8 July 2025

"Are you sure he'll be away all day?"

Mathew is folding up his bedding from the sofa at number 21;  Rhys is about to leave for work and Matthew asks if he is sure that Hywel will be away all day.   

"Team-building day with Quantum Hydro Works"

“Yes, he’s on a team-building day with Quantum Hydro Works.   Esther is going to Gaynor’s after school, so you’ll have the place to yourself.   

"Are you sure you're all right to do this?"

“Are you sure you’re all right to do this?”

"I need answers"

Mathew replies that he has no choice, because he needs answers.

"Can you answer that, Lleucu?"

At Y Felin, there is a knock at the door and Siôn asks Lleucu if she can answer it, maintaining that he is busy.   When she opens the door, she discovers that her father is outside.   

"Dad!"

“Dad!” she exclaims, “What are you doing here?”

"Hiya, Mwnci!"

He tell her that he is there to see her, of course, and she realises that is why Colin insisted that she should have the day off from the shop.   “Yes, well, I didn’t want to spoil the surprise,” he says.

"I wasn't sure if I could come"

Cai was not sure that he could come until this morning and Siôn remarks that he looks well.   

"Have you perfected the art?"

Cai asks his daughter if she has perfected the art of making a proper coffee yet

Siôn has the cafetière 

and Siôn hands her the cafetière.    Colin will help her with that, so as to leave Cai and Siôn alone.

"How is she, Siôn?"

Cai anxiously asks, “How is she?”   Siôn explains that she regrets what she did to Dani and Cai groans, “If only I had been at home.”   He is told that now he needs to concentrate on himself, 

"We'll be keeping a close eye on her"

but Siôn and Iolo will be keeping a close eye on Lleucu from now on.

“Lleucu will be fine, I promise,” he assures Cai, 

"Are you still all right with the payments?"

whose next question is whether Siôn is still all right with helping him pay for the hospital treatment, which he really appreciates.

Olivia is back in the village

In the alley, Olivia is cautiously looking across 

She looks across to where Iolo used to live

at number 7.   

Mark is back in window-cleaning mode

Meanwhile, outside the Deri, Mark is doing a favour for his mother by cleaning the windows.

She brings him a cup of tea and comments that it is looking better already, but he confesses that he is a bit out of practice;  

"Tyler and I spent a fortune on this stuff"

“Tyler and I spent a fortune on this stuff,” he recalls and his mother comments that he had a good little business going there.

Britt notices them and comes across

Britt comes across the road and asks him how much he charges;  

"Do you fancy doing MFC's windows?"

he replies that he is just doing it as a favour for his mother.   “Do you fancy doing MFC’s windows?   I could do with a ‘glow-up’ before the carnival – 

"I'll pay you"

“I’ll pay you!”   Mark agrees that he will be over later and she hands over a bundle of leaflets to Kath, explaining that there is 10% off during carnival week at MFC.

"I might be out all day, then"

Mark comes to the conclusion that he is going to be out all day and his mother predict that it might not only be Britt who is willing to pay him;  “You could start a small business – 

"Something to do while you're waiting for the court case"

“something to do while you’re waiting for the court case.”   

He considers that idea

He thinks that is worth considering.

Lleucu is so glad that her father is home;  

"We're going to have a brilliant summer"

“We’re going to have such a brilliant summer!   I’ve already started a list of things we can do.”

He realises that she might have misunderstood;  “I’m recovering well, but I’m not coming home permanently – I’m going to come home for a day or two every now and then.”   

"So you're going back?"

She is very disappointed that he is going back;  

"Colin's taking me"

he confirms that Colin is taking him.

Colin thinks this is his cue to leave them alone and thanks her for the coffee;  “Give me a shout when you’re ready to go back,” he tells Cai.

"So what's this today?"

“So whats this today?” Lleucu demands and he points out that it is a chance for him to get used to the idea of being back there.   

"I wanted to see you"

He wanted to see her and to make sure that she is all right.

"I've 'wised up', I promise!"

She promises her father that she has ‘wised up’ and that now she and Dani understand each other – but she has decided to just work in the shop for the time being, as she thinks that is for the best.   

"Things would be easier if you came home for good"

“Things would be so much easier if you came home for good,” she sighs 

"I'm not quite there yet"

and he promises that he will, when he is ready.   However, he is not quite there yet.

"It's important he makes a full recovery, isn't it?"

Siôn points out, “It’s important that your Dad makes a full recovery, isn’t it, love?”   

"I understand that . . ."

Lleucu appreciates that, 

". . . but it doesn't make things any easier"

but it does not make things any easier.

Olivia creeps into number 7

The back door of number 7, unlocked as usual, opens and Olivia looks inside.   

"Hello – Iolo?"

She carefully walks through the house and calls, “Hello – Iolo?”   

Some thongs have changed in the last few years . . . 

She looks around at the surroundings she has not seen for the past seven years or so 

. . . and who on earth are they?

and appears puzzled to see a wedding photo of Anita and Ieuan.

"Kelly – is that you?"

Then she hears a voice from upstairs, “Kelly – is that you?”   

"Who are you?"

Olivia looks very frightened as Anita comes down and wonders who on earth she is.   

"I'm sorry"

She quickly escapes the way she came, 

Olivia beats a hasty retreat

saying that she is sorry, but this precipitates another panic attack for Anita;  

Help!   Help!"

she loudly and repeatedly cries, Help!”

Iolo is passing the house . . .

It is fortunate that Iolo happens to be passing the door at that moment and hears her shouts, so he knocks on the door and tells her who it is.   

. . . and Anita rushes out init his arms

She wastes no time in opening the door, dashes outside and hugs him, much to his surprise.

As Mathew approaches number 21 . . .

Mathew is just returning from MFC 

. . . he sees someone knocking at the door

when he sees someone knocking on the door of number 21;  it is his father.   

"Hi, Dad"

“Hi, Dad,” he says.

"I'll get a new lock for the back gate . . ."

Iolo has made Anita a cup of tea and suggests, “Perhaps I should ask APD to install a new lock on the back garden gate – 

". . . it was dodgy when Tyler and I lived here"

“it was dodgy when Tyler and I lived here.”

"Why are you worrying about the back gate?"

Anita wonders why he is worrying about the back garden gate;  

"Someone broke in"

“Because of what happened,” he replies, “Someone broke in.”   

"Did they – who?"

Anita appears to have already forgotten about what happened, surprised by him suggesting that someone broke in, so he tells her to forget about it and that he has made a mistake.

"You're quite safe"

“You’re quite safe,” he assures her, “Look, I’ll go so that you can have a rest – Ieuan’s on his way home.”   

"How much do I owe you?"

Then Anita asks how much she owes him for fixing the tap.   She maintains that the constant dripping has been getting on her nerves for ages.   

"That's all right – forget about it"

He tells her to forget about it 

"You're worth your weight in gold, Iolo"

and she comments that he is worth his weight in gold, 

"I love this quiz programme"

then continues with watching the quiz on the television, as he leaves the house, not quite sure what to do.

"The last I heard he was in Scotland"

In the kitchen of number 21, Ray, Mathew’s father, advises, “The last I heard, he was in Scotland, but that was a while back – Lord knows where he is now.   

"You don't want to ask about Eifion"

“Come on, Math – you haven’t invited me here to ask about Eifion – has something happened?”

"Melfa came to see me"

After a pause, Mathew replies, “Melfa came to see me!”   His father wonders how she knew where he lived.   “One of the boys from work contacted her – it’s a long story.   She sent me a few texts last year and I ignored them.”

"To hell with everyone else!

“But she still came,” comments his father, “Typical Melfa!   Doing what she wants, when she wants and to hell with everyone else!”

"She wanted me to go to Taid's funeral"

“She wanted me to go to North Wales with her for Taid’s funeral,” says Mathew 

"Henry's dead?"

and Ray is shocked to hear that Henry is dead.   He realises that cannot have been easy for her, as she was always in his shadow, scared to disappoint him.

"We almost didn't get married because of Henry"

“We almost didn’t get married because of Henry – and now she waits until after he’s dead before contacting her son!”

"I didn't invite you to have a go at her"

Mathew stops him there, pointing out, “All right – I didn’t invite you here to have a go at her.   She told me something when I last saw her, 

"I'm not sure if she's telling the truth"

“but I’m not sure if she’s telling the truth.   That I went to stay with her in Bangor for a while – 

"Is that true?"

“is that true?”

Ray confirms that it is and is surprised that Mathew does not remember;  “When her relationship with the headmaster ended, you used to go and see her in Valley as well – for a while – 

"Until she decided she didn't want to be your mother any more"

“until she decided she didn’t want to be your mother any more.”

"You've missed a bit"

Britt is supervising Mark’s work on her windows;  “You’ve missed a bit,” she complains, but he points out that he has not done that bit yet.   

Colin is full of admiration 

Colin  remarks that they will be shining like new once he has finished, 

Lleucu and Cai approach . . . 

then he notices Lleucu and Cai approaching along the street.

He explains to Britt that Cai is just home for the day to see Lleucu, 

. . . so Colin tells her not to do anything stupid

but Britt displays her usual malice towards the family;  Colin mutters to her not to do anything stupid.

"We're going to have meal in the Deri"

“We’re just going to have a meal in the Deri, before Dad goes back, if that’s all right,” Lleucu explains and Colin agrees that of course it is.   

"10% off during Carnival week"

Britt exerts great effort to overcome her dislike of the White family, handing Cai one of her leaflets;  “Discount – 10% off during carnival week,” she says 

"Thanks, Britt"

and he thanks her.   

Lleucu greatly appreciated that

Lleucu appreciates that, as they head towards the Deri.

"All right – don't make a fuss, Col"

Britt tells Colin not to make a fuss and goes straight into MFC.

"She wanted me to forgive her"

Ray continues his explanation, “She wasn’t with the headmaster long – about six months, perhaps – then she was back with her tail between her legs.   She wanted me to forgive her, as if nothing had happened.   Has a woman ever broken your heart?”   

"I don't want her near me ever again!"

Mathew can sympathise, so his father goes on, “I didn’t want her near me ever again, but I didn’t want to stop you from seeing your mother.”   

"Why didn't Mam tell me all this?"

Mathew cannot understand why his mother did not tell him all this.   

"You would go to your grandfather's"

“Who knows why Melfa does anything?   She moved back in with her father – Taid – that’s where you would go – not regularly.   Everything on Melfa’s terms, usually, but it was a few days here and there for a while.”

"I can't remember any of this"

Mathew is concerned that he cannot remember any of this, and his father points out that he was a very little at the time and it did not last long.   “I don’t know why, but she turned up one morning – she was early – I had not expected her for another two days.   

"She said you couldn't go up there again"

“She brought you home and said you couldn’t go up there again.”

"But why?"

Mathew wants to know why, but is told that is what Melfa was like;  “She was impulsive – she would change her mind without warning and I was tired of listening to her excuses.   

"She handed you back like a sack of potatoes"

“She handed you back like a sack of potatoes – I was so angry with her.”

"And you let me think she was still with the head teacher"

Mathew realises that was why his father let him think that she was still with the headteacher.   Ray insists, “That was what you thought and I didn’t correct you – 

"It was kinder to let you think that"

“it was kinder to let you think she’d run off to start a new life, rather than dumping you for a second time.   I worked so hard to make sure you were all right – that you wouldn’t think about her – that you wouldn’t remember how much she hurt you.”

"At least now I understand"

Mathew is grateful for all that he did;  “At least now I understand why I’ve started to remember stuff since seeing her again.   I remember seeing her leave my bedroom for the last time.”

"No  – I sent you through to the front room"

Ray contests that, pointing out that he sent his son through to the front room, before telling Melfa exactly what he thought of her;  “I didn’t want you to hear it.”   

"Why do I remember her leaving my bedroom?"

Mathew wants to know why he remembers seeing her leave the bedroom and is told that it is his mind playing tricks on him.

“No, because I remember her looking down at me, she closes the door and then she leaves,” he insists, 

"And the first time you were at school"

but his father confirms that he was definitely in the front room when she left and when she left for the first time, he was at school.

“So, whatever you think you remember, it isn’t your mother deciding to leave you.”   

"It's old news now, Math"

Mathew does not know what he is remembering, but his father wonders whether it matters, as it is now old news and he has done so well.   

"What she did affected you for years . . ."

“What she did affecetdWhat Melfa did affected you for years.   I’m so pleased, so proud of the life you’ve created despite her.   

". . . don't let her spoil things again!"

“Don’t let her spoil things again!”

"Don't you fancy staying a bit longer?"

In the Deri, Cai is preparing to leave, but Lleucu asks if he fancies staying a bit longer, as the Wales women’s match against France is on later.   

"That's soccer!"

He reminds her that is soccer – and that rugby is the national sport, but is only pulling her leg, confirming that he will be watching it, but he is ready to go back now.   

"And you – behave yourself!"f

He will phone her after the game – and instructs her to behave herself.

"I'm looking forward to next week already"

“I’m looking forward to next week’s visit already,” she assures him.

"See you"

As they leave, Mark asks his mother for another drink 

"It's thirsty work, up that ladder"

and she appreciates that it is thirsty work being up that ladder.   He has enjoyed his work and comments that it is nice to make a bit of money again.   

"I wonder where Britt got those flyers"

“Perhaps I should find out where Britt got those flyers – I could get some of my own then.”

"I'm proud of you, Mark"

Kath is very pleased to see that the business brain is back and says that she is proud of him.

Siôn is concerned about the finances

At Y Felin, Siôn tells Iolo that it meant the world to Lleucu that Cai came over today and it is a shame that Iolo missed him.   “He’s getting better, but he doesn’t feel well enough to come home yet – and I’m not sure how much longer I’ll be able to help pay for the treatment, either.”

"I've been using your mother's money"

Iolo had not realised that his father was paying;  he explains that he has been using Iolo’s mother’s money;  “I put it aside after she died – it didn’t feel right to spend it without her somehow.”

"If you're worried, talk to Cai"

Iolo is sure that she would be happy that Siôn is using it to help Cai;  “But if you’re worried about the cost, talk to Cai – I’m sure he would understand.”   

"When the time is right"

His father says he will do that when the time is right.

"He's lucky to have friends like you" 

Ray is now leaving the village and speaks to Rhys, who thanks him for trying;  “He’s lucky to have friends like you,” says Ray, “Keep in touch.”

Rhys walks past Olivia . . .

Olivia is again loitering in the alley, and when Rhys has walked away, 

. . . who then comes out of the alley

she emerges 

"Do you know if Iolo White lives round here?"

to ask Ray whether he knows if Iolo White lives around there – and his daughter, Greta.   

"Sorry, love, I don't live here"

He is sorry that he does not live here, so he cannot answer her question.   

"I'm sure I shall find him"

She is sure that she will be able to find him.

Mathew looks at his phone

Mathew is sitting, looking at his phone when Rhys returns to the house and asks if he is OK.   

"Did it help?"

“I spoke to your Dad – he said that you had talked – did it help?   

"Is there anything I can do?"

“Is there anything I can do to help?”

"Can you take me there?"

Mathew hold up his phone and asks, “Can you take me there?”

"Anglesey?"

“Anglesey?”

"It's Melfa's address . . ."

“It’s Melfa’s address – Griffiths gave it to me.   

". . . she's tho only one who can give me answers"

“I need answers – and she’s the only one who can give them to me.”