank goodness for that, thought Nathan.

 

Minutes later, they were having that drink and were getting pretty lovey dovey in the corner.

 

‘It’s been great over New Year, spending all this time with you,’ Lisa cooed.

 

‘Yeah, Mum and Dad only demand time from us over Christmas, they’ve always been pretty chilled when it comes to New Year, think the randy old buggers like to be alone then!’

 

Lisa laughed and kissed him.

 

‘Since you asked me to stay, things have been getting better and better, I can’t

 

 

************************************************

Imagine not being with you now…’

 

Nathan was please, his ego well and truly boosted, but something inside him recoiled, when he sensed that he was getting trapped. At that very moment, he spotted Laura walking past.

 

‘Are you alright?’

 

‘Er, yeah, fine,’ thankfully she kept going and didn’t look.

 

 

***

 

 

Cathy decided to take a risk and knock on the door of Number Eight, she was pretty sure that nobody was at home anyway.

 

Rhys opened the door and looked shocked and overjoyed to see her.

 

‘Cathy!’

 

‘Hello darlin’, how are you?’

 

‘Oh, er, I’m fine,’ he grinned from ear to ear.

 

‘You alone?’

 

He nodded.

 

‘Going to ask me in then?’

 

 

 

Well, I can’t believe you’re here,’ Rhys whispered, ‘after what happened before.’

 

‘Well, had to see little baby Holly, didn’t I?’

 

Without any further warning, she grabbed him and kissed him hard.

 

 

***

 

 

Kris’s sister Tracey was visiting her later that day.

 

‘Happy New Year, sis,’ Kris muttered as they hugged each other.

 

‘Alright? Nice to see you home again, thought you might end up locked up in the nuthouse for ages!’ Tracey was the only one that laughed, and Phil and Jo shot each other a look.

 

‘You fancy a drink, Tracey?’ Jo asked.

 

‘Not ‘alf!’

 

 

***

 

 

Cathy was leaving Rhys’ bedroom and got to the hallway, when they heard voices outside the front door and a key going in the lock.

 

‘Quick, nip out the back door!’

 

 

 

At The Headless Pint, Max and Fiona were chatting to Jack at the bar.

 

‘You have a good time at Angie’s?’ Fiona asked, he’d spent Christmas and New Year with his sister.

 

‘It was great,’ Jack smiled, walking out the back to fetch a crate.

 

‘I’ve done a lot of thinking over the last couple of weeks,’ Max pondered.

 

‘Steady on, that sounds dangerous! Do you want to be a Daddy too, like your brother?!’ Fiona laughed.

 

‘I want to get married….what do you say?’

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