point they rent cheap accommodation. Both children begin attending the local school. One night, Nikki goes to the pub to buy a packet of cigarettes from the machine, and does not return home until after midnight, but consolingly she has found a new job (bar work), which means working set afternoons, and evenings if she is needed. She begins to fall in love with an art student named Jake. Jayni doesn't like him. She is also jealous because Kenny, prefers Jake to her. One day, Nikki and Jake argue over the problem of Nikki finding a lump in her breast. Jake reveals that his mother was in the same situation and ignored what turned out to be breast cancer. He subsequently moves out because Nikki has run out of money (they also argued a lot). She has to go to hospital, but believing she will be back the next day, she leaves only a day's food and a little money. The children soon run out of money and food, but are unable to ask anyone for help because Jayni fears them being taken into care (although Andy and Steve, her neighbours give them some food, after Jayni makes an excuse). Jayni finds out where her mother's sister Barbara lives, and telephones her. Nikki had been estranged from her family due to an incident many years previously where she ran away with Barbara's then-fiancé, Michael (in the last chapter of the story, Barbara reveals that she didn't mind because she "always knew exactly what he was going to say"). Jayni is worried that Barbara may not want to speak to them; but Barbara comes to stay at once, and provides the children with food. Nikki comes out of hospital and telephones Jay for help, believing that he won't be violent any more once he learns how ill she's been. Jay comes to their flat and is nice at first though he doesn't want Lola Rose any more because he thinks it's her fault that Nikki chose to leave him. He then finds a pair of Jake's boxer shorts and is about to attack Nikki for having an affair with another man. Barbara, a practitioner of Thai boxing, fights him off and sends him away from the house; warning him never to come back again. Jayni, Nikki and Kenny feel safe with the protection of Barbara. She asks whether they would like