Chapter 26

26

‘Home sweet home.’ Laura pulled the car up next to the path in front of her parents’ house, the reality of what they were about to do suddenly resurfacing. Throughout the journey, they’d spoken about anything but pretending to just be friends in front of her family. She’d so desperately wanted to avoid thinking about how they were about to deceive her parents and her siblings that she’d waffled on about whatever she could think of, and she’d sensed Jackson felt the same. Now that they were here though, now that the house was right in front of them, neither of them could ignore it any longer.

‘This is going to be fun.’ Jackson turned in the passenger seat to face her. ‘A whole afternoon of pretending to be nothing but friends.’

‘Ha, yes. Especially after last night’s conversation.’ Laura could feel her cheeks heat at the memory. She’d hardly slept at all after going back to the inn from Jackson’s house. His words had just kept going round and round in her head, all jumbled up with the night at the pub. She still couldn’t believe that he felt the same way towards her as she did towards him.

‘Exactly.’ Jackson groaned and covered his face with his hands. ‘How are we going to survive?’

‘Umm, well, we could go down the route you suggested and pretend to be mad at each other.’ Laura prised his hands from his face and met his eyes.

‘Oh, we could, but I’m not sure how much of a performance I can put on. I’m still trying to come to terms with the fact that you told me you loved me.’ He grinned, his dimple showing.

She raised her eyebrows at him. ‘Oi, you said the same to me.’

‘I did, and I meant it. It still feels surreal though, doesn’t it?’

‘Oh yes, it certainly does. Honestly, if you hadn’t told me again this morning how you felt, I may just have notched up last night’s conversation to me being slightly tipsy and confusing things.’ She laughed. Slightly tipsy was probably an understatement. After not drinking for months, she’d forgotten how quickly wine got her drunk. Still, at least she seemed to have avoided the dreaded hangover, apart from the slight headache tugging at her temples anyway. That’s what living with her parents and avoiding the local pubs in case she ran into Harry had done to her. And she still blamed the wine for the fact she’d been so open with Jackson last night; she certainly couldn’t think of a single situation when she’d told her very new boyfriend that she’d loved them so soon. But the gamble had paid off. Thankfully.

‘Okay, let’s do this.’ Jackson straightened his back and held his hand out towards her. ‘Thank you for the lift, my friend and neighbour, Laura Price. It was very kind of you.’

Giggling, she took his hand before pulling him towards her and wrapping her arms around him. She could feel his shoulders move beneath her arms as he chuckled.

‘Let’s just enjoy one moment before we go in.’ Leaning back, Jackson cupped her cheeks with his hands and leaned in.

Meeting his lips, she closed her eyes. This was really happening. She and Jackson were really together after all these years of knowing one another, being friends but also both feeling there was a deeper connection between them. A connection which they’d both tried so very hard to suppress, but which now they’d shared, they wouldn’t be able to bury again.

Pulling away, Jackson ran the pad of his thumb across her lips. ‘I really do love you.’

‘Quick!’ Jerking back, Laura nudged Jackson as the twins came running out of the house and down the garden path towards the car. ‘Poker faces on.’

Jackson nodded seriously. ‘Poker faces on.’

Opening the car door, Laura stepped out just as Tammy threw her arms around her waist.

‘Auntie Laura! Nana said you were coming.’ Tammy looked up at her, her arms still wrapped tightly round her aunt’s middle.

‘Hi, Tammy.’ Laura laughed as Toby joined the hug. ‘Hiya, Toby. How’s your ankle?’

‘It’s okay. All better now.’ Toby grinned.

‘Oh, that’s good news.’ Untangling herself, Laura walked around to join Jackson on the path.

Covering her mouth with one hand, Tammy stage-whispered to Laura, ‘Apart from on PE days. He tells the teacher it hurts again then and gets to sit out on the bench.’

‘Oi! You promised you wouldn’t tell anyone!’ Toby crossed his arms and pouted.

‘It’s okay, Toby. Auntie Laura won’t tell Mummy or Daddy, will you?’ Tammy skipped through the garden before calling over her shoulder. ‘It’s our little secret, isn’t it, Auntie Laura?’

‘Umm…’ Laura pulled a face, unsure of what to say.

‘What’s this about secrets?’ Jenny appeared in the open doorway and drew Laura in for a hug.

‘She’s going to bring us some chocolate next time she visits.’ Tammy spoke quickly before running past her mum and inside, shortly followed by Toby.

‘Chocolate? Huh? I hope you remember to bring me some too.’ Jenny stepped back and turned to Jackson, her arms outstretched. ‘You did bring him! Jackson! Long time no see. How many years has it been now?’

‘Lovely to see you, Jenny.’ Jackson stepped into her embrace. ‘Too many, that’s for sure.’

‘Too right. Come on through, both of you. Rob’s got the kettle on already.’ Jenny closed the door behind them.

‘Thanks. I’m parched.’ Laura shrugged out of her coat.

‘That’ll be all the wine last night.’ Jackson chuckled.

‘What’s this? You’ve got Laura to go out again? Mingle with people her own age?’ Jenny glanced behind her towards the kitchen door. ‘Don’t tell Mum or Dad I said that, but that’s good if you’re getting out and about again. You spent too much time holed up in here after you and Harry finished.’

Laura swallowed. She could feel the red of self-consciousness crawling across her cheeks. ‘It was just a night at the local pub.’

‘And I was working, so, unfortunately, I wasn’t able to join in the merriment.’ Jackson grinned, seemingly oblivious to how embarrassed Laura felt due to Jenny’s comment. Either that or he wasn’t fazed. Laura couldn’t tell. ‘Is Richie here?’

‘Yep, he’s…’ Jenny turned as Richie walked into the hallway. ‘Here.’

‘Jackson, mate! It’s so good to see you.’ Richie drew Jackson in towards him and patted him on the back before he turned to Laura. ‘And you too, little sis.’

‘Hey.’ Laura hugged Richie back.

‘Laura, Jackson, come on through and stop loitering in the hallway.’ Her mum ushered everyone through into the living room. ‘Rob’s just making coffees, unless you want anything stronger, Jackson?’

‘No, I’m good with coffee, thanks.’ Jackson sat down on one of two large cream sofas.

‘And I’m taking it you’re driving, Laura, so coffee for you.’ Her mum smiled as she walked back into the kitchen.

Laura perched on the other sofa away from Jackson, as Richie sat down next to him. She could hear her parents back in the kitchen, pots and pans clattering as they finished off the roast dinner. An empty bouncy chair sat in front of the sofa and an array of toys were strewn across the carpet.

‘Where’ve Tammy and Toby got to?’ Jenny appeared in the doorway, her hands full of cutlery.

‘I think they ran out into the garden.’ Richie shrugged before continuing the conversation he was having with Jackson.

‘You’re kidding? In this weather? They’ll just bring all the mud inside.’ Jenny shook her head before stepping over the toys and making her way to the glass patio doors at the back of the room. Sliding one open, she called out, ‘Toby, Tammy, come on in. I’ve a job for you both.’

‘Me job.’ Ava, Richie’s toddler, poked her head around the corner of the sofa.

‘Oh, Ava, sweetie, there you are.’ After closing the patio door once the twins had run inside, Jenny bent down and held her hand out towards Ava. ‘Yes, a job for you, too.’

‘What’s the job, Mummy, and how much pocket money will you give me?’ Tammy kicked her wellies to the side of the doormat.

‘Tammy? Really? We’re at Nana and Grandad’s. You can do a job for them out of the goodness of your heart, understood?’

Tammy nodded sullenly. ‘Okay.’

‘Good. Right, you two can lay the table and let Ava put the napkins out, okay?’ Jenny turned and walked out of the room, the three children following behind her.

‘She’s grown!’ Jackson nodded towards Ava as she gripped Tammy’s hand on her way out of the room. ‘I think the last time I saw little Ava was when she was a newborn.’

‘That’s right, it was.’ Richie grinned. ‘You wait until you see Jasper, he’s four now.’

‘Four? Wow, when did that happen?’ Jackson shook his head.

‘When you were MIA, that’s when.’ Richie stood up. ‘And let me locate little Lucas. You’ve not even met him.’

Jackson watched Richie walk out of the room before leaning across and taking Laura’s hand in his. ‘This is nice.’

‘It is.’ Laura squeezed his hand. ‘Strange though. Just a few weeks ago, I was living here and now I’m visiting again. Surreal.’

‘Ha, I bet. And of course…’ Jackson nodded towards their hands. ‘Something else is different, too.’

‘Yes.’ Laura laughed and pulled her hand away just as Richie walked back into the room with baby Lucas in his arms.

‘Aw, now you are a cutie, aren’t you?’ Standing up, Jackson peered at him. ‘How old is he?’

‘Twelve weeks.’

‘So small.’

‘Small but fierce and with the lungs of a forty-year-old on a night out at the football. Here, do you want a hold?’ Before Jackson could answer, Richie had passed baby Lucas across to him.

‘Hello, little one. Nice to meet you.’ Jackson swayed slightly as Lucas stretched in his arms before closing his eyes again and nuzzling his head against Jackson’s jumper.

‘You’re a natural at this.’ Richie fluffed Jackson’s cushion before his friend sat back down.

‘Says the dad of three.’ Jackson chuckled.

‘Yes, well, it’s not easy having three under four, but it’s Jane who bears the brunt of it whilst I’m at work.’ Richie looked behind him as Jane walked through the door, their four-year-old Jasper on her hip.

‘Is that my name I hear?’ She paused and shifted Jasper further up. ‘Jackson, you’re here. So lovely to see you again. I see Richie’s already got you babysitting?’

‘Oh, I don’t mind.’ Jackson gently pulled Lucas’s pale blue blanket down a little from his face. ‘Great to see you again too.’

‘Hello, Laura. How’s the inn?’

Standing up, Laura hugged Jane. ‘It’s getting there, thanks. You’ll have to come and visit.’

‘Oh, I intend to. Looking forward to it.’

Smiling, Laura sat back down, her eyes automatically drawn to Jackson as he held Lucas. Richie was right, he really was a natural.

‘Jackson, you and Richie should get together more often.’ Jane came and sat next to Laura, sliding Jasper down onto the floor and watching as he began playing with the bricks. ‘Richie’s always saying that, aren’t you, love?’

‘I am.’ Richie patted Jackson’s knee. ‘I could do with a lads’ night out.’

‘Hey, you know where I am.’ Jackson shifted position and leaned baby Lucas over his shoulder, rubbing his back. ‘I think this one might have a little wind.’

‘Oh, watch out, he has a habit of—’ Richie covered his mouth and laughed. ‘Throwing up down your back. Sorry, Jackson. Too slow.’

‘Haha, better out than in, isn’t it, Lucas?’ Jackson smiled as he brought the baby back into his arms again.

‘Here, catch. Wipe him up, love.’ Jane threw Richie a cloth, who began wiping Jackson’s back.

Laura grinned. She couldn’t take her eyes off Jackson. He was so good with the kids. With his niece, Eden, with all of them. Maybe if their relationship continued to go from strength to strength, Harry wouldn’t have been her last chance to have children after all. Maybe…

‘What do you say, Laura?’ Richie’s voice rose.

‘Huh? Sorry, I was miles away.’ She shook her head, bringing herself back to reality.

‘Yes, we noticed. Getting all broody over Lucas, were you? I’m sure Jackson will share him.’ Grinning, Richie shook his head. ‘I was asking if you’d be Lucas’s godmother with Jackson.’

‘With Jackson?’ She widened her eyes. Had they guessed their secret? Was it really that obvious?

‘Yes, you as the godmother and Jackson as the godfather.’ Richie frowned.

‘Right, yes. Yes, I’d be honoured.’

‘Good, that’s settled then.’ Richie turned on the sofa. ‘Now, where’s Rob with those coffees?’

‘Dinner time. Nana said everyone’s got to come to the table now.’ Tammy skipped into the room, a fork in her hand.

‘Careful with that, Tammy.’ Standing up, Jane took the fork from her niece before following her through to the dining room.

‘Here, I’ll lay him down.’ Standing up, Richie held his arms out for baby Lucas before whispering, ‘No one breathe.’

Obediently holding her breath, Laura smiled as she watched her brother lay his son in a Moses basket set up by the bookcase.

Straightening his back, the baby successfully still asleep, Richie held his palm up first to Jackson and then to Laura to high-five quietly.