Can desperate Stacey feed her family?
THE COST-OF-LIVING CRISIS PUSHES THE SINGLE MUM TO THE BRINK…
Stacey’s money worries reach crisis point this week, as the struggle to keep her family afloat leads to her having an accident.
With pregnant Lily in desperate need of a new school uniform, Stacey wonders how she’ll make ends meet – yet she assures her anxious daughter that everything will be fine. But as Stacey continues to work all the hours under the sun to bring home the bacon, she starts to become careless…
“Stacey is working day and night to provide for her family, but she’s not looking after herself,” warns our Walford insider. “She comes off a night shift and goes straight to open the bap van without a wink of sleep. But in her hurry to be ready for business, Stacey accidentally burns her hand – and ends up having to take time off to go to the clinic.”
Stace may be burning the candle at both ends, yet she knows things could be worse; Whitney’s heartbreaking situation has made her grateful that her kids are all healthy. But she needs to pay the bills.
On the hunt for extra work, Stacey approaches Linda and asks for some shifts at the Vic. However, Linda reveals that there’s nothing available, so Jean steps in and secures some extra cleaning shifts at night for the two of them.
It’s not an ideal situation, and Stacey knows there’ll be barely any time left for her family between the night shifts and a long day in the van. But there’s no other option, so she’s forced to crack on…
“Stacey’s exhausted – she’s running on empty,” points out our sneak. “It’s no wonder she ends up hurting herself, yet she knows she can’t go on like this. Lily needs her mum to be there for her, and Stacey has no energy left to devote to her family. Something has to give.”
Later, at the clinic, Stacey opens up to Sonia about the guilt she feels over not being able to adequately provide for her family. Sonia’s sympathetic, but sadly she doesn’t have a magic wand to solve all of Stacey’s problems.
Will Stacey be pushed to more desperate measures as she struggles to stay afloat?
Stacey works day and night – but isn’t looking after herself ”