A/N Sorry at the delay, had internet problems and also huge writing effort on another story, one I couldn't out down, so here is the rather delayed chapter nineteen.

Chapter Nineteen

Isobel had worked since the age of fourteen in some capacity, and now found sitting around doing nothing very difficult. Michael was still reluctant to keep all of the business she’d worked so hard for, so they’d come to an agreement where he would pay her an amount of money when he could for her share. He was loving being his own boss, but it also meant that she had lost that avenue of work. Something she’d put her heart and soul into.

So she tried to fill her days, though that wasn’t easy, she hadn’t ever been bothered with shopping or beauty treatments, she was becoming too pregnant to attend the gym, and no one else was home by day. All the other women who she knew in the area, friends and otherwise were at work. In the evenings she had the kids at home and they were a hectic bunch so she had little chance of getting out to do things then, and she was too tired.

In desperation she’d booked to have her hair cut with Orla, to help ease her boredom, and to help her feel a little more glamorous, her figure was expanding rapidly and she was feeling a long way from attractive. And there was never a dull moment with Orla, especially at work. By mid morning she found herself sat in the hot seat, an animated Orla trimming her split ends as she informed the gossip hungry patrons of the salon the latest village news. Every seat was filled, and every set of eyes, whether they be waiting for a colour to take, or a perm to set, watched her intently as she waxed lyrical to all in attendance.

                “So number fifty three next to the Butcher has finally been sold! Margaret from the estate agent said a lovely couple from London have bought it.....” she stopped to whisper, “....apparently they’re famous!”

                “No way!” announced Elsie, Isobel’s old neighbour who was having her thin grey hair set into her usual wavy style. “Who?” She turned to Orla sat next to her, “do you think it might be someone from one of the TV shows on your channels?”

The whole salon guffawed and everyone turned to look at Isobel with expectation. Isobel rolled her eyes, hating that she blushed at the innocent suggestion in her words.

                “Elsie! Tell them you mean satellite channels with Desperate Housewives and Friends.....they think you mean naughty channels!”

It was Elsie’s turn to flush to the roots of her hair, “oh sorry Isobel, I just meant the special channels I don’t have!”

Orla was still laughing as she styled the newly cut hair in to a sleek shoulder length bob which enhanced the natural rich chestnut colour.

                “What do you think?”

Isobel studied it in the mirror, loving the way it swung sleekly as she swung her head, giving her best smile she looked at Orla, “it’s lovely! I need to take it out now! Do you fancy a few beers later? Well beer for you, I’ll be the one drinking Coke!”

Orla glanced over to the calendar on her desk that was covered in various coloured notes, “Tim’s got football till eight, but maybe after that if I can get a sitter...if not on my own!!! It’s a date!”

With a spring in her step and a sense of purpose Isobel headed to the house she was still struggling to call home.

Walking in to the kitchen she found Claudia drinking a cup of coffee. Over the ten days she’d seen the other woman struggle to get over all that had happened. She’d had various appointments with Marc’s solicitor, accountant and an assortment of others as marc tried to protect her interests, help her remove Richard as cleanly as possible from her life.

All the time Richard apparently had no idea that Claudia had discovered all this about him, so time was on her side, she had the chance to make big changes before he had an inkling as so what she was up to. Minimise the impact he could have and pre-empt him taking her for all her money. Apparently bank accounts were being transferred, deeds and assets changed. Claudia insisted that she wanted to split things fairly with her soon to be ex husband, but she feared that he wouldn’t be anywhere near that accommodating, so she had to be savvy. And there was no way that Marc would allow her not to be in control.

Isobel knew that with Marc overseeing things that the technical side of the process would go well, but she was more concerned with how Claudia was coping herself. Sylvia had headed back to France as she had unavoidable commitments, Claudia was staying with them, but they barely saw her, she seemed to spend hours alone hiding away from her and Marc, she’d become paler and sadder as the days passed. Isobel had tried to engage her in family life, but she was aware that she was the main reminder of all that had happened, then there was the chaos that children brought, hectic to parents, but hard for those who hadn’t been blessed with kids to deal with.

As she stood drinking the coffee she smiled at Isobel, “wow! Your hair looks great!”

Isobel tapped at the bouncy bob, “thanks! My friend is the greatest gossip in the town, but also the best hairdresser, a trip there is like everything all at once!”

 Claudia smiled, “I may look her up; do you think she could jazz me up a bit?”

Claudia had almost black hair, short in a classy pixie cut, there was very little that could be done as it was short, but there was always room for colour! “Your hair is beautiful as it is! But I suppose the pampering and time out does help. Why don’t you come to the pub with me tonight? Have a chat with her? Marc can stay home with the kids; you can meet Orla and a few of my other friends.”

Claudia blushed a little embarrassed, “I don’t want to intrude...”

Isobel shook her head, “if it was an intrusion I’d not have asked! Girly gossip could be the best tonic for you. You’ve been locked away in here for days.”

A few hours later they were sat in the lounge of the Plough, it was busy and the gang of girls they met were gossiping and chatting like old friends, and they were all perfect instantly drawing Claudia into the conversations, and particularly Orla who even shared jokes and laughter with her. When Claudia headed to the bar to get her round of drinks, Isobel thanked Orla with her eyes. A true friend, she was helping make the best of this very difficult situation, and Claudia was starting to look more human, at last. It was exactly what she needed.

As they headed home later that night arm in arm, Claudia turned to Isobel, “thank you so much for being such a good friend, I mean we barely know each other, all we’ve got in common is Richard...the bastard...” Claudia dropped her head for a moment, “yet you’ve gone to such lengths to make me feel welcome.”

Isobel stopped and took her hands in hers, “Claudia, don’t think like that. We have Marc in common, that’s all, honestly. And through him we’re going to be friends for the rest of our lives, ok?”

Claudia smiled, “promise?”

Isobel nodded, “yep. I’m in your family for life.”

Nodding Claudia linked arms with her again, “I like that thought.”

For two weeks the women spent more time together, it helped absolve some of her boredom whilst Marc was in London, and helped drag Claudia out of her boredom. And the two cemented their friendship.

A further week later Claudia left. She was ready to face her husband, ask for the divorce, then disappear on a cruise with Sylvia for three weeks, Marc had deemed a ship safe enough as there was no way Richard could find her there, and no chance he could hurt her.

Life meandered along as normal, now that it was just the five of them, Marc was ready to cut back on his work, and ready to devote time to Isobel, so when she had a doctor’s appointment two days after Claudia left, Marc was attentive and ecstatic to accompany her. Some of that happiness and relaxation came from the knowledge that his mother and sister were safely ensconced on a large ship cruising across the Atlantic. And the relaxed version of Marc was ready to take his foot well and truly off the gas.  Having missed the first few scans and appointments, he was more than absorbed with each scan, concerned about each blood test, and questioned EVERY thing with the doctor.

She was now twenty nine weeks pregnant, and in the last two weeks she had...to quote Elsie and Mrs Edwards...bloomed. Overnight her body had expanded to accommodate the growing baby and nothing fitted her rapidly expanding waistline, so after the routine appointment, Marc took her out to buy some new clothes.

That evening as they settled in front of the TV the phone rang; Marc reached for the cordless handset and connected to the line casually, “Hello?”

                “Where is she?” He tensed at the hiss that came down the phone line and immediately felt Isobel who was curled into his side flinch at the sound of the familiar voice.

He took a deep breath controlling his anger, “you mean Claudia? She’s away, with my mother. I don’t know where they’ve gone.” He squeezed Isobel’s hand, desperate to take this man and this nightmare away from her. But he had to pacify him or he’d call again, perish the thought that he’d turn up looking for Claudia if he thought there was a chance she was staying with them.

                “Liar Banfield! You are like a control freak there’s no way she’d be anywhere that you don’t know. She’s my wife, I’ll find her.”

Marc sat forward dislodging Isobel, “not for much longer. She should never have married you, and I’ll never pretend that her kicking you in to touch is a sad thing.” He sighed, “look Richard, I strongly suggest you stop calling me, I’m nothing to do with this, it’s between you and Claudia.”

                “Yeah right! She didn’t freeze all our accounts by herself.”

Marc was now standing, and he began to pace the room, “I won’t get into this with you Richard. Please just wait until she returns. Then speak to her. That’s all you can do.”

                “This isn’t over,” came shouting down the phone as Marc ended the call.

He turned to Isobel to see her shaking, and pulling her into his arms he reassured her strongly that everything would be ok. But for the first time ever he was genuinely fearful, he vowed from that moment on to not let Isobel or Taylor out of his sight, even if that meant stopping work completely.