Jack Broadwick Street
JACK
Broadwick Street
When I step through the front door in the late afternoon, with Francis at my side and Adele tucked into her pushchair, the last thing I expect is a welcome committee, or perhaps, more accurately, a small firing squad, almost in full formation.
Instead, parked on the sofa, there’s a solid contingent of the Blackbird Boys. I’d mentally prepared myself for questions from Ian and, at a stretch, maybe from Ollie and Kit, but the presence of Remi, Jamie, and even Ludo is a complete surprise. I’m not yet sure if it’s a good one or a bad one.
Over the past few days in Sennen Cove, where Adele and I were formally introduced to the entire Starkey clan, right up to the tenth generation, I’ve eaten an absurd amount of delicious food and gone on countless beach walks in wellies, to Adele’s delight and, let’s be honest, mostly to Francis’s.
Somewhere along the way, I’ve also had a few quiet conversations with the infuriating doctor himself…
particularly about where things stand between us.
We’re both more than ready to live this openly, with everyone, including our friends, so we’d already prepared ourselves to answer a few questions. Maybe not all at once, but honestly, thinking about it now… maybe it’s better this way.
“Evening, everyone!” Francis greets them first, while I bend down to unstrap Adele from her pushchair and set her down so she’s free to play.
While we were in Cornwall, we had the joy of watching her take her very first steps, and the fact that it happened right there in the Starkey living room, with Nick and Helen beside us, made the moment even more special, unforgettable, really.
Nick, despite his broad frame and gruff appearance, is honestly one of the gentlest men I’ve ever met, and when he saw Adele let go of the arm of the sofa and take her first few wobbly steps towards him, he was moved to tears.
Even now, as the little one starts toddling, still a bit wobbly, towards our friends, the compliments aren’t far behind.
Francis watches her with such a soft, proud expression that I can’t help but smile, even though I’m painfully aware of the murderous glare my brother is aiming straight at me.
Ollie and Jamie, on the other hand, seem to have already forgotten everything else except the baby. After cheering her on, they scoop her up onto the sofa and smother her chubby cheeks with loud kisses before handing her yet another stuffed bunny. I’ll admit it, those uncles spoil her rotten.
Ludo, meanwhile, who I strongly doubt has a single paternal bone in his body, is far too busy ogling Ian, who is giving him exactly zero attention because he’s too focused on staring at me and Francis like he’s genuinely trying to set us on fire.
Strangely enough, the calmest of the bunch is actually Remi, who’s usually not exactly the ray of sunshine in the group. But tonight, he’s glancing around with a suspiciously satisfied smile, like he’s swallowed not one, but an entire pack of cats.
In fact, even though I would’ve bet on Ludo, it’s Remi who speaks first.
“So, how was your little trip to Cornwall, boys?” he asks, even winking at us. Then he adds, “Rumour has it you two caused a bit of a stir down in Sennen Cove…”
And with that, he completely loses it, bursting into a smug laugh that earns him a proper glare from Ian.
The other three exchange looks, clearly unsure, clearly uncomfortable, like they’re passing a hot potato around, until it’s the ever-annoying doctor who finally snaps and puts an end to it.
“Oh, for god’s sake, can you lot stop already? You’re giving me a headache.”
Then he reaches out and pulls me towards him, firm and unbothered, and I melt against him without even thinking, like it’s the most natural thing in the world.
“Yes,” he says evenly. “Jack and I are together. We’re happy. I’d like to be able to share that with you all, obviously… but if anyone has anything to say…”
“I’ve got something to say…” Remi cuts in, “Finally! I’m happy for you two!”
He stands up and pulls us into a hug, quickly followed by Ollie, Jamie, and Ludo, whose voices blend together in a chaotic stream of: “I knew it!”, “This is amazing!”, “How are you even together when you can’t stand each other?”
The whole thing is abruptly cut off by my brother’s voice: “Why was I not informed beforehand? I had separate conversations with both of you!”
Meanwhile, Adele, who’s just climbed over the knees of her uncles like a kitten, throws herself into my lap, curling up against my chest with a content little sigh.
“Heck!” she exclaims, simply, and as she says my name, I wrap my arms around her with all the love I have in me.
“We’re informing you now, Ian. Jack and I weren’t together yet when we had that conversation…” Francis replies, his arm still firmly around my shoulders.
“But as I told you then, this isn’t your decision to make. Jack is an extremely capable, intelligent adult who can make his own choices. Just like I can.”
He finishes calmly, but with a quiet finality that makes it clear he means every word.
It’s my turn to speak, and even though I can’t deny I’m nervous, having Francis and Adele right beside me somehow soothes the worst of my anxiety. I lift my chin and lock eyes with my brother, holding on to the quiet certainty that I’m doing the right thing.
“Francis and I are seeing each other, and we’re happy together.
We both want to protect Adele, and this isn’t a decision we’ve made lightly.
We know full well what’s at stake, not just our own happiness, but hers, most of all.
I’m asking you to trust us, Ian, and to be there for us.
But if that’s not possible… nothing changes.
Sure, I’d be upset, and I might have to find a new sofa to crash on, but I’d still keep seeing the infuriating doctor who, infuriating as he may be, happens to be my boyfriend. ”
I barely have time to finish my sentence before Francis crashes his lips against mine, kissing me with such passion that I can now confirm, without a shadow of doubt, that he is definitely a fan of public displays of affection.
Adele lifts her head, watching us, and gently places one tiny hand on my cheek and the other on Francis’s, as if to keep us close.
“You two are insane…” my brother mutters, shaking his head.
“Jack, you’re twenty-two and you’ve got a whole career ahead of you, what do you think’s going to happen when you have to go on tour?”
“Same thing Seb and I do!” Remi jumps in before I can even answer, then continues, “This week the new babysitter is starting work with Francis, and in any case, I’ll always be around to help, Seb too, Maude, and my mum.”
“But... but…” Ian tries to get a word in, only for Jamie to beat him to it: “You can count on me and Noah, always.”
“Same here, obviously!” chimes in Ollie.
“Not me, sorry…” Ludo cuts in last, “I’m hopeless with kids, but with dads, on the other hand…”
I don’t know whether to laugh or cry, and as I cling even tighter to my doctor, I just say, “Hands off, Visconti, this dad’s already taken!”
“Absolutely,” Francis confirms, nuzzling the tip of his nose against mine.
“I take it back…” my brother groans. “You’re not just crazy. This whole place is a bloody madhouse…”
But I know Ian too well, and despite what he’s saying, I can see him fighting a smile that tugs at the corner of his mouth.
And in that moment, even if he’s not entirely wrong and we are, in fact, a bit mad, one thing is crystal clear: my brother will always be on our side.