she thought of the difficulties her son Rob was facing. ‘For what it’s worth, Scott, I’m pretty sure every man goes through a stage of feeling like that.’
‘Yes, but I bet they don’t –’ he began miserably, then stopped once more. She waited, giving him time. Either he would tell her whatever it was he wanted to get off his chest, or he wouldn’t.
‘See, first there was the sickness. Then she had this spotting and we was afraid – so we couldn’t –’ He bent his head, his ears bright red. ‘Before, it was just her and me. But soon as she fell pregnant the baby was all she talked about. She’d got what she wanted and now she didn’t have time for me.’ He heaved in a breath and avoided her eyes. ‘Brianna Pellow did.’
Jess sighed. Quite apart from the grief she was causing others, Brianna was doing herself no favours.
‘It was a one-off, OK? I don’t drink much. But that night I’d had a few of pints of cider ... Anyhow, soon as we ... I threw up. Brianna was mad as fire, called me names. I didn’t mind. I deserved them. I felt awful. I don’t want to lose Karen.’
‘How did you feel when you told her the baby couldn’t be yours and she must have slept with another man?’ Jess asked quietly.
He flinched as if she had slapped him. ‘I – I saw the baby come out so I knew it was hers. But I didn’t see how it could be mine. Mother said you promised to find out how it might have happened.’ He hesitated then words tumbled out. ‘Karen have gone back to her parents. They’re saying it’s so she’ve got help with the baby while she gets over the birth. But she didn’t need to go. Mother was willing to stay as long as Karen needed her. It was me she wanted to get away from. If only I’d known there could be another reason – I never would have –’
‘If only,’ Jess broke in. ‘The two saddest words in any language. But what’s done can’t be undone. So what do you want, Scott?’
A tear slid down his cheek. He flicked it away impatiently. ‘I want Karen back home.’
‘The DNA results should be through soon. Your mother is certain they will show the baby is your son. If you want Karen you have to accept him.’
His tongue snaked out to moisten dry lips. ‘What about Brianna? Should I tell Karen?’
‘Dump your guilt on her so you can feel better? Don’t you think she’s been through enough?’
He flinched again. ‘Sorry. ’Course she have. But if I don’t tell her then she finds out –’ He wiped a hand across his face. ‘I’d give anything if I could go back. I’d tell Brianna no thanks and be out of that car park like greased lightning.’
Jess remembered what Viv had told her about Cissie Cottrell seeing Darren with Brianna in the pub car park.
‘Can I make a suggestion?’
‘Go on then.’
‘Phone and make an appointment with Relate. You and Karen have both been through a difficult time. Talking things through with someone who isn’t family will allow you both to be completely honest and get rid of all the bad stuff. You each have a session on your own before going together.’
‘Been there have you?’
‘Not to Relate. But after my husband died I found out a lot about him that I hadn’t known. Counselling helped me come to terms with it. They aren’t there to judge, Scott. Their job is to help you deal with what’s happened then decide how to move forward, together or separately.’
He paled. ‘I can’t unsay what I said. But I want to make it up to her.’
‘That’s a good start.’ Jess rose to her feet. She felt drained.
Scott stood up. Shy, awkward, he stuck his hand out. ‘Thanks.’
Jess smiled as she shook it. ‘You’re welcome. When you get home will you ask your mum to give me a ring so I can tell her what I’ve found out so far?’
He paused at the door, his expression anxious. ‘You won’t say anything about –?’
‘It’s nothing to do with me, Scott. Your mum asked me to try and find an
‘Yes, but I bet they don’t –’ he began miserably, then stopped once more. She waited, giving him time. Either he would tell her whatever it was he wanted to get off his chest, or he wouldn’t.
‘See, first there was the sickness. Then she had this spotting and we was afraid – so we couldn’t –’ He bent his head, his ears bright red. ‘Before, it was just her and me. But soon as she fell pregnant the baby was all she talked about. She’d got what she wanted and now she didn’t have time for me.’ He heaved in a breath and avoided her eyes. ‘Brianna Pellow did.’
Jess sighed. Quite apart from the grief she was causing others, Brianna was doing herself no favours.
‘It was a one-off, OK? I don’t drink much. But that night I’d had a few of pints of cider ... Anyhow, soon as we ... I threw up. Brianna was mad as fire, called me names. I didn’t mind. I deserved them. I felt awful. I don’t want to lose Karen.’
‘How did you feel when you told her the baby couldn’t be yours and she must have slept with another man?’ Jess asked quietly.
He flinched as if she had slapped him. ‘I – I saw the baby come out so I knew it was hers. But I didn’t see how it could be mine. Mother said you promised to find out how it might have happened.’ He hesitated then words tumbled out. ‘Karen have gone back to her parents. They’re saying it’s so she’ve got help with the baby while she gets over the birth. But she didn’t need to go. Mother was willing to stay as long as Karen needed her. It was me she wanted to get away from. If only I’d known there could be another reason – I never would have –’
‘If only,’ Jess broke in. ‘The two saddest words in any language. But what’s done can’t be undone. So what do you want, Scott?’
A tear slid down his cheek. He flicked it away impatiently. ‘I want Karen back home.’
‘The DNA results should be through soon. Your mother is certain they will show the baby is your son. If you want Karen you have to accept him.’
His tongue snaked out to moisten dry lips. ‘What about Brianna? Should I tell Karen?’
‘Dump your guilt on her so you can feel better? Don’t you think she’s been through enough?’
He flinched again. ‘Sorry. ’Course she have. But if I don’t tell her then she finds out –’ He wiped a hand across his face. ‘I’d give anything if I could go back. I’d tell Brianna no thanks and be out of that car park like greased lightning.’
Jess remembered what Viv had told her about Cissie Cottrell seeing Darren with Brianna in the pub car park.
‘Can I make a suggestion?’
‘Go on then.’
‘Phone and make an appointment with Relate. You and Karen have both been through a difficult time. Talking things through with someone who isn’t family will allow you both to be completely honest and get rid of all the bad stuff. You each have a session on your own before going together.’
‘Been there have you?’
‘Not to Relate. But after my husband died I found out a lot about him that I hadn’t known. Counselling helped me come to terms with it. They aren’t there to judge, Scott. Their job is to help you deal with what’s happened then decide how to move forward, together or separately.’
He paled. ‘I can’t unsay what I said. But I want to make it up to her.’
‘That’s a good start.’ Jess rose to her feet. She felt drained.
Scott stood up. Shy, awkward, he stuck his hand out. ‘Thanks.’
Jess smiled as she shook it. ‘You’re welcome. When you get home will you ask your mum to give me a ring so I can tell her what I’ve found out so far?’
He paused at the door, his expression anxious. ‘You won’t say anything about –?’
‘It’s nothing to do with me, Scott. Your mum asked me to try and find an
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