Family in Focus...The Farnhams

Continued..........

Max and Jacqui

Jacqui had always felt close to Max after the birth of Harry and now that Susannah had died she wanted to become more involved in Harry's upbringing. It was this involvement that caused friction between Jacqui and Robbie. He became very jealous whenever Jacqui spent time with Max, this eventually led to a violent argument during which Robbie struck Jacqui across the face. After this Jacqui finished with Robbie which gave her more time to spend with Harry and Max.

At first Max only thought of Jacqui as a friend, but it soon became obvious there was a mutual attraction despite the age difference. There were at least three people who didn't approve of their relationship, Lisa didn't want Jacqui to interfere with her plans for Harry's education, Mick suspected Jacqui and Max had plotted to kill Susannah so that they could be together, while Ron disapproved of their relationship because of the age difference, especially when they decided to get married.

Robbie meanwhile was plotting revenge against Jacqui, for finishing with him and for Ron accidentally killing his brother Clint. He decided to kidnap Harry, something he knew would cause Jacqui a lot of distress. Although he managed to abduct Harry without being detected, he hadn't reckoned on the neighbours helping Jacqui and Max. It didn't take Jimmy, Tim, Mike and Lindsey to discover Robbie was behind the kidnapping, so after first following Katie and then Robbie they eventually found Harry locked in a flat, where he had been held captive.

After seeing how close Jacqui and Max had become during Harry's kidnap ordeal, Ron approved of their plan to get married, and the wedding went ahead with his blessing.

Once they were married, both Jacqui and Max hoped they would be left alone to enjoy married life together, but Katie had other ideas. She also resented Jacqui being happy, as she held her partly responsible for Clint's death. Katie's sister Sammy returned to look after her, and after hearing about Jacqui and Max being married plotted with Katie to spit them up. However Sammy's plan to seduce Max failed when he and Jacqui realised they had been set up, although as a result Jacqui and Katie became friends again after she called round to apologise.

Jacqui decided to give up work and become a full time mother to Harry and Emma, but soon discovered that looking after two young children was a lot more tiring than she expected. As she no longer had time to run the health club, Jacqui appointed a manager Sol to do this for her. This worked well for a time, until he took on an assistant to help him. Jacqui was furious to discover his new helper was non other than Sammy, and so she was sacked almost imediately. Sammy really needed this job, so after pleading with Katie to help her, she agreed to try and persuade Jacqui to reinstate her. After listening to what Katie had to say, Jacqui realised Sammy's daughter Louise could suffer if Sammy was out of work, and so told Sol to give Sammy her job back.

Although Sammy was now employed, soon afterwoods Katie was also looking for another job and once again turned to Jacqui for help. This time she found Jacqui not quite so accomodating, as the only vacancy was for a waitress. Katie declined her offer, but agreed to babysit instead.

Jacqui's marriage to Max seemed to be secure enough, but although Max had promised to give up his womanising ways, he found himself atracted to one of the school Govenors, Gabby Parr who reminded him of Patricia. Her husband Gary was the new GP and Max discovered they would soon be living nearby, in a flat on Brookside Parade.

Meanwhile Jacqui was getting bored being stuck at home looking after Harry and Emma, and decided to go back to work. Max wasn't at all keen on the idea, particularly when Jacqui employed Rachel to look after the children. A new business oppurtuntiy came along, when Bev got into financial difficulties and had to sell Bev's Bar. It seemed just right for Jacqui, who managed to buy the bar for a fraction of it's potential value. The bar was once again called Bar Brookie, while Bev was employed as bar manager.

Just as things seemed to be going really well for Jacqui, she had some disturbing news from Dr Garry Par. When she complained of feeling unwell, he carried out some tests which confirmed she was in fact pregnant. For Jacqui it couldn't have happened at a worse time, as she was just enjoying getting back to work, and didn't relish the thought of looking after three children under five.

Max was thrilled by the news he would be a father again, and soon worked out the crèche would be open and the extension to their house completed by the time the baby was born. He was eager to announce the news but Jacqui insisted they keep it to themselves for a while, although this information didn't remain secret for long. Jacqui was annoyed when Katie told her she knew about her condition, but calmed down when Katie explained she had been asked to book her into the antenatal clinic.
Jacqui relieved to have someone other than Max to talk to, confided that it was just not the right time for her to have another baby.

Later when Max as good as told Rachel about her pregnancy, she was furious with him, but Max just couldn't understand why she wasn't as happy as he was. Eventually Jacqui has no option but to confess she didn't want this baby. Jacqui struggled to come to terms with being pregnant and contemplated having an abortion, Max offered to support her whatever she decided to do.

The reopening of Bar Brookie was her main priority, but this was temporarily forgotten when she was involved in a car accident and taken to hospital.
When he heard about the crash Max was frantic with worry, and as this reminded him of Matthew and Emily's fate. Jacqui was not seriously injured, but as a result of the accident Jacqui realised what was really important to her, and decideded to go ahead with the pregnancy after all.

However despite Jacqui's decision, it seemed that she wasn't meant to have this baby after all, as a few weeks later she suddenly collapsed in pain while walking along the Parade. After being rushed to hospital, Jacqui regained consciousness confused about what had happened to her. Max was at her side and explained she nearly died because of an etopic pregnancy, and had to have an emergency operation to save her life.

Jacqui made a full recovery from her operation, but before long there was to be more upheaval in their lives, when Max announced he wanted to move to a bigger house. Niether Ron or Jacqui were too keen on the idea of them moving away from the close, so Ron came up with what seemed an ideal solution. Between them they managed to persuade Max to agree to swap house with Ron, as his house had been extended and modernised. The house move didn't go quite according to plan, as Ron had Ray and Jessie staying with him, and Jessie refused top move. It took a lot of persuasion by Ron, but eventually Jessie agreed to move back to her bungalow with Ray.

Later when the Parrs spent an evening at the Farnham’s new home, Jacqui and Garry couldn’t help but notice how friendly Max and Gabby had become.
Jacqui questioned Gabby about her friendship with Max, but had mixed feelings when Gabby replied she had no interest in Max as he was far too old for her.

Jacqui soon had more important thing to worry about, when Ron was rushed to hospital, after suffering a heart attack in Bar Brookie.When Ron’s condition started to deteriorate Mike and Jacqui were told the only way to save his life would be for him to have a triple heart bypass. Ron was adamant he didn’t want an operation, but was told that if he wouldn't agree, he should consider the effect his death would have on his family. Ron felt he had no choice but to agree.

On their first wedding aniversary, Max and Jacqui decided to celebrate, by having a few drinks in Bar Brookie that evening with Gary and Gabby. Max was soon flirting with Gabby at the Bar while Jacqui was clearly enjoying spending time with Gary at a secluded table in the corner. They were getting on so well, that Bev concluded that they might be about to swap partners.
When Gary pursued a relationship with Nisha the practice nurse, Gabby was also seeking attention elsewhere. Max was surprised and flattered when she flirted with him, giving the distinct impression she wanted more than just friendship. Jacqui had other things on her mind though, when Katie revealed she was pregnant.

That Christmas the Farnham's found themselves with a full house after Ron invited Bev, Josh, Mike, Rachel and Beth to join them for Christmas dinner. The Christmas cheer soon evaporated when Max discovered that while had he been paying Ron to do the restaurant's laundry, he had been tapping into his electric to run his machines.
Max was annoyed with Ron over his electricity bill, but Ron persuaded him to settle his debt by playing a round of golf, after telling him he was now a probationary member of the golf club. After Ron made sure Max couldn't possibly win, he conceded defeat and told Ron he could forget about paying the bill.

Max had never been too keen on Rachel working for them as a child minder, but Jacqui just couldn't bring herself to sack her sister in law. However when Rachel and Mike were struggling to make ends meet, she took money that she was supposed to have paid into Max's business account. When he discovered what she had done, Max had no hesitation in sacking her himself.

Despite them now living in a bigger house, Max wanted to move to a better area, away from the close. Jacqui wasn't quite so enthusiastic, particularly when Max suggested they could have more children once they had moved ito a new home. Jacqui confided in Katie about how bored she had become lately, and that how life seemed to be so uneventful. She surprised Katie with talk about going bunjee jumping and shocked her when she said she wanted to do something outrageous like getting drunk and seducing both the Gordon brothers.

Later on the Parade Jacqui spotted Gary, who had just had a row with Gabby. Seeing how distressed he was, Jacqui suggested they go into the health club so they could talk about his troubles. Jacqui listened sympathetically to Gary, and as he talked of his concerns about Gaby, she kissed him first on the cheek and then passionately on the lips.
The next day Jacqui noticed that Gary had left his car keys at the health centre, and so decided to return them to his flat. Jacqui was about to put Gary's keys through the letterbox, when Gaby opened the door and questioned her about them. Jacqui explained that Gary had left them at the health club, something he had done before, but Gabby obviously didn't believe her and insinuated there was something going on between them. Jacqui protested her innocence and left.

It was not long before Gabby called on Max to tell him of her suspicions about Jacqui and Gary, but Max refused to believe that Jacqui would cheat on him. When he later learned that Gary and Gabby had split up, Max wanted to see Gary to offer him some support. Jacqui managed to persuade Max that it would be much better if he were to spend the evening with her, and although Max agreed, he could'nt help imagining that maybe there was something going on between Jacqui and Gary after all.

Gary was desperate for Gabby to give him another chance, but when she refused, Gary headed round to the Farnham's intent on revenge. He arrived at the house just as the Farnhams potential buyers were leaving, and caused an embarrassing scene by shouting accusations about Jacqui. After this confrontation, she had no choice but to confess that she had kissed Gary, but was surprised by Max's reaction. He was relieved that it went no further, and was prepared to forgive her for being tempted.

Jacqui and Max were delighted when they saw a house they both liked, as it was better than any they had seen before. When Max discovered that an offer has already been made on their dream home, he put in a counter offer of £375,000 to secure the house for themselves. Ron was clearly upset by the news and Jacqui tried to reassure him that they wouldn't be moving too far away, Max though was furious when he saw a brochure on the house they had just seen, and it became obvious that Ron had forced them to pay more, by putting in an offer above the asking price.
Ron finally realised that he shouldn't stand in the way of Jacqui's happiness, and told her what a great daughter she had been.

A short while later Jacqui and Max moved away from the close, but it took a while to sell their property, due to an incinerator plant being built in the woods behind the houses. However they eventually sold it to Jack Michaelson, who unknown to them was a drug dealer.

Ron was happy enough living on the close with Bev and Josh, but decided to sell up and move when he received a letter from the developers of a incinerator, who seemed very keen on buying his house. However Ron later changed his mind about moving, after listening to what Josh had to say about living on the close, and decided to stay put after all. When Josh told Bev how much he loved Ron, Bev realised that she did too, and made the decision to ask Ron to marry her. Ron was stunned when Bev suggested marriage, but soon realised that she was serious. Ron arranged for Jacqui and Mike to come over for a celebratory meal, and even though they were not exactly delighted by Ron's announcement, both Mike and Jacqui wished them well.

On the day of Ron and Bev's wedding Jacqui arrived with Bev's wedding bouquet, which looked rather expensive. Ron was worried about the cost of it all, as Jacqui told Bev all about the Flamingos, champagne and special security arrangements at Bar Brookie, where the reception was being held.
Most of the guests arrived including Christy Murray, who was wearing a Santa Claus costume, but Jacqui was annoyed that Max had stayed at the restaurant to sort out staff problems. As the celebrations got underway, Ron gaves an emotional speech, while Jacqui and Bev agreed to put the past behind them and make a fresh start.