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Robert had lost track of how long he’d been out walking. He wasn’t due to pick Seb up from Victoria’s for another hour or so and he had no desire to go back to an empty house, so he was content to keep wandering around the village and make the most of the peace and quiet. Peace and quiet had been hard to come by, lately.
As he turned a corner, he spotted a familiar figure with a crown of dark hair and bright yellow coat up ahead. Faith was hunched over, clutching her side with one hand and bracing herself on the low brick wall with the other. Her face was scrunched up in what looked like severe discomfort, and it was enough to have him jogging over to her.
“Faith?”
She jumped as he approached, like a deer caught in the headlights.
“Oh, hiya love.” She plastered on a too-bright smile that looked more like a grimace and straightened quickly. “What’re you doing here?”
“Just on a walk, clearing my head.” Robert frowned at the way she was still holding onto her side. “You alright? Have you hurt yourself?”
“Don’t be daft, I’m fine,” she said with a laugh that didn’t have him convinced. “Just got a bit winded, that’s all. When you get to my age – ”
“Looked like more than that. Are you sure you’re okay, you don't look great.”
“Oh charming, you really know how to boost a lady’s ego. Now if you don’t mind, I have somewhere to be.”
Faith began to walk away, but before she’d made it more than a couple of steps she cried out in pain and Robert had to dart out to catch her before she fell.
“Whoa, hey. Seriously, what's wrong?”
“Faith!” Robert looked up to see Eric walking briskly in their direction, worry written all over his face.
Faith sighed heavily, eyes closed in annoyance. “Busted.”
“There you are,” Eric said, panting heavily as he came to a stop in front of them. “I’ve been looking everywhere for you!”
“I was just getting some air.”
“You should be resting.”
“I’m not a child, I’m perfectly capable of – ” Faith’s retort was cut off when she winced and grabbed her side once more, biting her lip.
Eric looked at Robert and gestured in the direction of his house. “Can you help me get her back?”
Robert nodded quickly. “Yeah, of course.”
“Eric, there’s no need – ”
“This is not up for debate.”
Faith sighed again, defeated, before winking at Robert and giving his arm a squeeze. “Suppose it gives me a chance to have a good feel of those lovely muscles of yours.”
*
Once Faith was settled on Eric’s sofa, sipping from a glass of water, Robert perched on the coffee table opposite.
“Right. You wanna tell me what the hell that was about?”
Faith averted his gaze and remained silent, smoothing back a strand of hair that had fallen out of her usually-immaculate up-do. Eric let out a weary-sounding laugh and pinched the bridge of his nose.
“The game is up, Faith. Even you can’t talk your way out of this.”
Faith huffed and crossed her arms grumpily. At first glance, it might seem like she was having a sulk – Robert had witnessed it enough times – but now he saw the way her lips pressed tightly together, the way her hands shook ever-so slightly. She was anxious. Scared, even.
“Look,” he tried, keeping his voice as patient as he could manage. “I don’t know what’s going on here. But if you tell me, I might be able to help?”
“That's doubtful,” she said, shaking her head firmly. “Please, just leave it.”
“You’re nearly as stubborn as your grandson, you know that?”
Faith almost cracked a smile at that. “Only nearly?” She rubbed her forehead and glanced at Eric, who gave her an encouraging nod. “If – if I tell you, you have to promise me you won’t tell Aaron.”
Robert hesitated. “Sorry Faith, I can’t promise that.”
“You have to!”
“Me and Aaron don’t keep stuff from each other.”
“I can’t have the family knowing. Especially Chas and Cain.”
“Oh, well I can promise not to tell them.” He shrugged. “Neither of them listen to much I have to say most of the time, anyway.”
Faith didn’t speak for a long time. Eventually, she straightened up and looked him in the eye, seeming to come to a decision.
“I’m… ” She cleared her throat. “Not well.”
“Not well… not well how?”
“I think my cancer’s come back. And if it’s not that, it’s something else.”
Something in Robert’s stomach dropped like a stone. “That’s what’s causing the pain you had just now?”
“Yes. I keep getting them… shooting pains. My joints feel like they’re on fire, my legs are numb, I’m tired all the time. It feels… I don't feel right.”
“Which is why she’s had some tests done,” Eric added.
“So you don't know for sure what it is?”
“I took her to the hospital for scans, we’re waiting for results.”
“Okay.” Robert glanced between the two of them. “When you say ‘we’… ”
“Eric’s been a good friend to me these last few days, that’s all.” Faith shot Eric an affectionate look, which he returned with unusually soft eyes. “Letting me stay here, practically strong-armed me through the doors of Hotten General.”
“Oh, so you two aren’t – ?”
“No!” Faith snapped, looking frustrated. “I swear, what Brenda and Chas saw – it wasn’t what it looked like. I don’t know what her and Cain have said but we’re just friends, it was all a big misunderstanding.”
“Okay.”
Faith looked caught off-guard, mouth half hanging open like she’d been ready to keep arguing.
“I – oh. You believe me?”
Robert had eyes and he wasn’t stupid. The feelings Faith had for Eric – and vice versa, probably – were written on her face plain as day, and they definitely went beyond the realms of friendship. But that wasn’t his business and it had no bearing on what she was telling him, anyway.
“Course I believe you.”
“At least somebody does,” Eric grumbled, taking Faith’s empty glass. “I’ll get you some more water.”
Faith watched him go with a forlorn look on her face. “I’ve caused him more trouble than I’m worth.”
“Don’t be daft, he cares about you.”
“Yes, well. Be that as it may, my being here has caused a big to-do between him and Brenda. I’ve made a right old mess of things.”
“You know you’ve not actually done anythin’ wrong, right?”
“Tell that to my kids.”
“Has that got something to do with why you don’t want them knowing, then?
“They don’t want me around. Gave me a wad of cash to leave the village.
Robert rolled his eyes, familiar irritation at his in-laws rearing its head. “That’s not up to them.”
“It’s what they want. They’ll always think the worst of me, no matter what I do.”
“I know a bit about what that’s like. Doesn’t mean you have to lie down and take it.”
“If they find out… Cain won’t care either way, and I don’t want Chas stepping in out of guilt or pity, I couldn’t bear it. And I don’t want anyone else finding out until I know exactly what’s going on myself. The only people who do know are Manpreet and Eric. And now you.”
Before Robert could reply, they were interrupted by the sound of Eric’s voice echoing from the hallway.
“Brenda, please… we need to talk, just call me back. I can explain everything, I promise.”
“He’s been leaving her voicemails all day,” Faith whispered. “The longer I stay, the worse things seem to get for him.”
Robert chewed his lip, thinking for a moment. Maybe he'd lost his mind, and maybe he should check with Aaron first but –
“Y'know... there’s a spare room at ours. If you want it.”
Faith’s head shot up surprise. “What?”
“I mean, if you’d rather stay with Eric, that’s fine. But it seems like staying here’s causing you stress, which probably isn’t good for you right now, so – ”
“No, love. Don’t you worry about me, I’ll sort something out, I always do. I won’t burden you and Aaron at a time like this, not when things are so bad with Liv.”
“Liv’s gone,” Robert blurted out.
Faith gaped at him in shock, before firing questions at him rapidly. “Gone? Gone where? Did she run off again? Is she in trouble?”
“No no, she’s safe. Safe as you can be when your bloodstream is 90% vodka, anyway. She left with Aaron and Chas first thing this morning, it’s a long story.” He quirked an eyebrow at her. “I’ll tell you all about it at the Mill if you come back with me?”
Faith stared at him, before letting out a tired laugh. “You don’t give up easy, do you?”
“Not as a rule. So?”
“If you’re sure…”
“I am. But you know this’ll mean telling Aaron, right?”
“Hold on, I never agreed to that!”
“He’s coming back tomorrow, and you won’t exactly be able to hide it from him if you’re staying with us, will you?”
“I can’t put this on him.”
“Faith, I’m telling you now, he’d want to know if you’re not well. If you don’t want to be the one to tell him, I’ll do it. But either way, he needs to know.”
Faith bit her lip worriedly. “But Chas and Cain… ”
“He won’t say anything to them.”
“Know that for a fact, do you?”
“I know he loves the bones of you. Nearly got himself nicked over Eric’s bloody brooch for you.” Robert shot a glare towards Eric hovering in the doorway, who at least had the decency to look somewhat sheepish. “If it’s what you want, then I’m sure he’ll agree. And if not… I’ll persuade him.”
She remained quiet, clearly mulling it over.
“So, you come stay with us, free bed and board plus quality time with your great-grandson, on the condition that you tell Aaron what’s going on.” Robert stuck his hand out. “Have we got have a deal?”
Faith hesitated for just a moment before shaking it.
“Deal.”
*
It didn’t take long to help Faith pack up the few belongings she had and load them into Eric’s car. He dropped them off outside Victoria’s so Robert could pick up Seb, before climbing out of the car himself and heading towards the cafe, no doubt so he could have yet another go at winning Brenda back over.
“Hi Granny!” Seb grinned at Faith when Victoria opened the door and let him outside. “You comin’ for tea?”
“Granny Faith’s actually gonna be staying with us for a while, mate,” Robert said, taking his overnight bag from Vic.
“Really?”
“If that’s alright with you, of course.” Faith ran a hand through Seb’s hair, her smile reaching her eyes for the first time since Robert had seen her that day.
“Yep!” Seb reached up to grab her hand and the two of them started slowly walking in the direction of the Mill, Seb already babbling about all the games they could play while she stayed over.
“Was he okay?” Robert asked Victoria, voice hushed.
“A bit quiet at first, but after that he was fine, I think,” Vic answered, lowering her voice to match his. “So is Aaron…?”
“Staying in a hotel for tonight, getting a flight back tomorrow morning.”
“Is he alright?”
Robert sighed. “Probably not. He’s gonna call me later.”
“Okay, good. Are you alright?”
“Always.”
“Hm, I was afraid you’d say that. You know I’m here if you need anythin’.”
“I know, thanks. Especially for taking Seb yesterday, you’re a lifesaver.”
“Don’t be silly, if anything I should be thanking him for keeping Harry occupied for me.” Vic huffed a laugh, then craned her neck to watch Faith and Seb further down the road. “So, Faith’s staying at yours?”
“Yeah, I invited her.”
“You invited her?” Vic reached up to lay a hand on his forehead. “Are you feelin’ alright?"
Robert batted her hand away. “Shut up.”
“The last time she tried to move in with you and Aaron you both kicked her to the kerb!”
“Yeah, well… ” He trailed off, cautious of giving too much away. “She’s family, so… ”
“Well speaking of family, you know Chas and Cain aren’t gonna like this, right? It’s all over the village that they want her gone, Marlon was telling me.”
“Well, Chas and Cain could do with learning they can’t always have their own way. And Faith could do with a bit of help right now.”
“Aw, you can be dead nice when you wanna be.”
“Don’t tell anyone, yeah? Got a reputation to maintain.” Robert slung Seb’s bag over his shoulder. “Okay, I’d better catch up to them before Seb tries to take her off on a jolly.”
*
“Alright, little man.” Robert got Seb settled in the living room with a blanket and a Spider-Man cartoon playing on the tv. “You good here for a bit?”
Seb nodded and snuggled into the sofa cushions. Robert pressed a kiss to his head and went to the kitchen where Faith was sitting at the table.
“Best way to get him to nap is to let him fall asleep in front of the telly,” he muttered to her. “I swear he’s picked it up from Aaron, I can never get that man to finish a film night with me.”
Faith just chuckled, looking tired herself.
“D’you want to go lie down for a while?”
“No thanks love, I’m fine here. Not on death’s door just yet.”
“Didn’t say you were. In that case, fancy a brew?”
“Go on, then.”
He flicked the kettle on and made them two cups of tea, extra sugar in both. When he passed Faith’s mug over, she wrapped both hands around it and leaned back in her chair.
“So.” She raised an eyebrow at him. “Enough about the sorry state of my life. Tell me what's been going on with Liv?”
Robert took a seat opposite her and twisted his own mug back and forth on the table, lost on where to start. “Things sort of came to a head yesterday.”
“Well I gathered that much.”
“There was... an incident while she was out. Seb was playing next to the coffee table and picked up a glass of vodka she’d left lying around. He thought it was water.”
“No,” Faith breathed, her eyes widening in alarm and her head whipping towards the sofa where Seb was lying, blissfully unaware of the conversation his family were having. “Did he – he didn’t – ”
“No, he didn’t drink from it. Aaron spotted it and guessed what it was, managed to grab it off him before he got the chance.”
“Oh, thank god.”
“Yeah… ”
Robert swallowed down the wave of nausea that hit him at the memory. The memory of Aaron looking as terrified as he felt when they realised what almost happened. The memory of Seb’s shock when Aaron had screamed “No!” at him and snatched the glass from his hands, then the tears that immediately followed and wouldn’t stop until they’d both reassured him that they weren't cross with him, that he hadn't done anything naughty but he must never drink from a glass when he didn't know what was in it. How subdued he’d been when they’d dropped him off at Vic’s for the night so they could have it out with Liv when she got home without him overhearing. He’d heard more than enough raised voices when Liv was home, recently.
“That’s why he stayed at Vic’s for the night. We had to talk to Liv about it and we were pretty sure it was gonna turn into a fight, so… ”
Faith watched him, looking concerned. “What happened?”
“She came home a couple of hours later, bold as brass with a bag full of more alcohol. When she saw we were waiting to speak to her, it got her back up right away, which probably wasn’t the best start. And when we told her what had happened with Seb… she didn’t even seem sorry. Said it was our own fault and we should’ve kept a better eye on him if we cared that much.”
Robert took a deep breath, the all-consuming anger he’d felt the day before flooding back with renewed intensity. Ever since the drinking had started, he’d been trying so hard to stay calm and level-headed, be the one to act as buffer between Aaron and Liv as they butted heads. Last night, that had all gone out the window.
“I was so furious with her. I still am. She’d put Seb in danger and it was like she didn’t care. When we tried to make her see how irresponsible she’d been, what could’ve happened… she accused us of emotionally blackmailing her, trying to make her feel bad for our own mistakes. She said the only person who treated her right was you. But, uh, that made Aaron snap and he ended up spilling the beans about you watering down her drinks. So I think you’re on her blacklist too now, sorry.”
“Oh, it’s alright.” Despite the sad downturn of her mouth, Faith waved his apology away easily. “It wasn’t the best idea, really.”
“It wasn’t the worst idea – god knows it was better than Chas trying to keep her locked in the house.”
“So what happened next?”
“After that came out… she just lost it. Starting ranting and raving about how she couldn’t trust anyone around her, how awful this family was, me and Aaron most of all. Aaron tried to calm her down – we both did – and make her understand that yeah, we were angry, but mostly he was terrified for her. But he might as well have been talking to air. Things got pretty heated and… ”
Robert sighed heavily, feeling his shoulders slump under the weight of the stress that still lingered from the previous day’s confrontation.
“Come on,” Faith leaned forwards to pat his arm. “You’ve made it this far, might as well tell me the rest.”
“She said the only reason she drank was so she could forget that she lived with us, that we were control freaks stopping her from being happy. And that she hated us both. Then she took her bottles to her room and we didn’t see her for the rest of the night.”
“Oh love, I’m sorry. But you know that’s the drink talking, don’t you? She doesn’t mean it.”
“I don't care is she meant it or not,” Robert snapped, slamming his mug down on the table so hard the tea sloshed over the side. “The look on Aaron’s face when she said it… that was real enough for me. It doesn’t matter if she said it drunk or sober, the words still hurt the same.”
He blew out a frustrated breath and ran a hand through his hair, trying to calm down.
“After Liv went upstairs, me and Aaron talked for a long time, tried to figure out what to do. It took a couple of phone calls but eventually we came up with a plan – a temporary one, anyway. This morning, Aaron and Chas took Liv to the airport and they all flew to Dublin. Liv’s aunt – Sandra’s sister – has agreed to take her for a while, try and get her into a rehab that’s not far from her place. Apparently she knows one of the people who work there, thinks they might be able to set up a meeting.”
Faith’s eyebrows flew up. “How on earth did you get her to agree to that?”
“She didn’t, at first. Said we couldn’t tell her what to do, that we were controlling her, more of the usual. We told her that we couldn’t risk having Seb in the house while she was drinking, so either she went to Dublin and got proper help, or we’d pack up the car and leave.”
“Would you have?”
“Oh yeah, we meant it. But it didn't come to that in the end; once we’d told her we’d pay for her flight, she changed her tune and agreed to leave. Said she’d go to her aunt’s if it meant getting away from us. Anywhere was better than here, apparently.”
“Gosh.” Faith tapped a fingernail on her mug, eyebrows raised. “So how long is she gone for, then?”
“Honestly, I have no idea. Before she left this morning I told her when she comes back, things need to be different, she can't carry on like she has been up until now. If she’s coming back, she comes back sober, ready to make amends and ready to either go back to college or get herself a job. No more slobbing around in her pjs all day while we pick up after her and pay all her bills. If she doesn’t like those terms, then she moves out.”
Faith sucked a breath in between her teeth. “How did that go down?”
“Oh, about as well as you’d expect.” Robert shot her a rueful smile. “The answer I got was something along the lines of: it’s her house, her name on the deed, her money that paid for it, she’s only letting us live here out of the goodness of her heart and if we didn't like it then we were the ones who’d have to move. The usual, it's nothing I hadn't heard before.”
“Will you? Move out? If it comes to it, I mean.”
“We’ve started talking about it a bit but… Aaron and Liv both have their names on the deed to this place, so it could be tricky, legally. One of them buying the other out… she wouldn’t be able to afford it and I’m not sure we can, either. Aaron and I have our surrogacy savings but – ”
“No, don't be ridiculous!” Faith exclaimed, scandalised. “You can't touch that money, I want to be a great-grandma again!”
“Noted,” Robert chuckled. “I don’t want to touch it either, trust me. We just… need to figure something out that’s best for everybody. And I want Liv to be okay, to get through this… but Seb and Aaron are my first priority, they have to be. Which means unless there’re some serious changes when she comes back, we can’t all keep living together. Whichever of us ends up staying or going… I’ll just have to find a way to make it work.”
“Oh love… ” Faith exhaled slowly, processing the information he’d just unloaded on her. “Families, eh?”
Robert huffed a tired laugh and propped his head on his hand.
“I always knew that us co-owning a house with Aaron’s sister was gonna become complicated when she got older and he wasn’t her guardian anymore. Maybe when she decided she wanted to move a boyfriend in or when Aaron and I decided to start a family, I knew from the beginning it could get awkward. But I didn’t expect it to be quite this… ”
“Messy?”
“Yeah. And back then I was so desperate to move out of the Woolpack with Chas – no offence – that it seemed like a good idea at the time. Something I didn’t have to worry about until years down the line.”
“Except down the line is here now.”
Robert nodded. “Aaron and I agreed that we’d talk about it when he comes back, use the time without Liv here to have a think and figure out what to do.”
“Well, for what it’s worth… ” Faith reached out to squeeze Robert’s wrist. “I have no doubt that you and Aaron will find a way through this. These things have a way of working themselves out.” Her face fell suddenly. “But me in your spare room’s the last thing you need with all this going on.”
“Oi, stop it. I know you’re worried and you want to help, but the best thing you can do for both of us right now is focus on yourself. And it’s the quietest this house has been in ages, so your timing’s actually pretty good. Aaron’s the only one coming back tomorrow, and until then you’ve just got me and Seb for company.”
“I’ve kept worse company in my time, believe me.”
“Granny?”
Speak of the devil. Seb came wandering over, rubbing his eyes.
“Hello, sweetheart. Have a good sleep?”
Seb nodded, looking more alert as he patted Faith's thigh. “Granny, will you come play in the garden with me?”
Robert spotted Faith’s hesitancy and jumped in quickly.
“Granny Faith’s a bit tired right now, mate, not up for running around. Besides, it’ll be teatime soon and we can’t have you getting all dirty beforehand, can we?”
While Faith shot Robert a look of silent gratitude, Seb considered his reply before trying again. “Okay… will you play LEGOs with me instead?” He pointed to the LEGO set he was midway through building, currently taking up a spot next to the fireplace. “That's an inside game.”
She smiled and slowly got to her feet. “LEGOs I can do.”
Robert stood up with her. “I’ll get tea started. Pasta bake and sticky toffee pudding do you?”
“Oh I swear, if my grandson hadn’t already snapped you up, Robert Sugden…
*
A few hours later, when both Faith and Seb had gone to bed for the night and Robert was half-heartedly flicking through the channels, the word Husband suddenly flashed up on the screen of his iPad. He quickly muted the tv and answered the FaceTime call.
“Hey you.”
His mood instantly lifted as the sight of Aaron blinking back at him, but it was dampened somewhat by worry over the exhausted look on his husband’s face.
“Hiya.” Aaron’s voice was low and gravelly, like he'd been crying.
“So did you –?”
“She’s at her aunt’s now. I’m in my hotel room, Mum’s in the one next door.”
“How was it?” Robert asked quietly. He had a feeling he already knew the answer, and the way Aaron’s face fell at the question confirmed his suspicions.
“Awful,” he said, voice wobbling. “She hates me. Wouldn’t even say goodbye when dropped her off. And she said some other stuff on the way here, I don’t – ”
Now his voice cracked and cut out altogether, and it was enough to make Robert’s heart ache.
“Aaron… ”
“Sorry.” Aaron scrubbed a hand over his eyes, a lone tear escaping and sliding down his cheek.
“You don’t have anything to be sorry for.”
“I just… really miss you. Needed to hear your voice.”
“I wish I could’ve come with you.”
Robert had wanted to, had wanted to be there to shield Aaron from the worst of Liv’s anger if need be, but ever since Seb had moved in with them, they didn’t like to both be away from the village for a whole night. One or the other for up to two nights was as far as they would stretch right now.
“It’s okay. One of us had to stay.”
“I know, I just wish you weren’t doing this on your own.”
“I’m not, Mum’s here.”
If Aaron wasn’t already looking so fragile, Robert would be tempted to point out that Chas’s involvement in this whole affair had generally been more of a hindrance than a help so far. Instead, he cleared his throat and changed the subject.
“What time d’you think you’ll be home tomorrow?”
“Around midday-ish, maybe?”
“Okay. So uh, bit of news… ”
Aaron sighed. “Oh god, what now?”
“It’s your gran. She’s sort of staying with us.”
“Sort of?”
“Not sort of. She’s staying.”
“Since when?”
“Since this afternoon. She’s sleeping in the spare bedroom right now.”
“What, Eric’s kicked her out already?”
“No, it’s – ”
“Mum said something about catching her at his place in a dressing gown? She’s fuming.”
“She wasn’t doing anything wrong,” Robert snapped. “Look, your mum put two and two together and made five, as usual. Faith’s not with Eric, nothing happened.”
“Figures,” Aaron hummed. “Maybe I’ll have a word with her in the morning – ”
“No, don’t! Faith doesn’t want that. Don’t say anything, just… ” Robert hesitated. Faith had told him she wanted to be the one to explain everything to Aaron. It wasn’t his place to say.
Aaron narrowed his eyes at him, face twisting in confusion. “You’re bein’ weird.”
“Look, I can’t explain the whole story, not over the phone. And Faith wants to tell you everything herself, so… just trust me when I say that she could really needs a place to stay right now. And you can’t say anything to your mum or Cain.”
Aaron stared at him for a moment, before nodding slowly. “Okay.”
They talked for a little while longer; nothing too heavy, just random chit-chat about Seb, the underwhelming village Pride event that had just taken place, the new Indian restaurant in Hotten they wanted to try when they eventually had the time. Normal things, as if whole pieces of their world weren’t being turned upside down around them as they spoke.
Eventually, when Aaron yawned for the third time in under a minute, Robert chuckled at the screen.
“Think you need to go to bed, old man.”
“Not old,” Aaron said with a roll of his eyes.
“Thirty next year… ”
“Shut up. I am knackered though, and we’ve gotta be at the airport early.”
“Okay, I’ll let you go. Get some rest, yeah?”
“Yeah, alright.” Aaron let out a long breath and looked at Robert with soft eyes that had him longing to reach through the screen to kiss him. “Love you.”
“I love you, too.”
*
“So what time is Aaron back?” Faith asked the next morning, picking at her toast then pushing it away.
Robert pushed the plate back towards her. “You need to eat.”
She glared at him. “Excuse me. You’re a little young to be telling me what to do, mister.”
“My house, my rules,” Robert said with a shrug, pouring out Seb’s cereal for him. “And to answer your question, not for a few hours yet. Aaron just texted, they’re at the airport now.”
They ate breakfast quietly, save for chatting to Seb every now and then. Once he’d finished his cereal and apple juice, he looked up at Robert hopefully.
“Finished. Can I do some more LEGO?”
“10 minutes, then it’s time to get dressed, okay?”
“’Kay.”
As Seb got down from his seat and wandered to the living room, Robert noticed Faith grimacing and pushing the remains of her breakfast away.
“Sorry love, I can’t stomach any more.”
“That’s okay. You want anything else? Some fruit maybe?”
She shook her head, and Robert could see some her nerves and worry from the previous day returning. After a couple of minutes, he made a suggestion.
“Look,” he said quietly. “I get that you don’t want this being spread around… but you know Diane went through the same thing a few years ago?”
It was a thought that had popped into his head the night before, long after Faith had already gone to sleep.
“Her cancer came back, she had to fight it a second time. Kicked its arse, too.”
“No,” Faith said, looking surprised. “I didn’t know that.”
“You want me to invite her round? Or you could go to hers, maybe have a coffee and a chat? I know you don’t have the test results back yet so maybe it’s too soon, but she might be able to help? I know you’ve got Eric, but it might be good to talk to someone who knows what you’re going through.”
Faith hummed thoughtfully. “I don’t know, maybe it wouldn’t hurt to pop round. And I could always catch up with our Charity while I’m there, I’ve not spoken to her in ages. Chas doesn’t… ”
Chas doesn’t let us talk to her.
“How is she doing?”
“She’s good.” The Dingle code or court or what-the-fuck-ever was something Robert didn’t pay much attention to, which meant he still saw Charity fairly often. “Doing loads better than she was before, anyway.”
“Good, that’s good… ” Faith trailed off, eyes cast downwards.
When it became clear she wasn’t going to say anything more, Robert stood up from the table. “Just think about it, yeah?” She nodded. “Okay. Seb, time to get ready!”
*
To say he was happy to have Aaron home was an understatement. He’d barely gotten out of the car before Robert was out on the driveway and slamming into him hard enough to wind them both.
“Oof, hey,” Aaron said into his shoulder, sounding amused even as he gripped Robert back just as tightly. “Eager.”
“You complaining?”
There was a sigh and the feeling of Aaron sagging against his chest. “No. Missed you.”
They stayed like that for a minute, soaking in each other’s warmth, until Robert pulled back.
“Your mum’s not with you, is she?” He glanced around like Chas might jump out of the bushes at any moment.
Aaron chuckled tiredly. “Nah. She tried to invite herself round for a brew, but I fobbed her off. Told her to get back to Eve.”
“Okay, good.” Robert glanced back towards the house where he knew Faith was waiting, no doubt full of nerves.
Aaron followed his gaze with a frown. “Alright, I’m here now. What the hell’s goin’ on?”
“Inside.”
Robert picked up Aaron’s overnight bag with one hand and tangled their fingers together with the other, tugging him into the Mill.
“Daddy!” Seb jumped up from where he’d been sitting with Faith and leapt into Aaron’s arms.
“Hi mate,” Aaron grinned at him, peppering kisses all over his face. “Missed you tons.”
“Missed you bigger tons. Granny Faith’s here! And she’s staying!”
“Yeah, I can see that,” Aaron kissed Seb once more on the forehead and passed him to Robert. “Hi, Gran.”
Faith gave him a small smile as he came and sat on the sofa next to her. “Hello, sweetheart. I was sorry to hear about what happened with Liv, your Robert's caught me up on everything.”
Aaron pressed his lips together and nodded.
“It’ll turn out alright in the end, you’ll see.”
Aaron just nodded again, before raising a questioning eyebrow at her.
“So? What’s up?”
Faith hesitated and glanced at Robert.
“Hey.” He looked at Seb. “Why don’t you and me go to the playground for a little while?”
“But Daddy’s home!”
“I know, but him and Granny Faith need to have a chat about boring grownup stuff. We’ll do the swings for a bit, then we’ll come straight back.”
Aaron got to his feet and tickled under the chin. “We’ll spend the rest of the day together and play whatever game you want, yeah?”
Seb pouted a little but gave in in the end, allowing Robert to help him into his coat and shoes and steer him out the door, leaving Aaron and Faith alone to talk.
*
“Higher, Daddy!” Seb shrieked, gripping onto the swing chain tightly. “Higher!”
“The last time you asked me to push you higher, you nearly went flying.”
“Gonna fly again!”
Robert laughed as he pushed Seb a little harder – only a little. They’d been in the playground for about 20 minutes, Seb repeatedly dashing back and forth between the slide and the swings since they’d arrived.
“Sugden.”
Robert looked to his right to see Cain stalking in his direction, Chas close behind him. Neither of them looked happy.
“Alright?”
“I want a word with you.”
Robert steeled himself. He knew what was coming.
“A little birdy told us you’re letting our mother stop at yours,” Chas said, arms folded.
Her voice was quiet and to someone who didn’t know her, it might sound non-threatening. Robert knew better.
“News travels fast.”
“So it’s true, then?”
“Yeah, it’s true.”
“Right.” Cain scratched his stubble. “That’s not gonna work for us. We want her out of the village.”
“And there are people who want her in it.”
“Who?” Chas cried, looking incredulous. “Eric, now that she’s got her claws back into him? Because believe me, that’ll only last five minutes before he gets fed up with her games and – ”
“Seb, sweetheart,” Robert said loudly, bringing the swing to a stop and lifting Seb down. “Why don’t you go play on the slide while I talk to Cain and Chas?”
Seb just gave him a baffled and slightly annoyed look. “Everybody’s talkin’ today.”
Robert chuckled. “I know, we're a bunch of chatterboxes. Just for a few minutes, go on.”
He gave Seb a gentle nudge and watched him go, before turning back to Cain and Chas.
“So, you move our mother in behind Aaron’s back while he’s away?”
“It wasn’t behind his back, Chas, I knew he’d be alright with it.”
“I highly doubt that.”
“Believe what you like, but he’s at the house with her right now and funnily enough, he hasn’t tossed her bags out on the streets. The only ones who’ve got a problem with her are you two, he’s fine.”
“Is that so? After the stunt she pulled with Liv, getting blind drunk with her – ”
“She wasn’t. She told you she was watering the drinks down.”
“Even if that’s actually true, it was a ridiculous idea.”
“And you’ve been full of bright ideas when it comes to Liv, haven’t you?” Robert’s patience was wearing thin, the stress of the last few days – few weeks – catching up with him. “Like locking her up in the house? Meaning me, Aaron and Seb couldn’t get in there either, by the way, thanks for that.”
“I’m not saying I haven’t made mistakes, but I’ve done my best for her. I’ve just been on a plane to bloody Ireland for her!”
“Look,” Robert said wearily. “I don’t want another argument over Liv, this isn’t about her. Faith stays and that’s that.”
Cain took a small step forward, face set in an intense glare that once upon a time might’ve made the back of Robert’s neck prickle with nerves (not that he ever would’ve admitted it).
“I won’t tell you again. She's not wanted here.”
“Cain, I don’t want to fall out with you over this – ”
“Then don’t.” Cain looked frustrated now. “She’s no good to this family. No one will miss her.”
“Er, I would.”
“I don’t care if you would.”
“Aaron would. Seb too. They both need her around.”
Robert had him there, saw the dark anger in his eyes falter for just a second.
“Look, I don’t know everything that’s happened between you and her in the past – it’s not my business – but I get it wasn’t all good. So if you can’t get past that, fine. You don’t have to have a relationship with her, no one’s forcing you. But despite what you two seem to think, you don’t actually own this village. You don’t get to decide who is and isn’t allowed to live here.”
Both Chas and Cain’s mouths flew open in outrage at that, but Robert rapidly held up a hand to silence them. The urge to tell them exactly why Faith had to stay on the tip of his tongue, and he had to bite his lip against it.
“Just – listen. I get that it can be hard living here with family you’d rather not see every day, I’ve been there.”
He wasn’t lying. There was a time, back when he first came back to Emmerdale, that Robert begrudged the fact that he would inevitably keep bumping into Andy, irritated at even the thought of seeing him in the pub or the street. The irony of the fact that once Andy was gone, he did everything in his power to try getting him back, wasn’t lost on him.
“But if Faith wants to stick around, at some point you just have to get on with it and grow up.”
“Grow up?” Cain said incredulously, the furious look on his face making Robert internally wince. That last bit might’ve been pushing it. “Who the hell d’you think you’re talking to, we don’t have to do anythin’ after the hurt she’s caused.”
“Well, no… but I also know what it’s like when your family sends you away.”
Chas let out a scoff, no doubt thinking that being sent away was no more than Robert’s 19-year-old self deserved, but he ignored it.
“That hurts more than anythin’ you can do to each other. Knowing you can’t come home is a hell of a lot harder than bumping into someone you don’t get on with in the street, trust me. You really gonna do that to Faith at her age?”
There was a long silence, so long that Robert half-thought about grabbing Seb and running in the other direction before his in-laws imploded right in front of him. Eventually, Chas glanced at Cain, sighed and took a step back.
“I don’t have the energy for this right now, I’ve got enough on my plate.” She pointed a finger at him. “If you want her in your life, it’s your funeral. But I want nothing to do with her.”
“Fine.”
“And she’s barred from the pub. I might not be able to get rid of her completely, but I can do that much.”
Robert rolled his eyes. “Fine.”
Chas huffed, before turning her back on them and marching towards the pub, heels clacking loudly. Cain stared at Robert with his jaw clenched.
“This ain’t over.”
He nodded once and walked away. Robert watched him go, hardly daring to believe he’d come out of the conversation unscathed. There was a tug at his sleeve, and he looked down to see Seb watching him curiously.
“Done talking now?”
“Yes mate, all done.” Robert checked his watch. “You wanna play on the swings a bit longer, or shall we head home and see what Daddy and Granny Faith are up to?”
Seb thought for a second. “Home.”
“Home it is.”
Once they got back to the Mill, Robert opened the front door cautiously, calling out a greeting from the hallway to give Aaron and Faith a heads up they’d returned. When he entered the living room with Seb in tow, they were still sat in the same spot he’d left them.
“Alright?”
“Yeah, all good.” Aaron was smiling but his hand was gripping Faith's tightly and his eyes were red-rimmed. The sight made Robert’s heart sink slightly. Aaron had been crying far too often for his liking recently.
“You talked, then?”
“Don’t worry, I kept up my end of the deal,” said Faith. “He knows everything.”
“Okay, good.”
“And... I think I’d like to talk to Diane sometime, if you still think she'd be open to it?”
“Yeah, no problem.” Robert pulled his phone out. “I’ll text her.”
“Daddy.” Seb clambered into Aaron’s lap. “Can we play now? With my football?”
“Alright, let’s go in the garden.” Aaron stood and braced Seb on his hip, looking at Robert. “Talk later?”
Robert nodded and gave him a brief kiss. “Later.”
They didn’t talk later, in the end. The rest of the day was filled with Aaron keeping Seb entertained while Robert watched trashy tv with Faith. Eric popped over to check in on her, him and Aaron exchanging painfully awkward small talk. They’d pretty much kept out of each other’s way since the incident with Brenda’s brooch, and it was a testament to how concerned Aaron was for Faith that he kept any snarky comments to himself and simply offered Eric a brew, albeit through gritted teeth. Thankfully, he didn’t stay long.
Later in the day, the four of them ate tea together and it was nice. Normal even, despite the circumstances. Robert had to push down a twinge of guilt over how relaxed he felt settling in for the evening, knowing Liv wasn’t about to suddenly stumble through the door and start hurling insults at them. Without her there, the underlying ball of stress and anxiety he'd become so used carrying to over the past few weeks was finally beginning to shrink marginally.
They’d barely finished eating when Faith announced she was going up to her room early.
“Too many emotional conversations over the last couple of days, they wear me out,” she joked, kissing Seb goodnight and waving off Aaron’s offer to give her a hand upstairs.
It was unnerving to see her become so tired so quickly, and Robert didn’t miss Aaron’s worried expression when he watched her climb the spiral staircase at half the speed she normally would.
They went through the motions of Seb’s bedtime routine; CBeebies, bath time, pyjamas and teeth-brushing, then a bedtime story. Seb asked Aaron to read to him, still a little clingy with his dad, so Robert went downstairs and left them to it.
When 45 minutes had passed and Aaron still hadn’t returned, he went upstairs and poked his head in Seb’s room. Seb was asleep and Aaron lay stretched out precariously along the edge of the bed… also fast asleep, the bedtime storybook lying open on his stomach. Affection at the scene making his chest ache, Robert quickly pulled his phone out to take a photo. He'd been needing a new wallpaper.
He quietly padded over to Aaron’s side. Part of him was tempted to just leave him there and let him rest, but they’d both learned the hard way that falling asleep in Seb’s child-sized bed tended to lead to a bruised backside when they inevitably slipped out of it onto the floor.
“Hey,” he whispered, shaking Aaron’s shoulder lightly. “Aaron.”
Aaron’s eyes cracked open a fraction. “What time s’it?”
“Still early.” Robert picked the book up and put it on the shelf. “Come on.”
With a muffled yawn, Aaron carefully eased himself out of the bed and tucked the covers back around Seb, before flicking off the lamp so the only light came from the glow-in-the-dark stars on the ceiling. Once they were out on the landing, Robert stroked a thumb over the dark circles under Aaron’s eyes.
“Did you sleep last night?”
Aaron sighed and shook his head. “Not really. Tried to, but I ended up tossing and turning most of the time.” He shot Robert a weak smile. “Don’t like staying in hotel rooms unless you’re there with me.”
Robert smirked. “Can't wait til we can do that again.”
“Been too long.”
It really had. Robert couldn’t even remember the last time they’d been on a night away together.
“Get an early night,” he said softly. “You need to rest.”
Aaron didn’t even protest, just nodded and went to their room. When Robert checked on him a few minutes later, he’d already fallen back to sleep.
*
Early the next morning, when the sunlight was barely piercing through the curtains, Robert woke up in an empty bed. He squinted in the dim light, looking blearily around the room. Aaron wasn’t in the en-suite, and he couldn’t hear the sound of any movement coming from Seb’s room.
Yawning and rubbing the sleep out of his eyes, he climbed out of bed and made his way down the stairs. The living room was empty, but the back door had been left slightly ajar. Robert stepped outside to see Aaron stood with his back to him, leaning against the railing of the steps down to the grass and staring out across the garden, twisting his ring back and forth on his finger. Robert came to stand next to him and mirrored his position, resting his elbows on the railing too.
“Hiya.”
Aaron blinked, gaze snapping towards him.
“Mornin’.”
“What you doing out here?”
“Woke up early, couldn’t get back to sleep.”
“You okay?”
Aaron just shrugged, worrying his bottom lip.
“Oi.” Robert nudged him. “Talk to me.” When Aaron still didn’t speak, he gave him another nudge. “Wanna tell me about Ireland?”
Aaron opened and closed his mouth a couple of times before eventually speaking.
“… Do I ruin people’s lives?”
“What? What kind of question is that?” Aaron just shrugged like he’d done a moment ago. “No, of course not. Why would you even… hang on, is that what Liv said to you?”
Aaron gave a tiny nod, and it took every ounce of Robert’s self-restraint to resist grabbing one of their plant pots and hurling it across the garden in anger.
“She said she wished she’d never met me,” Aaron said, voice dull. “That she hated her life and it was my fault. I’d ruined everything for her.”
“Aaron, that’s – ”
“And then she said I always ruin things for you, too. Ruined the surrogacy. Said that I’m pathetic and miserable, and that I’m not happy unless I’m making other people miserable, too.”
“That’s a load of fucking rubbish.” When Aaron didn’t reply, Robert grabbed his hand urgently, tugging him around so they were facing each other properly. “You make me… you know how happy you make me. And Seb. What she said… it was wrong. She was wrong, Aaron.”
“She wasn’t wrong about the surrogacy, though. I did ruin it.”
Their original surrogate, Natalie, had backed out pretty much as soon as she found out Robert might be going to prison for assaulting Lee Posner. Even when it turned out he wasn’t, the culprit who’d caused the real damage was actually the bloke’s brother, Luke, she hadn’t wanted to know. Robert supposed he couldn’t blame her.
They’d soon found another potential, a woman named Chelsea who they liked even more than Natalie. But once she’d found out about Aaron’s criminal record, she’d had second thoughts and changed her mind, too. The pandemic hit not long after, meaning that surrogacy meet-ups were pretty much cancelled overnight. Now that everyone was vaccinated and things were starting to go back to normal, they were tentatively looking into starting again. Or they had been, before Liv’s drinking had started again. After so many delays and setbacks, both of them were full of nerves about the whole thing – Aaron especially.
“You didn’t ruin anything,” Robert insisted. “Chelsea just… wasn’t the right fit for us. And it was my brush with the law that made Natalie back out, remember? If us having a hard time finding a surrogate is your fault, then it’s mine too. And the bloody pandemic’s.”
Aaron nodded, but he still didn't look convinced enough for Robert's liking.
“Liv’s just lashing out.” He'd lost count of how many times he’d said those words now. Enough that they had pretty much become meaningless. “And she knows how to hit where it hurts. Doesn’t mean any of what she says is the truth.”
Aaron sighed and closed his eyes. “Yeah… ” After a brief silence, he reopened them to look questioningly at Robert. “Do you think we’ve done the right thing?”
“I don’t know. I hope so. We talked through every other option I can think of last night.”
Aaron nodded. “Yeah, I know. I know we had to make a choice. We couldn’t have Liv and Seb under the same roof anymore, not after… what nearly happened. And even if this rehab works and Liv sorts herself out… things between her and me have got so bad. Before I dropped her off, I told her her I was scared we’d never come back from this.”
“What did she say?”
“She said that was fine, because she didn’t want to come back from it.”
Robert sighed. He knew how much that had to have hurt. “I’m sorry.”
“And her and me falling out means now we have to either find a way to buy her out of the Mill or move out ourselves, which means we’ll have to uproot Seb and – ”
“Oi, slow down. First off all, it’s not just on you. She hates my guts too. Second, if we have to move, then we move. As long as I’ve got you, I don’t care. Neither will Seb, not if we’re all together, so don’t go feeling guilty over that. And third... when we said we’d talk about the house I didn’t think you meant at the arse crack of dawn. We’ve got loads of time to figure that stuff out.”
“I just – I don’t know what to do for the best anymore.”
“I don’t either.”
Robert wasn’t lying, for all his talk, he had no idea how to handle the current situation. The way things had been going recently… it was like the first few months after Liv’s arrival or the first time she had problems with drinking – or spiking other peoples’ drinks – all over again. Except this time it was worse.
Because this time she wasn’t a troubled 14 year-old they had taken in, she was an adult, free to do as she pleased. This time, they couldn’t put her actions down to her being a rebellious kid, pushing the boundaries and acting out because of her age, she was too old for that. Gone were the days when they could reign her in with warnings about getting kicked out of school or social services knocking on the door and sending her back to Sandra’s. Any amount of authority they’ve managed to hold over her during Aaron’s guardianship (which, in hindsight, Robert was honest enough to admit had never been much, not nearly enough) had long since vanished.
They stood in silence for a few minutes, each of them lost in their own thoughts. Eventually, Aaron looked up at him.
“Thank you for talking Gran into staying with us.”
“Like I would've done anythin' else.”
“I’m serious,” Aaron said earnestly. “If she’d actually left the village like my mum and Cain wanted, if she sick and no one knew about it… ”
“That wouldn’t have happened, no way was Eric gonna let her go off on her own,” said Robert. “How’re you doing with it?”
“Alright. I’m not the one who’s ill, am I?” Aaron said with a shrug. “Worried about her, though… ”
“Well, Diane’ll be on-hand to help. And we don’t know if it’s anything serious yet; until she gets the tests back, for all we know it could be something really minor.” Robert wasn’t sure if he believed the words, but he couldn’t help trying to speak the possibility into existence.
“Yeah, that’s what I keep tryna tell myself. Either way, we’ll see her right, yeah?”
“Course.”
“Even if she drives us mad.”
Robert chuckled. “Even then.”
“Wonder how Mum and Cain are gonna react… ”
“Er, about that… ”
Aaron frowned at him. “What?”
“I actually had a bit of a run-in with them yesterday, when I took Seb out. They’d found out Faith was at ours, no idea how.”
“Let me guess, they’re not happy?”
“Understatement. I tried getting them to back off, but I’m not sure if it did any good.”
“No shock there.”
“I, uh, might’ve told them to grow up.”
Aaron barked a surprised laugh. “You what?”
“Well I’m sorry, but they were being ridiculous.”
“Bet that went down a treat.”
“So, uh… we might have a bit of a war on our hands there. And we can't go in the pub if she's with us. Sorry.”
At that, the smile on Aaron’s face suddenly dropped and he looked upset again.
“Hey.” Robert squeezed his shoulder. “What’s the matter? Don’t worry, I don’t think Cain’s gonna chuck me in a car boot or anything, he promised to stop doing that years ago.”
“No, it’s just… ” Aaron’s hand came up to cover Robert’s, almost like a kid clinging for comfort.
“It just feels like – like it’s been one thing after another for so long now. Everything that happened with Vic and the Posners, the surrogacy going wrong, then the pandemic, Seb coming to live with us – not that that was a bad thing,” he rushed to add, eyes wide and horrified that Robert would take his words the wrong way. “I didn’t mean – you know he’s my whole world – ”
“Oi, shush. I know what you meant. It’s been an adjustment for all of us.”
When they became Seb’s only living parents the previous year, they had selfishly been overjoyed to have their little boy back in the lives for good, no one to take him away from them. But losing Rebecca hadn’t been easy for Seb, he’d been confused and withdrawn for a long time after he came to live with them, full of separation anxiety. Even now he could still get a little scared about losing both of them one day – part of the reason they always made sure only one of them spent a night away from home at a time. Adding in the fact that this all happened in the middle of the pandemic and they still had Cain and his kids living with them… settling Seb in with them full-time had been difficult. Wonderful, but difficult.
“And then it’s not like the last few months have been any easier.”
As the end of the had year approached and things seemed like they were beginning to settle – enough that they were excited about Seb’s first Christmas with them and the beginning of a new year – it all kicked off again. Just as Cain moved out of the Mill, Liv moved her new boyfriend in without asking – or even telling – them until they came downstairs one morning to find the man asleep on the sofa and his belongings strewn everywhere. That was when the tension started, when Liv started making comments about how she had to “put up” with sharing her house with Aaron and Robert, so they had better get used to her and Vinny living together. It was stressful and awkward, made only moreso by the constant visits from Mandy and Vinny’s newly-returned dad, Paul.
…The less said about that man, the better.
Throw in Liv’s brief attempt to lie about her seizures so she could start driving, the epilepsy diagnosis that followed, a series of events that led to Paul’s death in a barn explosion partially caused by Jimmy (an incident that the haulage was still suffering the repercussions of) and the spectacularly bad fallout that followed… so far this year hadn’t been any easier than the last.
“Now this with Gran. Why does everything have to be so hard? Why can’t things just be easy?” Aaron said thickly, his eyes suspiciously bright. “Just for a while?”
Robert didn't hesitate to pull Aaron into him. “C'mere... ”
Their arms snaked around each other, Aaron’s face burying itself in the crook on Robert’s neck. Robert rubbed soothing hands up and down his back and pressed his lips to the messy bedhead tickling his chin.
“I hate seeing you like this.”
The only reply he got was Aaron’s breath hitching, hands fisting at Robert’s pyjama top. They stayed pressed together for a long time, until Aaron's breathing calmed and Robert could no longer feel his heart thumping quite so rapidly.
“We’ll get through all this, I promise. And it won’t be forever, y’know. It’ll pass, things will get easier.”
“When?” Aaron said, a hint of petulance to his tone that would’ve had Robert chuckling under different circumstances.
“I dunno, but it has to. Unless the universe took us literally when we said messed up forever.” That got him a wet but genuine laugh, at least. “‘Cept we’re not the ones who’re messed up, it’s everything around us.”
“Yeah.” Aaron sniffed and pulled away just enough to look Robert in the eye. “We’re solid, you and me. Right?”
“Course we are.” Robert reached a hand up to cup Aaron’s cheek. “Always.”
Aaron sighed, shoulders finally relaxing a fraction as he tilted his head into Robert’s palm. “You’re pretty much the only thing I can count on… I dunno how I would’ve got through any of this if I didn’t have you, Rob.”
“Good thing I’m not going anywhere, then.”
Their foreheads tipped together, Aaron’s breath hitting Robert’s cheek as he spoke.
“You’ve been amazin’ these past few months,” he whispered. “Dunno how I’m gonna make it up to you.”
“You don’t have to make it up to me, you idiot, that’s not how this works.”
“Feels like I do.”
“How about this, then? When things have calmed down, when Seb’s more settled and we know where we’re living and what’s happening with Faith… you can take me on a really, really nice holiday? A long one.”
Aaron let out a groan. “God, that sounds good.”
“You and me holed up in a hotel somewhere hot… sun, sea, sex on the beach… ”
Aaron laughed at that, bumping his nose against Robert’s. “You’d never let me shag you on a beach.”
“I would!”
“You’d winge about the sand getting up your arsecrack the entire time. Would probably kill the mood.”
“Oh, shut up.” Robert dug his hands into Aaron’s ribs, making him snort and squirm.
As their laughter died down, Robert's smile faded into a something slightly more serious.
“And it’s not just one way, you know.” When Aaron frowned, not following, he continued. “When Seb came to live with us, when I didn’t know how to help Vic, when we thought the haulage would be in trouble after Jimmy’s crash… you’ve been there for me too, you’ve been brilliant.” He shook his head, needing Aaron to get it. “I don’t know what I would do without you, either.”
Aaron wiped away the remaining tear tracks from his cheeks. “You don’t have to find out.” His voice was quiet but firm, and god, Robert loved him.
“I know.” He kissed Aaron gently once, twice. “I love you.”
“I love you, too. I love you so much, Rob.”
They ended up trading more kisses for a long time, long enough that all the stress and worries of their lives melted away, for a short while at least, the two of them offering and taking comfort in equal measure. When they finally parted, the sun a little higher in the sky, Aaron glanced towards the house.
“What time s’it?”
“Probably about time to get Seb ready for nursery.”
“And Gran’s got her test results at 9:30, I promised I’d take her to the hospital.”
“Should probably get to it, then.”
“Probably should.”
They both sighed, neither of them moving a muscle. Eventually, Robert gave Aaron a small smile and kissed his hand.
“Pizza and beer tonight? Maybe a film?”
Aaron grinned. “Dunno, you gonna let me pick what we watch?”
“If it’s one you can manage to stay awake for, then sure.”
“Piss off.” Aaron rolled his eyes and headed towards the back door. He paused on the threshold and turned to look at Robert. “You coming?”
Robert nodded and followed him inside. Time to start another day.
Things were hard right now, and they might only get harder before they got better. There were issues that needed sorting, decisions that needed making, people who needed taking care of, responsibilities that needed to be managed in order to stop everything from crashing down around them.
Robert knew the next few weeks – maybe months – wouldn’t be easy. But as he climbed the staircase and headed towards Seb’s room to wake him up, he wasn’t afraid of what was to come. Because he also knew that he and Aaron would get through it, just like he'd promised.
As long as they had each other, they could get through anything.