Boxing Day

After a hectic Christmas Day, Jean was glad to return to the comfort and warmth of the Barn to enjoy the remainder with Faith and Eric.

Boxing Day dawned dreary and dull, a reflection of how everyone appeared to feel. The sense of excitement had faded, leaving behind long days of dreaded stilted conversation with relatives who were on the cusp of outstaying their welcome.

Thankfully not so in Jean's case. Faith and Eric made every effort to keep her feeling appreciated by insisting that she share their breakfast and lunch, but by the afternoon she was bored.

Nothing could hold her attention. She sat, slumped on her bed in the guest room, legs in the air, huffing as she turned the page of a Chat magazine she had borrowed from Faith's basket. The only Christmas miracle she cared to read about was the vanishing man, her cousin, making a reappearance.

She plugged her earphones in and tried to settle, settling for one of Zoe's favourites, "She's the One" by Robbie Williams. As the tune drifted through her head her phone pinged and she snatched it up eagerly.

One text. From "Noah Mobile"

How's you? N

Ok. Bored here. J x

Wanna meet up? Playground? N

Ok. Will find it x

Cool. C u soon x

Grinning, she jumped up and checked her reflection in the mirror. Her hair was its usual wild wavy mass, but with a few determined brushes she managed to scoop it into a side ponytail and added her beanie; setting it at an angle before grabbing her jacket.

"I'm going out," she declared to Faith who sat in the lounge watching an old TV special as Eric snored in the armchair.

"Ooh anyone we know?" Faith winked.

"Just meeting Noah at the playground." Jean dug her hands into her jacket pockets.

"Oh, ave fun! He's a good lad is our Noah." Faith nodded, pouring herself a sherry. "Ey, but don't be out too late. We'll be doin' supper 'ere round seven."

"It won't be that long, we're just hanging out."

"As you say. Well, have a good time!" Faith called.

"Um...where is the playground?" Jean asked, hesitating by the door.

"By t'church. Ask anyone. But shouldn't our Noah be collectin' you?"

"Its not a date." Jean emphasised, "we're cousins."

"Stranger thongs 'ave 'appened in our family I can tell yer," Faith replied with a twinkle. "Tell 'im 'is grandma says he can come up 'ere and collect yer like a gentleman."

"I can't say that!" Jean retorted, stunned.

"I'll tell him then." Faith typed out a message to Noah on her phone.

Barely a few seconds later Jean received a reply.

"Coming up to get you."

"He's keen, I'll give him that." Faith remarked, "you need to push him a bit."

"But he's my cousin?" Jean repeated.

Faith shrugged and sighed.

"Were never a problem for our Charity."

"Well I'm not Charity." Jean stated firmly, remembering the references that Zoe had made to her during one of her episodes. "Sorry."

"None taken." Faith assured her. "Now quick sticks, he'll be here soon."

Sure enough, the doorbell rang and at a nod from Faith, Jean answered it.

"Were next door. So, yer comin?" He asked, cheeks pink from the cold.

"Yeah." Jean nodded, "see you later!"

"Oh, go off, enjoy yerselves!" Faith shooed them out as she watched them wander away onto the path that led to the village.

"That was awkward." Jean confessed as they strolled along.

"Yeah, soz an' that. Gran thinks we should be..."

"I know. But we're not, are we? We're cousins." She caught his eye and saw a hint of disappointment there.

"Yeah, yeah. Like me and you, I mean, its already messed up what wi'my Mum being married to Joe's dad and you being Joe's dad's sister's daughter."

"The correct term is niece." Jean nudged him with a gentle smile.

"Yeah, well, I s'pose Gran thinks its possible cos of me Mum and Cain." Noah mused.

"Aren't they, brother and sister?" Jean stared at him, aghast.

"Nope. Cousins."

Jean heaved a sigh.

"No, we're weird, but we're not that weird!" Noah chuckled. They had arrived in Main Street, where the pavement or lack of was already cluttered with gift boxes and discarded packaging.

"Where's the playground?" Jean queried, looking around.

"Not far." Noah advised as they passed Jacob's Fold, looking at it wistfully.

"Noah?" Jean stopped.

"Sorry. Ignore me."

"No, what's up?" Jean pressed, following his gaze to the sweet little cottage with neat windows and a smart gate.

"Joe, right, he bought this for Debbie." He explained, "when he were Tom Waterhouse an' that."

"Tom Waterhouse?" Jean narrowed her eyes, confused.

"Yeah. He pretended to be like this hot shot businessman and it were all lies. He really hurt Debbie but she went back to him and he paid for this place. He did loadsa stuff for Jack and Sarah too, but he told me stuff...stuff that he's never told anyone."

Jean saw the strain in his face.

"Noah, come on. Come on, lets get to the playground, we can talk, okay?" She suggested, putting an arm around him.

"Yeah." He nodded, pulling away from Jacob's Fold and leading the way to the playground, where they found the swings empty.

"Used to love these." Jean admitted as she mounted the swing, "used to think it would get me to the other side of the world. Lame, eh?'

"Nah. Y'alright." Noah replied, assuming the other seat. "Joe told me a bit about where yer lived in New Zealand. He said about you."

Jean's heart leapt.

"Yeah? What did he say? Sorry, you wanted to..."

"Jus' that he had good times wi'you and Zoe." Noah kicked the ground.

"Good." Jean sensed an awkward pause, "it must be difficult, seeing that house everyday. Knowing that he..."

"Yeah, but I'm cool with it." Noah blustered, "He's a great big brother."

"I know. Beneath the arrogance and ego." Jean joked.

"Yeah and that." Noah laughed, "I've tried sending him messages. I just wanna let him know that I still need him, right."

"Yeah. I do." Jean nodded, "wish I could tell him stuff too."

"Why did yer come back?"

"Same reason you keep leaving him messages that he doesn't answer." Jean admitted wryly.

"Right. So yer Mum; Zoe, she knows?"

"No." Jean shook her head, "tell the truth, Noah, I had a row with her."

"About Joe?"

Jean nodded ashamedly.

"She said I wasn't to see him."

"Why?"

"Something that happened in New Zealand. Mummy was hurt. I just wanted to see Joe, make sure he's okay...then I got here and Graham threw me out."

"He's been drunk for months." Noah sighed, "I tried helping him but he don't wanna be helped. He just wants to shut himself away in that house and drink. But he's the only person who knows Joe. Like, really knows him. I just dunno what to do. Did you find owt?"

"No, I'm sorry, Noah, just..." she trailed off, deciding against telling him about the phone. It didn't seem fair, especially if Noah had left messages for Joe.

"Come on, what was it?" Noah urged, "I can take it? I just wanna know..."

"So do I. I didn't find anything. I'm sorry." She twirled her hand around the chain of the swing.

"Guess we'll just have to keep hopin' then. Joe'll come back. Yer know he will."

"Yeah." Jean agreed, trying to disguise her heartache. From what Graham had said, he was unlikely to return at all, but there was no way she could shatter Noah's illusions like that. She wasn't cruel.

"Jean!" Harriet's voice came from behind, "there you are, I've got the car ready, picked up your stuff."

Jean closed her eyes, avoiding Noah.

"Yer goin' too? Back to New Zealand? I thought you were stayin?" He demanded, his cheeks flushing red.

"It's not..."she turned to Harriet, "I just need a moment. Please."

"Oh, sorry. I'll be in the church." Harriet advised, retreating, her footsteps crunching on the snow.

"What did she mean?" Noah frowned at Jean, searching her face for an explanation, "yer can't just go?"

"I'm not." Jean replied, opening her eyes and looking directly at him, "I'm going up to Home Farm."

"Home Farm? But yer can't? I thought you were stayin' with Gran and Eric? You said you were."

Jean stepped off the swing, bracing herself. There was no easy way to break it to Noah. She moved closer.

"Harriet spoke to Graham. He's agreed to let me stay." She admitted, feeling foolish.

A very Tate like expression crossed Noah's face, highlighting his resemblance to Chris and Joe.

"But I were up there, Kim said I had to go. What makes you so different?" He accused.

"I didn't want...I mean...I intended to stay with Joe...but..."

"So you're gonna live there? Permanently?"

"I don't know," Jean shrugged her shoulders agitatedly, "I didn't plan this, Harriet just asked him and he agreed."

"Guess I know whose side you're on then. Hers." Noah spat, "I thought you were different, Jean. But yer not. You're like him and her."

"I'm nothing like Kim!" Jean snapped. "Noah, it isn't what you think, please!"

"Dun't matter, does it. Like you really care about Joe." He scoffed, "yer know Graham hates us?"

"Noah..."

"I'm goin. You go up to Home Farm. Do what yer want." He turned away, "I don't care."

Jean grabbed him.

"Noah, please. I can find out stuff whilst I'm up there. I can find Joe, I promise you, I can!"

"Whatever, Jean. Yer just what they said you were. 'Cept yer worse."

Jean watched him walk away, helpess to reason with him. He refused to listen, what could she do? Kicking the roundabout, she wandered away to join Harriet, realising the enormity of what she had just lost. A good and loyal friend. Her only ally, really.