who should they bump into but
Dom, Maylee and little Juke, who she said is as cute as cute can be, all dark
curly hair and big brown eyes. Anyway she said it was hilarious because she, Maylee,
was only trying to walk along that pebbly beach wearing 6 inch high heels,
apparently Dom told her to take them off but she said she couldn’t because they
went with her outfit…what a twit.’ Duncan smiled at her story, but pulled away
slightly when Maggie put her arms around him and kissed his cheek.
‘How are you this morning sweetheart,’ said Maggie
determinedly ignoring his reaction to her kiss, ‘did you manage to get a
descent night’s sleep?’
’Oh you know, not too bad…those latest painkillers Dr Johnson
gave me are much better,’ Duncan said walking over to the kettle to make tea.
‘Oh let me do that love,’ said Maggie jumping up to take the
kettle from him.
‘Maggie, I can make a cup of tea you know,’ said Duncan
trying not to let her see how his hand was shaking. Kerry Webb had smashed the
bones in his right hand with a hammer, he transferred the kettle to his left
hand and awkwardly poured the tea, swearing when he sloshed the water over the
work surfaces.
Maggie gently took the kettle from him, ‘It just needs time
darling…your hand will be as good as new, but until then let me help…please.’
‘You’ve done enough already,’ Duncan said gruffly, ‘letting
us stay in your home, looking after Martha day and night. I need to learn to do
things for myself again, I can’t expect you to always be there…’
‘Well you know I would be if you wanted me to,’ said Maggie
in a small voice, leaning her head on Duncan’s shoulder. Duncan said nothing so
she moved away and got on with making the tea.
‘I have decided that I’m going to organise a big family meal
for Jed’s birthday,’ said Maggie changing the subject. ‘I’ve already cleared it
with Jools, she thinks it’s a fab idea so I just need to set a date and invite
everybody. I was thinking of the 27 th , it’s a Sunday so it won’t be
too busy at the pub, Hank and Laura should be able to cope, and it’s only a
couple of days before his actual birthday…what do you think?’
‘Sounds good,’ Duncan said, ‘who were you thinking of
inviting?’
‘Oh just family really…Greg of course and his latest
squeeze,’ Greg was Maggie’s ex-husband and the boy’s father, who, despite a
nasty divorce had remained a close friend. ‘And obviously Dom and Maylee, and I
was thinking of inviting little Jukie, I suppose it’s about time we all met
him. Jools’s mum and her latest boyfriend …Martha and you of course…what?’ she
asked as Duncan gave her a look.
‘Family you said…we’re hardly family Maggie,’ said Duncan
gently.
‘Well as good as…’ began Maggie.
‘Anyway,’ went on Duncan, ‘I’m not sure I’m up to a party
yet, and I’m sure Martha’s not…no I think we’ll have to pass on this one Maggs…
thanks and all that.’
Maggie swallowed back the tears that were threatening to
fall, ‘Oh ok that’s fine honey…next time maybe.’
‘Sure thing,’ said Duncan, ‘um…did you want me for anything
specific Maggs? Only I’ve got an appointment with the physio this morning so…’
‘Well I know that stupid,’ said Maggie smiling, ‘that’s why
I’m here…I thought I could drive you.’
Duncan swallowed, this was getting really difficult,
‘Actually Maggie I’ve ordered a cab, it should be here any minute.’ He turned
to her and heaved a sigh, ‘Maggie darling please stop doing this…’
‘What…stop doing what?’ she butted in.
‘This…all this…let me make tea for you, let me drive you to
the hospital…let me help you to the toilet…’
‘Once Duncan, I only did that once and I’m sorry…I’m just
trying to help…I love you…’
‘NO!’ Duncan almost shouted, ‘No darling Maggie…you just
think you do…’ he held up his hand when Maggie would have butted
Dom, Maylee and little Juke, who she said is as cute as cute can be, all dark
curly hair and big brown eyes. Anyway she said it was hilarious because she, Maylee,
was only trying to walk along that pebbly beach wearing 6 inch high heels,
apparently Dom told her to take them off but she said she couldn’t because they
went with her outfit…what a twit.’ Duncan smiled at her story, but pulled away
slightly when Maggie put her arms around him and kissed his cheek.
‘How are you this morning sweetheart,’ said Maggie
determinedly ignoring his reaction to her kiss, ‘did you manage to get a
descent night’s sleep?’
’Oh you know, not too bad…those latest painkillers Dr Johnson
gave me are much better,’ Duncan said walking over to the kettle to make tea.
‘Oh let me do that love,’ said Maggie jumping up to take the
kettle from him.
‘Maggie, I can make a cup of tea you know,’ said Duncan
trying not to let her see how his hand was shaking. Kerry Webb had smashed the
bones in his right hand with a hammer, he transferred the kettle to his left
hand and awkwardly poured the tea, swearing when he sloshed the water over the
work surfaces.
Maggie gently took the kettle from him, ‘It just needs time
darling…your hand will be as good as new, but until then let me help…please.’
‘You’ve done enough already,’ Duncan said gruffly, ‘letting
us stay in your home, looking after Martha day and night. I need to learn to do
things for myself again, I can’t expect you to always be there…’
‘Well you know I would be if you wanted me to,’ said Maggie
in a small voice, leaning her head on Duncan’s shoulder. Duncan said nothing so
she moved away and got on with making the tea.
‘I have decided that I’m going to organise a big family meal
for Jed’s birthday,’ said Maggie changing the subject. ‘I’ve already cleared it
with Jools, she thinks it’s a fab idea so I just need to set a date and invite
everybody. I was thinking of the 27 th , it’s a Sunday so it won’t be
too busy at the pub, Hank and Laura should be able to cope, and it’s only a
couple of days before his actual birthday…what do you think?’
‘Sounds good,’ Duncan said, ‘who were you thinking of
inviting?’
‘Oh just family really…Greg of course and his latest
squeeze,’ Greg was Maggie’s ex-husband and the boy’s father, who, despite a
nasty divorce had remained a close friend. ‘And obviously Dom and Maylee, and I
was thinking of inviting little Jukie, I suppose it’s about time we all met
him. Jools’s mum and her latest boyfriend …Martha and you of course…what?’ she
asked as Duncan gave her a look.
‘Family you said…we’re hardly family Maggie,’ said Duncan
gently.
‘Well as good as…’ began Maggie.
‘Anyway,’ went on Duncan, ‘I’m not sure I’m up to a party
yet, and I’m sure Martha’s not…no I think we’ll have to pass on this one Maggs…
thanks and all that.’
Maggie swallowed back the tears that were threatening to
fall, ‘Oh ok that’s fine honey…next time maybe.’
‘Sure thing,’ said Duncan, ‘um…did you want me for anything
specific Maggs? Only I’ve got an appointment with the physio this morning so…’
‘Well I know that stupid,’ said Maggie smiling, ‘that’s why
I’m here…I thought I could drive you.’
Duncan swallowed, this was getting really difficult,
‘Actually Maggie I’ve ordered a cab, it should be here any minute.’ He turned
to her and heaved a sigh, ‘Maggie darling please stop doing this…’
‘What…stop doing what?’ she butted in.
‘This…all this…let me make tea for you, let me drive you to
the hospital…let me help you to the toilet…’
‘Once Duncan, I only did that once and I’m sorry…I’m just
trying to help…I love you…’
‘NO!’ Duncan almost shouted, ‘No darling Maggie…you just
think you do…’ he held up his hand when Maggie would have butted
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