but it’s not long before their date is derailed by an unexpected visitor, and a barrage of accusations from Billy.
After Dawn and Joe declared their love for each other in his hospital room, and he made the decision not to grass her up for pushing him out the window, the pair are secretly back together.
However, their blissful bubble is soon popped when they’re interrupted by a social worker arriving at Home Farm to follow up a safeguarding concern.
“Dawn and Joe are trying to put the past behind them and focus on their feelings for each other – but then a social worker turns up,” our Emmerdale source tells us.
“Luckily, after a thorough interview, the social worker decides not to follow up the complaint further, but Dawn and Joe are left wondering who contacted the social in the first place…”
The visit leaves guilty Joe certain that he needs to work on his relationship with Dawn’s kids, especially Clemmie – a feeling that isn’t helped when Clemmie goes missing on Joe’s watch.
“Joe truly loves Dawn, but he’s worried that his recent evil acts will prove too much for her to forgive,” our insider continues. “So he really is making an effort with the kids.
“After he blackmailed Clemmie and threatened her with the care home, he knows he has some big making up to do, and her running off while in his care cements this. He wants to be a proper family with Dawn, just without all the sneaking around.”
Later, anguished Billy tells Dawn that he thinks she and the kids should move out of Home Farm to escape Joe’s toxic influence.
But when lovestruck Dawn outright refuses, Billy furiously points the finger, accusing her of still having feelings for Joe.
“Dawn promised Billy that she wouldn’t get back with Joe, but he’s no fool,” our source says. “When Billy sees the couple playing happy families in The Hide with Clemmie, he can see that she’s loved up and can’t resist having a pop.
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“The non-stop slanging matches are taking their toll on Dawn, and Joe can see that. Will Billy’s behaviour push her to confess that she’s back with Joe?”
Later, scheming Joe’s up to his old tricks again. Determined to save his lover from constant earfuls from her ex, he comes up with a plan to rid them of interfering Billy for good.
But will his plot work? And is Billy in danger?