Chapter Text
Aaron parked outside the Mill with a sigh. It was late, but he’d felt like he had to come home because it was his mothers birthday tomorrow. They got on better than they ever had before, and he didn’t want to do anything to wreck it, even if she’d have said it was fine, Aaron missing her big day. He hadn’t seen her for months anyway, been busy filming, and he did miss her.
He got out of the car and unlocked the house, feeling empty and hollow. He loved this house, it felt so good to actually own somewhere after having… well, a rocky childhood to say the least but there was a part of him that missed the busyness of Manchester whenever he was in the village. Though sometimes it was nice to get away from it all.
God, there was a thick layer of dust through the house, maybe he should have got the cleaners in every once in a while. Yeah, he’d remember that for next time. He threw his keys on the side, kicked his shoes off, then went to bed. He’d been driving ages, and he was knackered. He’d check in with his mum tomorrow.
Aaron knocked once on the back door of the Woolpack, then walked in to find Chas with a cup of coffee sitting at the kitchen table.
“Happy birthday mum,” Aaron said, giving Chas a hug hello. She was beaming, pleased to have Aaron home for a little bit.
“Oh, it’s so good to see you!” she said, pulling back from him. “Are you home for long?”
“A few weeks,” Aaron said. “Got some time off from the show.”
“That’s great!” she said, way too enthusiastically and Aaron’s eyes narrowed at her.
“Why is it great?” Aaron asked, making himself a brew while Chas scrambled over her words.
“Well…” she said. “I see things in the papers and I just thought…”
“No,” Aaron said instantly.
“You don’t know what I’m going to say yet!” she snapped.
“You’re not setting me up with someone,” Aaron said. “Am I close?”
“No!” she said. Aaron looked at her, waiting. “Okay, yeah, you are kind of close. I just see all those pictures of you with different men all the time and I thought… it might be nice if you had someone to settle down with?”
“Mum, I’m in my twenties,” Aaron said with a slight smile. “I’m in no rush, I don’t want to settle down. Ever occurred to you that when you see those pictures it’s because it’s exactly what I want to do?”
Chas didn’t say anything and Aaron felt grateful. Maybe, just maybe she’d let the subject drop. She wasn’t wrong, Aaron did go out with a different man each week, but he liked it that way. Forming attachments, relationships, it didn’t work for him. Better to stay single and occasionally go out to find what he wanted for a night. It suited him just fine anyway.
“Got you a present,” Aaron said, shoving an envelope in her direction.
“Oh, you didn’t have to get me anything!” she said, though her face said something different as she opened the card.
“Concert tickets?” she asked as they fell out onto the table.
“Yeah,” Aaron said. “I have got the right guy, haven’t I?” Aaron didn’t pay that much attention to music, he was usually way too busy with filming. But even he’d heard of Robert Sugden, and his tour was apparently the show to see at the moment.
“That’s amazing,” Chas said, smiling at Aaron. “Thanks love. Will you come with me?”
“No ta,” Aaron said. “I’ll be busy.”
“Please,” she said. “I’d like to go with you, and you gave me two tickets, so…”
“I’ll think about it,” Aaron said. “See what my schedules like nearer the time.”
“Thank you,” she said. “I bet they were expensive to get.”
“Er… a little,” Aaron said. The truth was he’d basically asked his agent to get them, because it was easier, but he wouldn’t tell his mum that.
“He’s from around here, you know,” Chas said.
“Is he?” Aaron asked, trying to feign interest.
“Yeah. Owns Home Farm but it’s been empty for years. He doesn't live here.” Aaron tuned out as she started on the gossip of the famous singer, because he didn’t overly care, but anything that made her happy was fine with him.
Robert woke up to his phone ringing, and it was either his manager or his wife. Both would be a conversation he didn’t want to have because he didn’t fancy the yelling. It turned out it was his manager, the lesser of two evils. “Yeah?” Robert said, trying to force his brain to full alertness.
“Robert, are you awake?”
“I am now,” he grumbled. “What do you want?”
“I’ve had er… Chrissie calling me.”
“Oh, perfect, what does she want now?”
“More money for a divorce,” Jonathan said. “Is basically what it comes down to I think.”
“She isn’t getting more money,” Robert said. “She’s got more than enough out of me, why won’t she sign the papers.” He rubbed a hand over his face in agitation. “Wait, why are you calling me instead of my lawyer?”
“Because she says if she doesn’t get it, she’s going to the press. We can’t have that Robert.”
“I know,” Robert said. He sighed again. “I’ll have a shower, get dressed then see if she wants to talk to me.”
“If she talks to the press, it’s all over for you.”
“Not all over,” Robert said fairly.
“You can’t present a wholesome family friendly image, someone kids go to see play when it gets reported you were having it off with your wife's sister,” Jonathan said and Robert knew he had a point.
“I’ll talk to her,” Robert said. “She’s not unreasonable, I can talk her down.”
“I’m not trying to tell you what to do,” he said. “It depends what your reputations worth to you.”
“I’ll call Chrissie.” He hung up then groaned. Another perfect start to the day.
“Aaron, I’m going to need a favour.”
“You said I was off work,” Aaron reminded his boss.
“Yes, I know, but…” the producer sighed. “Leyla’s had a family emergency so she can’t do the interview on the talk show, so we were wondering if…”
“No,” Aaron said.
“Come on, I know it’s short notice, but you’d be doing me a massive favour.”
“But you know all they’re going to do is ask me questions about being gay,” Aaron said. “It won’t be about the show at all.”
“You can handle yourself,” he said. “We’ve got faith in you.”
Aaron sighed, but knew he couldn’t rightfully refuse. It was his job after all. “London?”
“Thank you,” he said, clearly grateful. “We’ll put you up in a five star hotel on expenses.”
“Mm,” Aaron said. “Just text me when and where and I’ll be there.”
“We really appreciate this,” he said. “I know it’s difficult, but it’ll be fine. You just need to advertise the show.”
“I’ll do my best,” Aaron said. “The mini bar better be good.”
“Thanks Aaron.” Aaron hung up the phone and then wondered how well his mum would take it that he was leaving the village after only two days back home. Or maybe he wouldn’t tell her and she wouldn’t notice. He’d only be gone a day at most. Aaron went through his wardrobe looking for something half decent to wear. This was not the start to his holiday he’d anticipated.