Deasil Street8.4

Jen managed to track down Pablo and arranged to meet him at a local club. She walked straight past him at the bar, not recognising him. He saw her though, and brought her a drink to break the ice.

The reunion was awkward. Jen had been promoted several times and was engaged. Pablo had lost his job in the city and was now working as a freelance accountant for those needing help with their taxes. From the state of him, Jen assumed he hadn’t had any clients for a long while. They hammered out how it would work. Jen would collect the papers from the court house tomorrow morning and Pablo would sign and be on his way by the afternoon. He could stay in her flat tonight, as it was too late to find a hotel.

Pablo tried talking to her about their marriage but she was having none of it. It was sad things had gone downhill for him, but HE had cheated repeatedly on HER. She felt no guilt.

Angus wasn’t thrilled by Pablo turning up with Jen, but he agreed to let him sleep in his upstairs flat while he spent the night downstairs at Jen’s.

While Jen was out the next morning Pablo tried to psych Angus out. He pointed out that of all the men in all the world, Jen had gone for the nearest. Perhaps she didn’t really love him. Perhaps he was just convenient… it wasn’t like they had ANYTHING in common.

Angus was disgusted, and loudly defended his relationship with Jen.

When Pablo went to meet Jen at the court house he told her about their fight, and that Angus had hit him. Surely she couldn’t be in love with a violent man like that?

Maybe they had better go back and turn Angus out of the house. Pablo could move in and protect her…

Jen informed him sternly that if Angus had hit him, he had deserved it. Angus was gentle and a romantic soul, who had taken her to see butterflies on their first date rather than a football match. Pablo was to go inside and sign the paper right NOW. Pablo hurried inside to do as he was bid.

Ambrose insisted on a home birth, but was beginning to regret it with only Bernice playing piano to soothe her pain.

She cried thinking of Frank and how this baby would be without a father. But as the sparkles began she broke out into a smile. She was about to become a mother.

A baby boy appeared in her arms. She named him Julian Merrihall.

She put in him a crib under a painting of her grandmother and began crying again. Julian would never know any grandparents. Her mum and dad were both dead and Frank’s were goodness knew where.

Bernice and Gracie had a drink to celebrate Julian’s birth, but Bernice was uneasy. Ambrose needed someone to talk with, to help her. And that person wasn’t her.

She decided to call in some help. She didn’t mind watching Julian for a while.

Teresa talked with Ambrose for a long time. She gave her all sorts of advice about motherhood, and about letting go of the past. If you weren’t honest with yourself, the past would haunt you forever.

Frank might not love her, but she had a son to live for and love now.