Tea & Biscuits

The answer machine was beeping as Alan opened to door. Beth followed him in and walked into the kitchen, flicking the switch of the kettle to make tea. She heard the beep of the machine.

'You have two new messages'

'hey Alan, it's me...' Beth heard Ruby's distinct voice down the hallway 'Hope you enjoyed the cottage...some bath huh? ' Ruby's voice cackled and Beth heard Alan laughing at her. 'Chat you soon, let's go out and get drunk.'

Beth poured boiling water onto two teabags. The second message played.

'Alan...it's Alice Lewis. I need to get hold of Beth. Can you ask her to call me? It's important. Thank you.'

Beth walked slowly down the hallway, listening as her mothers' clipped telephone voice echoed around. She handed Alan her tea. He looked at her, his eye brow raised.

'I'll call her.' Beth sighed.

Alan handed her the 'phone and took his tea into the lounge, lit the fire and lifted his forgotten script. He couldn't concentrate, his concern for Beth was overtaking him.

After 5 minutes Beth walked into the room. Alan looked up from his reading, a question on his face.

Beth sat on the rug in front of the fire, warming her hands on her mug of tea. She looked at him and sighed. The colour had drained from her face and her cheeks looked pinched. The glow she had gained from being by the sea had disappeared.

'There was a letter at home from my Solicitor. Mum read it to me. I have to go in to speak with them. Steve's appeal is planned for two weeks time.' Beth stated the words quickly to reduce their impact on her but a cold feeling had settled in her stomach.

'When will you go in?' Alan's shoulders were slumped, he felt depressed now that reality was seeping through the chinks of their cosy world.

'I'll go tomorrow, get it over with. With luck I wont need to go to court this time.'

They spent a quiet evening. Beth went out to buy Chinese while Alan worked and they ate at the kitchen table, both of them subdued.

'I wish I could come with you tomorrow, Beth, but they need me in three scenes. I can't let everyone down.'

'Don't be silly! I don't expect you to come with me. It's fine. Mum will come anyway. She is giving them the letter.'

'If he wins the appeal, Beth when would he be out?' Alan asked, his fork in mid-air.

'If he wins, he will be out in a year or less. If not he stays in for another two.'

Alan nodded, deep in thought. He smiled at Beth. 'Don't worry sweetheart. It will be OK'. He tried to be reassuring. It wasn't working and Beth felt the cold in her stomach seeping through to her bones.

The following day they said goodbye before Alan left the flat. They had a set routine. Beth always left before him. So far they had been lucky and no photographer had caught them together. Their relationship was still secret and they worked hard to keep it that way.
Beth never went to functions with Alan, she wouldn't run the risk of Steve seeing her in the paper with him.

On her way to the Solicitor, Beth called Kate.

'Kate, it's Beth, how are you?' She asked.

'I'm fine Beth. How are you?' Kate's voice was warm but efficient, she ran a tight ship.

'I've been better. I have to go into the Solicitor's before I come in to work, Kate. Steve is going for appeal.' Beth heard the sharp intake of breath.

'OK, well, let's talk when you get in. I have to chat to you about something anyway. I'll put the kettle on. Good luck, Beth.' Kate had put the phone down before Beth had the chance to ask her what she wanted to talk about.

Inside the Solicitor's office, Beth found Alice already waiting. Her small face looked tired and pale and Beth's heart went out to her.

'Hi Mum.' She smiled at her and Alice walked into her outstretched arms as they hugged.

'How are you, darling?' Alice asked her, wiping damp tears from her face.

'I'm fine Mum. It's OK, you can relax. I forgive you. I don't understand why you did what you did, but Alan said I would regret it if I didn't make up with you. He was right.' Beth smiled a small smile at her Mum.

'How is Alan?' Alice was still embarrassed at her behaviour the last time she saw him.

'He's fine, working today. He said to say hello.'

A door to the right of the waiting area opened and Laura Smith opened the door. 'Come through, Beth...Alice'.