On the run

Chapter 8

The next morning, Pete returned home and Rose was waiting for him.

"So how did your date go?" he asked her.

"He went to a lot of trouble, taking me to a fancy Italian restaurant. I invited him for lunch today, if you don't object?"

"No, it will give me a chance to see if he's genuine or not. You're not serious about him are you?" Pete asked, thinking it would be a shame if she was then he took her to Alec Hardy or rather the Doctor's twin brother.

"I don't think so. I warned mum."

"Good, at least she has an excuse if she makes a mistake eh?"

"I heard that Pete Tyler," Jackie laughed as she entered the sitting room with Tony.

"Mum, why do you always use dad's full name when you're telling him off?" Tony asked innocently.

Rose had to smile.

"Never you mind Tony," his mother told him. "So, is Steve coming for lunch then, I'll have to tell the cook to lay an extra place."

"I guess so," Pete told her. "Let's see shall we? Tony, we'll have a guest for lunch, best behaviour, yes?" his dad asked him.

"Yes Dad, I know. Mum, will you be forgetting things again?"

Pete patted his son's head. "You just look after your mum if she gets asked some questions eh? You know she forgets things?"

"Yeah and she says stuff that no-one's heard before. You are getting better, aren't you Mum?"

"Of course she is son, she just needs a bit of help, that's all," Pete answered for her.

"What about you Rose? Are you helping mum?" Tony asked her.

"We are all Tony. It's only Steve that's coming, the one from last night."

"Is he your new boyfriend?"

Pete looked at her.

"I don't know yet, let's wait and see? Want to go play football for a while?"

"Yeah, okay Rose. Mum, are you coming to watch?"

Steve decided that since Rose hadn't sent a message telling him not to bother, he may as well stop off and buy a bottle of wine for his hosts. He was just getting ready when his mother stopped him.

"Are you seeing that girl again Steven?"

"Yes and her name's Rose, Mum."

"Is she the one from the Christmas party?"

"That's her, Pete Tyler's adopted daughter. I told you about her.

"Then why did you do nothing about it, before now?"

"That's a good question Mum but we're on opposing sides at work. Remember I told you about everyone being divided?"

"She is? Well she's bound to take his side. Why don't you go back? If you ask me, that Yvonne's a trouble-maker."

"She's the deputy director Mum, if I go against her now, well it would be very bad for me. You know I've not worked anywhere else."

"I was so proud of you when you got that job at Torchwood. You shouldn't turn your back on your friends though. You should ask Rose out properly."

"I'm thinking about it, trust me. I just have to find a way so I can keep my job and win Rose over."

Steve found the gate of the Tyler mansion was open and stopped just by the side of the house next to the latest model silver Lexus 'Pete 1' and thought the man liked to show off then he remembered Rose had said Pete had been away playing golf somewhere but had that been an excuse for a secret meeting with people he was trying to get on his side or some other secret meeting?