It wouldn't be like the cobbles of Carrigstown if there wasn't the dramatic return of a fan-favourite Fair City character looming...
Hayley Collins upped sticks just before Christmas, leaving her beloved Dublin behind in search of a better life in Dubai, but it seems things haven't necessarily worked out for her.
Her hubby James Rafferty was blindsided by her decision to walk away from her family. It wasn't a decision she made lightly, however, it came after shock revelations about James' past came to light.
It all started when Holly came to town, claiming James had fathered her son, Milo, after a passionate but fleeting fling. That was always going to ruffle a few feathers...
Now, just as the Raffertys were settling into life without her, Hayley's unexpected arrival leaves them reeling.
It begs the question: Did Hayley not find something better in Dubai? Well, she's not just back in Carrigstown to reunite with her estranged hubby and pals, oh no, she's hiding a secret that'll shake their world all over again. So, what's brought her back, and why now, nearly nine months later...
Ger and Sharon aren't the only ones surprised to see her. In typical Fair City fashion, Hayley crash-lands into the middle of Milo's birthday party, turning the attention on herself and bringing celebrations to an abrupt halt.
Hayley finds out that Holly and Milo have made themselves very comfortable in her home of Carrigstown, playing happy families under the same roof as James and his mam, Emma. Yikes!
Emma's taken it upon herself to step into the doting granny role, while James is learning the ropes as 'Dad', something Hayley didn't expect in her wildest dreams.
The timing is awkward (to say the very least), and it's made even worse when people discover that Hayley has more than her luggage in tow.
