Chapter 32
THIRTY-TWO
Thom hadn’t driven this fast since the night he’d landed his first City job, with a head full of bravado and nowhere near enough sense.
Hawthorn Acre appeared at the end of the lane, a handsome, grey-stoned farmhouse, solid and unshowy against the fields.
He cut the engine and sat for a moment, hands still on the wheel, chest tight.
The gate to the goat enclosure creaked as he pushed it open. Jago was in the paddock, sleeves rolled up, bucket hooked over his arm, talking quietly to the animals like they were old friends rather than livestock.
‘Easy, girls. One at a time.’
Thom swallowed. ‘Jago.’
Jago turned slowly, taking him in. Thom’s expression was closed off, something guarded in his eyes, his mouth set in a line that didn’t belong to him.
‘All right, mate, to what do I owe this pleasure?’ Jago grinned, trying to gauge what was going on. Thom didn’t smile back.
Jago’s smile fell. ‘You look like you’re about to be sick. Your mum’s OK, isn’t she?’
Thom sighed deeply. ‘Yes, yes, she’s fine, but we need to talk.’
Jago tipped feed into the trough and wiped his hands on his jeans.
‘Right,’ he said. ‘That bad, is it?’
They walked to the fence and leaned against it, goats shuffling and snorting behind them. The late spring breeze tugged at Thom’s jacket. He stared out at the fields because he didn’t trust himself to look at Jago just yet.
‘I didn’t come here to be clever,’ Thom said. ‘Or funny.’
‘That’s a first.’
Thom exhaled hard. ‘I’ve fucked up.’
Jago straightened. ‘Is this about Elodie?’
Thom looked shocked. ‘How did you know?’
Jago didn’t speak. He waited. That somehow made it worse.
‘I found something out,’ Thom went on. ‘Accidentally.’
‘Go on,’ Jago said quietly.
Thom finally looked at him. ‘She’s playing you.’
Jago’s jaw tightened, but he said nothing.
‘She’s still with Donal.’ Jago’s nostrils flared. ‘They’re planning to move to Ireland. Together.’ The words landed heavy.
‘How do you know all this?’ Jago was wide-eyed.
‘I overheard her. She was chatting to him on the phone. She didn’t know I could hear.’ Thom swallowed. ‘She was laughing.’
Jago let out a breath through his nose. Slow. Controlled.
‘She was smug about the money you were about to give her. The twenty grand.’ Thom bit his lip. ‘She was counting on it. Said once she had it, she’d be gone and they’d be laughing.’
Silence stretched between them.
‘Did you overhear anything… about Amélie?’ Jago paused and raised his eyebrows. ‘During this phone conversation, I mean.’
Thomas looked pained. He went to speak and then stopped.
‘I’m a big boy, Thom. Come on, just tell me.’
‘I’m so sorry, mate, but she’s not yours.’
Jago nodded once. Just once. Like he’d expected it, even if he hadn’t wanted to. He coughed to release the emotion building in his throat.
‘That’s not all of it,’ Thom said quietly.
Jago’s face was now red with anger. ‘Jesus, Thom, if that’s not bad enough!’
Thom’s throat burned. ‘I’ve been sleeping with her, and she’s played me too.’
Jago stared, then let out a fake-sounding laugh. ‘She’s clever that one, I’ll give her that. And it’s none of my business what you do with your life or her for that matter, but she’s clearly been using you too.’
‘I know,’ Thom said. ‘She knew I worked in finance. Asked me about investments. I didn’t tell you or Mum because… it was exciting. I was having fun.’
‘How long’s it been going on?’
‘Since she knocked on your door that day.’
‘Jesus Christ, Thom.’
‘I know, sorry, sorry.’ Thom dragged a hand through his hair. ‘I’ve got a girlfriend and I know what that makes me, too. I’m not proud of it. I hated myself for it.’
‘And yet you kept going back.’
Thom nodded. ‘Yes.’
Jago laughed again, sharp, and humourless. ‘She’s like a siren. You hear the warning, you know how it ends, and you still steer straight towards the rocks.’
Thom met his gaze. ‘I won’t again.’
Jago held it for a moment, then gave a single nod. ‘See that you don’t. Because knowing better only counts if you actually do better.’
‘Whoa, all right! Anyone would think you were my dad!’
Jago put his palms forward. ‘OK, OK, lecture over as I really appreciate you for telling me, mate.’
Thom nodded. ‘And I respect you and the way you treat Mum, although lately, I’m not sure you’ve got it right.’
Jago’s shoulders dropped as he visibly blew out a breath. ‘I’ll give you that one.’
Thom sighed deeply. ‘But I get it, I really do; Elodie is a force to be reckoned with. I thought I was sharp, but she knows how to get what she wants, that woman. I’m so happy I overheard her and I can get out of this mess too.
And as for telling you, you deserve to know everything.
Because she is using you and also because if this all blows up later and you found out I knew and didn’t tell you, I’d never forgive myself.
I’m sure that probably was in her plan anyway. ’
Jago looked over the field again and was quiet for a minute. When he spoke, his voice was quieter.
‘Does your mum know any of this?’
‘God, no,’ Thom replied quickly. ‘I don’t want her hurt by this any more than she already has been. She’d be furious at me, I know it.’
Jago snorted. ‘Bit late for that I think now, on my part anyway.’
‘I’ll take whatever comes,’ Thom said. ‘From you. From her. From anyone. But I couldn’t sit with this. I’ve driven straight from the hotel.’
Jago leaned his elbows on the rail, head bowed for a moment. ‘You know, I thought I was being clever. Thought I was helping someone. Giving Amélie a chance. And as for having a child of my own, it had always been my dream.’
‘It makes sense; you wanted to believe her.’ Thom smiled at him. ‘And it’s Mum you should be telling all this to, and not me.’
‘You’re astute, just like your father, Thomas Jory.’ Jago’s lips tilted. ‘Archie would have given you what-for and then completely stuck up for you.’
‘I know.’ Thom looked down at his feet. ‘I miss him. Like, really miss him.’
Jago gave his shoulder a firm, reassuring squeeze. ‘Me too. And for what it’s worth… I’m here, Thom. Not just now, but always. If you ever need to talk or just sit in silence with someone who gets it… OK?’
Thom blinked, his throat tight. ‘I… thanks, Jago. That means a lot. More than I can say.’
Jago nodded, eyes soft. ‘And thanks for the honesty, Thom. I’m not pissed at you; I’m sad about Amélie but also relieved in a way. My life is clean again. No worry of a child to look after. I have a lot of grovelling to do with your mother, though. That’s for certain.’
Thom reached into his jeans pocket for his key fob. ‘She will be as relieved as you are, I’m sure.’
Jago straightened, squaring his shoulders.
Thom nodded. ‘I’ll back you. Whatever you need me to say. I just want you two to be happy.’
Jago stuck out his hand. Thom shook it, grip firm.
‘Thank you for telling me. Even if you wished you hadn’t.’ Thom was witness to one of Jago’s one-dimpled grins.
‘When will you tell her? Elodie, I mean.’
Jago’s mouth twitched. ‘I won’t rush it. Let her sit where she is for a bit. She can’t stand staying with her dad.’
Thom shifted, uneasy. ‘Poppy, that’s my girl, she has come down to help with the wedding too.’ He sighed loudly. ‘I clearly don’t want her to know.’
Jago patted Thom’s shoulder. ‘You need to work out what you want, Thom… you’re young and I get it. Chasing fireworks that fizzle out by morning is OK for a while, but not at the expense of somebody else’s feelings.’
Thom shook his head. ‘I know, I know. And then there’s Mum. I need to be ready for her wrath, too.’ He laughed nervously.
‘That, you do. But this is on me now. I want to make your mother feel more special than she’s ever felt. No shortcuts, no excuses. She deserves the world.’
Jago tipped his head towards Thom’s Porsche. ‘Now clear off, Don Juan, and let me sort this humongous mess out.’