JACK A few days later…
JACK
A few days later…
Kennington Park Road
After that first, awkward evening at the Starkey household, my days suddenly picked up speed in a way I hadn’t expected, catapulting me right into the beating heart of this strange, tiny family consisting of Adele and Francis.
The routine we’ve set up, painstakingly crafted with a near-scientific level of precision, swings between chaos and calm with such rhythm that there’s never really time to get bored.
Since Francis went back to work at the hospital, Adele’s days, and, by extension, mine, have settled into a fairly consistent pattern: nursery, academy, home, repeat.
An arrangement that’s bound to change again, at least partly, soon, when the infuriating Doctor Starkey returns to his night shifts
So far, he’s only been assigned daytime shifts, something specifically requested by social services to help Adele adjust to her new life.
But Francis has already warned me that things are about to change, and I need to be ready to spend a few nights at Kennington Park Road.
Considering that, not too long ago, the idea of sleeping in this house would’ve made me deeply uncomfortable, I have to admit it doesn’t bother me all that much anymore.
Sure, the man of the house is still the most infuriating, sharp-tongued human I’ve ever met, but I have to give credit where it’s due, he’s doing his best to be a good dad.
And even if he’s still figuring it out as he goes, you can already see the results.
Adele is happy, healthy, and all things considered, she’s a visibly content little girl.
Sometimes, though, she asks for her mum, and her usually cheerful face suddenly crumples into something small and sad.
In those moments, Francis and I do the only thing we can: we slow down, keep our voices soft, and hold her close until the storm passes.
There’s no fixing it, no shortcut, just patience, warmth, and the quiet reassurance that she isn’t alone anymore.
But those moments are becoming less and less frequent, and even if the thought saddens me, because it probably means she’s starting to forget her mum, I think, for now at least, that’s probably for the best.
Babies don’t really have much of a sense of time, or at least that’s what my mum always told me, and if Kelly Adkins ever decides to come back for her daughter, there’s still time to rebuild that bond.
Francis hasn’t shared much about Adele’s mother, just the bare minimum, but he seems convinced that, even though she’s still missing, she’ll eventually return for her child.
I’m not as optimistic as he is, I’ll admit that.
But from what I can see, even if Adele ends up staying with Starkey long-term, she’ll be loved, well cared for, and she’ll always have the support of the whole Blackbird Boys family.
Francis can be rigid and inexperienced, sure, but there’s no doubt in my mind that he absolutely dotes on Adele and is determined to give her the best life possible. I’m certain that even if Kelly Adkins were to come back to claim her daughter, he’d do whatever it takes to support them both.
He’d never walk away from Adele. I can see the same fierce protectiveness I’ve always recognised in my own parents, and even though I don’t know exactly what drove him to take her in, I can’t shake the feeling he made the right choice, not just for the baby, but for both of them.
The only problem is that, at the moment, there isn’t a single decent replacement in sight for my job. Plenty of CVs have come through, to be fair, but according to the good doctor, who, unsurprisingly, is absurdly picky, not one of them meets his standards.
On one hand, as much as it pains me to admit it, I’m almost flattered that he considers me such a valuable asset. On the other, I really hope he doesn’t get carried away with his expectations, or I’ll end up stuck in his employment far longer than I planned.
And honestly? I’m already stretched thin as it is. I can’t even imagine what my life will look like once night shifts at Casa Starkey kick in and rehearsals for my first show start eating up my weekends.
Every day, I shuttle back and forth between Broadwick Street and Kennington Park Road. I drop Adele off at nursery and pick her up again later, it’s the same one little Leo Elliott Arnett goes to, and luckily, it’s not far from Francis’s place.
After dropping her off and grabbing a quick coffee with either Seb or Remi, depending on the day, I head straight to LCDA, where my academic day officially begins.
Once classes are over, I pick Adele up from nursery, take her back to Starkey’s, give her a quick bath, and get dinner ready.
By the time Francis gets home from the hospital, we’ve already eaten, and I’m more than ready to head back to Broadwick Street, where I usually collapse onto my brother’s sofa without even managing to change out of my clothes.
Ollie seems genuinely worried about how intense my schedule is, while Ian, on the other hand, looks as happy as can be to have me permanently out of the way, or at the very least, too knackered to get on his nerves.
To be fair, by the end of the day I’m so exhausted I don’t have the energy to argue with him, or anyone else, about anything.
But the pay’s good. Really good. So good, in fact, that I’ll soon be able to rent a room closer to the academy. And Adele… well, that little girl is so adorable, I sometimes feel a bit guilty for getting paid to spend time with her.
Right now, she’s happily making a mess with her Play-Doh while I get dinner ready.
I’m so focused on stirring the carrots in the pan and making sure she’s not sneakily trying to eat a lump of modelling clay again, something she’s already attempted more than once, that I barely notice my phone buzzing.
Around this time, it’s usually Mum calling, just to check in and get a quick update on how school and work are going.
So I quickly pop in a pair of earphones and answer without even looking at the screen.
But the voice on the other end isn’t the one I was expecting.
“Hi… Jack?”
Anne?! I haven’t seen her since that infamous dinner at the Blackbird, mostly because we’ve all been so busy we haven’t organised another night out.
The first thought that comes to mind is that she’s calling to speak to Francis.
“Hey Anne, it’s Jack. Do you… do you want to talk to Francis? He’s not home right now, he’ll be back in about an hour and…”
“No, no…” she cuts in quickly. “I figured he’d still be at work. Actually… I was hoping to talk to you.”
“With me?” I ask, surprised. What could she possibly want to talk about?
But before I can spiral into too many questions, she goes on.
“Yes, with you…” she confirms. “I hope this isn’t a bad time…” she adds, carefully.
I glance quickly at the carrots sizzling in the pan and then at the baby girl sitting right in front of me. “I don’t have a lot of time,” I admit honestly, “but if it’s something quick, it’s fine.”
She lets out a soft sigh, and I can almost hear the tension in her voice.
To be honest, I’m a little thrown. I don’t know Anne well, but from the few times I’ve seen her, she struck me as one of the most confident people I’ve ever met.
Now I’m really starting to wonder what’s got her so unsettled, when she finally continues.
“I’ve been meaning to call you for a while now.
Since that awkward dinner, actually… when Francis managed to make everyone uncomfortable.
Not the greatest first impression of the group for you.
I should have checked in, offered a bit of context…
I’m afraid my ex didn’t exactly show his best side that night, not to anyone, really, but especially not to you. ”
“Yeah… I suppose,” I reply, but before I can say more, Anne continues.
“When I heard he’d hired you as a babysitter, I was honestly quite surprised. Seb mentioned that things didn’t exactly start off on the right foot between the two of you, so I’ve been wondering what convinced you to take the job. I mean, I imagine Francis made you a pretty generous offer…”
“If you think it was the money that convinced me, you’re way off,” I cut in, sharper than I intended.
“Truth is, I already had a teaching job lined up, pretty much a done deal, but…”
I pause, letting my eyes drift to Adele. She’s completely absorbed, squishing the Play-Doh into strange little shapes with those tiny hands of hers, and for a moment I forget we’re even talking about anything serious.
“Maybe it was a bit impulsive,” I admit. “But I just couldn’t leave Francis in the lurch. He’s doing something I genuinely respect, and even if we clash, I know he’s trying to be a good dad. Plus, my brother trusts him, and that’s got to count for something, right?”
“Ok, ok…” she replies, clearly relieved. “Sorry, I just had to ask. I know technically it’s no longer my business, and I have no right to meddle in Francis’s life, but… I still care about him. A lot. And I worry, even if he does know exactly how to make things difficult for me sometimes...”
She pauses for a second, letting out an awkward little laugh, like she’s just realised she might’ve said too much. But she pushes through the hesitation and carries on:
“Now that Fran is finally getting to live out his dream of having a family, I’d hate to see him end up alone or struggling.
I just wanted to make sure there was someone by his side who could really support him, and for the right reasons.
You’ve probably figured this out already, but Starkey’s a very proud man…
and like anyone, he’s got his limits. I know he doesn’t want to be a burden, not on his family, not on his friends, but if he keeps shutting people out…
who does that leave him with? Sure, Seb and Remi would do anything for him, but they’ve got a little one too, and their lives are already more than complicated enough.
Same goes for the other Blackbird Boys, really. ”
“Well, for now, he’s got me,” I reply, like I’m stating the obvious.
“You really do seem like a good guy, Jack. I’m glad it’s you helping him out…
” she says after a short pause, “…but I doubt this… arrangement between you two can last much longer. From what I’ve heard, you’ve got a promising future ahead of you as a dancer.
So, what you have with Adele, it can only be temporary.
If she stays with Francis, he’ll need someone he can count on for the long run. ”
Which, ironically, is exactly what I told the good doctor myself a few days ago. But hearing someone else say it stings in a way I can’t quite explain.
In any case, the carrots are done and it’s time to feed the baby, so I decide to wrap things up.
“Don’t worry, Anne. Francis and I have already talked about it.
We both know that as soon as the right person shows up, I’ll move on.
Though nothing in the world will keep me away from my little redhead…
” I add, ruffling the messy tuft of hair on Adele’s head and getting a look of pure adoration in return.
“I’m glad to hear that,” Anne replies. Then, after a beat, she adds with a hint of awkwardness that doesn’t suit her at all, “By the way… if it’s not too much to ask, I’d prefer it if this conversation stayed between us.”
The idea of keeping secrets from my employer makes me incredibly uncomfortable, so I answer honestly: “I hope you won’t take it the wrong way, Anne, but I can’t promise I won’t mention this phone call to Dr Starkey.
He’s not a friend of mine, we have a strictly professional relationship, and right now, I’m on the clock.
Obviously, if the subject ever comes up, I’ll make sure not to mention any of your personal confidences. ”
“Okay…” she replies, though she doesn’t sound entirely convinced.
“I guess I’ll just have to take your word for it…
You know, after all these years, I thought Fran and I had finally moved past everything between us, but the way he reacted when I introduced him to William…
well, once the anger died down, it really made me think. ”
“What about?” I ask, genuinely curious. “About whether it’s a good idea for him to meet your new boyfriend again?”
“No…” Anne replies, still looking uneasy. “About the possibility that, after everything that happened between us, he might still feel something for me.”