The children were looking out of the front room window, and started jumping up and down when they saw their Uncle Al park up on the driveway. Sarah took the food into the kitchen with Maggie, and left Al to sort out the sweets.  Maggie’s face still looked red and swollen, and she had obviously been crying, but trying not to let the children see.  Sarah gave her a big hug and had a good look at the damage.

“Lok on the bright side,” she said.  “My face looks a lot worse than yours.  What was the argument about?”

“He’d been drinking, and I wouldn’t let him take the kids out. He wasn’t due to take them out anyway; he just turned up and thought he could do whatever he wanted.”

“Have you done anything about access?”

“Not really.  We were supposed to be seeing a solicitor, but I can’t really afford it.”

“I know a wonderful solicitor.  He’s become a friend, and if he doesn’t do this kind of thing, he will find me someone who will. He has also just informed me that my ex has left me some money in his will, so Al and I can afford to help.  No! Don’t argue! I’d rather use the money this way than have it sit in a bank earning interest. Having you and the children made safe will make Al happy, and that’s what I want more than anything.”

Al popped his head around the kitchen door.  Maggie got up and hugged him while Sarah rummaged around in the cupboard, found baking trays and foil, and put the pizzas in the oven. Al sat Maggie down and very efficiently began to get details of what had actually happened, and when.  Sarah could see him getting angry again, and put her hand on his shoulder.

“Any attempt to leave this house and you’ll have me, Maggie and the children to contend with. Is there enough to get the police involved?”

Al looked up and forced a grin. “I know when I’m beaten.  I’ll give my mate a ring. If Bob’s been drinking, he’ll have headed back to his local to get some sympathy. The police might be able to wait until he leaves and nab him for drink driving. Can you take some pictures of Maggie’s face and send them over to me please?”

“Makes a change to be sending photos of someone else’s face!” said Sarah.

“Does it hurt much?” asked Maggie.

“Dr Al has been keeping an eye on it and changing the dressings every day.  I have to go back for a check up on Monday, after which I may be able to show off my war wound with pride – at least that’s what your brother says.”

Al had gone out into the hallway to make his call and came back looking slightly more cheerful.  Sarah blue-toothed the pictures over to his phone, and could see that Maggie was also looking relieved that Al was doing things via the police rather than with his fists.  Sarah dug out the list of objects in the storage unit and handed it to Maggie.

“With the exception of the little TV, everything on the list is up for grabs.  I don’t need it, and if you don’t want it, the charity shop will get it.”

“Are you sure?” said Maggie as she scanned the list. “There are loads of things on here that we could do with.  I don’t have much money though…”

“I would far rather you had it, and I don’t want any money for it.  It’s costing me a bomb to keep it in storage. Al and I are both working – at the moment anyway”

“I’m sorry.  All that you’ve been through, and now things have blown up here too.  Not much of a start for you and Al is it?”

“Al and I are fine – and this ring is absolutely beautiful.  Thank you so much, Maggie.  We’ve started talking about a wedding, but only generally. About the only definite thing is that whatever happens, my friend has three little girls, and with your four, we will have to kit out six bridesmaids, and a pageboy. I refuse to get married in a church or in white.  Totally inappropriate!  Talking of which, are we feeding the children too?”

“Well, they’d had their dinner earlier, but pizza is a bit of a magic word.” said Maggie, smiling at last.

“For me too. Will three pizzas be enough? 

Al bought big ones.”

“Plenty.  I’ve got some potato skins in the freezer.”

“Love them.  Are you really interested in some of this stuff on the list?  I won’t be offended if you don’t want it. Most of it is Andy’s stuff, and I put it in storage in case he needed it when he came back.  Except that he won’t ever come back now. Sorry Maggie. I’m still a bit leaky-eyed about it.”

“What happened?”

“It’s rather bitter-sweet really. He went off to Thailand to find himself, and he did.  He fell in love with the country, and met up with a friend who enjoyed climbing and exploring as much as he did. He’d made up his mind to live there permanently, and was looking forward to the house sale so that he could buy a new home in a place where he could be happy. During one of their climbs, Andy had an accident.  They got him to hospital, but he died later of his injuries.  His friend Shane contacted me to tell me what had happened, and then I had the letter from Andy’s solicitor about the will.  I felt so guilty at first but Al and my friend Millie gave me a good talking to.  Andy’s sister Abigail is going to explode when she finds out though; she absolutely hated me.”

“I hope I’ll be a better sister then.” said Maggie smiling and taking Sarah’s hand.

“Oh Maggie! You are streets ahead of her and always will be.  I’m sure she’ll try to contest the will but Simon – the solicitor – was an old friend of Andy’s and knows how horrendous Abigail is. In fact, she had a thing for him when she was a teenager and started stalking him.  He had to have a word with Andy about it. Simon was very kind to me, and I’m sure he’d be able to help you with access and stuff.”

Al came into the room with Alex clinging to his back.

“I hope Sarah’s talking some sense into you about formalising the access?”

“She has, and she says that you’ll both help me.”

“The police are checking out Bob’s local,” said Al.  “They want to know if you want to press charges about the assault.  Your word against his at the moment, I’m afraid.”

“I know.  He’s always been clever about doing things without a witness. If they can pick him up for drink driving tonight that will be a load off my mind.”

“I’ll let them know. You don’t want police round here as well tonight.  Is that pizza ready yet?  I’m starving.”

“Just putting the potato skins in, and then I’ll lay the table up.”

“You need more security here Maggie.  I’ll get some stuff while we’re out tomorrow and put it up on Sunday.  You okay with that Sarah?”

“Of course, and if you let me know what you want from the unit, we can bring that as well.”

“All of it.  There’s a young girl with a baby and a toddler who’s just moved in over the road.  She’s hardly got anything, and I’m sure she’d be grateful for some of this stuff.  Would that be alright Sarah?”

“I’d like that very much.  Where are the plates and cutlery?  That pizza smells about ready.”

Despite the horrendous start to the evening, it ended well and there was plenty to eat, even once the children had descended like locusts.  Al went round and checked all the windows and doors were securely locked, before hugging the children and Maggie goodnight.  Sarah gave Maggie an especially long hug when she whispered in Sarah’s ear, “I am so glad that you’re a part of our family now.”

“Me too.” said Sarah.

Al was more quiet than usual on the way back home.

“Okay.  Tell me what’s bugging you?” Sarah asked, putting a hand on his thigh.  He smiled.

“I was just thinking that other people must have much less eventful lives than us.”

“We seem to be very good at rising above it though.  Are you having second thoughts?”

“About you and me?  Never.  Are you sure that you want to spend some of your money helping Maggie and the kids though? They are my responsibility after all.”

“I can’t think of a better way of spending it.  Andy was always up for good causes, although they were mostly environmental and animal-based. I can’t think of a better one than Maggie.  I told Maggie about awful Abigail.  I think I’m getting a real bargain in terms of acquiring a new sister, three nieces and a nephew – and you of course.”

“How do you fancy watching TV and sharing that tiramisu when we get in?”

“I love the idea and just think, tomorrow night we can lie in bed and fall asleep watching my little TV.”

“With a remote. Then I don’t have to get out of bed to turn it off if we haven’t fallen asleep.”

“Al! Whatever are you suggesting?”

Al grinned.