Chapter 24
TWENTY-FOUR
JONAS
They’d spent the evening playing with Olive. Once she’d gone down for the night, they’d switched to reconciling in a strictly adults-only manner.
The next morning, Jonas lay in Adam’s bed, listening to him banging around downstairs. He could hear Adam talking nonsense to his daughter. It made Jonas smile.
He grabbed his phone from the nightstand. There was a message from Heidi. What had happened over the last twenty-four hours couldn’t be conveyed textually. Instead he connected a call.
“Hi,” she said. “Are you okay?”
Jonas frowned. There was serious noise in the background. “Where are you?”
“The airport. Work thing. Where are you?”
“Adam’s.”
“What the fuck?”
Jonas beamed. “So he’s not cheating. He’s not ill and neither is Jen.”
“What is it then?”
“You swear to secrecy?”
“Do you have to ask?”
“He’s a father.”
Silence. He supposed she was as stunned as he’d been.
“A fucking father? Since when?”
“A few months, judging by the size of her. We didn’t get into the specifics.”
“Shit. I presume you’re in his bed right now.”
She knew him far too well for his liking. “I am and I’ll do it again.”
“Are you happy?”
“We’ve some things to smooth out. Even so, I think we’ve taken this to the next level. I even told him about Mum.”
Heidi was probably the only person in the world who truly recognised what that meant for him.
“That’s a big step, babe.”
“I know. He’s worth it.”
“Then I’m really bloody happy for you. I hope that doesn’t mean I lose out on private jet trips to Sweden.”
“I’ll always make time for you, sugar.”
“Correct answer. Listen, they’re boarding my plane. I’ll call you later.”
“Safe journey.”
“I love you.”
“I love you too.”
He terminated the call and stared out of the vast windows that gave a stunning view of the gardens. He could imagine Olive running around there in a few years.
The irony of being a stepparent of sorts wasn’t lost on Jonas. After suffering Tuva, he would make a much better job of it than that miserable cow.
“Hey,” Adam called up the stairs. “Sleeping beauty. Get your arse in gear. There’s a little girl down here who wants a swim.”
“I don’t have any swimmers,” Jonas shouted back.
“Dressing room. On the left. Third drawer down. Hurry up.”
He leapt out of bed and padded over to the dressing room. Sure enough the drawer was stuffed with swimming shorts and some dodgy Speedos that he would be having a discussion with Adam about at a later date. Maybe even a private viewing.
In the end he selected some old Brockton shorts. Like most football clubs they upgraded their kit every year. It appeared Adam never threw anything away.
By the time he got downstairs, Adam was already in the pool. He had Olive cradled in his arms. She seemed to be perfectly happy in the water. She had on the most adorable pink swimming costume and matching float jacket.
“Could you two be any cuter?” Jonas said.
“Do you need coffee?”
“I do but I can have it later,” Jonas replied.
He slipped into the pool. The warm water enveloping him. When he did finally get his act together about where he would live next season, he’d make sure it had a pool.
He swam over to Adam and kissed him on the cheek. “Morning, handsome.”
Olive squealed with joy when she saw Jonas and held her arms out.
“Wow. Someone loves you.”
Adam handed her over. Jonas laid her in the water. She kicked furiously. They laughed as she splashed the pair of them.
“What a water baby,” Jonas said. “I can see us going to swimming galas in the future.”
Adam came behind him and wrapped his arms around Jonas’ waist.
“I like being a plural again.”
He nuzzled Jonas’ neck.
“Me too,” Jonas replied. “Whatever happens, I’ll stand with you.”
Adam rested his chin on Jonas’ shoulder.
“Even if we have to be a secret for a few years?” Adam asked. “At some point we’ll have to go public with this little one. I don’t think Jen can face a love triangle on top.”
“The British media are still stuck in the sixties. In answer to your question, absolutely. If I’m going to have Anna with me, I don’t want reporters banging on the door every hour of the day and night either.”
“Have you heard from her?”
“Nope,” Jonas replied. Tuva had always been an obstinate bitch. It appeared his father’s sense of right was long gone.
Adam’s phone rang.
“Balls,” Adam exclaimed.
He climbed out of the pool and wandered over to a table where his phone was vibrating. Jonas watched him. He was the most handsome man he’d ever set eyes on. Or fingers. Or lips. Or…
Olive gurgled. He lifted her out of the water and cuddled her.
“Sorry, princess. I’m having naughty thoughts about your father.”
“I heard that,” Adam replied. “Not in front of the child, please. Shit. It’s Jen.”
He strode out of the room. Jonas had a flash of paranoia that he was taking the call away from him.
Calm down. He’s allowed some privacy.
Jonas went over to the steps and climbed carefully out. He found a towel on a lounger and wrapped Olive up in it. She gazed up at him. Such trust in her eyes.
“Did you like your swim?” he asked.
She babbled away.
“You’re trying to tell me, aren’t you? Clever girl.”
Adam came in. He looked ashen-faced.
“What’s the matter?” Jonas asked.
“She’s on her way,” Adam replied. “She’ll be here in an hour.”
Jonas carried Olive over. Adam’s eyes were full of tears.
“I can’t lose her, Jonas.”
“Hey now. No one has said you’re going to. Let’s take it as it comes.”
“Together?”
“Absofuckinglutely. Unless you want to do it alone. I can come later.”
Adam rested his hand on Jonas’ shoulder. “Whatever is decided today impacts your life too. I want you with me.”
“Then I’ll be here.”
They kissed. Jonas vowed never to take Adam’s lips for granted again.
“When I think how close I came to losing you,” Adam said.
“But you didn’t. I think in some way I always knew you’d come good. Even if you tested that theory to the absolute limit.”
Just over an hour later and Adam was hopping around like a demented kangaroo. He reckoned he was entertaining Olive, who didn’t seem on board with that. Jonas suspected he was really burning off his nerves. If it worked on the football pitch, it could do the same in Adam’s lounge.
The buzzer went and Adam ran off to let his ex-girlfriend in. Jonas quickly checked himself out in the mirror. He’d thrown on a pair of Adam’s jeans and a T-shirt. He really would have to go home at some point. Even if only to get a change of clothes.
He went to pick Olive up from her bouncy chair then stopped.
“Your mama will want a snuggle,” he said to her.
It also might come across as territorial if Jonas was holding the baby.
He heard voices. Then the lounge door opened. He’d never met Jen. Once the article had been published, he had done his internet research. She was a beautiful woman. The photos from last week had shocked Jonas.
Today, Jen looked better. She made a beeline for her child.
“Oh my darling,” she cried out. “I am so sorry.”
She swept her up in her arms and cuddled her close.
“Mummy will never leave you again. I promise.”
Olive grabbed some of Jen’s dark curls.
“She looks well,” Jen said.
“Nothing to it,” Adam replied.
Jen narrowed her eyes. “Who helped?”
“Goran and Paloma.”
Jen nuzzled Olive.
“Jen. This is Jonas.”
“Jonas. Apologies for totally ignoring you.”
Jonas kissed her on the cheek. “I am more than happy to be upstaged by this beauty.”
They stood and stared at each other for what felt like an age.
“I think we should have a chat,” Jen said.
“If you want to talk alone, I’m more than happy to go home,” Jonas repeated to Jen.
“Not at all. Once we’ve done the chat, it’ll be nice to get to know you.”
Adam resembled someone being taken to the gallows. Jonas wanted to run and put his arms around him. Yet, it didn’t seem like the right thing to do. If Jen was still fragile, he didn’t want her to feel ganged up on.
Instead, he took the chair and let them both settle on one of the couches.
Jen shifted Olive in her arms. She was already dropping to sleep.
“She missed you,” Adam said.
“Adam,” Jen began. “While I’ve been away, I’ve been doing some thinking.”
Jonas could hardly bear to watch this. Was Adam about to have his heart smashed into pieces?
“Okay?”
“I’m not going back into influencing,” she announced. “That wouldn’t be right with a baby. I’ve no intention of using her and let’s face it, when am I never with her?”
“What are you going to do?”
Jen kissed the top of Olive’s head. “I’m not sure yet. I’ve got some money saved.”
To Jonas’ horror, Adam let out a sob. Jen took hold of his hand.
“What’s the matter?”
“I have to know. Are you going to take her away from me?”
“Adam. Of course I’m not. The total opposite, you goon.”
“What do you mean?”
“Maybe I can find a place nearby,” she explained. “We may not be together anymore.”
She turned to Jonas.
“And best of luck with this one,” she continued. “I can already tell you’ve had a better influence on him that I ever did.”
Jonas had no idea how to respond to that.
“Thank you.”
“I want Olive to have you in her life,” Jen said, turning to Adam. “Trying to go it alone wasn’t fair to her. She needs her dad.”
Poor Adam looked as though he’d had a bucket of cold water poured on him. He sat and stared at Jen.
“Are you being serious?”
“Of course I am,” she replied. “I might have had a wobble but I’m still me. We’ve never tried to hurt each other before. I’m not about to start now.”
“Don’t let money be a worry,” he said. “I can help with that. Then when you’re ready to go back to work, I’ll fund it. A shop maybe? Whatever you need.”
Jen chuckled. “We can iron out the details later.”
“Thank you, Jen. I don’t know what to say.”
“I’ll remind you of that when you want to take this one on holiday and you have a sassy little girl accompanying you. Remember, they don’t stay this cute for long.”
Adam wiped his eyes. “She’ll always be cute.”
“Are you ready for this?” Jen said to Jonas. “I’m sorry to put you on the spot. I think I have a right to know.”
Wow she had come back stronger than Adam had described.
“It’s fine with me,” Jonas piped up. “My teenage sister is hopefully coming to live with me next year.”
“Amazing. We have a built-in babysitter.”
After being solo for quite some time, Jonas marvelled at how many “we’s” he’d joined recently. He liked it.
Olive let out a cry.
“Shit. It’s time she had a bottle,” Adam said.
Jen went to get up but Adam took Olive from her. “Allow me.”
He held his daughter tight as he went out of the room. That left Jonas and Jen. Alone for the first time.
Jen let out a breath. “That was a bit of a word salad. You’ve no idea how many times I’ve rehearsed that on the train.”
“I’m sorry that things didn’t work out for you and Adam,” Jonas said.
“Are you?” Jen replied.
He must have looked shocked as she burst into laughter.
“Relax. I’m only kidding,” she continued. “Adam and I were happy for a time. We’re too different. I accepted that a year ago. Despite what he tells you, he lives for football. Then I suppose you do too.”
Jonas nodded. “Pretty much.”
“There’s one thing we have to deal with.”
“What’s that?”
“The media. They’re going to have a field day.”