Plot[]
Laurel cleans Mulberry Cottage top to bottom to avoid thinking about the baby. Jai wants to continue with the pregnancy in spite of the CVS test results and tells Laurel there is nothing to be frighted of. Laurel thinks there's everything to be frighted of. Marlon finds Rhona with Leo at the park. Marlon realises there's something on Rhona's mind so offers to hear her out. Laurel reminds Jai that this is the biggest decision they've ever had to make and they have no idea what they're facing with this child. Jai states their child could have a degree of independence as an adult, they could have a job and even get married. Laurel counters that their child could just as easily be non-verbal, have a significant heart-defect, or a need a lifetime of care and there's no way of knowing upfront. Jai asks Laurel what her biggest fear about keeping the baby is so Laurel explains she's worried about the impact it'll have on their other children. Meanwhile at the park, Rhona tells Marlon about Laurel's pregnancy and the Down Syndrome diagnosis and how she assumed she'd be keeping the baby. She questions why she'd make that assumption after she herself considered termination. Rhona explains it felt like Leo was being discounted, and although she knows Laurel didn't mean it, she took it as a rejection of Leo's life. As the co-parents watch Leo play, they discuss all the joy Leo has brought to their lives. At the same time, Laurel worries she and Jai won't be able to care for their child and may have to put them in a care-home like she did with Ashley, or that the responsibility of caring for the child would fall upon their other children if they died. Laurel knows she and Jai would love the baby but it doesn't feel enough so she declares she can't have this baby. Jai is devastated by Laurel's declaration but hopes there's still a chance she might change her mind. Back at Smithy Cottage, Marlon urges Rhona to make things right with Laurel but Rhona is too scared as she doesn't want to get it wrong again. Rhona recalls when she and Marlon decided to keep Leo, Marlon said they'd never regret having him and he was right; she wouldn't change a single thing about Leo. Marlon wouldn't either. Jai finds Laurel in the Cemetery where Laurel admits her biggest fear isn't the effect this will have on their other children, it's that this baby has a high risk of dying in childhood or early adulthood and she might need to hold the lifeless body of another one of children - it destroyed her with Daniel and she knows she couldn't survive it a second time. As Marlon leaves Smithy Cottage, he tells Rhona they should make a plan for Leo's future and write their wills so should anything happen to them, they'll know Leo is surrounded by people who love him like they do. Back at Mulberry Cottage, Laurel asks Jai how he feels. Jai explains he's listened to what she's said and she's right. He knows having this baby is too much for them to cope with but that doesn't stop his heart from breaking.
Cast[]
Regular cast[]
- Jai Sharma - Christopher Bisson
- Laurel Thomas - Charlotte Bellamy
- Marlon Dingle - Mark Charnock
- Rhona Goskirk - Zoe Henry
- Leo Goskirk - Harvey Rogerson
Guest cast[]
None.
Locations[]
- Mulberry Cottage - Kitchen, living room and back garden
- Gennie Walker Memorial Playground
- Smithy Cottage - Living room and front garden
- Hotten Road
- Cemetery
Notes[]
- First appearance of Leo Goskirk since 13th May 2020 and last until 23rd July 2021.
- Viewing Figures: UK broadcast - 5,419,824 viewers (15th place).
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