Chapter Fifteen
JACK
One month later
Kennington Park Road
The infuriating Dr Starkey, who also happens to be my boyfriend, is a pain in the arse in more ways than one, but I’ve got to admit: when he gives his word, he keeps it.
Over the past month on Kennington Park Road, he’s genuinely looked after me, fussed over me, and absolutely spoiled me rotten.
Needless to say, I’ve enjoyed the fussing the most, but truth be told, under his care, and by following Harry Bentley’s treatment plan to the letter, I’ve made a ridiculously fast recovery.
Even though I haven’t been cleared to go back to rehearsals yet, I have started attending a few classes again over the last few days. I still need a bit more time before I can attempt jumps like the one that wrecked the ligaments in my ankle, but I’m getting there.
Physiotherapy sessions are still a daily fixture in my life, but I’ve been told that soon we’ll be able to scale them back to three times a week.
Without steady, hands-on support, I wouldn’t be here now, getting ready for another day at the academy.
Keeping up with physio every single day, partly with Harry and partly on my own, has been tough, sometimes downright exhausting.
But I’m fully aware that my lovely, infuriating boyfriend has given me a real shot at saving my professional life.
I don’t even want to imagine how much Francis has spent on all this. My parents offered to help cover the costs, but the grumpy doctor didn’t even let them finish the sentence.
As soon as I’m able, though I know it’ll probably take years, I’ll pay him back every penny. He might be stubborn, but I can be even more pig-headed when I put my mind to it.
Francis didn’t just hire the best physio he could find. He made sure I never lacked his support or his presence, even while juggling Adele, the hospital, and… well, me.
When I was discharged, he immediately took a week off, just to be there for me through the first, roughest days of recovery.
Then he brought in the whole Blackbird lot, who, to their credit, were more than happy to help. Every single one of them pitched in to support us through the chaotic balancing act that became our daily life after the injury.
Right around that time, Adele also came down with a nasty bout of flu, and Francis, still haunted by the memory of the pneumonia that landed her in St Thomas’, barely slept for an entire week. Not until he was absolutely certain she was fully recovered and there were no lingering effects.
Then, of course, he got sick himself.
That’s when the cavalry arrived. The boys, and even Emma, stepped in, taking turns to drop off groceries, cook for us, or help out with Adele when the babysitter wasn’t available.
It felt like a real preview of what family life is like, and despite the chaos, the mess, and the constant stream of people in and out… I have to admit, I absolutely loved it.And more than anything, I can’t wait to make it permanent.
My mum is convinced that Francis is head over heels in love with me, even though he’s never actually said the words out loud.
Sometimes, those old insecurities creep back in, and I wonder if he still has feelings for Anne.
But then all it takes is one of the countless little moments we share each day, like when he’s playing with Adele and, without thinking, pulls me into a hug, and we end up wrapped together, the three of us, in an embrace so full of love it melts away every doubt.
I suspect the real reason he hasn’t said it yet is because he’s afraid of how I might react.
As if I could ever say anything other than the obvious, that of course I love him too. I love them both, Francis and Adele, more than I’ve ever loved anyone in my life. And I know for certain that isn’t going to change. Not ever.
Lately, I’ve also realised that I’m finally ready to make love to him.
Not that we haven’t already, every time we have sex, the connection between us is so deep and powerful, it already feels like we’re making love.
But now that I know his body as well as I know my own, now that I feel completely safe and comfortable with the man I love, I want to take that final step.
I want to know what it’s like to become one with your person.
When we talked about it, the infuriating doctor asked me to wait until I’d fully recovered before making such an important decision.
I do appreciate that he cares about my wellbeing and that, knowing I’m a virgin, he’s been particularly cautious around me, but I’m not prepared to wait much longer.
If he doesn’t make up his mind soon, I’ll have no choice but to unleash every bit of persuasion I’ve got.
This morning, with no early classes, I treated myself to a proper breakfast, fruit, yoghurt, and cereal. Physio’s not until this afternoon, and Adele’s already off to nursery with her babysitter, Michelle.
I’m just waiting for my beloved doctor to walk through the door any minute now, so I can at least offer him a hot coffee, ideally with lots of kisses.
I hope he gets home before Ludo shows up.
Ever since I started classes again, he’s insisted on picking me up in his rusty little car, just to make sure I don’t overdo it with my ankle.
He’d never admit it, but it’s a pretty big detour from where he lives, and it’s only one of the thousand things he’s done for me since the accident.
I’m bent over the sink, loading the dishwasher with our breakfast dishes, when I finally hear the front door open.
I dry my hands quickly and rush out to greet Francis, ready to give him a proper good morning. But the second I see him, the moment our eyes meet, I know straight away that something’s wrong.
Francis is usually loud and full of energy, even after a night shift. Right now, he looks like he can barely speak.
He walks towards me in silence, face pale. He drops his keys into the basket and kicks off his shoes by the door. Then, after only a few steps, he pulls me into a hug so tight it nearly hurts.
I can feel the tension in his body, all of it pressed up against mine, and I know it isn’t just exhaustion.
I wrap my arms around him and hold him close, brushing my nose against his rough cheek before pressing a kiss there.
“What is it, Fran?” I whisper. “I’m here, sweetheart. I’m right here…”
He leans back just enough to look me in the eyes without letting go, and when he speaks, his voice is so raw, so broken, I barely recognise it.
“Kelly Adkins is back. And apparently… she wants to take Adele.”