Secrets

[eithne]

Part 1

Paul Marsden looked miserably at the ground as he delivered the morning post. He was in a terrible mood, because things weren't going too well between himself and Siobhan. She'd been really distant recently, and he was puzzled by this.

Matthew King emerged from Holdgate Farm, and noticed Paul heading towards him.

"Paul, are you okay?" He asked, worried by the miserable look on Paul's face.

"I'm fine. It's just things ain't been going too well between myself and Siobh recently."

"Why?" Matthew asked.

"She's just been really distant. I don't know what it is."

"Oh. I don't know what to say. Maybe if you talked to her about them?"

"Yeah, maybe." Paul said, attempting a smile. There was a short, yet awkward silence.

"Ah..."

"What?"

"Have you got the post?"

"Oh yeah." Paul said. He opened his bag, and quickly rooted through it before pulling out a couple of packages and about a dozen letters. He handed them to Matthew. "There you go."

"Thanks." Matthew said. "I hope you work things out between you and Siobhan."

"So do I."

"Good morning boys." Charity said, as she walked up the short lane toward the house.

"Charity." Matthew said, with a faint smile.

"Hi. I better get going. I'll see you guys later." Paul said. He turned and started walking down the lane.

"I'll take those." Charity said smiling. She reached out, and started to take the letters from Matthew. One of the packages fell to the ground, and both reached down to pick it up, bumping heads in the process.

"I'm sorry."

"No, I am." Charity said, with a small laugh. Matthew took up the parcel and handed it to her. "Thanks."

They both looked up after hearing a cough. Sadie was stood in the doorway. "I hope I'm not interupting anything."

"Don't worry, you're not." Charity said, brushing past Sadie.

[eithne]

Part 2

That evening Paul sat in the Woolpack. Syd noticed him sitting alone, looking down to the bottom of an empty glass, and walked over with a couple of pints.

"You look like you need cheering up."

"Thanks mate." Paul said, feigning a smile though he still looked as down as ever.

"When a man looks as down as you do, it's only ever one thing."

"And what's that?"

"Women trouble." Syd said. Paul laughed a little.

"Things ain't going too well between you and Siobhan?"

"Yeah, you could say that."

Before Paul could elaborate, Scott Windsor came rushing over. He threw a couple of airline tickets at Syd and Paul.

"So are you two all set for the best lads weekend ever? Booze and women." Scott said, a large grin on his face. He hadn't noticed Paul's upset.

"What are you on about?" Syd asked.

"Amsterdam. Or had you forgotten?"

"Oh, yeah." Syd said, suddenly remembering. A few weeks ago, Scott had suggested some of the men from the village go on a lads weekend to Amsterdam. He and paul had signed up, and handed over their deposits. But Syd had completely forgotten about it. "I forgot all about it."

"Oh come on!" Scott replied, shaking his head. "What abou you Paul. All ready for the best weekend ever?"

"I don't know if I should go."

"Why not?" Scott asked. "I've already had Bob and Danny cancel."

"Maybe you should go. Might cheer you up a bit." Syd suggested.

"I don't want to leave things as they are with Siobh."

"What's this then?" Chastity Dingle asked, looking over Syd's shoulder.

"We're off to Amsterdam - a lad's weekend."

"Oh, very nice. All us girls will have a bit of peace for once, eh Val?"

"I don't know what I'll do without any hunky young men in the village for a whole weekend, pet."

"You might have Paul though." Syd said.

"Are you not going or something?" Chas asked.

"He's havin problems with Siobhan."

"Hey, you should go. It'll give her a break from your miserable face." Chas said.

"She's right pet." Val said.

"Okay, I'll go if it'll shut you all up." Paul said. He angrily grabbed his coat, and stormed towards the door of the Woolpack, leaving a couple of puzzled faces behind him.

"Was it some'in I said?" Val asked.

[eithne]

Part 3

"Oh I could just give that cow a right slap." Charity said, walking through the doors later that night.

"So how was your date?" Chas asked.

"Interuppted by that cow, Sadie King. First of all she bloody accuses me of going at it with Matthew, then rings up and ruins everything for me."

"She accused you of sleeping with Matthew?" Chas asked, struggling to keep up.

"Yeah, today." Charity said, taking a moment to calm down. "We were outside, and I was taking the letters and stuff from him when he let a package fall. We both bent down to get it, bumped our heads and who is there only Lady bloomin King herself. Then later she said how she didn't want me going after her brother in law, or her father in law."

"And nothing is going on between you and Matthew?"

"No, there bloomin ain't. If you don't believe me, then..."

"Calm down. It's just you two did look very cosy in the pub having lunch d'other day."

"She has a point." Syd said, from the doorway. He had a couple of mugs of tea in his hand. He walked over and gave one to Chas.

"There is nothing going on between me and Matthew King." Charity shouted.

"I never said there was, but you must like him judging by your reaction, cous."

Charity rolled her eyes. Maybe she did like Matthew, but there was no way she was going to admit it to Chas or Syd.

[eithne]

Part 4

Over at Victoria Cottage Paul had just arrived home, after walking around for hours.

"Paul, where were you. I've been worried sick." Siobhan said, jumping up.

"I need to know, what is wrong with you recently. Is it me?"

"Paul, there's nothing wrong. You are going crazy. I'm fine."

"Are you sick of me? I can change, I really can. Come here." He said, pulling Siobhan closer and attempting to kiss her. She realised that he'd been drinking, pretty heavily by the stench of his breath.

"Ger off me." She shouted, and pushed him away. "You can sleep down here tonight, because you ain't sleeping next to me smelling like that. Goodnight" She walked into the kitchen and up the stairs.

"Siobhy, please." Paul shouted after her. He then lay down on the sofa, and drifted to sleep.

Upstairs Siobhan was still awake. Her mind was racing. Did he know something? He couldn't, could he? How, who had told him?

She reached out and picked up her mobile, which she had beside the bed in case of an emergency. She then punched in a number, and it started to ring.

"Hey, it's me. Sorry to ring you so late, it's just I think he knows about us." She said, referring to the affair she'd been having.

[eithne]

Part 5

The following lunchtime, the men going on the trip to Amsterdam met in the Woolpack, to talk about what they'd be getting up to.

"Look at them. They make me sick." Chloe said to Chas.

"Your just jealous love. Worried that they won't be impressed by what little you've got to offer after they see those girls from Holland?"

"You'd know all about strippers wouldn't you. Seeing as you were one." Chloe replied, bitchily.

"Nothing wrong with being a stripper. Better than chasing after anything on two legs, a bit like yourself Chloe love." Chas said, before walking away leaving Chloe fuming. "Right boys, what can I get you?"

"I'm alright thanks Chas." Syd said.

"What about you Scott?"

"I'm fine." He said, slightly angrily. He still was wary of Chas, after she lured him into a trap set by the Dingle's a few months back. That had really humiliated him.

He turned to Syd, Andy, Robert, Paul and the other men going on the trip and smiled. "Look what I got." Syd reached out and started reading it. "I got it of the computer at the cafe. It's a list of some of the best clubs to go to over there."

"What'd your mother have to say about that? Naughty boy, little Scotty." Chloe said, overhearing. She shook her hear, and laughed before turning back around. Some of the men laughed at Chloe's joke.

Charity walked into the pub, in a terrible mood again.

"What is it now?" Chas asked, walking over to her cousin.

"That interferring cow's been at it again. She accidentaly canceled mine and Tom's reservation for that new Italian in Leeds. And then organised for some friends of the family to come over to dinner tonight."

"So, why don't you go to that."

"Tom doesn't think it would be a good idea, after what happened before. She's done this delibritley. Cow."

"I've got to hand it to her. She's sure giving you a run for your money. With her at every turn, getting Tom into your bed mightn't be that easy."

"Keep your voice down will you." Charity said, looking over and noticing a disapproving glare from Edna.

"Problem Edna?" Charity said.

"I most certainly have, with the talk of you young people." Edna said, before storming out of the pub disgusted by the lewd behaviour of the two Dingles.

Charity and Chas both laughed, but Charity was deep in thought. Maybe there was another way of getting her hands on the King fortune, without too much trouble.

"So we leave Thursday, arrive back Sunday night. That right." Syd said.

Scott nodded. "Yeah, here's to Amsterdam." He said, raising his glass. Paul, Syd, Andy and Robert raised their glasses in agreement.

[eithne]

Part 6

"Who was that dad?" Matthew King asked his father, puzzled by the sudden worried look on his fathers face.

"Jarvis Skelton. Apparently there's trouble down at the yard. I better get over there now, before things get any worse." Tom answered.

"Do you want me to go with you?" Sadie asked, before Charity could speak.

"I don't know. It'll probably be fine."

"Okay then." Sadie said.

"No, you should go Sadie. You are able to handle situations like these very well, aren't you. I'm sure you'll be able to charm all the workers into doing anything you wanted if you put your mind to it." Charity said, with a sly smile.

"She has a point. You are pretty charming." Tom said, as Sadie helped him with his coat. "Maybe you should come." Sadie looked at Charity, curious at Charity's sudden change.

"Okay then." She said.

"I best stay here. Hold the fort." Charity said, smiling up at Tom. "Here, let me." She said reaching over his desk, and picking his briefcase, before turning around and handing it to him. "Wait." She said, reaching out and straightning out his coat. "There you go."

"Thanks." He said, turning around and walking out the door. Sadie look at Charity for a short moment, before following Tom out the door.

"So, it looks like it's just me and you then Matthew." Charity said, a smile appearing on her face.

"Yeah." Matthew said, looking over various reciepts and accounts.

"Are you okay? You seem a bit edgy or something today." Charity said.

"I'm just tired. I didn't get much sleep last night."

"What? Was someone keeping you awake?" Charity asked.

"No." Matthew said, quickly. "I had a terrible headache, and pain in the back of my neck."

"Oh, you poor thing. Is it still there? How about I give it a massage?" Charity said. Before Matthew could reply, she was standing behind him, gently massaging the back of his neck.

"That's nice." He said, enjoying the relaxing massage. "That's very nice."

"As you can see, I'm good with my hands." Charity said. She continued with the massage for a short while, before letting her hands move towards his head. She again started to massage it. "Feels good, don't it?"

"Yeah." Matthew said.

"Oh, we better get back to work." Charity suddenly said, taking her hands away from Matthew's head.

"We should, yeah." He said. She sat on his desk.

"So have you got much more to do?" She reached out and put her hand on his, and looked over what he was doing.

"Yes, quite a bit."

"You're so smart. I wish I was as good at figures as you were." She leaned in towards him, and gently kissed Matthew on the lips. It was a slow kiss, yet passionate. Matthew realised he was kissing his father's girlfriend, and after a moment pushed Charity away.

"I can't."

"Why not?" Charity asked, slightly surprised. Matthew stood up and walked away from his desk.

"You're my dad's girlfriend. I can't hurt him like that, knowing how close he is to you." He said, after a pause. He then walked out the door. Charity went after him.

"Matthew, I'm sorry. I just am finding this all so hard, so difficult. I don't know which of you I like more. You father is witty and charming, but your so..." She said, trailing off. She again leaned in to kiss him, but this time was interuppted by Chas.

"I'm sorry. I just came to see if Carl were around. The front door was open. But if now ain't a good time, then I can come back."

"No it ain't the best of times Chas." Charity said.

"I'll just go and get the rest of the reciepts from the haulage yard out of dad's car." Matthew said. He quickly left.

"Well, it don't take you long do it Char?" Chas said, just after he left the room. Charity watched him go, cursing Chas for interuppting them. Outside Matthew was thinking of his father, and how much that kiss would hurt him, and someone else that Matthew loved as well.

(Sorry it's going in the same direction as some other stories, but that'll change as the story progresses. Please, please, please let me know what you think!)

[gemini16]

Is Matthew mad?!
I'm afraid I'm not a Charity lover, but I've got to say its a great script!
Please post more soon.
Love Clair.

P.S. Could you please read Love me Forever pt 5 and tell me what you think. I t would mean alot. Thanks!

[alexcase]

sweet, I am a charity fan so yes, its cool.

[physco]

It's good, but... It would b interesting if u worked more on the Marsden storyline and Andy and Rob, like how they would get on in the trip... Im really interested about who Siohban is having the affair with...

[eithne]

Well as the stories are all sort of intertwined, it's all going to be revealed soon.

Glad you all like it though.

[eithne]

Well as the stories are all sort of intertwined, it's all going to be revealed soon.

Glad you all like it though.

[eithne]

Part 7

"There's the last of my stuff." Syd said, putting his third suitcase into the boot of the minibus, hired to bring the men from the village to the airport.

"You sure travel light don't you?" Chas said, smiling at Syd.

A large crowd of girlfriends and wives were gathered around the men, ready to wave them off.

"Is everyone here?" Scott asked.

"No Paul." Robert answered.

"Anyone know where he is?" Scott asked. Nobody seemed to know.

"No, maybe Siobhan is giving him a farewell present." Someone said.

Inside Victoria Cottage Paul was pretty disorganised. He closed his suitcase and carried it out the door.

"Have you got everything?" Siobhan asked.

"Yes, I do." He answered. "You've got the contact numbers and everything, ain't you?"

"Yes, yes. Now go on before you miss your bus." Siobhan said. They both walked out the door, without noticing Paul's passport wedged at the side of the sofa.

Outside Scott looked up to see Paul approaching the bus.

"Sorry, had to do some last minute packing." Paul said.

"Well your ere now." Scott said, still obviously unhappy. He'd planned everything so it'd be the best lad's weekend ever, yet stuff was already going wrong.

The guys started to say their final goodbyes. Viv gave Scott a hug, while Bob and Donna looked on and smiled. Chloe was in the background, standing with Edna who was shuddering at the thought of what the men would get up to, as she held Tootsie.

"At least Len Reynolds isn't going. I just dread to think what those hooligans will be doing this weekend."

"Are you not over there, saying goodbye to Syd and Scott Chloe love?" Len asked, as he joined the two women.

"As if they'd want me over there. They hate me, and I don't know what for." Chloe said, overdramatising what she said. "Sometimes I think maybe I should leave this village, start anew somewhere else."

Siobhan threw her arms around Paul, as they too said goodbye. He leaned forward to give her a goodbye kiss, but she turned away. "So ladies, what'll we do this weekend with all the men gone eh?"

"Oh, I've got plenty planned pet. I'm sure we'll occupy ourselves somehow." Diane said, with a sly smile.

The men began to board the minibus. Scott sat in behind the wheel, and turned on the ignition. Syd sat in beside him, with the rest of the men in the back. They closed over the doors, and began to leave the village.

Andy took out a six pack and offered it around to the men, though Paul was deep in thought as he refused the alcohol.

[eithne]

Part 8

Siobhan walked back through the doors of her and Paul's house. She was deep in thought, over her secret lover. She still loved Paul, but they still had problems following on from last year's events. She knew he still hadn't fully forgiven her for everything that had happened. A part of him still hated her for killing his child, as he saw it. That was what had started the affair. But also around the man who she was having the affair with, Siobhan felt relaxed. She knew she was in love with this man.

She was taken away from her thoughts as the doorbell rang. She jumped slightly, before turning around and walking towards it. She pulled it open, and wasn't surprised by who she saw there.

"I suppose you best come in." She said, smiling slightly at the man she'd been having the affair with.

[SheWolf]

I was going to bed before I started reading

but I couldn't turn the computer off

[sootycat]

Is he going to come back and catch her. ;D

[eithne]

Part 9

"I have to go back. I've forgotten my passport."

"What?"

"I must have left it down somewhere."

"Where?" Scott asked.

Paul thought back. "It's on the sofa, back at home."

"You'll probably make it, if you go back there now. We're early enough for check in, anyway."

"Yeah, but how will I get back?"

"Get a taxi. There's a stop outside."

"Right. I'm going."

Andy, Robert and Syd were sat nearby. Andy smiled as he noticed a young blonde woman heading towards him. She had a bit of a resemblence towards Katie. Syd spotted Paul leaving, and stood up before walking towards Scott. The woman noticed Andy and Robert and smiled at them. She walked over to them.

"Is there anybody sitting here?" She asked.

"No." Robert and Andy answered together.

The woman sat between the two boys, and smiled. She pulled at her mini skirt, and swung back her hair. She noticed the two Sugden boys staring at her.

"So where are the two of you heading?" She asked.

"Amsterdam." They answered together, again.

"You two really have to stop doing that."

"Yeah, we will." Robert and Andy glared at each other.

"So Amsterdam?"

"Yeah, just a quick weekend break." Andy answered.

"Oh, really."

"So, where you headed?" Robert asked, before Andy could reply.

"Oh, me? I'm heading to France."

"On business?" Andy asked, moving slightly closer to the girl.

"No, pleasure."

"Pleasure eh?" Robert asked.

"Yes, pleasure."

"So...?" Andy asked.

"Oh, I better go. There's some friends." The girl said. She stood up and walked towards a group of people.

"Now look what you've done."

"What I've done?" Andy asked. "It was all you. You were the one who stole my wife, and then caused her to leave the village for good."

Syd turned around and noticed the brothers raised voices. He looked up and saw a pretty blonde girl kissing a dark haired man, something which neither Andy or Robert noticed.

[eithne]

Part 10

"So where is Matthew today then?" Chas asked her cousin, crossing the street from the shop with a bottle of milk in her hand for the Woolpack.

"He's been avoiding me since the kiss, thanks to you."

"What?"

"He's probably worried that you'll tell his father."

"I thought that was all over."

"Well..."

"Hey, isn't that Paul?" Chas said, interuppting Charity. Charity noticed that one of Chas's skills seemed to be interuppting her in different things. "Wonder why he's back."

Paul Marsden jumped out of his taxi.

"Wait here, I'll be back in a minute." He told the taxi driver.

"Right mate."

Paul ran towards the gate of Victoria Cottage.

"Everything okay?" Chas shouted down the street at him.

"Yeah, fine. I just forgot my passport." Paul answered.

"Oh, right. See you when you get back then." Chas answered.

"I better go." Charity said. "Matthew will probably be back now. I want to talk to him about the kiss."

"Good luck." Chas replied.

"With what?" Sadie King asked, emerging from the shop.

"None of your business, love." Chas smiled before walking away. Charity laughed, as Sadie looked pretty annoyed. Sadie noticed Charity laughing.

"Shouldn't you be getting back to work, to continue trying to get into my father in law's bed?"

"I'm already in it Sadie. Haven't you noticed?"

[eithne]

Part 11

Paul ran through the front door of Victoria Cottage, but stopped as he heard voices in the next room. He listened, barely breathing. Are there robbers? He asked himself. But this proved to be untrue, as he heard Siobhan's voice. There was a man's voice, then silence.

He pushed open the door and walked into the room. He looked around the room and was shocked by what he saw.

"Paul!" Siobhan said.

"No..." He said, shocked by what he saw. Siobhan was lying back on the sofa with a man on her. A man Paul had thought was one of his friends. They'd been kissing passionately before Paul had arrived in the room.

Matthew King got up off Siobhan, as Paul shook his head in amazement. He couldn't believe that Siobhan had destroyed everything like this. Paul turned around and walked out the door.

[eithne]

What did you all think of that? Shocked? Or did you know all along (of course you did, yeaaahhhhh!;D)? Please let me know what you think!

My Comments:

Part 9: You wanted more Andy and Robert? Well you got it. A bit of comedy before what comes next.

Part 10: A red herring of sorts eh? Nice to see Sadie and Charity's friendship growing.

Part 11: Well?

(PS SheWolf: Wow, I've never kept anyone up with my stories before. Stop I tell you, I don't want to be blamed for you falling asleep tomorrow in front of your screen!)

[sootycat]

Can't wait for the next instalment.

[SheWolf]

/Me is waiting patiently ;D

[eithne]

Sorry I haven't written any more of this recently. I've got another story I'm working on. When that's done, and I mean done, I'll go back to working on my main three stories (Emmerdale - Secrets, Corrie - Sally's Nightmare and Eastenders - Lies of a Hooker).

[eithne]

Okay, at last there is some more Secrets. I've changed my original plans for the story slightly, but hopefully these changes will make it more interesting and keep you all reading.

Below is a quick recap of what has been happening, as time has moved forward almost a month.


A recap:

Three and a half weeks have passed, and Paul has been staying with his parents. Siobhan has tried contacting her husband, but Frances has always refused to listen. Matthew and Siobhan have finished, as she has realised that she can't continue it without sorting everything out with Paul.

Elsewhere Bob and Viv got a phone call from Jean, his son was involved in a scooter crash in Spain, and is in a coma. They flew out the next day, with Dawn and TJ, and haven't returned yet as the young man fights for his life.

The weekend away went well for some, especially Scott and Syd. Scott returned to the village with an eighteen year old French brunette, who he managed to get sacked from her job as a 'dancer' in Amsterdam. She's always wanted to visit Britain and this gave her the perfect oppurtunity. She and Scott are good friends, but he's been finding it difficult being just friends as she is religious. This means that she even has something in common with Edna Birch.

Working temporarily in the Woolpack, she's impressed not just Edna and Scott, but everyone else in the village too. Carl has been finding her rather interesting, which isn't making Chas very happy.

For Andy and Robert things have improved - a little. They are just about talking, and aren't always arguing now. This has definitley cheered Jack up.

And now Secrets continues...

[eithne]

Part 12

"Morning Drea." Carl King said, smiling as he passed the petite French brunette, who was recently arrived in the village.

Andrea smiled back, as she picked up the glasses outside the Woolpack. "Morning Carl, how are you?" She asked, in her broad French accent.

"Not too bad." He answered, noticing every move the girl made. She walked inside, and as he looked up he, noticed Chas walking towards him looking angry about something.

"Carl, keep your eyes off her right."

"What?"

"I saw you, all over Andrea there just now. I'm the one your going out with, not her."

"I wasn't. I was just being friendly."

"I bet you were."

Across the street, outside the shop, Chloe was smiling to herself, knowing that maybe she could soon do a Charity, and get her hands on some of the King fortune if this continued. Maybe some fun could be had in breaking Chas and Carl up.

Chloe turned and walked down Emmerdale's Main Street, towards the antiques barn. As she walked, a car pulled up, just outside Victoria Cottage. Three familiar faces all got out and looked around.

[eithne]

Part 13

Meanwhile the sun was shining down as Tom, Sadie and Matthew sat down outside, around the large wooden table. Tom and Sadie were discussing business as Matthew sat silently, deep in thought. Damon lay at Sadie's feet.

"Don't you agree son?" Tom asked, turning to Matthew. Tom has yet to realise that Matthew hadn't been listening for quite some time.

"What?" Matt asked, looking up at his father and sister in law. Tom sighed.

"You are thinking about Siobhan aren't you?" He asked.

"How did you know?" Tom asked.

"It's called being a father. I know these things. Look Matthew, I know she finished it with you last week but maybe you should try talking to her again."

"I don't think she wants to listen Dad."

"Well make her listen." Tom said, but before he could give anymore paternal advice a mobile phone interuppted. He looked down at his. Charity's name appeared. "I better get this." He said, before standing up and walking away, phone in hand.

"Matthew, darling, are you sure that you and Siobhan really are meant to be together."

"What?"

"Well think about it. She's only a nurse. Is she really good enough for you? Look at how well you and my friend Annette got on. She really liked you, and she was accountant."

"Why don't you or dad understand about Siobhan? I love her. Oh, and for your information Annette didn't like me and I didn't like her at all. She only said she liked me to get you off her back Sadie. Amazing how time changes people isn't it. Once lowly secetary, now thinks she owns this place - and me. You may think you can interfere in Dad and Jimmy's lives, but you can stay out of mine."

And with that outburst Matthew stormed off towards his car, desperate to win Siobhan back.

[eithne]

Part 14

Siobhan opened the door, with a smile. She was happy to see the tall, dark haired man before her.

"You came then."

"I'm here to collect my stuff." Paul said, trying to push past his wife. He walked past, and Siobhan looked out and spotted Frances standing there, Ronnie by her side. She stared at Siobhan, the hatred obvious in her stare.

"Frances, Ronnie?"

"Oh yeah, they're here to help me get everything together." Paul said.

"You are leaving for good?"

"Yeah, I am." Paul answered. He walked into the living room, leaving Siobhan holding the front door. Frances walked up towards it, passing her daughter in law as she entered the house. There was nothing, but silence, between the two women. Ronnie, behind, only turned his head slightly as he passed Siobhan. She sighed, before turning around and walking inside.

Just as Siobhan closed over the door, Matthew King sped down the street in his rather new, top of the range car. He was desperate to change things between himself and Siobhan - no matter what.