Chapter 17
Chapter Seventeen
D inner had been prepared and left by Tilda so all Jon needed to do was to warm and serve it. Steph followed him into the kitchen to help but was sat on a stool with strict instructions not to move. The intercom from the gate buzzed as Jon was gathering plates, cutlery and a bowl of salad while Steph attempted to answer the call.
“I thought we’d agreed that you weren’t moving, darling,” Jon said answering the call before his wife had the chance to.
Fortunately, once Charlie and Lindsay arrived they acted as something of a distraction for Jon meaning that Steph got a little reprieve from his constant attention and scrutiny. Sitting with her friend, Steph found she was relaxing as they chatted, mainly about their babies and Steph wondered more than once if Lindsay had been given instructions not to talk about the contaminated chocolates as she never once broached the subject.
“Right then ladies carrying babies, dinner is served,” Jon called to them sitting in the lounge.
They both got up after a slight struggle and followed Jon into the dining room.
“I am sure I am beginning to waddle,” Steph commented with a frown.
“And beautifully you waddle too,” Jon told her making her frown deepen.
“I knew it.” She dropped onto her seat at the table.
“I may never walk normally again. I love the waddle though, it shows everyone that you’re pregnant,” Lindsay said with a dreamy expression on her face.
“Yeah, well I reckon the fact that I appear to be smuggling an overinflated beach ball up my jumper might make that quite clear to everyone who has functioning eyes,” Steph replied but laughed at her friend’s shake of the head. “Shall we just eat dinner?” Steph asked preparing to tuck in.
The chat and company was easy and as Jon went to the kitchen to get dessert, Charlie followed him.
“You okay?” Charlie asked, watching his friend, who on the surface was happy, but underneath it seemed less convincing.
“Yeah, great,” Jon replied, just a little too hastily and brightly.
“Steph and Jelly Bean, are they okay?” Charlie now knew something was on his friend’s mind.
Jon nervously pushed a hand through his hair then with his back to Charlie began to take four chocolate mousse desserts from the fridge, slamming them down slightly onto a tray.
“They’re fine, as in fit and healthy, but I am fucking struggling,” he admitted. “Every time I look at my wife I am almost crippled with fear that someone is going to take another shot at her. Whoever did this tried to kill her. They’re not playing around and I have no doubt that they’ll have another go.”
“You’ve got security though, and you work together, so you’ll be there and the police are investigating,” Charlie said, hoping to reassure his friend, not that he didn’t agree with him on some level.
“Yeah, maybe it’s all just a little too fresh in my mind to gain perspective.”
Charlie nodded.
“I owe you an apology,” Jon suddenly said.
“Not that I’m aware of.” Charlie could think of no reason for an apology.
“Yeah, I do. At the hospital, when I asked you about Steph, you and Steph, it was unfair and inappropriate. I was simply trying to imagine a life without her and had no idea how I would cope with that, how I’d get over it and you, well you’d done that . . .” His voice trailed off, unsure whether he was making sense or if his
“But it’s different for you with Steph. You love her and you’re totally head over heels in love with her. There’s a connection between you, a connection we didn’t have. She’s having your baby and she’s your wife.”
Jon shook his head. “She’s my whole fucking life. I had no clue that I was living half a life until I met her and from the second I set eyes on her, she was under my skin, even if she pissed me off beyond belief.”
“See, it wasn’t like that for me with Steph . . .” Charlie’s voice dropped off causing Jon to stare at him more intently. “Jon, I don’t want this to be weird, to make you see me and Steph when you look at me . . .”
Jon nodded, understanding what his friend was saying.
“Steph is beautiful, funny and smart. What’s not to like? And we got on like a house on fire, but she’s feisty and complicated in a way that would have worn me down long-term. I’m laid back and easy going, which is fine, but Steph would have taken advantage, not deliberately, maliciously but she would have done it anyway. Linds isn’t like that, she’s more easy going than I am so for the most part I’m in the driving seat and that suits me.”
“Are you saying my wife runs rings around me? That I’m henpecked?” Jon asked, slightly affronted.
“Not at all, the opposite. You and Steph push each other, but ultimately you push farther and harder and Steph knows that. I wouldn’t have wanted to do battle with her on everything, with anyone I was in a relationship with. I love Steph, for all the reasons I first liked her, and maybe more so for seeing that we were flawed and recognising that Linds was a better match. So whilst I may love your wife as a friend and the girl I know she is, I am in love with my own wife.”
“You were smitten though. I know you were. When you spoke about her it was quite clear.”
“What do you want me to say? I was, and it was that first rush of lust, hormones that you get when you’re involved in a new relationship. Things were great . . .” Charlie stared across at his friend, both of them knowing that essentially Charlie was indirectly talking about sex, sex with Steph.
Jon stared back at his oldest and closest friend, wondering how he should feel in the knowledge that he had slept with his wife, that ‘things had been great’.
“You’re going to make this weird, mate. I love my wife and my son. You love your wife and baby and honestly, Steph never loved me like she loves you . . . she has never loved anyone like she loves you. Happy now?”
Jon said nothing for several seconds, thinking, absorbing everything his friend had said and eventually spoke, “Thank you. It’s unconventional I suppose, but it’s not weird, especially not if I don’t think about it. And thanks for being straight with me and for caring about my wife and me . . .”
They stared at each other now, neither of them sure what to say, if anything needed saying but before the silence became uncomfortable Steph called through to them.
“Jon, where’s pudding? Our baby wants chocolate!”
Steph was about to call Jon again when he reappeared, carrying the chocolaty desserts.
With her pudding before her she turned to Lindsay and asked, “You know when you were talking about Jon, that first time and I guessed he was married . . .”
“Darling, is this going anywhere?” Jon asked with an amused smile.
“Sorry, yes, I was just wondering what you were going to say that day if I hadn’t interrupted,” Steph said returning her questioning to her friend.
“I don’t remember, nothing really I’m sure,” Lindsay replied sounding anxious.
“You must remember,” Steph challenged. “Come on, it can’t be that bad Linds and we’re married now so whatever it was can’t be too awful to admit.”
Charlie glanced across looking as uncomfortable as his wife while Jon still seemed amused.
“You can’t hold it against me though, promise.”
“I promise. Jon, promise,” Steph urged.
“I promise Linds and I agree with Steph that it can’t be that bad.”
“Charlie already knows because I told him at the time what my thinking was about the two of you,” she began. “I was going to say that Jon wasn’t really right for you, that he was very single minded and although he had been involved before, that his relationships always played second fiddle to everything else especially business. I was concerned that you were falling for him but you were likely to be left hurt and disappointed especially as you kept telling me what an ars– well you know, that he was one of those and he kept calling you slutty Steph and messing with your head. I knew from Charlie that Jon had been affected by previous relationships and I had seen first-hand just how badly affected you’d been by your time with Simon. I really, really wanted you to find someone kind and gentle who would take care of you, someone like Charlie,” she said with a sweet smile for her husband.
“Cheers for the character assassination,” Jon said wryly, making Steph smile across at him. But more than his amusement at Lindsay’s words he felt reassured that someone like Charlie would never have worked for his wife. She needed someone like him.
“But I was wrong because you are both complicated people and yet together you seem to simplify the other rather than intensifying things. You are perfect together and I have never seen you so happy, Steph. I love seeing that you’re the most important thing in Jon’s life, you and the baby. That baby really needs a name beyond Jelly Bean,” she mused.
“Well that is on the to-do-list Lindsay, just behind you helping my wife to shop tomorrow. Online only as Stephanie is still confined to barracks without me, but our daughter really needs some clothes and equipment.”
Lindsay was about to speak and it was obvious that her mind was ticking over all that a baby might need and then all of a sudden the proverbial penny dropped at the realisation of Jon’s words put a huge smile on her face followed by a squeal of delight.
“She’s a girl! You’re going to have a baby girl and we’re having a boy. They will be best friends and when they get older–”
“No! No way, no how. Charlie have a word with your wife before words about your son and my daughter pass her lips. I keep telling my own wife that Jelly Bean is going to be a very, very good girl.”
Steph giggled at her husband’s discomfort and her friend’s amusement.
Taking delivery of yet more parcels Steph watched on, amazed at the amount of things one small baby was going to need.
“I’m sure Lindsay has gone overboard,” she said when Jon passed her a parcel that contained a ‘nappy wrapper’. “Apparently, this is a ‘must’.”
With an amused smirk Jon began to carry the parcels upstairs, followed by Steph who was carrying just the nappy wrapper. Depositing everything in the nursery he turned to her. “Shall we go out this afternoon? We could go and look at pink wallpaper and paint charts.”
“I suppose and we were going to look at a cot and a pram, pushchair, whatever,” she agreed, leaning against the door frame as she gently stroked her belly.
“That’s a date then.” Jon smiled as he watched his wife waddle back towards the top of the stairs.
Jon was on his third circuit of the baby superstore, pushing his preferred pushchair around. Steph liked it too, for the three minutes she’d gotten to try it.
“Jon,” she called to him. “Is that the pushchair we’re having?”
“Complete travel system,” corrected Jon as the assistant watched him doing a final emergency stop with an amused grin.
“Whatever. Is it the one we’re having?” she repeated but Jon was already back and asking about colours and accessories, the more high-tech the better.
“I can’t believe how much we’ve bought, again.” Steph frowned as they loaded all of their purchases into the car.
She’d only been permitted to carry a couple of bags containing the lighter items, one of which she dropped as Jon closed the boot.
“Come on, let’s grab some dinner and if you want to we can discuss work, precisely what you see yourself doing for maternity leave,” Jon offered, knowing she’d jump at the chance to discuss the topic she’d tried several times to broker since she’d been discharged from hospital.
Sliding the small shopping bag she’d dropped into the handbag she carried across her body, Steph eagerly took her husband’s hand and allowed him to lead her to a nearby pasta restaurant.
Once seated, Jon opened up the conversation. “I know you don’t want a career break and I will respect what you choose to do so long as we make the plan flexible and that Jelly Bean is central to it, Jelly Bean’s wellbeing above yours.”
Steph pouted slightly, thinking she was somehow being manipulated into agreeing to an extended break. “What does that mean?”
“It means you need to make a plan, the plan you hope will work, but in the event that our baby needs more, then you change the plan.”
Watching her husband’s determined expression Steph knew that this situation and him, would require specific handling or she’d find herself at home for a year with all access to work revoked.
It took about an hour before they reached their compromise and if she was honest, Steph knew it was a good plan for Jelly Bean and fair to her and Jon who really did just want what was best for his wife and daughter.
Her plan was to work until about 36 weeks and would then take at least another 8 weeks after the baby’s birth. Then she was planning to return to work, part-time, with Jelly Bean and over the following couple of months she would increase her hours until she found what worked best, for them all. Jon had suggested that there was no reason they couldn’t both work from home at least one day a week and as such they could share the care of the baby.
“Darling, if the deal is a goer, do it?” Jon said, watching his wife sitting behind her desk and talking in animated terms.
She was happy, excited and more relaxed than she had been since the attack on her almost six weeks before. Her professional chatter was becoming more and more excited as she discussed the actual bid she’d made to take the best parts of the Richards’ deal they’d originally worked on.
“We’ll just have to wait and see whether they’ll go for it,” Steph replied as a knock on her door interrupted them.
Answering, they both turned to find Andrea standing on the threshold. “Sorry, there’s a call for you, Mr Brooker, one you’ll want to take. I’ve put it through to your desk.”
Steph watched Jon get to his feet and with a determination and a hasty step heading through their interconnecting door to his own office. She considered following him, or asking Andrea who was calling, but she didn’t, she suspected it was likely to be Steve Cannon who was still working for Jack Baker.
Rubbing a hand across her fidgety belly she began to think about the police investigation into her poisoning, not that they’d really made any significant progress. Jon had suggested to them that they should find Simon, but Steph found it hard to believe that he’d sink to those depths. She’d discussed it with Charlie and Jason, both of whom agreed with her that apart from his wanting Steph’s help to gain access to his son, Simon just wasn’t that subtle. He would have come out fighting in a more obvious way if he wanted to hurt her.
With Jelly Bean, who was still no closer to a real name doing somersaults Steph thought about the turmoil the mother of Simon’s baby must be going through. Simon had literally disappeared off the face of the earth and that woman had been without her child for the last seven weeks. The idea of being parted from Jelly Bean for that long and in that way made her sad, sad enough that she could feel tears beginning to burn the back of her eyes and jaw.
The sound of Jon reappearing through their connecting door gave her a start, but it did distract her from her emotions and stemmed her tears.
“Darling, I’ve got to go out. I will tell you everything, but I don’t have time right now, but later. I’ll be back for home time.”
Jon had closed the distance and was already wrapping his wife in his arms, leaning down to kiss her, gently.
“Promise me you’re not doing anything stupid, dangerous stupid.” Steph needed reassurance, although she wasn’t stupid enough to believe that Jon would tell her if he was doing something dangerous so decided to choose her next words carefully. “Jelly Bean and I need you.”
“Hey,” he told her, lacing his fingers through her hair. “Nothing and no one is more important to me than you and Jelly Bean. So, I’ll be back later, before home time.”
Steph nodded. “Can we find a name for her, tonight?”
“We probably ought to so we’ll see if we can’t find one we agree on, okay?”
“I love you,” Steph croaked, a small cry catching in her throat.
Jon shook his head, needing his wife to be happy. “No tears, Mrs Brooker. We are sickeningly happy so no tears. And I love you too, both of you.” He rubbed a hand across Steph’s belly sending Jelly Bean into a spin.
Upon entering the office after a trip to buy cakes for everyone, Steph found Andrea in the middle of a phone call that was clearly for Jon.
“Mr Brooker is out of the office at the moment.” Seeing Steph she turned her attention to her. “Can you hold one moment, please? Mrs Brooker is here.”
With the caller on hold Andrea began to explain that the call was from a doctor, asking for Jon. Steph was unsure why a doctor would be calling Jon but whatever the reason she wanted to know and didn’t hesitate in taking the call.
“Put it through to my office, please.” She immediately made her way to her desk and within a couple of minutes knew she needed to go to Penny whose doctor was the person trying to get hold of Jon.
Grabbing her bag, Steph made her way into Jon’s office, already calling his mobile that went straight to voicemail. She left him a message explaining what was going on and then prepared to leave when something caught her eye.
The top drawer to Jon’s desk was not only unlocked, which was unusual when he was out, but it was open. Something glimmered from within it. She edged closer and pulled the drawer open further revealing keys, Jon’s car keys. Steph reached for them several times before actually grasping them but then wondered how she was going to get out of the building as she was still grounded and forbidden to leave the building alone.
She put the keys into her bag and prepared to leave, pausing briefly to put on her best game face. Heading out she found Rosie on the phone, but Andrea immediately looked up at her.
“I’m popping down to see Sonia Hansen,” she lied, and hoped she was more convincing to the other woman’s ears than her own. Without delay Steph left her office and with a slight spring in her step headed towards the lift and prayed nobody would intercept her before she was safely out of the building and in the car, assuming she remembered how to drive, it had been that long since she’d been allowed to.
Exiting the lift onto the car park she noticed the security man approaching when he realised she was alone. Clearly he had instructions, but even at almost eight months pregnant she was able to get to the car before he caught up with her.
She felt slightly guilty that he might be in trouble for this, for not intercepting her and preventing her from leaving, but needs must and right now it sounded as though Penny’s needs were much greater than hers or Jon’s need to keep her grounded.
Pulling out of the car park she saw Sonia entering and gave her a friendly wave as she passed her and headed towards her destination of Penny.
The traffic was easy, as was the driving and although Steph could feel what her dad had often called her heavy right foot that wanted to speed along, she resisted because she realised that Jon had been right before about exposing herself or Jelly Bean to unnecessary risks.
Turning into the hospital car park she found a place to park and began the short journey to the accident department where she’d been told to go. As she crossed the pedestrian crossing, a car that was clearly travelling too fast had to break sharply. The sound of the screeching tyres startled her and had her releasing several expletives as she immediately, instinctively pressed a hand to her belly that was churning independently of her baby tossing and turning.
“It’s okay, baby,” she told Jelly Bean as she made the remainder of the journey across the road where she hunched over slightly with a strong pulling across her bump. “It’s okay,” she repeated, rubbing her bump a little more firmly. “I am potentially in the shit here with Daddy without you creating waves too,” she told her unborn daughter who began to calm at the reassuring sound of her mother’s voice and touch.
It was another twenty minutes before Steph was making her way back to the car park having completed something of a wild goose chase in dashing to the hospital. She had been told by the hospital that nobody called Penny Brooker was there and whoever had told her that had been wrong. Steph insisted that she must be, that the doctor from the nursing home had specifically told her that this was the hospital Penny had been taken too after falling from her wheelchair. With the hospital staff insistent that she wasn’t there, Steph left, already calling the home to check what the hell was going on.
Her call had just connected as she got to her car. She stood, leaning against the driver’s door when she heard another call coming through. She checked and was in no way surprised to see Jon’s name and image flashing on her screen. She rejected the call and returned her attention to her speaking to the nursing home but with the intention of phoning Jon as soon as she’d found out where Penny was.
It took just a couple of minutes to establish that Penny was safe and well and in the home having suffered no fall or injury. They insisted that nobody had made any call to Jon, least of all the doctor who Steph believed she’d spoken to. Sufficiently convinced that there had clearly been some kind of confusion or breakdown in communication, Steph hung up and selected Jon’s number from her phone and prepared to get into the car when she suddenly felt dizzy but was unsure why and then realised there was a pain in the back of her head. She could feel her legs giving way as she slid to the ground and then there was silence.