Chapter Text
Tuesday 11th April 2000
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“Shutters going up!” Tony shouted as Jean and Twinkle pushed up the shutters.
“Hiya, Jane.” Bren smiled from the toaster, “Twelve rounds of white?”
“Low-fat spread.” Jane pointed with a wink, “What’s happening today then? What’s the chat in kitchen?”
“Jean’s got her engagement ring.” Dolly pointed.
“Oooh! Let’s have a look, Jean!” Jane beamed. Jean produced her left hand, showing the sapphire engagement ring with small diamonds around it, “Wow! That’s a corker!”
“Yeah. He’s done himself proud.” Jean nodded, “Who knew Stan Meadowcroft would be such a romantic? It’s even better than my first one. Exactly what I wanted.”
“It is very you, Jean.” Anita nodded.
“Whatta man eh?” Jane laughed, “You better watch, Bren. Jean and Stan are coming for you and Tony’s place as HWD Components hottest power couple.”
“Well, hopefully it stays that way and we’re Scotland’s power couple.” Bren giggled.
“Have you heard anything else about the house, Bren?” Twinkle asked.
“Not yet.” Bren shrugged. It wasn’t something she really wanted to discuss because she already had so much stress in her life recently. Of course she was the one that brought up Scotland in the first place. Stupid Brenda, “It’s been a bit of time but of course, my brain’s been on overdrive recently.”
“You’ll find something, Bren. Even if it’s not that house.” Dolly looked at her.
“What was the house like, Bren?” Jane asked.
“It was a big cottage. Just down the road from the B&B. It’d be perfect for us.” Bren smiled.
“Hey, Bren.” Tony walked over with the bacon tray,
“Pass that to Jean, will ya?”
“A big cottage you put an offer in, Bren’s saying.” Jane said as Bren passed the bacon tray to Jean, “Must be a good ‘un.”
“Oh yeah. It’s beautiful. Got me and Bren’s names on it, eh, matey?” Tony put his arm around Bren, giving her a squeeze, “As soon as we’ve got it, we’re out of here.”
“Yeah, well, you need to be away soon.” Jane widened her eyes, “When’s the canteen closing again?”
“First of June.” Twinkle screwed up her face.
“It’s so fast eh? Shocking really.” Jane shook her head.
“Yeah.” Bren said softly before passing the last of the toast to Jane.
“Cheers, Bren!” Jane smiled and she scuttled off to talk to the lot from Packing.
“You alright?” Tony asked Bren quietly when she returned to the toaster.
“Yeah.” Bren nodded but she felt nervous and she wasn’t sure how good she was at hiding it.
“I’ll call the estate agent when we get home, alright?” Tony suggested, “Chase ‘em up eh?”
“Okay.” Bren gave him a small smile.
“Right.” Tony nodded, “I’m gonna have a fag.”
Bren nodded as he leaned in, pressing a kiss onto her cheek. She watched him go off to the fire escape, shutting the door behind him before anyone could remind him. She took a deep breath. She knew things took time but it felt like it was taking ages.
“Can I get a brew please?” Philippa said as she moved in the queue, dipping into her penny purse for cash.
“Which one?” Jean asked.
“Sorry?” Philippa looked up.
“Do you want tea or coffee?” Jean asked.
“Oh, tea please.” Philippa laughed nervously, “Sorry.”
“Bren, does anyone famous live in Scotland?” Twinkle asked as she walked around the corner, going to grab more bread rolls.
“Yeah, course there is. Billy Connolly obviously and Paul McCartney. All the people from Take The High Road.” Bren told her, “I don’t think it’ll be teaming with loads of celebrities or anything.”
“What about Bruce whatshisname? Bruce um?” Anita asked.
“Bruce Willis?” Bren frowned, “I don’t think he’s living in Scotland, Anita.”
“No, I don’t mean him. Bruce The Robert!” Anita pointed with a grin, “Him. That’s who I mean.”
“Robert The Bruce, Anita.” Twinkle corrected her, catching an eye with Bren.
“He’s been dead years, Anita.” Jean told her.
“Oh right.” Anita said.
“I think that for my retirement party, we should have a selection of wines. Can you arrange that, Philippa? Maybe charcuterie boards too.” Dolly suggested.
“What’s that got to do with Robert The Bruce?” Jean screwed up her face.
“Oh here we go. Conversation policing again. I’m so sorry that every conversation does not link up.” Dolly rolled her eyes before turning back to Philippa, “What do you think, Philippa? Can I do that?”
“I guess but -.” Philippa went to say.
“You’re not the Queen! You can’t have charcuterie boards at your retirement party.” Jean put her hands on her hips, “You need to have something more accessible.”
“Like what?” Dolly scoffed.
“Drumsticks.” Twinkle said in response.
“I really like those picky things. What are they called?” Anita asked before remembering, “Gobstoppers!”
“She’s on a roll, i’nt she?” Jean said under her breath to Dolly.
“Is there a brew going?” Stan came inside from the fire escape. He started taking off his gloves as the telephone started to ring in the office, “April and it’s still absolutely brass monkeys out there.”
“Stan, can you give Tony a shout! Tell him the phone’s going.” Bren shouted to Stan. Stan went back out to get Tony before the two men both came in, the door getting shut behind them.
“Anita? How’s the baby?” Philippa asked at the half door. The girls returned to their stations whilst Jean poured Stan a brew. Tony went into the office, answering the phone.
“He’s lovely! He’s had a bit of a growth spurt so he’s now in all of his new clothes.” Anita beamed, “Dolly and I are actually going to go into town to get some more for him.”
“Aww, lovely.” Philippa smiled, “They grow up so fast, don’t they?”
“They really do. It feels like just yesterday that Stephen was starting primary school.” Dolly smiled before giving Anita a gentle nudge, “Although, Anita’s lad is bringing it all back to me. He’s just great.”
“He is lovely.” Philippa nodded, “Cutest baby I’ve seen.”
“Would you have babies, Philippa?” Anita asked.
“Oh no. I like babies but not for me.” Philippa explained, “Takes a special type of person to have a child.”
“Oh yes. I think that’s why me and Bob have been so blessed with our Stephen.” Dolly held her chest with a smile. Jean rolled her eyes overhearing the conversation.
“Bren?” Tony said, standing at the office door. Bren looked at him and he smiled brightly, “We’ve got it.”
“What?” Bren asked. She wasn’t sure what he was on about. Her head felt like it was going to mush these days.
“The cottage, they accepted our offer.” Tony stepped forward with a wide grin.
“What? Are you serious?” Bren turned to face him. Her heart was beating fast in her chest.
“Yeah! That was the estate agent the now. He said they’re happy to take the offer.” Tony explained.
“Oh my God!” Bren jumped on the spot before rushing up to hug him. Tony held her tightly as he laughed, lifting her up from the ground, “This is brilliant!”
“I know.” Tony beamed down at her, “Going to Scotland eh?”
“What’s this?” Jean asked, walking around the side with Stan as the girls on the other side listened in.
“That was the estate agent on the phone.” Tony turned, his arm around Bren, “They’ve accepted an offer on the house.”
“Oh fantastic!” Dolly clapped her hands together.
“That’s lovely! I’m really happy for the both of you.” Jean grinned before looking at Bren, “And you were worried for nothing!”
“Yeah!” Twinkle nodded as she stepped forward, “You can have us all staying there.”
“Jokes on you.” Tony said, “That’s what the B&B is for.”
“When are you gonna head down then?” Dolly asked.
“Not sure.” Tony looked down at Bren, “Need to get it all sorted. Moving everything up eh?”
“Yeah, we do.” Bren smiled.
“Have you got no bacon?” Bob asked from the other side of the counter.
“You can see the bacon right there.” Twinkle pointed.
“Yeah, but no one’s serving it.” Bob reminded them, “D’you want me to do it myself or are you doing it?”
Twinkle, Anita and Dolly returned to their work at the counter whilst Jean and Stan were stood at the boiler. Philippa went to sit down at one of the tables with Tom. Bren and Tony looked at one another.
“Well, what d’you think?” Tony asked her quietly.
“I think it’s perfect.” Bren looked at him, her hand going to his chest, “I can’t believe it.”
“I know.” Tony chuckled, “You’re feeling alright?”
“Yeah, I’m okay.” Bren nodded.
“You’re not getting stressed or anything?” Tony asked.
“Tony, I’ve never felt better.” Bren’s hand moved to the nape of his neck and pressed her lips to his, “We’re doing the right thing.”
“Yeah. Yeah, we are.” Tony smiled brightly.
They brought each other close, kissing each other once more. It wasn’t overly passionate but they started to get carried away. Bren and Tony were a bit too wrapped up in their happy news that it took over them. So they stood there in the canteen, all loved up with their arms wrapped around each other and snogging away.
“You two wanna get a room!” Twinkle screwed up her face.
“Don’t be jealous, Twink.” Tony told her when he broke off the kiss with Bren, “Not everyone can be as wild and free as you.”
“No. They need that time to work on their tonsil tennis training.” Twinkle quipped back, handing a plate over to a customer.
“Please! Thank you!” Dolly tutted at Twinkle.
Bren and Tony giggled before looking at each other. Bren had had so much stuff going on in recent months that it almost didn’t seem likely that they could go to Scotland. The stress of her mother and getting her divorce sorted as well as preparing for Scotland and trying to find the money to do it, it seemed like it was never going to happen. But here they were, able to finally say they were going to Scotland properly. And they were going to their dream home.
It was the life Bren had always wanted. A beautiful home and a handsome man who loved and cared for her like his life depended on it. There were no children in the picture but maybe one day, they could find a way. In whatever way it went, it was meant to be for them. Children or no children. And finally, her mother was off her back. Bren had never wished for anyone to die, let alone her mother but she could relax. Bren didn’t have to worry about Petula swanning in, causing havoc and disappearing again, unsure of when she was going to come back. Bren was finally settled in her life, even if it took all this time. It was all worth it.
“I love you.” Bren told Tony. And she did. She loved him more than anything in this world.
“I love you too.” Tony replied. And he did. More than anything in this world.
They kissed once more, this time just a peck before Tony went off to check on how the girls were getting on at the counter. Bren returned to her station at the toaster, totally in her own world. Bren had learned to finally let go of all the things that were holding her back. And even though it would be a stressful time with them still trying to sort out Petula’s will and her caravan as well as moving to Scotland, Bren didn’t mind. Because she was finally happy. Truly happy.
“Bren!” Jean exclaimed, snapping Bren out of her thoughts.
“Yeah?” Bren turned to face Jean who was now at the till.
“Any toast going?” A customer called over the counter.
“Yeah, sorry.” Bren moved quickly, putting toast into the replacement toaster they got a couple of weeks ago. It was meant to do them until the canteen was to close but it wasn’t up to much, “Toast coming right up!”
Even as she buttered toast in her dead-end job that was now even more dead since the canteen was now being closed, Bren didn’t mind. As she caught Tony’s eye as he passed her, giving her a wink and a smile, Bren realised that her life had only just began.