Katherine sat in front of the dressing table mirror carefully applying her makeup even though she had no plans to go out. No way did she want Joe to see her looking anything but her best. If he showed up, that is. As usual, he was responding to her messages with the briefest of replies making her wonder how the whole 'being friends thing' was ever going to work out. Most likely it wasn't and this was his way of letting her down gently, gradually tapering off all contact.

She opened her jewellery box and for a brief moment, she considered putting her engagement ring on. She looked at it, it's presence almost taunting her. Part of her wished Joe had asked for it back. It wasn't like an item of clothing he'd bought her, it's significance meant she could never wear it without feeling melancholy. No doubt it would spend years collecting dust, unloved and forgotten about.

The designer clothes she continued to wear, but she was more focused on looking impressive in her new role at work than anything else. She remembered the first time she'd worn such outfits, not long after she'd begun living with Joe. Her manager had joked that she was paying her too much and Katherine had laughed good-naturedly. Now she cringed thinking she'd been smug, practically gloating about her good fortune. Well, she'd sure been brought back down to earth!

Tying her hair back into a ponytail because she didn't want to look like she was trying too hard, she made her way downstairs knowing she was ready far too early. Donnie had already told her he wouldn't be available until midday, and while Joe had said he'd probably arrive earlier to remove the smaller items, she wasn't holding her breath. She looked at her phone, her finger twitching as she considered texting him to ask for a specific time, however, a sharp knock at the door stopped her.

'Dani! What are you doing here?' she asked stepping to one side as Danielle made her way in.

'I live here, don't I?' Danielle said pushing past her. 'Is there any coffee on the go?'

'You don't live here until next week, that's when your contract starts.' She tried to keep her words light but Danielle turned to her frowning.

'Was that a dig?'

'No, stop being oversensitive.'

'Do you blame me? Eva's on my back all the time.'

Katherine arranged her face into what she hoped was a sympathetic expression. 'Yeah, I had noticed that. Just as well you're moving out then.'

'It can't come soon enough.' Danielle turned her attention to the coffee maker. 'Do you want a cup? By the way, how did Joe get on negotiating a reduction in our rent.'

Katherine grimaced wishing she'd never mentioned it to Danielle. 'He didn't, he said it was a non-starter. It's probably my fault for not raising it myself when I was considering moving out.' Joe had intimated she'd gone about things backside first, but she wondered how hard he'd fought her corner.

'Do you think Joe even asked?' Danielle asked as if sensing her thoughts.

Katherine shrugged. 'I think he did but I don't suppose he gave the matter much time.'

Danielle sat down, her face settling into a deep frown. 'I'm gonna sound like Eva now, but you need to forget about Joe moving forward.'

'I know,' Katherine said not even attempting to conceal her annoyance. Danielle opened her mouth but then closed it again, and turned her attention to the coffee maker. Katherine looked at her phone, pretending to be engrossed while Danielle made their coffee. After a moment it pinged, breaking the silence.

'Who's that?' Danielle asked placing a cup down in front of her.

'It's Joe.' Katherine quickly read the message. 'Oh, typical. He's going to be late.' She quickly typed a reply, and instantly dots appeared on her screen showing Joe was writing. Two minutes later his message came through. 'Something has come up,' she read out to Danielle. 'It took him all that time to text four words!'

'And you're surprised?'

Katherine shook her head. 'Not any more. I know where I stand with him.' She picked her cup up and gave Danielle a brief smile, in a vain attempt to hide her anger.

                                                         ~~~

'Shannon? Earth to Shannon,' Joe said waving his hand in front of Shannon's face as she sat at the kitchen table with her head in her phone.

She looked up frowning. 'What?'

'We need to talk. You've barely said a word about this London move, what are you thinking?'

She glanced back down at her phone. 'I think you should go for it, it's too good an opportunity to pass up.'

Joe sighed, his impatience growing. 'I think we've already established that. But what about us? Will you to come with me?'

'I don't think that's practical. I have a job, and an apartment-'

'This apartment is one of the company's, I'll arrange a sublet. And you can apply for a transfer. Does Delta have a team based at Heathrow?'

Shannon looked up wearily. 'Joey, just say I was to go to London, I wouldn't want to continue working as a flight steward. I'm sick of it.'

'So don't then. You wouldn't need to work, Adam would cover our living expenses. It would be like a long vacation for you.'

Shannon grimaced. 'I think you'd soon resent me for that.'

'I wouldn't,' Joe quickly insisted. 'I want you to come with me, and the only thing I'd worry about is you might get bored.'

She let out a small laugh. 'I wouldn't get bored, that's about the only thing I'm not worried about!'

Joe allowed himself to relax a little thinking she didn't sound entirely resistant to the idea. He was about to press on when he noticed she had her head back in her phone. He tried to swallow his irritation knowing she was probably absorbed in the world of social media.

'Shannon, can we talk about this properly before I go get the rest of my stuff from Katherine's?'

She sighed not looking up. 'Joey I've had about three hours sleep! Can't we talk this evening, I'm not in the mood.' She broke off, holding her phone closer to her face, her eyes narrowing.

'What is it?' Joe asked not bothering to hide his annoyance now.

'I don't believe it,' Shannon all but whispered. 'I mean I do, I knew it was coming but god, I didn't think they'd actually do it.'

'I have no idea what you're talking about?'

'Mark and Natalie,' Shannon hissed. 'They've only gone and announced her pregnancy for all the world to see.' Her hand trembled as she continued to look at her phone. 'Mark told me they were going to but I was sorta hoping they'd reconsider. I thought Natalie might have had more tact under the circumstances.'

Joe's eyes widened as he processed her words. 'Your ex-boyfriend is having a baby?' Shannon nodded. 'And he told you? You spoke to him?' His jaw tightened as he tried not to lose his temper. 'You've been speaking to your ex and you didn't think to tell me?'

Shannon recoiled. 'Stop making this all about you! It was a brief call. He literally just told me Natalie was pregnant, he thought I'd appreciate the warning.' She laughed, the sound false to Joe's ears. 'So the guy who never wanted kids just didn't want them with me. I guess that's good to know, it saves me from deluding myself that anyone would possibly want a family with me.'

She looked down again as Joe wrestled with his emotions. 'Shannon that's absurd, you can't think like that. Why does his opinion even matter to you?'

'That's all you're bothered about isn't it?' she snapped. 'You think I still like him? You don't care about what this is doing to me, you're more upset about a stupid phone call.'

'No I'm not,' he said reaching for her hand but she snatched it away. 'Look you don't know if Mark wants this baby. Maybe his girlfriend trapped him, maybe he's trying to make the best of it. A post on social media tells you nothing, it's all fake.' 

'Well it tells me Natalie wasn't pressganged into having an abortion, it tells me that neither of them cares about how I'll feel seeing it.' Her cheeks flushed and Joe was at a loss as to what to say while she began to tap on her phone screen.

'What are you doing?' he asked moving closer to her.

'I'm sending them my congratulations!' Her finger furiously tapped away.

'I don't think that's a good idea.'

Shannon scowled. 'Why not? It's good news.'

'You'll say something you regret,' Joe said grabbing hold her hand to try and take her phone.

Shannon's grip tightened. 'So what if I do?' 

'I don't want you to get hurt.' Joe kept hold of her hand but he didn't prise the phone out of it. 'You're going to say something snide and then all their friends will wade in and attack you.'

'Like they could make me feel any worse,' Shannon said releasing her hold on her phone at the exact moment Joe did the same. The phone fell to the floor and she looked at it in dismay. Joe bent down to pick it up, turning it over to reveal the shattered screen.

'Oh great,' Shannon wailed. 'Just what I need on top of everything else.'

'It's just a broken screen Shan, I'll get it repaired. I'll take it on my way to Kat's.'

'Of course, you mustn't forget Katherine now, must you?' Shannon said quickly standing up and pushing her chair back. 'I bet she'd love to move to London with you. Why don't you ask her?'

Joe looked at her in bewilderment. 'What are you talking about? I don't want Kat. I love you.'

She looked at him, her eyes welling up. 'It's nearly lunchtime, you should be at Katherine's by now. You still have things to sort out with her.'

'I think it's more important that I sort this out with you,' Joe said trying to pull her into his arms. She stood rigidly against him for a moment before relaxing and slipping her arms around his waist. 'I'll call Jason and see if he can give Donnie a hand.'

'No, don't,' Shannon said her words muffled as she spoke into his chest. 'We can talk when you get back.'

'If that's what you want,' Joe said uncertainly. He strongly suspected she was doing her best to avoid talking at all. Even if that meant pushing him in the direction of his ex-girlfriend.

                                                        ~~~

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