Rhys had been knocking on the door of Number Ten for a while, when Sam eventually answered it.

'Steady on mate, we've got a baby trying to sleep in here!' Sam looked absolutely shattered, Holly definitely wasn't sleeping too well right now!

'Oh, er, I'm sorry Sam. Is Cathy here?'

Sam managed a smile at this

'Ros! I think you'd better have a word with this young man!'

Ros appeared and quickly saw Rhys.

'Ah, yes, I think I should. Come in, Rhys.'

***

Jack had opened The Headless Pint that afternoon and Fiona was busy at work in the kitchen when Lil Johnson arrived for her shift.

'Alright, Lil?' Fiona was almost beside herself with excitement.

'Yes, darlin', well just look at you! Getting on well with Max are we?'

'More than alright, Lil! He asked me to marry him and I said yes!' Fiona flashed her engagement ring at Lil.

'Oh, that's fantastic news!' Lil flung herself at Fiona and they hugged.

Jack walked in, carrying a sack of veg.

'You've heard the news then?' He laughed.

Lil's gossipy nature came into play not long afterwards.

'How's it gone down with the Reynolds?'

Lil knew that Don and Josie probably weren't the easiest parents in Alborford, she'd come to blows with them a few times, but she'd always had a soft spot for Max and Sam.

'Well, they were nice about it, but I think they're just still on a high since Holly was born...I don't think I'm Josie's favourite person really!'

'Well, don't worry about her, love, as long as you're happy with Max.'

Fiona cooed as she started peeling potatoes 'Oh, I sure am!'

***

Back at Number Ten, Ros was giving Rhys quite a talking to.

'So, she's gone again?' Rhys looked quite tearful.

'She has, she's always been a flighty one, Rhys. Even when I was married to Nick, she could never be relied upon...'

'I just really like her..'

'I'm sure you do, and she's very attractive, and fun and all of that, but don't expect the romance of the century, she's just after a fling with someone young and, er-'

'Stupid?' Rhys replied angrily.

'I was going to say....erm, how can I put this...energetic!

Anyway, the last thing you need is more trouble in your family, isn't it? That's exactly what you'll get if Cathy stays around too long!'

***

Val and Josie went out for a meal that night in Norwich, and were chatting as they often do about their children.

'Well, she's a nice enough girl, but I'm not sure that she's good enough for Max!' Josie was getting quite animated after a couple of wines.

'Well, Max hasn't stayed with one girl for this long before has he?' Val remarked.

'No, he certainly hasn't! I suppose I haven't had time to think about it before, because nobody has ever been this serious before...maybe I don't think marriage is right for Max!'

'Well, he's at that age...most of us were settled down by then in our day, weren't we? Just look at Sam, who'd have thought that would have turned out so well?'

Val practically shouted, the wine going to her vocal chords now.

'That's true, Val, I suppose I'm quite lucky!'

'You are, luckier than me I would have thought. I've got an ex-alcoholic husband and a wayward son and daughter...actually, I think Laura has been seeing that Nathan Cameron again,' Val just seemed to be stating the facts, she wasn't upsetting herself.

***

That night in The Headless Pint, Jo burst in with a huge smile on her face.

‘What’s tickled you?’ Jack asked.

‘I’m engaged!’