"Oh,you've found someone else?" Anne smiled "I'm glad"

"No Mam" Dec laughed "it's not a woman,it's not like that,I mean I made a very good friend,he found me on the street,picked me up,dusted me off,put me back together again and turned my life around"

"Oh" Anne exclaimed "that's unusual,why would he do that?"

"Because he's a thoroughly decent human being" Dec replied "one of lifes good guys,I'm so lucky to have met him,you have him to thank for persuading me to come and try and put things right with you"

"Well,in that case" Anne beamed "I must thank this...?"

"Ant" Dec replied "Anthony,he's from Newcastle too,he drove me up here"

"Oh really?" Anne asked "where is he now?"

"At his Mam's" Dec smiled "he's picking me up when I'm ready"

"Well,I'm glad he helped you" Anne smiled.

"Yeah" Dec nodded "he's done a lot for me,given me a job,a flat..."

"What?" Anne interrupted "why would he give you all that?what does he want in return?"

"You don't need to be so suspicious" Dec laughed "he doesn't have some ulterior motive,he just wanted to help me out and all he wanted in return is my friendship,which I'm happy to give"

"Well,if you're sure you can trust him?" Anne frowned.

"Of course I can" Dec beamed "he's the most amazing guy,you'd love him and you should see his house,it's massive,got a swimming pool and everything"

"Alright Decky" Anne laughed "if you're sure,then I'm happy for you,maybe I can meet him some time?"

"I'm sure he'd be happy with that" Dec smiled "but one step at a time eh?I want to spend more time with you first...um...if you want to?"

"Oh Declan" Anne replied tearfully "of course I want to,I've missed you so much"

"I've missed you too Mam"

The mother and son then fell into an emotional embrace once again.

"What about the others?" Dec asked nervously as he released his arms from around Anne's small frame "do they hate me?"

"If you are talking about your brother's and sister's" Anne asked "then no,of course they don't hate you,they miss you as much as I do"

"Really?" Dec asked relieved.

"Yeah" Anne nodded "we talk about you a lot,wondering how you are,what you're up to...although we never could have imagined how you ended up"

"Me neither" Dec sighed "did anyone...you know...?"

"What?" Anne asked curiously.

"Think about finding me?" Dec blurted out "getting in contact?"

"Of course we thought about it" Anne smiled "we thought about it a lot,but after you were so angry when we last saw you and so convinced that you were right and all of us were wrong,we thought it best to let you come to us when you were ready...and you have"

Dec was deep in thought for a moment.

"I've wasted so much time" he said sadly "I've been an idiot"

"No you haven't" Anne replied,taking Dec's hands in hers "love is blind,or so they say,you were misled by Ali and you had no reason to doubt her until she showed her true colours"

"I'll never pick a woman over you again Mam" Dec stated.

"Well,if you find the right woman eventually" Anne smiled "then you won't need to do any picking,there'll be room for both of us"

"I hope so" Dec nodded.

They both sat quietly,sipping on their drinks.

"Are you expecting anyone round?" Dec asked out of the blue.

"Well,Pat usually pops by for half an hour in the evenings just to check on me" Anne announced "I'm sure today won't be any different,won't be for a good few hours yet though and Martin sometimes calls in during his lunch break,but probably won't today as he was here yesterday,you're all good kids the way you've looked after me since your dad died"

Dec immediately felt a strong pang of guilt.

He hadn't looked after his Mam though had he?he'd barely been able to look after himself.

"I'm sorry Mam" he whispered "I'm sorry I wasn't here for you"

"You don't need to keep apologising" she said kindly "I totally understand why you did what you did,I just wish I'd known how bad things were for you"

She looked into her youngest sons bloodshot eyes,having nothing but empathy for everything that he'd been through.

"Do you want to see them?" Anne asked "your brother's and sister's?"

"Of course I do" Dec smiled "but I'm scared"

"Scared?" Anne asked surprised "why would you be scared?they're your siblings"

"I know" Dec frowned "but I'm scared they'll still be angry with me or that I might find it all too overwhelming...I don't know"

"Oh Declan" Anne smiled sympathetically "I promise you that you have absolutely nothing to worry about,we've discussed this a lot...you know?what we'd do if you ever got in touch and the verdict was pretty unanimous"

"Oh yeah?" Dec asked curiously.

"Yeah" Anne grinned "and they all said all they'd want to do is give you the biggest hug imaginable"

"That's so nice" Dec whispered as a tear rolled down his cheek.

"You're so loved you know Dec" Anne stated "that's why we were all so unhappy about Ali,I don't know how, but we just knew she'd put you through hell"

"And she has" Dec replied sadly "oh Mam,it's been so awful,living on the streets has probably scarred me for life,I went from an abusive relationship to being abused by strangers to being bullied at work"

"What?" Anne asked surprised.

"Long story" Dec sighed,not really wanting to go into all the details of what Nick had done "but Ant sorted it out"

"This Ant sounds like he should be wearing a halo" Anne grinned.

"Yeah,maybe" Dec laughed "I'm just so grateful for what he's done for me...the job,the flat,helping me get back in contact with you,so I guess the next step is Isla?"

"Isla?" Anne asked confused.

"Your granddaughter" Dec grinned.

"Do you have a photo?" Anne asked excitedly.

"Unfortunately not" Dec sighed "I was thrown out of the house with barely the shirt on my back,I don't even have a phone...well,I didn't until Ant bought me one recently,but that obviously doesn't have any pictures of Isla on it"

"Do you want to tell me about her?" Anne asked,while squeezing Dec's hand.

"Oh Mam" Dec smiled "she's so adorable and such a daddy's girl,she looks like me too"

"Does she?" Anne beamed.

"Yeah" Dec nodded "got the same colour hair as me"

"And the same cheekiness no doubt?" Anne teased.

"She's a little monkey that's for sure" Dec smiled "she's three now,but I'm...I'm..."

"What is it sweetheart?" Anne asked sympathetically.

"I'm terrified she'll forget me" Dec blurted out.

"Oh Declan" Anne replied "that's utterly heartbreaking,but you have rights you know?"

"That's what Ant said" Dec smiled "he's a lawyer"

"There you go then" Anne nodded "who better to help you get your child back?"

"I doubt I'd get her full time" Dec pointed out "that wouldn't be practical anyway,but I want some access,I can't bear being away from her like this and for all I know,Ali might have moved some loser in who's playing daddy to my little girl"

"You hang in there Declan" Anne smiled "and it will work itself out"

"Hope so" Dec whispered,more to himself than Anne.

"Do you want to stay here tonight?" Anne suddenly asked out of nowhere.

"Umm...I don't know" Dec frowned,totally taken by surprise,even though a mother inviting her son to stay shouldn't be that unusual.

"I'd love to have you here" Anne smiled.

"Will you be telling everyone I'm here?" Dec asked.

"Not if you don't want me to" Anne replied kindly.

"And if Pat,Martin of anyone does turn up?" Dec asked nervously.

"Then they'll be delighted to see you" Anne announced "Declan,please stop worrying about that"

"I'm just scared I might find it all too much" Dec frowned "you know?I can imagine them spreading the word once they know I'm here,you know how emotional I get anyway,I'd just rather take it slowly if that's ok?"

"Of course it is" Anne replied with understanding,she knew only too well how sensitive her youngest son was,so didn't want to push him into anything he wasn't ready for.

"I would love to see Pat though" Dec said,more to himself than his mother.

Dec had always been very close to his eldest sibling,she had been like a second mum to him growing up and he'd missed her like crazy.

"Would you like me to call her?" Anne asked gently "I'll only tell her you're hear if she's alone"

"I don't know" Dec whispered nervously "maybe...um ok"

"I won't if you don't want me to" Anne replied "there's absolutely no pressure"

"Well" Dec mused "maybe I'll go back to the hotel,then you can call her after I've gone?"

"I can do that" Anne replied obligingly.

"Then maybe we could meet up tomorrow?" Dec suggested "just us three?"

"Absolutely" Anne smiled "whatever you want to do is fine with me"

"Thanks Mam" Dec sighed,with a sense of relief washing over him.

"You know" Anne stated "I can give you her number,then if you decide you want to talk to her later on,you can"

Dec thought it very unlikely that he would be doing that with the way his emotions were running riot at the moment,but he gratefully took the number anyway.

"Would you like some lunch?" Anne asked.

"No thanks" Dec replied "I had a huge breakfast,well brunch really,another cup of tea would be nice though"

"So what are your plans for the rest of your time in Newcastle then?" Anne asked curiously.

"Well,the only plan I had was to see you" Dec nodded "we'll see how the rest of it goes,we're only here for a couple of days,Ant has to get back to the office"

"Well,you're always welcome here" Anne announced.

"Thanks Mam" Dec replied,grateful that the reunion with her had gone so well,he should have known she could never stay angry with him,no matter what,she was too much of a loving parent for that.

They spent the rest of the afternoon,chatting,laughing and crying and Dec was happy that no one else had turned up,it had just been the two of them and he had got his beloved mother to himself for a few hours.

"I'd better call Ant" Dec finally announced "he'll be wondering how I am"

"So you'll be leaving soon?" Anne asked sadly.

"Yeah" Dec nodded "but I promise I'll see you tomorrow"

"Good" Anne beamed "and I'll call Pat as soon as you've left"

"Please tell her to take it easy on me" Dec begged.

"I will" Anne smiled "but you really need to stop worrying about that"

"Can't help it" Dec sighed "you know what a worrier I am?"

"Yeah,I do" Anne laughed "but it might make things easier if you text her first,then you don't have to actually talk in person if you're not ready"

"Yeah" Dec agreed.

"I think I can do that!"