Learn to Love Again

"Bye Mum! See you on Monday!" JJ yelled out the car window as they drove away "Dad's missing you already!" The car roared away to the sound of raucous laughter. Two little boys on a road trip.

Jenny turned to Diana and they laughed "That boy's far too sharp for his own good these days!" Diana nodded "reminds me of a boy I knew once, all cheek and curls. He turned out ok I think?" she winked and Jenny threaded her arm through hers.

"Yes, all things considered, you did a good job Mrs Hiddleston!"

"You too Miss Grey!" they walked into the house, "Now, shall we have a cup of tea or coffee? Then we can go over to yours and start packing. It's not going to take long. The sooner your stuff is all here the better. For everyone."

"Ok, tea please, gone right off coffee lately. Think it's the rubbish they give us at work. Doesn't agree with me at all." Jenny walked into the living room and pulled out her phone. Two texts and a missed call. The call was from Luke, he'd said he would call when he landed. She smiled, it would be nice to see her big brother.

After the angst, he'd dropped everything to come and see his little sister. Tom and he had chatted on the phone for a good couple of hours after she'd gone to bed and when he slipped under the quilt and hugged her, he'd whispered that she was getting a visitor in a day or two whether she liked it or not.

"Oh god" she'd moaned with a smile "he's going to give me such a hard time. Maybe I will come with you after all all." she turned over and faced him. "I'm really just looking for an excuse you know." she smiled and Tom kissed her tenderly.

"You never need an excuse to be with me love, but you do need to see him. He's worried about you. It's only a couple of days. How many arguments can you fit in to a couple of days eh?" he teased and she giggled softly.

"Let's not think about that just now, let's not think about anything. Let's just..." she pressed her lips to his, burying her hands in his hair and they didn't think about very much at all, for quite some time.

Now, as she waited for Luke to arrive, she knew she was a very lucky girl. All these people around her that loved her. The overwhelming despair she had almost drowned in, seeming to fade into the background. Still hanging about at the edges of her mind, but growing fainter by the day.

"Diana?" she turned and called to her mother-in-law in all but name. "You there?"

"Yes love" she appeared at her back, "Just coming, what is it?"

"You know how Luke's coming to stay, I think I'll let him stay at mine, instead of here. Can we do a little shop later and put some snacks in the fridge and so forth? I know we were going to pack the house up, but that can wait. I don't want the poor man to be surrounded by boxes and dustsheets! I'm not sure how long he's staying and I'd like it to feel like home for him."

"Of course we can. Now are YOU packed for your trip?" she took the cup out of Jenny's hand and put it in the sink.

"Yup, it's going to be fine, there's a washing machine in Tom's flat so I don't really need to take all that much. We'll be away, what, seven weeks? Can't imagine we'll do much fancy stuff so mainly t-shirts hoodies and jeans."

"Ah now, that's where I come in!" she smiled triumphantly "I - or rather you - have instructions to take a nice dress and a pair of heels!" she grinned. "And me!"

"WHAT?" Jenny stared open mouthed. Diana looked like the cat that got the cream.

"Just for a few days. I'm coming to let Tom and you have a couple of days to yourselves. He's arranged a surprise. I'm not allowed to say any more so DON'T ASK!"

"Awww please" Jenny begged, putting on big eyes and a petted lip "pleeeeeeease?"

"Nope!" Diana closed her eyes and crossed her arms over her chest, smiling broadly.

Before Jenny could do any more the doorbell rang. She walked through and opened it to find Luke standing on the doorstep looking back into the village. Hearing the door open he turned and with arms wide open he grabbed her and swung her round.

"SIS!" he plonked her down on the step again and hugged her tightly "God you're getting heavy. Not gonna do that again in a hurry!"

"Cheeky beggar!" she swatted him and laughed . "Come on in, Diana's here. She's going to LOVE you!"

As they walked round the supermarket later that afternoon, Luke at home snoozing after his early start, Jenny started to feel a little unwell again. Nothing much at first, then as time wore on, really really tired. Her head swam a little and she felt a little nauseous. She wondered if she had picked up a bug. It had been hanging around her for a while now.

Diana chided gently "You're worrying about everything again. It's not good for you. Stop it this moment, do you hear me? Listen to your Mother in Law!" she smiled at Jenny and winked.

"You're too good to me you know that? Let's get out of here and have a drink. I'm probably just dehydrated. Only had one cup of tea this morning and no breakfast either, felt too rubbish."

They paid for the shopping and went to the local cafe. Sitting outside in the sunshine, eating cake and drinking ginger tea she felt much better. Diana was right, she was worrying far too much. For no good reason. JJ was happy, Tom and she were back on track, Luke was here and Diana, well she was just Diana. Wonderful as ever. Even school was sorted. Mrs Bennett had called her this morning - apparently "someone" had said Jenny needed a break so not to worry, she would take her classes until a locum could be found. Just to take as much time off as she needed and she would speak soon. Life was good, life was back on an even keel.

Well, almost.

As she sat in the bathroom that night, having thrown up yet again, she had a sneaking suspicion that life was very far from on an even keel.

As she emerged from the bathroom, she found Diana waiting for her at the top of the stairs.

"Well?" she said with a huge grin, "I think someone needs to sit down, don't they? Come on, let's get a digestive biscuit or two into you and a cup of ginger tea. We need to work out how you're going to tell the boys!"