"Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you, happy birthday dear Gabby, happy birthday to you."
The crowd in the Woolpack sang, as Gabby Thomas, blushing from her embarrassment, blew out the eighteen candles on her cake.
After having a troubled childhood, Gabby had grown into a very attractive young lady.
Her parents were Ashley Thomas, the former vicar of Emmerdale, who sadly had passed away two years ago, and Bernice White, the village beautician, now living with the local doctor.
They had divorced, when Gabby was small, and she had never really had a settled life, and never really got on with her mother.
In fact, she considered the woman beside her now, her fathers second wife, Laurel, more of a mother figure than Bernice.
No stranger to alcohol, Gabby had had her moments, she was enjoying being able to drink, legally for the first time and was enjoying a glass of Prosecco with her mum and Laurel.
"Your dad would have been so proud," Laurel said, stoking the young girls hair, a habit she had continued from Gabby being very young.
"I know, I miss him every day, as I am sure you do." Replied Gabby.
"Let's not get to melancholy, enjoy your party." Said Laurel as she pulled the young woman onto the improvised dance floor.
The party went on until after midnight and there were a few sore heads in the village the next morning.
Gabby had found sleep difficult, her head was spinning with a conflict within her mind.
She thought she was normal, sexually that was, she had lost her virginity in an act of rebellion against her parents when she was fifteen. A few drink induced fumbles and very occasionally full blown sex, had led her to believe she was a straight sexual woman, who wanted sex with a man.
But she had recently been sharing a room with Leanna Kavanagh, the daughter of her mother's lover, Dr Liam Kavanagh.
Leanna was a pretty blonde girl, a little younger than Gabby, but with a fuller figure.
While Gabby had said nothing to Leanna, she had looked at her walking around their room in just a bra and panties, and occasionally, without the bra. Gabby wondered what it would be like to knead those firm young breasts and suck on the pink nipples.
She put the thoughts out of her mind and concentrated on her plans to go to university.
The thoughts of Leanna, just would not go away however, so in desperation, she decided to ask her mother for advice. Then knowing what Bernice's reaction would be, decided to approach Laurel instead.
It was Saturday afternoon, Arthur, Laurels son and his baby sister Dotty, were away for the weekend with Laurels dad and his partner.
Laurel was enjoying the peace and quiet, when she heard the door opening. "It's only me," she heard Gabby's familiar voice call.
I'm upstairs, come on up." Shouted Laurel.
Gabby climbed the stairs, hesitating as to whether to go ahead and tell Laurel her dilemma, or simply have a nice chat.
As usual, Laurel hugged Gabby as she entered the room.
"Lovely as ever to see you," she said, "what a nice surprise."
Gabby said, "I knew the kids were away with Doug and," she hesitated for a few seconds then continued, "I wanted a chat, and some advice."
"Anytime, sweetheart, you know that," said Laurel, stroking the girls bare arm and sending tingles down it.
For the next fifteen minutes or so, Laurel listened to Gabby explaining how confused she was. She knew she liked and enjoyed sex with men, well boys in her case, but had the occasional desire to kiss Brianna. She explained that she fantasied over seeing the blonde girl, naked in the bath or shower and joining her, not for sex, but just to feel her skin against her.
She said she didn't know what she would do if she approached Brianna and she was repulsed and told everyone.
"I just want to kiss her, just once to see what it feels like to kiss another girl," said Gabby with a huge sigh.
Laurel had never been with another woman, but listening to her step daughters anxieties, she desperately wanted to help.
Eventually she said to Gabby, "maybe this will help," she leaned forward and kissed her step daughter full on the lips.