Daniel kisses Bethany – dreaming that she’s Sinead!
BUT WILL BETHANY REALISE THAT IT’S A CASE OF MISTAKEN IDENTITY BEFORE IT’S TOO LATE?
“Daniel is shocked, he thinks he sees Sinead – it’s too good to be true!”
Grieving widower Daniel begs close pal Bethany to spend the night with him this week – believing she’s his dead wife, Sinead!
Bethany has been Daniel’s rock in the wake of Sinead’s tragic death, although it’s clear for everyone to see that she would like to be much more than just his friend. So when Daniel suddenly leans in for a kiss, Bethany has no idea that he’s actually confusing her for his late love, Sinead!
“Daniel knows he is kissing Bethany, but he’s allowing his mind to trick him,” explains Rob Mallard, who plays the heartbroken husband. “He has just woken up from a nap, so he is a little bit out of it, and has probably been dreaming about Sinead. Bethany is wearing Sinead’s dressing gown, and Daniel is shocked – he thinks he sees Sinead, and he thinks it’s too good to be true. He wonders if her death and the aftermath has just been a dream. But then reality hits…”
WHAT’S WRONG WITH BABY BERTIE?
It’s already been a hugely emotional week for Daniel, whose world is turned upside down again when his baby son Bertie falls ill. Daniel is devastated to find the one-year-old unconscious in his cot, and quickly urges Peter to call an ambulance.
At the hospital, the consultant confirms that Bertie has measles – and Daniel blames himself for not getting his son immunised against the disease.
“Taking Bertie for his jabs was too much for Daniel – he couldn’t deal with how upset Bertie was,” Rob reminds us. “Bertie didn’t really cry at all during Sinead’s death, and now that she has gone, Daniel is afraid of making Bertie upset – what if Sinead is the only thing that can stop Bertie from crying? Daniel doesn’t want to find out whether or not he will actually be able to calm his son.”
It seems Daniel is paying the price for his mistake now, though, as the medics tell him that the next 24 hours will be critical for Bertie. With Sinead’s Auntie Beth furious at him for endangering Bertie’s life, Daniel struggles to keep his own guilt over the situation in check.
As his shame eats him up, Daniel pushes away his family, and attempts to deal with his problems alone. However, when Bethany arrives at the hospital to offer some moral support, distraught Daniel breaks down in her arms – in spite of their tangled history.
“Bethany is still there for him,” Rob tells us. “She was involved towards the end of Sinead’s life, so part of the reason he’s holding on to that is because it’s connected to Sinead – even though it was an awful thing they did.”
TOO CLOSE FOR COMFORT?
Daniel and Bethany’s shocking behaviour prior to Sinead’s death – when they shared a smooch behind the dying woman’s back – left all of their loved ones stunned. So while Daniel is grateful to have Bethany to lean on during his time of need, those around the pair are concerned…
Bethany’s mum Sarah warns the teenager to tread carefully, worried that her daughter could end up with a broken heart. Meanwhile, Beth issues
It’s easier for Daniel to say it was all Bethany’s fault…”
Bethany a blunt warning – stay away from Daniel, as she can never replace Sinead!
However, Daniel soon has bigger things to worry about than the local gossip, when it becomes clear that Bertie’s not the only one on the Street to have contracted measles. Maria has also fallen foul of the illness, with very tragic consequences (see p20).
“Daniel immediately feels guilt, and then fear, because it doesn’t occur to him that this has gone beyond Bertie to begin with,” explains Rob.
“He doesn’t realise the wider implications at all. He thinks that getting Bertie’s jabs would have been something that Sinead would have been able to do without flinching, so he is ashamed of failure.”
A FATHER’S FURY
As news spreads that Daniel’s failure to vaccinate his son is to blame for the measles outbreak, the single dad finds himself on the receiving end of Gary’s rage. The former loan shark is devastated by what’s happened, and holds Daniel solely responsible!
It’s in the wake of Gary’s furious attack that Daniel finds himself being comforted by Bethany once again. And after Daniel invites her to his flat, and offers to put her rainsoaked clothes in the dryer, Bethany ends up wearing Sinead’s dressing gown…
“Daniel doesn’t know if he likes Bethany or hates her at this point,” sighs Rob. “He is projecting all his guilt over what they did on to her. It’s easier to blame her and say it was all her fault, even though that’s not the case. But Daniel does like Bethany, and he thinks having her around is better than being on his own.”
As bleary-eyed Daniel wakes from his slumber and thinks he sees his dead wife, he moves in to kiss Bethany – and begs her to stay the night! So will Bethany be delighted that Daniel is finally acting on the clear attraction between them? Or will she take a step back before they both get hurt?