Francis Kennington Park Road
FRANCIS
Kennington Park Road
If I weren’t a paediatrician used to seeing all sorts of things after years in A I’ll lend you something of mine.”
Jack gives me that wide-eyed look again. “I seriously doubt we wear the same size,” he says, eyeing me up and down.
Under the weight of his scrutiny, a small shiver runs down my spine, and, true to form, I deflect.
“You’ll make it work,” I wink at him, then head towards the upstairs bathroom with Adele snug against my chest.
“Towels, shampoo and soap are in the cabinet under the sink,” I call over my shoulder, already halfway up the stairs that lead to the bedrooms and the main bathroom.
“And… clothes?” I hear him ask, still with a hint of uncertainty in his voice.
“You’ll find plenty in the laundry room,” I reply with a small laugh. “Help yourself to whatever you like, though I’m afraid there won’t be any fluffy socks.”
I can’t resist teasing him just a little. And even though I can’t see his reaction, I find myself grinning anyway, picturing the look of outrage that’s no doubt spreading across his face right now.
That sly little fox hasn’t just carved out a special place in my daughter’s heart, it seems. Despite his cheeky grin, his constant fidgeting, those wide eyes and the way he never stops moving his hands, he’s somehow managed to get under my skin without me even noticing.
And now that I’m alone and finally able to think clearly, I realise that, despite the scare with Adele, I’m not at all upset about staying home tonight.
After bathing and changing her, I give Adele a quick check-up to make sure she’s all right. Fortunately, there’s no sign of illness or discomfort.
The baby is just completely exhausted, and after a few sips of warm chamomile tea, I tuck her into bed. She falls asleep almost instantly, without the faintest protest.
I’m afraid I’ve taken longer than expected, but I still need to have a shower myself and then get a load of laundry going with all the dirty clothes.
I wonder if Jack’s already finished changing, and by the time I return to the living room, I’m fully prepared to argue with him, because tonight, I’m not letting him leave without calling a taxi.
But when I step into the dimly lit lounge, I’m greeted only by the soft hum of the London night and the faint scent of floor cleaner, the little fox has already mopped the entire floor, erasing any trace of what happened earlier with Adele.
I open my mouth to call out to him, but thankfully I stop just in time, barely managing to suppress a laugh.
My babysitter is curled up on the sofa, wrapped in one of my comfy fleece tracksuits, which must be at least two sizes too big for him.
Somewhere, he must have had a secret stash of his infamous socks, because on his narrow, dancer’s feet he’s wearing none other than a pair of those glittery, fuzzy monstrosities he’s so fond of.
For a moment, I’m almost tempted to wake him up, but I quickly shake the thought away. Instead, I go and fetch a couple of warm blankets and drape them over him carefully, doing my best not to disturb his sleep.
As I lean down to cover him, I catch the scent of my apple scented shampoo and the laundry detergent I use on my clothes lingering on him, and something primal stirs in my chest, some strange, quiet satisfaction.
As if I weren’t already screwed enough, I realise that, for once, Jack isn’t wearing one of his beloved bandanas, and somehow, the sight of his bare neck brings out the full vulnerability of this boy who can be so prickly, and yet so sweet, so thoughtful.
After turning off the lights, I head silently into the laundry room to start the washing machine, Jack’s clothes are already inside. Then I check on Adele one last time, switch on the baby monitor, and finally make my way to my room.
That’s when it occurs to me, I need to let Ian know. He was expecting his brother to be home by the time I got back, and if Jack doesn’t show up until morning, he’s bound to worry.
After several rings, my friend finally picks up, sounding suspiciously out of breath.
“F-Fra? What’s… uh, what’s going on? Why are you calling me at this hour?”
“You okay, Ian? You sound like you’re on the verge of collapse. As a doctor, I feel compelled to warn you…”
“Oh, shut up!” he snaps, clearly flustered. “I was, um, just working out…”
“At this hour?” I can’t help but laugh, hoping it won’t wake Adele.
“I take it your workout involved someone who looks a lot like Sebastian?”
“How dare you?” he hisses, which only makes me laugh harder, because obviously I’ve hit the nail on the head.
Honestly, Ian’s not exactly hard to read. He’s ridiculously predictable.
“Forget my... activities and just tell me why you’re calling at such an indecent hour,” he snaps, still clearly irritated. In the background, I hear a sigh, one of those sighs, that leaves very little to the imagination.
“You’re right,” I reply evenly. “I’ll be quick so you can get back to your... workout.”
“Starkey!” Ian hisses, and I can tell his patience is wearing thin, so I cut to the chase. “I just wanted to let you know your brother’s staying here tonight.”
“What?” he interrupts immediately, clearly alarmed. “I thought you two couldn’t stand each other. Wasn’t he just meant to stay long enough to cover for your fancy dinner?”
“Hang on, let me finish,” I interrupt, despite myself. “Adele threw up on your brother, so my romantic evening was a bust. Once we’d all showered and changed, Jack basically passed out on my sofa, and I honestly didn’t have the heart to wake him…”
“Ah, right…” Ian lets out a relieved sigh. “For a second there, I thought…”
“Thought what?” I cut in, feeling a sudden and unexpected heat rise to my cheeks.
“That I might have made a move on your brother? First of all, the idea is downright ridiculous. And second, Jack’s an adult, he can make his own decisions.
If something were to happen, it would be none of your business.
What surprises me is that you seem to think I’d make such a terrible match. ”
“You don’t get it. That’s not what I meant,” he mutters with another sigh. “You know I care about you, despite your… charming personality.”
“Then why are you so worried about the idea of me and your brother?” I ask, honestly curious, even though I have no intention whatsoever of acting on anything.
“Because Jack… doesn’t have much experience,” he says quietly, almost under his breath. Then adds, “I don’t even know if he’s into guys. Or girls. Or… both.”
“What do you mean?” I reply, surprised.
“I mean… as far as I know, he’s never dated anyone. And I just don’t think a man older than him, with a child, no less, is the best person to help him figure out his first experiences in… well, that area.”
Ian trails off, his voice thick with embarrassment, like he’s only just realised how completely ridiculous the thought sounds out loud. And honestly, I couldn’t agree more.
We exchange a few final words, setting plans for the next day, and I’m just about to end the call when Ian stops me.
“Wait, Fran… about what I said earlier. Please don’t mention anything to Jack. He’d hate me if he knew I told you. I don’t even know why it crossed my mind in the first place. I know you too well, Starkey. You’d never do something like that.”
Never.