Lone Wolves

Chapter two

Jaime sat at her dressing table in her robe, preparing for her evening. It was her weekly dinner with her mum. It had been something they'd done for the past six months. They'd drink and make small talk and continue to 'build their relationship'. It was weird, she thought, like she was almost 'dating' her mother but she'd read, in all her self help books, that it was key to do so in order to avoid becoming estranged. And despite everything that had gone on, the idea of not having Kim in her life in some way, however small, was unbearable for her. She knew it would never be like it was, when they lived at the cottage, with Steve - the only real father she had known. Or even how it was those first few years when they'd disappeared from Emmerdale. But she knew it could be better than how it was after Kim met Graham.

She picked up her phone, opening WhatsApp and writing a message to Kim. *Hey. See you tonight, Old Gasworks in Hotten. Meant to be really great. Jx* she pressed send and was surprised to have her phone ring barely a second later. "Mum? You alright?" "Yeah yeah. Change of plan Jaime. Come here." Kim clipped, making it clear it wasn't a suggestion but an instruction. "To Home Farm?" "No. The Woolpack." "Mum. I...I can't go into the village." "Don't be stupid." Kim sighed. "It's been years Jaime. You needn't worry. All the ghosts are gone. I need to do some business midway through dinner and it's easier if I'm in the village. Plus it's time." "What do you mean it's time? Mummm...that village. I'm not ready." "You're 29. It's been long enough. Besides I want to show off my daughter. Have booked a car for you, should be there in an hour." "Mum, please. Can't we just do it another time? And you come here." "No. You're the one who insisted we do this every Thursday night, because of that stupid book. So we're doing it. I'll see you there." Kim clicked off.

Jaime placed her phone back on the dressing table, placing her hand on her heart and doing some breathing techniques she'd been taught to do when she felt anxious. Imagining being back in that village and seeing all the places she'd loved and lost. Like Pear Tree, her happiest home with Kim, Steve and Peggy. But then remembering the arguments, the police storm of it. Her mum sweeping her out one night, not even letting her say a proper goodbye to Peggy. And the vets, where she'd play with Zoe and learn about the animals. And of course Home Farm, which she'd last seen from a helicopter. She was furious that Kim couldn't understand how she felt about that village. How much it meant to her. But she also knew that trying to defy Kim's wishes was relatively pointless. She sighed and started blow drying her hair.

"Champagne. Not the cheap stuff Chas. I can tell." Kim demanded rather brusquely from one end of the bar. "Right. Just the bottle and a straw is it Kim?" Chas asked, irritated by Kim's condescension. "Two glasses. My daughter is joining me." Kim looked at her phone pretending to be uninterested, hiding her delight at being able to show Jaime off. "No way! Jaime!" Paddy looked surprised. "Used to babysit her when Zoe was in surgery." He said as Chas looked intrigued. "Always thought she'd become a vet...join me and Zo. But then you know...you." Paddy mimed a helicopter. "Hmm yes, well luckily she lost her bleeding heart. She's in marketing now. Much more lucrative than some rinky dink village vets." She sneered and tapped her card against the machine, taking the bucket and glasses to the table in the corner. "God, you used to babysit her daughter? Spawn of Satan?" Chas muttered to Paddy. "No...Kim weren't like that back in the day. Well...not all the time anyway. And Jaime. She was a funny little thing. Can't imagine what she'd be like now."

The car pulled up outside of The Woolpack. "Right yer are love. Mrs Tate will call when you need taking back." Jaime checked her make up again, knowing any slight imperfection might elicit a cutting remark from Kim. "Thanks darling." She twinkled to the driver, putting on the mask of Jaime Tate. The couple of glasses of Prosecco she'd had whilst getting ready had certainly relaxed her, she was choosing to ignore that voice in her head that reminded her that's how Frank coped. She swept out of the back seat. "God." She muttered, looking round the village. It was all at once the same but completely different. Her dad's little cottage now a tacky beauty salon, the village shop now some sort of naff cafe. She strolled over to outside PampaManda and snapped a photo, sending it to Steve with the message *??? x* Her phone buzzed with a reply. *Agh. Nightmare. My poor little house. Hope tonight's alright J. See you at work tomorrow. Love you. X P.S. Made me proud today.* Jaime smiled, the warmth of Steve's texts next to Kim's was incomparable. She placed her phone in her oversized Coach handbag and took a deep breath, before striding into The Woolpack.

"Jaime." Kim snapped her fingers as she saw her daughter enter the pub, several heads turning as she did so. All rather keen to see the daughter of Kim. "I'm not a dog, mum. I'll be there in a minute." Jaime asserted herself, turning back to the bar. "Hi." She smiled brightly at Chas. "Sorry about that. Can I get a sparkling water please? And...a shot of vodka? In the water." She looked conspiratorially to Chas. "Mothers. You know?" "Oh aye, I know only too well love. A sparkling water coming up." She winked turning away and Jaime saw Paddy, gaping slightly. "Oh my god! Paddy!" She ran over, kissing his cheek. "Not a curly mop anymore." She grinned. "Nooo not exactly. And you...you've...grown." He said awkwardly, trying not to sound inappropriate as Chas cocked an eyebrow, he turned to her. "Chas this is Jaime Tate. Jaime, this is me wife Chas Dingle." "Oh wow! Nice to meet you. You're married to the best babysitter I had when I was 6. Such a pushover." Jaime laughed nudging him, accepting the vodka and soda from Chas, tapping her card to pay. "Well...I'm a bit better now... professional babysitter in fact." Jaime looked confused. "Oh. That was me weird way of saying I'm a dad. Sorry." He laughed. "We've got a little girl. Eve." Jaime's face softened, slightly conscious of Kim's eyes on her. "Oh that's lovely. Umm it's been nice seeing you. Maybe we'll catch up soon? Can tell you all about Zoe, and you can tell me all the gossip from this place?" "Most of it involves yer mam pet." Faith interjected. "Oh well now I am intrigued. Thanks for this." Jaime raised her glass at Chas, necking it before heading over to Kim. "God. She actually seems human?" Chas muttered to Paddy and Faith. "Who'd've thought it eh?"

"So. What was that? You'd rather talk to Paddy than me?" Kim asked, putting her phone down to regard Jaime properly. "Mum. Of course not. Come on. You're the one who dragged me out here. I told you, I'd happily never see this place again. I still don't understand why you'd even come back." She poured herself a glass of champagne, topping up Kim's. "Because I left this place in shame before. Thanks to that pathetic..." She stopped herself, respecting Jaime's past requests that Kim not talk badly about Steve. "Anyway. I wanted to come back a winner. Like I was before.  And now... I am." Kim clinked her glass with Jaime's. "Especially now I've got you back." She smiled genuinely. "My darling daughter. Now what would you like to eat?" She slid over a menu.