A visit from an unfriendly and jealous Leonie Ward gives Helen doubts about her relationship with Kester and he has to again convince her of his feelings.
Anthony visits Michael in the hope of persuading him to see Ernie. When Michael demurs, he leaves some of Eleanor’s letters for him to read. Michael and Ernie are later reunited.
Nathan and Kester’s assailants are remanded in custody while further enquiries are being made.
Gemma walks out of her job with Nathan after his uncle reprimands her on a visit to the yard and Nathan suggests to Ingrid that Charlene be taken on temporarily to help out.
Previously in Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
‘I think I’m starting to regret ever finding out about you’ Anthony grumbles.
Michael looks up from where he is sitting next to Ernie on the sofa, unsure until he sees Anthony’s expression that his words are not meant.
‘I mean to say, look at him!’ he chuckles as he nods towards Ernie ‘I haven’t seen him like this since his accumulator came up and he walked off with near on five thousand quid!’
‘Don’t you start getting jealous’ Ernie warns ‘Yer both me boys’
‘But he’s Eleanor’s boy, right?’
Ernie tries to think of a way to answer.
‘It’s ok, Dad. I’ve got kids’
‘And bonny kids they is an’ all. You got t’meet them Michael. There’s whole fam’ly out there you got t’meet yet’ Ernie interrupts.
Michael looks to Anthony for him to finish what he was saying.
‘I know what it’s like to have a child when it means as much to one parent as the other. I…. we, me and Belinda, we never had that’ He holds up a hand as Ernie starts to protest. ‘You know that as well as I do. Mother never wanted children, not really. You were the best father anyone could’ve been but..’ He shrugs ‘Never mind, all water under the bridge now’
‘I don’t want yer thinking I loved him more’n you two. It were just different, that’s all’
‘I know that. It’s okay, Dad. I read those letters too…more like diaries …and I’ve seen the photos’
‘If only I’d a knowed then what I know now. If I’d a known how you felt. If…’ Ernie leans sideways to be able to reach into his trouser pocket for his handkerchief as tears threaten again.
‘Dad, it’s no good thinking like that’ Anthony softens his voice.
‘But we could all’ve been one big happy family! She were a lovely woman, she’d a loved yer like you was her own, that I do know’
‘You had such a lot to lose’
‘You think that would a mattered to either of us? That’s summat else I come to realise too late. She wouldn’t a cared iffin we lived on bread and drippin’. And you knew about her and didn't give a damn! That’s what I can’t get over’ Ernie says, shaking his head sadly. ‘If only you’d a said summat’
Anthony sits forward and stretches a hand to pat his father’s knee. ‘It’s easy in hindsight. Perhaps I should’ve done…but how? How could a kid of, what…seventeen, eighteen or so go to his Dad and tell him he knew he was having an affair? I didn’t know the circumstances, I didn’t know about Michael..’
‘I am still here you know’ Michael looks from one to the other of them, feeling like an intruder on a private conversation.
‘Sorry lad’ Ernie apologises as he grips his other son’s hand. ‘I got so many regrets it ain’t true…but yer do understand what a quand’ry I was in?’
‘I do now’ Michael lowers his eyes.
‘I loved yer Mum more’n anything’
‘I know’ he replies, trying to still the trembling of Ernie’s hand by laying his palm over its top.
‘And you…I brought you into this world’
‘Literally!’ Michael grins and looks up. ‘I can’t believe that’
‘I held yer afore yer mother did’ Ernie says proudly ‘Gawd yer didn’t arf yell!’
‘And you cried’
‘I did. I were that happy’ Ernie’s smile fades ‘I didn’t want t’leave yer…neither of yer..’
‘I know you were very distressed. Mum wrote about it. It was her that sent you back to….Evelyn’
‘Reckoned things had t’go on as normal. How could anything be normal after that?’
‘Every important choice in her life explained…and even some things that don’t seem to have any special significance, written to you but never sent; her thoughts…the way she felt…the decisions she made…and why’
‘It were how she coped I s’pose, when I weren’t here t’talk to. I didn’t know about ‘em ‘til after she were gone. Too bloody late t’do owt about it then….but I can tell yer summat, I remembers everything what she writ about. Might not seem important t’somebody what’s only reading but I knows what brought ‘em all about…every single one of ‘em’
‘Would you mind if I took copies?’ Michael asks ‘I read them but I’d like to read them again’
‘Don’t mind at all, boy. We both thought what we knew ‘er…but p’raps we didn’t as good as we thought’ Ernie wipes his eyes.
‘She was happy…you made her happy’
‘We could a been happier..if only..’
‘Dad!’ Anthony frowns ‘It’s no good you looking back, we’ve got to look forwards now, be a family for Michael…if that’s what he wants’
‘More than anything…’ Michael replies with a nod.
‘Good…so let’s stop reminiscing for a few minutes and think about where we go from here’ Anthony slaps his hands against his knees to bring the previous subject to a close.
‘What d’yer mean?’ Ernie looks at him with a flicker of annoyance.
‘Sorry to have to say this in front of you, Michael’ He looks back at his father ‘But this business with him has knocked you sideways. Yes, I know we’re all okay now…but I’m not sure you should throw up your plans to come and live with us. I think you need us around, at least for a while’
‘You telling me I still got t’ sell me house?’ Ernie counters belligerently.
‘That’s for you to decide, same as it’s always been but I want to see you more like your old self before I’d be happy about you living here. I don’t think you’re capable of looking after yourself’ Anthony looks to Michael for support.
‘I flaming well is!’ Ernie argues.
‘And what about your long-term plans?’ Anthony looks back at him.
‘I ain’t got any long-term to have any plans for!’
‘Another point to be taken into consideration’
‘How d’yer mean?’
‘You’d be coming to us sooner or later anyway…perhaps it might be an idea to come to us like you were going to’
‘I ain’t made me mind up, I might very well stay. Michael’ll keep an eye on us, won’t yer Michael?’
‘Of course I will…although what Anthony is saying makes sense. There’s only me here, how can I keep a proper eye on you while I’m at work?’
‘I ain’t that far gone! I got me friends, don’t you worry none. I shall manage’ Ernie says obstinately.
‘Look, you stubborn old goat! Michael’s here but much as he is more than willing to keep an eye on you, he’s not going to be able to full time, he’s got a life too. I’m miles away’ Anthony throws up his hands in despair. ‘Me, Mel and the kids would love to have you live with us but if you decide to stay here, I could be hard pressed to visit every weekend. The kids are growing up, they need me too, I’d feel split all the time..’
‘I could go back t’Milliwick and be out both yer hair! I weren’t no trouble t’any bugger there’
‘Da-ad! That’s not what I’m saying…but can’t you see where I’m coming from?’
‘I got friends there’
‘You’ve got friends here’
‘Not like I got there’
‘Now you’re just being bloody awkward’ Michael and Anthony share and tolerant smile.
‘Do you want to go back?’ Anthony asks ‘When you’re fit again that is’
‘T’ yer mother? That be buggered fer a game a soldiers!’ Ernie scoffs.
‘No…I meant…generally, to be with your friends there. It’s where you were born, after all. It’s where I was born! You could get yourself another place, something smaller, easier to manage. It’d be closer to me; I could pop over of an evening. Couldn’t stay long…but I could’
‘And Michael? Ain’t you forgetting him in all this?’ Ernie thumbs over his shoulder to where Michael sits quietly watching and listening to the quarrel.
‘Sorry’ Anthony apologises
‘It’s ok’ Michael sighs, acknowledging the difficult position Anthony is in. ‘I want what’s best for Dad. It doesn’t matter about me. I can fit round whatever he decides. I’ve been so used to him being…’
‘Away? Is that what you was going t’say?’ Ernie snaps.
Michael nods. ‘It wasn’t a criticism…just the way it was. I want for you to be happy…and looked after. I don’t care where that is. I’m not sure where…Milliwick …that right…is but presumably I can get there easy enough. You wouldn’t be on your own’
‘You’d come live wi’me?’
‘That’s not what I meant…I meant visit…but…’
‘Michael..’ Anthony frowns and shakes his head out of Ernie’s line of sight. ‘You’ve got your own life to live…and that’s here’
‘I’m on my own’ Michael says determinedly, ignoring Anthony’s heed for caution ‘It wouldn’t be that much of a problem’
‘No, son, no…you’ve got yer work and you’ve worked damned hard t’get where you is. I ain’t about t’take that away from yer and I wouldn’t expect yer t’give it up neither’
‘What is it you do?’ Anthony asks conversationally.
‘He runs a big ‘otel!’ Ernie beams
‘No, I don’t’ Michael says diffidently. He smiles at Anthony ‘I’m one of three managers at a hotel. Slight difference’
‘But you got staff! You got big nobs and fancy people comin’ asking yer fer stuff and them banquets ain’t like a bottle o’pop and a cake a two is they?’
‘If ever I need a reference, I’ll come to you’ Michael laughs thinly. He turns to Anthony again ‘But it is something I could do anywhere…anywhere that had a hotel that is…one with a vacancy of course…but it is long hours’
‘Which confirms just what I’ve been saying. There’s no way you could be responsible for him, it wouldn’t be right to expect it’
‘I don’t need no bugger t’be responsible fer me! I got both me boys now’ Ernie taps the side of his head ‘In ‘ere. I shall be back t’me old self afore you can say Jack Robinson. I ain’t got nothing what’s worrying me now. Don’t matter if you’s ere or not. I still got yer in me head. That’s all I needs. I shall cope just be knowing everything’s alright between yer’
‘Okay…but until then, you’re coming back with me’ Anthony holds his hand up, palm forward to stop Ernie arguing. ‘Two weeks, not long is it? Two weeks and we’ll see how you go. That’ll give me and Michael chance to work something out…a few options’
‘Don’t I get no say?’
‘Nope’
8 Crispin Walk, Leytonmore
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