Smoke

She followed Georgiadis to his office, he closed the door behind them, she felt the atmosphere soften “Take a seat love” he motioned she furrowed her brow sitting down opposite him, “This is never easy, especially not with such a capable hard-working fire woman, but I’ve had reports that you’re,” he paused thoughtfully “With child? And its confirmed that Fireman Medhurst is the father”

She closed her eyes, putting her hand to her face and taking a deep breath,

“Yes, sir it’s true”

Nodded slowly his hands weaved together in front of him,

“Given the nature of the job, and the sensitivity of the situation, seeing as Kevin is due to be married soon, it would be dangerous for you to carry on, I’m sorry Fire woman Drummond but I’m suspending you on full pay until further notice”

She sighed her eyes brimming,

“Yes Guv”

She whispered as she stood, she shook his hand, he pulled her in to a quick hug,

“Take care of yourself love”

He smiled reassuringly.

She marched in to the locker room anger bubbling below the surface, Bayleaf moved quickly as she made a grab for Kevin’s wrist she dragged him towards her, he took a few steps closer nonplussed, he knew what this was about he knew he was about to get his heartbroken and yet he couldn’t stop himself from being so cold, with his mind conflicted he looked at her,

“Happy now?”

She demanded, he remained disinterested,

“What now Scarlett?”

“You know exactly fucking what!” Her body trembled with rage, Bay leaf stood beside her a hand around her wrist, with tears in her eyes, she flared at Kevin “I’ve just been fucking suspended Kevin! Because of you and your big fucking mouth!”

“How do you know it was me!”

He growled

“You were the only one who knew!”

“Evidently not!”

He replied looking at Bayleaf, Bayleaf glared back at him,

“Knew what?”

George asked stepping forward, picking up on the hostility,

“I can’t hide it forever so it may as well come out now, you telling them Kevin or shall I?”

“I’m not saying another word!”

“Fine!” she laughed patting his arm “Have it your way! But don’t say you weren’t given the chance!” her voice dripped with sarcasm as she turned to face the rest of the crew,

“Scar? Whats going on?”

Billy stepped forward slowly, concerned,

“Casanova here got me pregnant and is now refusing responsibility!”

In a sudden flurry of movement, Kevin grabbed her forearm, forcing her in to the mess room away from prying eyes,

“What the fuck are you playing at?”

She pushed against him,

“Don’t touch me!” her voice grew thick “Don’t you dare touch me!”

“If you had said that from the get go you’d still have your job! It’s a bit late to be changing your mind now!”

She spluttered a laugh, she shook her head, walking back to her locker, she grabbed her bag and walked back to her car.
He slumped on his sofa, rubbing his eyes with his palms, he felt his bottom lip quiver, a knot rose in his stomach and with that he broke, he lay sobbing, as time ticked by his body began to ache, he felt empty, had always promised himself no matter what the circumstance he would always be a better dad than his own, he would be there for his child and set an example, but he had gotten himself in to this mess and had decided the best he could do was go on like he had never met Scarlett Drummond and find a way of dealing with the fact that he may never meet his own child.

She walked out of the doctor’s surgery, prescription in hand, she pulled her coat tight sheltering her bump from the morning chill, she strolled back towards her flat, her mind wandering until a voice brought her back to reality,

“Dolly! Hello love!” George walked towards her, arms out for a hug, she gave him a quick squeeze, his eyes drawn straight to her bump, “You weren’t lying then, Kev did knock you up!” he laughed “Fancy a coffee?”
She nodded rolling her eyes

“Come back to mine if you like, I was just heading there now”

“Can do, I erm, I need to talk to you anyway” he rubbed his neck “It’s about Kev”

Her stomach lurched, and she swallowed, leading George back to her place.

He looked around the place,

“You’re all sorted here then, little miss won’t go without” he said motioning to the mosses basket and bouncer “How long have you got left?”

“two weeks Tuesday”

She smiled bringing the drinks in and putting them on the coffee table,

“Does Kev know?”

“He hasn’t asked” she sighed “Not seen or heard from him since that night at the station, doesn’t know the gender hasn’t been to any appointments” She felt herself becoming emotional again she cleared her throat “What did you want to tell me anyway?”

George shifted in his seat, keeping his head down,

“He does miss you ya know?” she narrowed her eyes at him “Still not left Marnie mind, but he does mention you every once in a while”

She sighed, and half smiled,

“He had his chance”

Kevin sat waiting on the sofa his mind racing and heart thumping, he fidgeted his breath catching as he heard a key in the door, he stood slowly, watching as Marnie rushed in,

“Hi babe” she smiled “I found it! I found the dress! I’m so excited you’re going to love it!”

“Marns sit down please”

He said quietly as she carried on rushing around chattering away

“In a sec, oh Kevin honestly it’s gorgeous I wish I could show you now!”

“Marnie!” He raised his voice making her freeze, she turned and looked him up and down “Sit down, I need to talk to you”

They sat on the sofa, she looked at him concerned,

“Well?”

She asked, he twisted his engagement ring off of his finger, taking her hand in his he placed the band in her palm and closed her fingers around it,

“I can’t do it Marnie, I’m sorry”

He couldn’t look at her but he knew the change in her breathing meant she was crying,

“Why? What’s wrong? What have I done?”

“Nothing love, I don’t know what to tell you I just – “

“What have you done?” she cut him off “Kevin?”

He couldn’t find the words to say, he pulled his hand away from hers, for months he had this grand speech planned but now it came down to it, he just didn’t have it in him, he knew he had done wrong, but he was sick of constantly fighting with himself over what he wanted, he wanted Scarlett, he wanted a family, He never wanted to hurt Marnie, he had even lost count of how long it had been since he last saw Scarlett, the night she blew up at him, the baby had probably already been born it tore him apart to think he had missed the birth of his first child, a child that was so dearly wanted and yet he couldn’t even tell them,

“Scarlett”

He whispered, his eyes welling, Marnie shot off of the sofa, a chesty sob erupting from her,

“I knew it! Not in our bed Kevin? In our home?”

He shook his head wiping his eyes with the back of his hand

“Nah, nah it wasn’t it was at hers”

“Just the once?”

“No a few times”

She went from sadness to anger,

“Whats this fucking slapper’s address Kevin!” she demanded grabbing her keys from the side “I’m going to have a word! Homewrecking little slut!”

He raced across the room blocking the front door,

“You can’t Marnie, you can’t hit her!”

“That much in love with her, are you? We’ll fucking see if I can hit her!”

She screeched pushing against him,

“She’s fucking pregnant!”

The room fell silent around them, she turned on her heels, almost calmly, she made her way to the bedroom, he followed her,

“Marns what are you doing?”

“I’m going babe” She muttered emptying her wardrobe in to a case, he stood and watched her in silence, seconds dragging by as she gathered her possessions from around the boat and putting her bags in to her car, she turned fiddling with her keys, handing the door keys back to him “Tell her I said good luck yeah?”

She wiped her eyes and got in to the car the engine started and she tore away.

3 weeks had passed since Marnie had left, he had adjusted keeping his cards close to his chest, he got through each day with out arousing suspicion, he just feigned being tired if anyone asked why he was being particularly quiet.