Friends in the hostel told Ann she shouldn't see him again. Jan was very concerned for her. Ann wasn't sure what to do, she had never experienced this before and loved Steve deeply.
She remembered her mum talking about women being hit by their husbands when she was dealing with divorce cases. At the time she could never understand why they had stayed with them so long and let it continue.
Steve came round with flowers, a ton of apologies and vowing it would never happen again.
Ann believed him.
The relationship continued and although they only ever went to their local pubs they sometimes went for a meal and travelled across London in competitive darts matches.
During that first summer Ann went home to spend the holidays but there was a strained atmosphere. Although her place was kept open at the hostel she only paid a retainer and couldn't afford the full rent during that time.
She phoned Steve, he spoke to his mum and it was agreed she could stay there.
There was a spare room but this was for Bruce and Val when they stayed so she had a bed in his mum's large bedroom. This was by no means ideal but it meant they could often spend part of the night in Steve's room.
When the holidays ended Steve asked Ann to move in completely and she did. She paid his mum but the cooking was left to her.
The routine continued and at weekends Ann found herself sharing the bedroom with the two nieces too.
At times it was hard to juggle everything, college work, going out, the strains of his family and giving Steve the attention he craved. It was hard trying to complete work on an evening. Then Ann was taken ill and her doctor said that she must go home and rest or he would hospitalise her.
This meant going home to her mum and step father not the ideal place to convalesce! A break from the intensity of Steve and his family but the added worry of missing college.
The local doctor said she was fine to return to London after a few weeks but she didn't feel rested at all.
She returned to the mayhem.
At college Ann had started a project studying her favourite artist but she could never catch up and her tutors said that she had other projects she could submit for her final.
Everything with Steve and his family continued as always.
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