FRANCIS The Blackbird #2
But honestly, what better place than this pub, our long-standing meeting point, to pull ourselves back together as a found family, to tighten the threads that keep us bound?
A bond that, despite all the messes we manage to get ourselves into, refuses to break, and today, I’ve realised it’s stronger than ever.
Around us, the other patrons stare in confusion. Some chuckle, others just look on, trying to figure out what’s going on. But the only thing that matters to me right now is knowing I can still count on them, that I’m not alone, not even in this new chapter of my life.
One by one, everyone returns to their seats, everyone except Jack, who remains where he is. Understandably so. Despite the mutual dislike, we’re still complete strangers to each other.
Once the waiter, against all odds, manages to take our orders in the middle of the chaos, the questions start pouring in.
“How old is Adele?” Seb asks immediately, followed by his husband, who, despite everything, is still eyeing me with a hint of a frown: “Have you told your parents down in Sennen Cove yet?”
Then Noah chimes in: “Where’s she going to go to school? You do know the best places have mile-long waiting lists, right?”
And finally Jamie adds: “Getting the nursery ready and sorting out everything she’ll need will be fun, you’ll see. We’re more than happy to help if you need it…”
“Thanks, guys…” I murmur, slightly overwhelmed. “I really appreciate it. I honestly don’t know what I’d do without you.”
So far, Anne is the only one who hasn’t asked me anything, aside from Jack, obviously.
And as the others begin talking over one another again, firing off questions I try to answer one at a time, it dawns on me that she’s probably the one who’ll need the most time to adjust to the idea of me becoming a father.
But there’s no trace of regret in her expression. If anything, I see a quiet emotion in her eyes, barely concealed, and knowing her, that can only mean one thing: Anne is happy for me.
The realisation pulls me under, like a tidal wave and, oddly enough, it stitches together a wound in my chest I didn’t even know was still bleeding. Here and now, I realise I’m finally starting to heal.
That I’m ready, if not to let go of the past completely, then at least to move forward. To take a few steps towards the life that’s waiting for me, not out of resignation, but with a renewed sense of purpose.
With a reason.
But first, there’s a small issue to tackle.
“Erm… Listen,” I begin, clearing my throat. “I’m beyond grateful for all the emotional support tonight, but I could really use some practical advice too…”
Predictably, everyone turns to look at Seb and Remi, the only two in the group who already have a child, and thankfully, he’s roughly the same age as Adele.
“As I mentioned earlier, I’ve been granted a few days of parental leave, but once that’s over, I’ll definitely need someone trustworthy to help look after her.
I know it’s not easy to find a nanny with solid references who’s also willing to stay overnight a couple of times a week because of my shifts, but I have to start somewhere… ”
Judging by the horrified look Seb and Remi exchange, my chances of finding someone with all those qualities, who’s also free to start immediately, are next to zero.
“Erm…” Remi begins, and the fact that Seb’s letting him take the lead is already a bad sign.
“We don’t have a regular nanny,” he explains gently.
“Leo goes to nursery, and we try to juggle our work schedules so that at least one of us is always there at pick-up time. In an emergency, or if we’re going out in the evening, we rely on my mum or Maude, you know that…
Actually, Maude isn’t here tonight because she wanted to spend a bit of time with Leo… ”
His face lights up briefly with a soft, unmistakably fond smile before he continues. “We do have the number of a nanny we keep in reserve for desperate situations, but thankfully, we haven’t needed to call her yet.”
“Her name’s Laura,” Sebastian chimes in, “and we’re happy to pass along her contact details if you’d like… But from what I’ve heard, she’s constantly booked. And you, it sounds like, need someone who can commit to you more or less full-time…”
“To be honest, I was actually thinking of enrolling Adele in nursery too,” I admit.
“A nanny would just need to drop her off, pick her up, and stay with her until dinner time. Realistically, she’d have most of the day free and would only need to stay over on nights when I’m working a night shift. Doesn’t sound too bad, right?”
Judging by the silence that follows my perfectly reasonable plan, apparently… wrong.
“Don’t worry,” Seb says gently, trying to reassure me. “I’m sure you’ll find… erm, someone. I’ll give you the nanny’s number, try calling her first thing tomorrow. And if she really can’t help, we could always ask Emma to come stay with you for a few days, couldn’t we, Remi?”
“Absolutely,” my best friend agrees without hesitation. “In fact, just let me know when you expect Adele to move in, and I’ll give my mum a heads-up tomorrow.”
“Erm… by the end of next week?” I suggest cautiously. “Maybe even a bit sooner?” I add, watching the jaws of everyone at the table quite literally drop to the floor.
“You mean the baby could be moving in with you in, like, two or three days?” Noah asks, making no effort to hide his blatant disbelief.
“I’m afraid so…” I admit, lifting both hands in surrender just before chaos breaks out again around the table, waves of advice, questions, and sarcastic remarks crashing into one another in a storm of well-meaning panic.
From what I can gather, the general consensus is that, despite the fact we live in London, I’ve got approximately zero chance of finding a nanny in time.
Then, cutting through the noise, Ian’s voice rises, excited, triumphant.
He slaps both hands on the table, gets to his feet, and beams as if he’s just solved the housing crisis. Honestly, I don’t think I’ve ever seen him look this pleased about anything.
“I’ve got it!” he announces, grinning from ear to ear. “You should hire Jack!”
Quite possibly the most ridiculous, illogical, utterly deranged suggestion I’ve ever received in my life.
By far.