Never Again - 34

Chapter 34 - a baby girl

Max had followed up his phone call with several others, each threatening, but it seemed this was a bluff, as he hadn’t so far sold his story. Erin ignored every call, deleting the threatening messages, and pretending none of it was happening, and she could cocooned on the vast space of her family farm. But when a phone call came from Dave, warning her that Michelle had gone into labour a few weeks early, there was no question of her diving into her car and driving to London.

It was a horrible day, lashing rain, dark and gloomy, and Erin was never more appreciative of her new car than in weather like this, driving it made her think of Jack and the day they’d bought it, and then everything that happened in between. It was still like prising open a raw wound, but at least she was remembering the good times they’d shared, the times they’d laughed, and not just the pain of losing their baby.

The weather made the journey long, and she was very relieved to see the Women’s Hospital than that day. There was an underground car park, so she swerved into it then called Dave.

                “It’s a girl!” He squealed, “I was just about to call you Erin, she’s beautiful...”

Erin couldn’t control the grin that swept over her face, “I’m at the hospital, can I visit?”

He laughed, “of course, you know Michelle would rather you had been here not me!”

Erin giggled too, “no she wouldn’t! We may be best buddies, but there are definite boundaries! And that’s one!”

She visited the hospital shop en route to the ward and came out with a huge balloon, a gorgeous pink puppy cuddly toy, and a bag of goodies for Michelle, she may be approaching bankruptcy, but Michelle and her beautiful baby deserved it all.

Michelle was half asleep, a smile permanently on her face, Dave in the seat beside her, a tiny bundle wrapped in his arms. He looked up when he felt Erin’s presence at the door and found her smiling at the scene.

                “I am so pleased for you both!”

Michelle’s eyes popped open and the two women rushed into an embrace. Despite the offer, she declined a cuddle, Dave wasn’t ready to give her up, she could tell.

                “We’ve called her Isobel,” Michelle smiled, “Isobel Erin Blackheath, how does that sound?”

Erin felt her jaw drop open, words couldn’t describe that sort of a gift, instead a hug replaced the words.

Despite all his plans, Jack had no idea how to find and approach Erin, he was committed to his training, there was nothing he could do immediately. As he finished training two days after his mother had arrived, he was just getting in his car to drive home when his phone rang, Mike his agent beckoned a hello loaded with foreboding.

                “What is it Mike?” He leaned against the car, his phone at his ear.

Mike sighed, “had a tip off from a red top tabloid this morning, your young lady...”

                “Erin?” Suddenly Jack felt fear, real fear. “What about her?”

The other man sighed, “she’s got an ex?” When Jack gave a worried grunt, he continued, “he’s bleating, selling his soul...or rather hers for the highest price. I’ve emailed the copy to you.”

Jack fought his nausea, this was exactly what Erin had feared, that her life would become public domain, and it seemed she was right. “Can we stop it? Get an injunction?”

Mike was non-committal, “not sure, but I’d forewarn her if I were you. I’ll do my best. I’ve contacted your lawyer; he’s on the blower to the editors as we speak.”

Jack knew he had to go find her at all costs, “I’m heading to Gloucestershire, keep me posted?”

The other man agreed.

Getting into his car he hooked up his hands free phone kit and started calling around, by the time he hit the motorway heading south he’d spoken to his lawyer who was in the process of trying to block the story. Now he had to warn Erin, as much as he wanted to see her, to tell her how he felt about her, this wasn’t about him; this was about her past becoming public knowledge, and possibly an embellished version at that. All he wanted was to see her, to make sure she didn’t find out by walking down the street, and to explain that it wasn’t his fault. He knew she’d blame him, and indirectly it was his link to him that made this a desirable story.

It took a few hours to get to her parents farm house, the traffic had been heavy and the gloomy early winter night was miserable, but finally he spotted the lights in the distance at the end of the rough track. Fortunately his four wheel drive made light work of the road, and soon he was skidding to a stop outside the house.

A light came on and the front door opened at the sound of the car, as he climbed out of the vehicle he looked up to see Sara, Erin’s mother, stood there an awkward expression of her face.

                “Sara, I know Danny told me to keep away, give Erin a wide berth, but I really need to speak to her.”

                “She’s not here Jack, she’s in London.”

He groaned, raking a hand over his face, “do you know where?”

                “What’s wrong? Has something happened?”

Jack had no choice but to share this with her family. “Sorry, it’s just that her ex-husband...”

                “What’s the bastard done to her now?” The deep voice of Danny Bailey boomed over his wife’s shoulder.

There was some relief in the fact that her parents had no love for the ex, but he knew that this was still a difficult situation.

                “Sold his story, or rather her story...” as Danny made to shout he added quickly, “look I know that this is all due to me, and I know she deserves better, but I have to warn her, prepare her. My legal team are trying to block it...”

Danny placed a hand on his arm, “you misunderstand me, Max was a complete bastard, but it took us all a long time to realise that...he damaged her badly, emotionally. The fact that he’d do this is no surprise. I don’t think I’d be happy seeing anyone with her again, after all he did, but I do admit that I was wrong about you.”

Jack was floored, words didn’t appear and so he merely gawped at the older man. Danny sighed, “I thought you were self obsessed like that bastard, the way you’ve dealt with everything...I was wrong ok?”

Jack nodded, “do you know where she is?”

It was Sara’s turn to speak, “Michelle had her baby, so she is either at the hospital, or probably staying at their house.”

He nodded, “I’ve got to go...” With that he shook Danny’s hand, “I love her Mr Bailey, more than she knows.”

Danny smiled, “I know you do son, and she loves you, she’s just scared.”

Jack climbed back into the car and shook his head; this was turning out to be a very strange day!

After her visit Erin had spent the day shopping. A little girl could never have too many things, Michelle was staying in hospital for one night but was coming home the following day, so she planned to fill her freezer with food, tidy the house top to bottom, then disappear so that the new family had time to themselves to settle in.  Erin loved having purpose, she’d been in limbo for the last month, even before that when she’d been unable to work, she’d been at such a loose end, now she had drive. And it felt great. Life would go on, and she’d deal with it all again, she knew that.

As she walked up the road to the small terraced house her phone rang, with a groan she recognised Max’s number.

                “Max! I am NOT giving you any money; I don’t care what you do!” She didn’t even wait to hear his voice. And she realised she didn’t care, really. He was desperate and was willing to highlight the sham of their marriage? Then it said more about him than it did about her. And she would carry her threat to sue him for libel if he lied about her.

                “You don’t know what’s good for you!” He spat, “it’s too late anyway!”

A cold shiver ran through her at the thought of what this could all mean, but she couldn’t let him bring her down, she knew now that she never loved him, not the way she loved Jack, so he couldn’t hurt her, she had to keep telling herself that.

                “So let me get this right, a specialist orthopaedic surgeon is appearing in a tabloid newspaper talking about his failed marriage? That’ll so your professional reputation the world of good!”

He grunted a response, and to Erin it sounded like he was fighting with himself, finally he muttered something about not working then he hung up. She glanced at the phone in her hand, he’d run away backed down, Wow! That felt good!

As she picked up her bags to finish the walk to Michelle’s house, she froze. There stood in her path was the man she’d longed to see for the last few weeks. Jack Reilly stood in her path. And he looked dreadful.

                                                                                                                                                                       

This was the sight she’d longed for, and she took a moment to savour him, there’d be arguments and battles ahead, but for the last month all she’d really wanted was to see the man she’d missed so much. His eyes were dark, his expression moody, but she didn’t care.

Striding up to him she stopped right in front of him and looked into his eyes questioningly.

Jack was experiencing a similar sensation as he watched surprise turn to wonder, and then a hint of anger as she stormed up to him. She looked amazing all fiery eyed and sassy, and it took him a moment to appreciate her unwritten question. He needed to tell her about her ex, needed to ask her why she’d left, but now at the exact moment he had the opportunity all he wanted to do was kiss her.

Lifting his hand, he cupped her cheek, his long fingers sliding under her winter hat to her sensitive scalp, and at the second she gasped from the contact, he sealed his lips to her. Jack threw everything into that moment, his concern, his pain, his anger, and mostly his desire. He couldn’t hide how he felt from her, and for the first time in his life, he didn’t want to.

Erin groaned against his lips, the kiss was off the scale, his tongue was teasing her, his lips cajoling, and she was powerless to fight her arms sliding around his neck, draping her body around him, clinging to him.

It was Jack that finally ended the kiss, resting his forehead on hers he took a few steadying breaths before he managed, “I’ve missed you Erin.”

She half smiled, “I’m sure you’re too busy to miss little ole me!”

As he made to protest to the contrary, she suddenly gasped, her hand covering her mouth. “I’m supposed to be cleaning up for Michelle...” Looking up at him she smiled, “she had the baby a couple of weeks earlier than she expected, so she’s nowhere near ready. I’ve been cleaning, tidying and trying to fill her fridge with yummy things!”

He looked at the excitement for her friend reflected in her eyes and couldn’t help but be proud of Erin; within weeks of losing her own baby she put her own tragedy aside to support her friend. She was amazing, he just wished it hadn’t taken him this long to realise.

                “Well I can help you. Let me take those bags, tell me what you want me to do.”

And that’s exactly what they did, as she cooked shepherd’s pie, curry and lasagne ready to freeze, they rushed around the house giving it a good spring clean. As they moved the sofas so that Jack could vacuum behind them, Erin smiled at him.

                “Who’d have thought you’d be so good a cleaner Reilly?”

Jack was torn between feeling a little indignant at her put down, and chuffed to bits at the use of her nickname for her, it was a sign of affection, and he couldn’t hide the grin that thought conjured.

By nine pm they were sorted, Erin was happy that the place was good enough for baby Isobel. So she turned to Jack who looked shattered, “want some food? My treat?”

He laughed, “you are NOT buying me dinner!” Then his face fell, “we need to talk Erin, that’s why I’m here, will you come back to mine, I’ll order us a take away?”

Reality, back to Earth with a bump. But he was right, there was so much to say, she was wrong to run away as she had, she knew that now. She didn’t want to burst the bubble, because since he’d arrived they’d worked well as the team she knew they could be.

Nodding, she grabbed her coat and followed him out to his car.