J & P Book 6 - Remember Me And Smile

Chapter Twelve

"I just don't know who he is any more," sighed Jenny, as she sat with Aimee and Lucia in her kitchen the next evening, recounting the most recent events over tea and coffee. Aimee was aware now, through Deny, of recent developments, as Patrick and Deny had inevitably had a conversation after Deny had evicted a drunken Patrick from her lounge last night.

"He's always been a bit like this," Lucia pointed out. "I'll never forget that evening we went round there when you told him you were pregnant. He was vile that evening."

"That was the baby I lost, before Grace was born," Jenny explained to Aimee. "Not sure if you knew about that. Was about the time me and Paul got engaged."

Aimee shook her head. "You really have had it tough, haven't you?"

"It's just... I don't think I've ever seen him drunk before. He wasn't drunk then, was he 'Cia? He's not a big drinker, same as Paul wasn't. So why now?"

"Do you not think all this would drive anyone to drink?" Aimee suggested. "Thrown out of your own home, banned from seeing your son, and for what?"

Jenny put her head in her hands. "Ohhhh. I feel guilty enough, Aimee..."

"I know, I'm not trying to make you feel guilty. You both consented. He knew what he was doing. He's just as responsible as you are. He's made a massive, massive mistake, and lost everything as a result. It was stupid of him to admit what he'd done to Claire."

There was a knock at the door, which was followed by the sound of the door opening.

"Who's that?" Lucia asked.

Jenny knew. "Come in, Becky," she called.

Becky dashed into the kitchen and sat down. "And why was I not invited to this little de-briefing?"

"Deny's told you as well," Jenny sighed.

"Of course he has," Becky flapped, looking from Aimee to Lucia. "I can't believe none of you told me about all this!"

"I only found out this afternoon," Aimee explained.

"Sworn to secrecy," Lucia chirped.

Becky looked at Jenny. "You should have told me, Jen." She looked furious.

"I couldn't, Beck. I knew how angry and disappointed you would be in me."

Becky's face changed to an expression of confusion. "Angry and disappointed? No. I think it's absolutely f***ing marvellous news!"

Aimee and Lucia both shot looks like daggers at Becky, and then looked sympathetically at Jenny. Jenny couldn't help herself, she started to giggle hysterically, which then set the others off.

"Should have known you'd approve," Jenny eventually said. "I thought you'd be so mad, that I'd slept with a married man."

"Babe, if it were anyone else, but this is Patrick we're talking about. Your perfect gentleman! I always knew you were meant to be."

"Nope," Jenny said flatly. "It was a big mistake."

"She denies it now," Becky said, looking at Lucia and Aimee in amusement. "I give it a month."

"Patrick needs to be careful though," Lucia said. "He's the only man she's slept with now who's still alive to tell the tale!"

"Oh yeah!" Aimee and Becky chorused, and the three of them giggled.