The police were poking around the builder’s yard again, asking about a skip. Grimshaw’s phone had turned up in it, and they wanted to know why the CCTV was wiped. I told them I was busy, that I had rubble to get rid of, but they weren’t buying it. They mentioned my wife’s phone call, said it might be helping someone get away with murder.
I called my wife, tried to sound normal, asked about the lasagna. She said she’d left it out. I told her I was snowed under. She said no worries, she’d leave me to it.
I hung up and got Bertie a snack, earlier than usual. I didn’t want him getting cranky before the social worker arrived. I’d told him this morning she was coming, a lady who’s kind of like a doctor but checks that our family’s doing okay. I said when she sees we’re fine, she’ll give us a clean bill of health.
The doorbell rang. Bertie asked, “What if we’re not okay? ” I said let’s not worry about that yet. I let Ruth in.
She was nice, asked about the school uniform my girls wore. She mentioned Bessie Street. I said my girls loved it. She wondered if they’d been here.
I said the social worker. She was worried. I told her it wasn’t her fault they got involved, but they were. I only meant to give them a fright.
If it goes badly, Daniel could lose Bertie. She said that’s really unlikely, that this is a hiccup, that Daniel’s a good dad really. I said she was more forgiving than I am. How Daniel spoke to me has nothing to do with what kind of parent he is.
Then I said we better get going. She said this was on her. I said thanks very much. I wondered who called social services on us.
She said no idea. I said it could have been anyone who cares about a child’s welfare. I’d been seen. I told her I just forgot my laptop.
It seemed normal. I didn’t believe him. If I had that CCTV footage, we’d have solved this case by now. Trust me, Windass knows something.
I’m going to find out what. Jayson was nervous about the race tomorrow. I told him I wasn’t running. He asked why not.
I said just because. He said he’s a really good listener, that his nana always said he should have gone to the secret police. I told him the start of every race day, whether it’s what I eat, my stretching, how I warm up, I got it all from Megan. So if I do run, the whole day I’ll be constantly thinking about her.
I don’t want to be thinking about her. I don’t even know if I want to race anymore. He was playing on his console, not a care in the world. I said good, last thing I want to do is unsettle him.
Ruth said Bertie’s a lovely boy, friendly, social, very bright. She didn’t have any concerns he’s at immediate risk. She said I’m doing a good job. Then she said it’s me she’s worried about.
She said incidents like the one I had don’t come out of nowhere. I said I know, I let things get on top of me, but this was a wake-up call. I’m going to be better. She said I might benefit from some assistance, a child in need plan.
It’s not as bad as it sounds. She said they just want to give me the support I need to look after Bertie. I asked if she thinks I can’t look after my own kid. She said not at all, they’re just going to help me be the best dad I can be.
David forgot the milestone card for the photo. I said he can’t blow the party blower, it’s the old one with the read thing taken out, never would be like a couple of years one of them in hospital. He asked where the milestone card is. I said it’s in there, but it isn’t.
He said just admit I forgot it. I said I could have sworn I did. He said he’ll go home and check. I said there isn’t time, the photographer’s going to be here any second.
He said we’ll ask him to come back tomorrow. I said it’s not going to be a 5-month milestone tomorrow. Honestly, David. He said some little elves just went in, took it out to make me look bad.
I said I think I would have made a good undertaker. He asked if I talk to them, the deceased. I said not really my bag, I talk to the flowers. You can learn an awful lot from a gladiola with a little confabulation.
He said he’s not sure that would go down too well if a customer came in and he was asking his dead granddad what he watched on telly last night. I said that would be a silly question. He asked what would be a non-silly question to ask a corpse. I said in the afterlife, do you still get hiccups?
He said he thinks it’s the prison up there. Then I got a call. Someone’s been taken into hospital. I told him I’ve got to go, can he hold the fort.
I asked which ward. I came in and offered my condolences. Speak of the devil and he shall appear. I assumed he told him then.
He said he’s glad, thanks. So it’s true then, you’re selling the given up running? He asked if I’d be okay with that. I said it’s not about me, lad, all I want is what’s best for him.
If it only makes him happy, do it. If it doesn’t, don’t. I just don’t think he knows what he wants yet. He said he doesn’t either.
Hope said it best. She said if you make this decision based on her, then she’s still controlling you. And there was another bet. She’s already taken so much.
You shouldn’t let her take your talent as well. I said I can’t give him any better advice than Hope here. So what do you say you two go and grab yourselves an ice cream and work it out amongst the pair of you. I told Dave I’m so sorry.
It was going to happen eventually. He’s a detective, after all. I asked if there’s anything I can do. He said like what, I can’t risk getting caught doing something I shouldn’t.
He said we just got to hope for the best. He’s not going to find any evidence, because there isn’t any. He’ll be all right. I forgot to get tea out the freezer again.
I said I’m sorry. He suggested we go to the pub instead. I said I want to put a wash on before we go. He said no, leave that, Liam’s on a sleepover, let’s just forget about housework for one day.
I said all right, come on then. I forgot my wallet. I told him to grab the lift, I’ll catch him up. I told him to give me 5 minutes and let himself out.
And to get those onion rings out of the fridge and put it in the freezer. I missed my chance. The 5-month milestone. All the other moms had their babies at the same time as me.
They’ll all be walking them in the park or taking them to the baths. I hope to make new friends. He said she’ll get over just a little bit later than the rest. I said I know it’s just a daft piece of paper, but I really wanted the milestone card in the picture.
She might not be paddling or laughing or rolling over, but she’s progressing, just slowly. Like grass growing. When folks ask how she is, I see them glaze over as soon as they start talking. Even I glaze over.
In the hospital, pretty much every day’s the same. She’s getting there, bit by bit, but who knew sitting by a bed doing nothing all day could be so exhausting. He said we’re not doing nothing. We’re telling our little girl that we care for her.
Every time she opens her eyes, she’s going to see someone staring back at her who loves her, and not every kid can say that. He said I must be the fastest tracheostomy changer in the Northwest. I said if only they gave out medals for it. I apologized about the card.
He said it’s all right, doesn’t really matter now anyway. I said I just wonder what happened to it. She had a hyper. The nurse told me.
He asked if I’m sure I’m all right. I said yeah, fine, just feel a bit tired. I can’t believe they knew that she had diabetes. He said it wasn’t them.
Well, your pump failed. No, you ran out of insulin? He told her to tell her dad the truth. She said it was her.
She turned off her pump. He asked why would you do that. She said it’s too scary. So you made yourself sick?
She said he doesn’t get what it’s like in there. Can’t cope. He said she’s got to keep her strength up. We don’t know what she’s going to face in the coming weeks.
She asked if he’s talking about going to court. He said maybe. She said she doesn’t think she can. He said of course you can.
What’s the alternative? Would you rather fight it in court or die in hospital? She said sorry. He asked Lil to nip upstairs and give Shauna a hand with the bedding.
She said but remember, I’m going to Cara’s with Dee tonight. Where’s Harper’s milestone card? You’ve taken it. He said no, he hasn’t.
She said when she packed the bag and got to the hospital, it wasn’t there. He said maybe it fell out the bag or something. She said she’s getting a bit tired of his little games. He said he hasn’t touched it.
She’s missing a pillow case. In the wash basket. She asked if he got Harvest Festival tickets today. He said yeah, they did, but they didn’t have the milestone cards.
She said it fell out of his bag, it weren’t in the bag. He said he saw her put it in her jacket pocket. She said she checked her jacket, it’s not there. He said not that jacket, this one.
She said she thought she might need a hood, so she switched jackets. Apology accepted. The only green thing I eat is mint ice cream. Well, I like it.
It’s good for you. If I’m going to run tomorrow, I need to be careful of myself. He asked if I’m going to rest tomorrow, then. I said maybe.
I’ll drink to that. If you do not destroy your enemy, your enemy will destroy you. What should I do? I have a plan.
I came to speak to Jodie. I told her I know it was her who reported me to social services. She said no, she didn’t. I said come on, first the truth, tell us stuff and now this.
It’s the same MO. Clearly got a lot of issues. She said me? You’ve got more baggage than Manchester Airport.
I said I won’t let you come between me and my son, okay? He said she said she didn’t do it, so leave it. We all make mistakes. I said yeah, that’s coming from the woman who doesn’t even know what’s going on under her own roof.
He asked what’s that supposed to mean. I said ask these two. Jodie said she knows she shouldn’t have, but she kind of told him what happened the night of next door’s wedding. Because he was a mate.
Because she was venting. He obviously just doesn’t realize we’ve straightened it all out. I said she’s obviously not told him the full story though, has she. She said what can she say, some people like jumping to conclusions.
Why is that woman staring at us? I bet it’s me. I bet she’s got a bit of a crush on me. Mary, this is my cousin, Idris.
Nice to meet you. She said oh no, we’ve met. Have we? Not in this realm, but she was a washer girl.
He was a stable boy, but they knew each other. He said don’t worry about it, mate. It happens to the best of us. One day you’re flavor of the month and the next, it’s a new month.
She asked if he’s got her mom and dad. They had stables. Right. Donkeys.
Good to know. I said everything’s not okay, actually. I owe her an apology. All of them.
She asked what’s happened, what did the social worker say. I said no, it’s nothing to do with that. That all went really well, actually. I’ve got to see her every 3 weeks until she’s satisfied that everything’s okay.
But that was Bessie Street. One of the teachers overheard Bertie telling his mate about what happened. So it was the school that called the social services. Apparently he was really upset.
And they felt like they had no choice but to intervene. Really messed up. She said I’ve barely said two words and it was my idea to come here. I said sorry, babe.
I’m just tired. Forgot to have dinner. She said I forgot my dinner, my tea, my wallet. What is going on with me today?
She said I missed the shower. The hotel’s came out like dog dribble. She said don’t be mad. Of course I miss her more than the shower.
Todd asked how Summer is. I said not good. No thanks to him. He asked if I really think Summer’s got it in it to kill someone.
It’s hard. Sarah said Summer’s in hospital and it’s him and his pals who put her there. Why, what’s happened? She stopped taking her insulin.
Because she would rather risk her own life than endure what you lot are putting her through. I needed some air. I said I’m fine, it’s because I’ve not eaten. He asked if I want him to get me a hot pot.
I said go on then, yeah. I’ll come back in a bit. He asked if I’m sure there’s nothing else. I said I’m sure, yeah.
Okay. Just drink all that. I told Gary he was right. He asked what I’m doing out here.
I said just told Kit that I’ve nipped to the cash machine. He asked how Todd is. I said he’s just letting off steam. Falling to bits here.
Can see that. What about Summer? I said I know. I can’t do this anymore.
He asked what does that mean. I said this. I don’t know how much more of it I can take.
He said come here.
