Chapter 29
JED
With Mondays being Anastasia’s day off, I spent the day in the gallery.
I usually felt a bit twitchy when I didn’t have studio time but, today, I probably wouldn’t have got any work done, feeling restless and anxious for news from Billy and Pam.
I jumped every time my phone rang or pinged, even during the morning when I knew it couldn’t be news about Ingrid because she was still in the air.
Early in the afternoon, a message came through from Tara.
From Tara
Just a quickie to let you know my parents have had an offer accepted on Whispering Winds. They’re really excited and Dad’s already been talking to builders. He loves a project! Keeping everything crossed for news from Ingrid soon x
We were ten minutes from closing time on Monday when Billy rang to say they’d finally spoken to Ingrid but could I go to their house after I closed as they’d rather discuss the conversation in person than over the phone. That sounded ominous.
Billy answered the door. ‘Pam’s in the lounge but she’s really upset.’
‘I take it the conversation didn’t go well.’
‘I’d better let her tell you.’
But Pam couldn’t get the story out, breaking down after a few words, so Billy had to take over.
‘There was no remorse,’ he said, the sadness evident in his voice.
‘It was all about her – she’s loved Declan since she was sixteen, being apart from him for the past couple of months has been hell, she can’t lose him and the only way she has any chance of winning him back is to see him without the kids in tow because the kids are what caused their relationship to fall apart in the first place. ’
My stomach lurched. ‘She actually said that?’
A sob escaped from Pam and she dabbed at her eyes with a handkerchief.
Billy sighed heavily. ‘Those exact words.’
‘We asked her what that meant for the kids…’ Pam’s voice cracked and she looked helplessly at Billy.
‘We asked when she was coming back and there was silence. What we did find out is that she’s in a hotel at the moment and Declan doesn’t know she’s there. She’s going to see him when she’s got over the jet lag.’
‘So we’re no further forward in knowing when or if she’ll be back.’
‘I’m afraid not.’
‘Did she ask after the kids?’
That elicited another sob from Pam and a grave shake of the head from Billy.
‘I’d lost my patience with her by the end of the call,’ Billy said.
‘I told her to stop her nonsense, sort out her priorities and get on the next plane home. Her response was…’ He paused and took a deep breath and it was obvious how difficult it was for him to voice it.
‘She said Declan is my home. He always has been and always will be my number one priority. What part of that don’t you understand? And then she hung up.’
‘How could she?’ Pam cried. ‘Those poor babies. I don’t… I can’t…’
I couldn’t either but I wanted to be strong for Pam and Billy.
‘You’re not alone in this,’ I assured them. ‘They’ve got two families rooting for them and we’ll do whatever’s needed to ensure they feel loved and supported. Where are the twins, by the way? Are they still with my parents?’
Billy nodded. ‘They’re bringing them back in half an hour.’
‘And Aaron’s at swimming club?’
‘No. He’s in his bedroom.’ Billy grimaced.
‘Sorry, I should have said that before. I was going to take him but we were still on the phone to Ingrid when we needed to leave and he said he’d give it a miss tonight.
I took him this morning, but I did struggle with the early start.
I’m not going to be able to keep that up. ’
‘This is me thinking on my feet – I haven’t run it by anyone – but do you think it would be best if Aaron temporarily moves in with me at Mum and Dad’s?
He can have Erin’s bedroom for now and I can do all the swimming runs.
Ideally I don’t want to separate him from the twins but he knows me and they don’t. ’
‘It might be for the best,’ Pam said, looking at Billy. ‘I wish we didn’t have to, but…’
Billy nodded when she tailed off. ‘See what Aaron says. It has to be his decision.’
‘Of course. Actually, I’d better run it by my family first. I can’t imagine them being anything other than welcoming but I’d hate to suggest it to Aaron, have him agree and have one of them say no. Anything to avoid him feeling rejected.’
I nipped into the kitchen and made a call to my parents who had no problem with Aaron moving in if it was what he wanted.
Lucy was fine with it too and Erin was happy for him to have her room and said I wasn’t to worry if he was still there when she came home for Easter as we could sort something out.
It was only fair to keep Tara in the loop as this affected her too but she thought it was a good idea.
I returned to Pam and Billy feeling blessed that I had such supportive parents, an incredibly understanding girlfriend, and mature daughters who showed no hesitation in putting their brother first.
‘We’re all good to go our end,’ I said. ‘Are you both happy for me to run the idea by Aaron?’
‘Our only stipulation is that he regularly sees us and the twins,’ Pam said.
‘Absolutely. We’ll make sure that happens.’
Aaron was sitting on his bed, sketching.
‘What are you drawing?’
‘Ears and noses.’
We’d looked at them in our art lessons last week and I was relieved to see he’d returned to his homework from me rather than continuing with the darker images.
‘How’ve you been today?’ I asked.
He shrugged. ‘Bit down. Grandma and Grandad spoke to her. They told me she was tired and they didn’t have much of a conversation with her but I was sitting on the stairs and it was on speaker. I heard it all.’
My stomach sank. I wished he hadn’t heard that as it wasn’t going to do anything to help his rapidly deteriorating relationship with Ingrid.
‘That must have been hard for you.’
He shrugged. ‘I’d rather know the truth.’
‘Bear in mind your mum was jet lagged and upset.’
‘She didn’t sound upset. You don’t have to make excuses for her. I know what she’s like.’
That hurt to hear too. The last six years must have been so difficult for Aaron. I decided to switch to what I hoped would be positive news.
‘So, I’ve been thinking about our conversation last night and the logistics of ensuring you don’t miss swimming and I have a proposal for you. How would you feel about moving in with me at my parents’ house?’
His eyes lit up. ‘I can live with you?’
‘Yes. We don’t know how long it’ll be for and I have to be honest and say I can’t guarantee I’ll be home every single night because—’
‘You’ve got Tara,’ he said. ‘I like her. She’s cool.’
I smiled. ‘She is, although I’m a bit worried about you two getting together. I said I’d give swimming in the sea a try – just the once – and I don’t think she’s listening to the once part. With the two of you on my back, I’ve got no chance.’
He smiled at that. ‘You’ll love it.’
‘It’s cold.’ I emphasised that by shuddering.
‘It’s refreshing.’
‘Hmm! Jury’s out on that one. So, do I take it that you’d like to move in with us?’
‘Will I still be able to see Grandma and Grandad and the twins?’
‘Absolutely. They wouldn’t let you move otherwise and it’s important you know that they don’t want you to move out but they’re just being realistic about what’s best for you. They’re not getting any younger and… well, you know the score.’
‘Can I move in tonight? I haven’t got much stuff. It won’t take me long to pack.’
‘I don’t see why not. If I help you, we should be done for when my parents bring the twins back and you can spend some time with them before we get you settled with me.’
‘Okay.’
Helping him pack his belongings into a suitcase, my heart lifted that I was about to get what I’d always wanted – my son home with me – but my stomach also churned. At what cost? This was what I’d dreamed of but this was not the way I’d ever have wanted it to happen.
Aaron pulled a face at the girly duvet cover – white with red cherries on it – but seemed pleased with his new room otherwise.
Many of the items Erin had wanted shipped over from Aus were still piled up in boxes in the corner of the room ready for when we moved into our own place.
She had most of her clothes and day-to-day essentials at university with her so there was plenty of space in the drawers and wardrobe for Aaron to store his belongings.
Once everyone had settled in bed, I FaceTimed Tara and gave her a full update on the evening.
‘I’m so sorry,’ I said. ‘I want to be with you but I need to be here too. The timing’s so bad – not that there’d ever be good timing for what Ingrid’s done.’
‘Don’t stress about me. Hercules and I both miss you and we wish you were here but Aaron needs you. I know we’re not going to be able to see as much of each other over the coming weeks as we’d like but it’s not going to be forever.’
‘It could be. If Declan takes her back, I’m sure it’ll be on the condition it’s her and no kids and, from what Billy said, she’ll accept those terms.’
‘If it is forever, then we’ll find a routine that works for us all. In the meantime, just keep me updated and we’ll see each other when we can, even if that means a quick catch-up on the cobbles in a quiet moment.’
I smiled gratefully at her. ‘This week will probably be chaotic but one thing I promise is that I’ll be there on Wednesday night.’
‘You don’t have to be, Jed. Carly will be here so it’s not like I’m going to be on my own.’
‘No. I refuse to miss the opening night of The Friendship Pod. I’m looking forward to it and I’ve already told Aaron about it and got Dad lined up to take him swimming. I’ll be there.’
‘Thank you. I do want you here but if anything kicks off at the eleventh hour, I will understand if you need to dip out.’
‘Could anything else kick off?’ I really hoped not. The past four days had been more than enough.