Ian wakes up to hear a woman’s voice asking if he’s there. He jumps out of bed, realizing it’s Clare. Jane opens the door to let Clare in. Clare apologizes to Jane and tells her, “I just thought the early bird catches the worm.”
Tanya is sitting at her dressing table and looks at a photo of herself and Max. She takes a deep breath — Oscar coos in the background.
Ian comes running down the stairs. Jane says, “ahh, look here is! The last of the red hot lovers!” Ian’s face is filled with fear. Jane tells him that Clare was just giving him some tips. Jane continues to say that apparently, Clare is an expert in silver service just as he is. Jane says that Clare just couldn’t want to pop in and tell us her napkin ideas for Edwards event, not even for business hours. Ian says that he forgot to mention that they were discussing it the other day and meant to mention it. Jane tells him she bet he did. Jane tells Clare that they really must get a move on. Clare says it’s no problem as she’s got a big day as she’s being taken out for dinner. Clare turns to look at Ian and smiles at him. Clare leaves, and Jane calls the kids down for breakfast.
Jane turns to Ian and tells him she’s checked that the kids could stay over with mates, and Christian is going to babysit Bobby. Ian is shocked. Jane says, “you know for the meal and overnight stay? You are still up for it, aren’t you? It has been a while.” Ian gets himself together and tells Jane, of course, he’s up for it. He tells her that after his run, he’s a bit sore and doesn’t even know if he’s up for the caff. Jane volunteers to cover things for him.
Lauren and Abi are discussing their DadDad when Tanya walks in. They stop talking about him. Tanya tells the girls that he is their DadDad, and they are allowed to love him and talk about him. Tanya tells the girls she wants them to be able to talk about their feelings and all without being afraid of hurting her feelings. She tells Abi she knows their DadDad is fun, that’s why she married him. Tanya says she misses that part. Tanya tells Abi she probably shouldn’t tell him the part about missing the fun. Abi smiles
Mo and Jean catch Charlie in the act of going for his hidden treats. He tells them he was only going to get the bucket to wash the car. He dumps the biscuits out on the table. He tells them it’s a good exercise, isn’t it? Mo reminds him that half of Walford is waiting on his next weigh-in. He heads out to wash the cab. Mo looks at Jean and says there must be a woman out there somewhere for him? Mo says her mate Til is going to help her find him a mate.
Abi asks her DadDad if he got the karaoke game. Max says, “Hi, Dad, bye, mum would be nice.” Lauren says she is going to go ahead, so she’s not late for art. Max turns to Tanya and asks her if she wants to join him and Abi on the walk to school? It might do her some good. Tanya tells Max that she’s alright, better not. She asks him if six o’clock is still good for picking up the girls? He lets her know that it is.
Charlie walks past Peggy and apologizes profusely again. Peggy tells him that it is alright. Charlie continues to say he’s sorry. Yolande comes out, and Peggy fills her in about Charlie cupping a handful on accident the night before. Yolande begins to giggle and says, “Poor Charlie!” Peggy gives her a look, and Yolande immediately says, “and poor you, of course!” Yolande tells Peggy what she means is that Charlie has given up so much recently that he could probably do with a boost!
Dawn is walking briskly behind Jay to try to keep up with him. He finally slows down, and she asks him if she should walk him to the bus stop. She tells him she promised his DadDad she would look after him. Jay stops and says “I was thinking I could start calling you mum, if it’s alright?” Dawn doesn’t know what to say. Jay then tells her he’s just joking because she’s nothing more than one of his Dad’sDad’s latest little girlfriends. Dawn tells him she’s responsible for him, and she promised his DadDad. Dawn tells Jay he better not play her up on Friday. Jay tells her not to worry as he ain’t going! She is fuming and turns the pram around and nearly bumps into Steven.
Steven tells a charity collector he’s skint. Stacey chases after and asks him if he fancies a coffee as she’s freezing her bits off. He tells her he can’t as he’s got to go to the chippy to clean the fryers to make an extra bit of dosh. Steven looks at Stacey and tells her to go on and say it that she said that Paula would clean him out. She tells him what she was going to say was lunch at the Vic. He’s all smiley, and Stacey tells him not to get all mushy as it’s only a pint and a sandwich.
Abi and Max are walking to school. He asks her how her mum is? Abi tells him, “she should not tell him as it might get his hopes up. But she did say she missed having fun with you.” Tanya comes out of the Minut Mart after they pass by. She meets Jane for a bit of a chat. Jane invites her for coffee. Tanya tells Jane to stop worrying about her. Tanya glances Max and Abi’s way and says it’s time to move on as it’s what families do, innit?
Ian comes into the salon, and Clare asks if he’s come for some TLC. Clare sends the client up and chats with Ian. She asks him what time dinner is? Ian tells her he can’t make it. Clare said, “oh, and here’s me thinking you were going to take me away from all of this?” Ian tells her it’s all the event planning, and he’s sorry. Clare says he never gets a break, and here she thought she had it hard. She tells him that you can’t miss what you’ve never had. Ian turns to leave, and she answers the phone.
Tanya gets Oscar inside, parks his pram, and sets off to make his bottle. As she’s opening a bottle of vodka, she hears Sean knock at the door. She lets Sean in, and he asks if she’s alright? She tells him it’s not a good time. He says it’s never a really good time, is it? He wonders what is going on with them. She tells him she doesn’t know. She apologizes and tells him she’s had a rough morning having to take the girls round to Max’s. Tanya offers to make it up later, say around lunchtime. He tells her she’s on and he’s cooking for her. She looks at him, and he tells her he can boil an egg. Tanya shuts the door, puts the cap back on the vodka, and tends to Oscar.
Ian walks into caff, and Christian and Jane give Ian a hard time. Jane tells him it is about time he made it in. Christian teases he probably bumped into Clare. Ian looks like he’s been caught and says, “do what?” Christian teases him and says he just thought she was giving him another brush up on the silver service. Jane laughs and tells Ian she’s told, Christian. Ian looks relieved. Ian asks Christian why he’s still finding his pants all over their house. Christian explains that there is no washer in his flat, and he’s still awaiting a plumber for the leaky tap. Jane says she told Christian he could just toss the laundry in with theirs. She asks Ian if he’ll pop them over to the laundrette. Ian asks if he has to wash his pants? Ian is appalled and says he has work to do. Jane tells Ian that they’ve been managing fine without him all morning. Ian grumpily explains that he is not his skivvy! Jane responds, ” Oh, and I am?” Ian quickly changes his tune. Jane lets Ian know she will pick them up later.
Charlie is in the Minut Mart and is trying to sneak a treat. Yolande comes up to him, and he tells her he grabbed the wrong thing. She teases that she heard he did. Charlie is embarrassed. Yolande explains they have a chart to show his progress. He says to her he’s off to wash the cab and burn a few calories. Yolande tells him she has a better way for him to burn those calories and sweat away the pounds.
Dawn tells Mickey she thought she and Jay would bond more with Jase away, but he actually it’s just an excuse for him to stick his fingers up. Mickey recommends calling Jase and having him talk to Jay. She says no, she’s going to find a way to get him to court on Friday. She calls Jay, and he answers. She asks him where he is (she can see him sitting there), and he tells her he is in school. She looks at him and says, “really.”
Steven says he should have seen it coming. Stacey says it could have been worse. Steven thinks he could have done more. Stacey says she was just a thieving little toe-rag. Stacey offers to get him another pint.
Christian is on the phone when Ian comes in. Ian replies, if it’s not too much trouble, he’d like to know how his business is doing? Christian reminds him, “our business.” Christian says details all the things that are right for Edward’s event. Ian thinks they will net a nice profit until Christian tells him they don’t have a venue. Christian tells Ian that he booked it for the next week. Ian is shocked; he made such a mistake. Ian says he can probably kiss the Queen goodbye then! Christian is sorting it, but Ian says that he should sort it as it’s his date! Jane shoots Ian a look! Ian corrects himself and says, “with the Queen!” Christian and Jane tell Ian they will sort it and for him to stay put. Jane tells Ian she’s not going to miss out on her candlelit meal for anything. They leave, and Clare peaks around and looks at Ian, but he doesn’t see her.
Dawn drags Jay home and gives him a lecture about treating her like a mug. She says she is going to have to tell his DadDad. Jay says “so you’ll make him fly back just to sort me out?” Dawn tells him to say he will come to court! Jay says “NO!” Dawn asks him why not? She thought he would have wanted it to see Tegs get the justice he has coming. She also thought that he wanted to do right by Mrs. Branning. Jay tells her he doesn’t give a toss. Dawn calmly speaks to Jay about it being hard on him having his DadDad away and being scared to go to court. Jay yells that he isn’t scared of Tegs. Dawn tells Jay it must be pretty hard to see Tegs’ mates in school every day. Dawn tells him if we don’t stand up to the bullies, they keep on doing it. She tells him he should do his bit and go to court and be done with it. Jay softens then gets tough again and tells Dawn to shut up about it as she hasn’t got a clue.
Sean tells Tanya he will take her and the kids away. Tanya tells him it’s too risky. She couldn’t take it if Max took her kids. It was hard enough for a couple of days they were with him. Oscar starts to cry. Sean asks Tanya how he can help? She goes to get Oscar.
Stacey is having a laugh with some guys at the bar. Steven comes up and says, “Ok, Babe? Let’s get going.” Stacey has a go at him for sticking his nose in when she was having a laugh. Steven tells Stacey he thought she needed help. Stacey replies he wouldn’t be standing there pot-less if he’d left it well alone with Paula. She walks away. He tells her that he wouldn’t be stood there at all if she hadn’t stuck her nose in it with him. Stacey tells him that it seemed like a good idea at the time.
Tanya comes back to the kitchen. He shows her he can boil an egg, even though she didn’t trust him with it. Tanya looks at Sean and says it’s not going to work with them. She thought she was past, not knowing who she could and couldn’t trust, but Max taught her different. Max spent months thinking up new lies, and there she was swallowing it all. Sean says he thought they were past all of this. She tells him they are not and probably never will be. Sean tells her she can trust him. She tells him she can’t. Sean tells her that he is there for her, not anyone else. Sean tells him he is. He picks up the phone to call Stacey and begins to tell her that he has something to tell her. Tanya stops him. He tells Stacey he’s skint and needs to borrow some money. Stacey tells him, “well, everyone needs something!” She asks Sean where he’s been lately? Sean hangs up the phone.
Stacey sees Steven walking to the caff. Ian asks him what he’s doing? Steven asks him if he can have some extra hours for dosh. Ian is sour because Jane has left him to take care of everything. Steven takes a crack at the poncy event. Ian tells him to get a crack on.
Charlie goes to play tennis with Yolande. He tells her there will be no flirting from him. Yolande tells him that it is good to know. Tel, Mo’s friend, arrives with a box.
Steven is cleaning, and Ian is criticizing him. Ian says if you want something doing, you have to do it yourself. Clare comes in and asks Steven for a bag of assorted pastries. She is surprised to see Ian there as she thought he’d be up to his ears in party preparation. Ian says it’s all running like clockwork. Clare tells him she overheard Jane mention there was a mix up with the venue. Ian tells her it’s all under control as Jane and Christian are handling it. Clare tells Ian she supposes that when a man gets to his position, she imagines it’s important to delegate. Ian agrees and then tells Steven to go clear tables as he’s eavesdropping. Clare tells him if he needs any help, just ask. Ian pays Steven handsomely for his “can-do” attitude.
Sean asks Tanya if it’s all sorted then? She tells him, “yeah, it is.” He leaves, and she soothes Oscar. She tells him, “see everything is going to be alright.”
Ian is sitting with Bobby while he plays cars. Christian and Jane come in, and he pops up and says, “Oh, at last!” They tell him they booked R&R. Ian tells them to unbook it because he hasn’t approved it. Christian tells him that Edward is alright with it. Ian is angry that he’s spoken to his client. Christian tells him the menu had to be rearranged, but Edward loves it and thinks it’s less stuffy than a hotel. Ian is fuming. Christian goes to sit with Bobby and says, “I covered for you!” Christian tells Bobby, “and now Daddy can get back to plucking his eyebrows! Yay,” Bobby agrees. Jane tells him that Jack gave them a great deal, and they aren’t even out of pocket on it. They have a lovely night to look forward to. Ian snaps snarkily, “I am surprised you two haven’t gone and done that too!” He pouts, and Jane tells him that all she’s done is pick up after him at home and at work, and now you’re chucking your toys out of the pram! She tells Ian that she is no longer in the mood, and she’d rather go out with Christian. She tells Ian he can take care of Bobby, and she’ll see him tomorrow.
Stacey sets up Charlie’s online dating profile. Jean says that Stacey has a visitor. It’s Steven, and he’s brought chips. She tells him he’s doing her head in bringing her chips when she was a right cow to him. She tells him he should quit trying so hard. He tells her to stuff it and goes to leave, telling her he can’t do anything right. His wallet is put into Stacey’s mail slot with a note that says “I owe U $20” Steven runs after her.
Ian sorts Bobby out after he finishes pouting.
Jay runs in and doesn’t talk to Dawn. She looks at his phone and calls the person who texted him. Jay freaks out, and Dawn tries to calm him down. He tells her it wasn’t Teg’s threatening him. It was his mum. He runs upstairs, and Dawn calls after him that she can handle her.
Ian calls someone and says he is sorry he let her down like that.
Jean is sitting at the computer when a message comes in from Bubbly Brenda for Cyber Charlie. Outside he arrives home after playing tennis with Yolande. She says even the air smells better and his food will taste better too. She reaches into the car to get her racket when Charlie sees a candy stuck to her bottom. She talks about a man who likes what he sees and reaches out and grabs it as he grabs the candy from her bottom. She spins around as he quickly pops the candy in his mouth to cover his tracks. She asks him what he’s doing?
Tanya hears the girls at the door and lets them in. Tanya asks if they had fun? Abi fills her in and asks if they can see again tomorrow. Max asks Tanya if she said she missed the fun? She says, what is she supposed to say? She has forgotten everything that happened in the last 15 years? Truth is she’s lost something out of her life that she can’t get back. Max leaves.
Ian opens the door, and it’s Clare dressed very sexy. She says, “we don’t usually make house calls, but for you, I made an exception.” Ian looks guilty and hungry all at once.