A FAMILY IN MOURNING

Can the Beales deal with Steven’s passing?

Kathy arrives back from holidays this week to learn that Steven is dead and no one has told her. The distraught matriarch has to hear the truth from Kim, after her neighbour spots her in the Square and quickly realises the situation.

When she gets home, Kathy tries to understand why Ian shut her out, but it’s clear he’s in a bad way. He is very cold towards her, and it dawns on Kathy that this is another consequence of her faking her own death.

Determined to put things right, Kathy gets Ian and his half-brother Ben together and makes clear that she is their mum and intends to be there for them. Her kind words finally break down Ian’s defences, and he collapses in

Kathy’s arms.

The next day, Kathy discovers that Ian has a visit with son Bobby, and begs him not to waste the chance. But given the horrors of the past week, can Ian bring himself to face Bobby?