43. Jackson
43
JACKSON
A s I stepped off the train and headed towards the crowded exit, my chest tightened.
Something didn’t feel right.
I’d thought the same thing on the journey home. At first I’d just put it down to the fact that I’d gotten so used to staying late at the library in the evenings with Jane, locking up, then going home together that I was feeling weird because she wasn’t here.
But it was more than that.
I missed her.
It also felt like I’d given up too easily.
Yeah, I understood that she needed more time to think, but I’d let her go without making sure that she had all of the facts.
Take today, for example. If I hadn’t seen Jane in the corridor and led her down to the stockroom to talk, she would’ve spent the whole day thinking that there was something going on with Celeste and that I’d made that video knowing it was her who’d asked for it .
And I couldn’t blame her. She wasn’t to know any different unless I told her.
That was why, before she made a decision about our future together and whether or not we had one, Jane needed to know how I felt. Knowing that I loved her could change everything.
I turned back and walked to the opposite platform, passing a group of people who were asking the guard about some trains that had been cancelled. I didn’t have time to stop and listen. The train I needed was delayed but was still running.
I’d decided. I was going back to Sunshine Bay to find Jane and tell her what I’d wanted to say for ages.
Even though I had no idea where she was staying, something told me it had to be somewhere local. If it wasn’t the B&B, then maybe she was crashing at Maddie’s or with Jess and Theo.
Wherever she was, I wasn’t going back home until I’d spoken to her. Once she knew the extent of my feelings and how much she meant to me, she could take all the time she needed to make her decision. But at least then I’d know it’d be an informed one.
Earlier I’d said that I didn’t know whether I’d support Jane if the shoe was on the other foot. But now I knew for sure that I would. I’d do whatever Jane needed. No matter what.
If she’d told me she’d make more money to pay for her loved one’s care if I was in the video too, I’d do it. I’d work three jobs to help her. I’d do whatever it took, because I loved her. And when you loved someone, you’d move heaven and earth to help them even if it was outside of your comfort zone .
Don’t get me wrong. I wasn’t saying that I expected Jane to be cool with it or to go and work multiple jobs to help me pay for Mum’s care. No . I was just talking about me and what I would do. Everyone showed their love in different ways and for me, just knowing that I could come home to Jane at the end of a long day would be enough.
The train to Sunshine Bay pulled into the station and as I got on, my heart raced. I was going to get my girl. Just like in the movies.
In an ideal world, knowing how much she was into romance novels, I’d plan some big gesture to show her how I felt like the hero often did. But there wasn’t time for that right now. It was already late and I still had to find her. I hoped that when I did, telling Jane that I loved her would be enough to encourage her to give us a chance.
When I arrived at Sunshine Bay, I went to Sweet Treats first as the light was still on. Maddie was busy working late to get everything ready for the signing. Jane wasn’t staying with her, so my next stop was Jess and Theo’s house, but Ben opened the door and said they’d gone to the pub.
On the way there, I stopped off at the B&B to ask Glenda just in case. But as I suspected, Jane wasn’t booked to stay there until next week.
‘Hey!’ Jess said when I spotted her in the pub with Theo.
‘Hi,’ I said. ‘You don’t know where Jane’s staying tonight, do you?’
‘No.’ Jess frowned. ‘I thought she’d be with you. Maybe she’s gone back to her parents’?’
‘I don’t think she’d do that.’ I shook my head. She was still coming to terms with all the shit that had gone down with her dad and if she needed to think clearly, that was the last place she’d go. Jane would want to stay somewhere calming.
A light bulb went off in my head.
I knew exactly where she was.
‘You okay?’ Theo asked.
‘Yeah. I’ve just realised—she’s probably at the library. I’m gonna head there now.’
‘Actually, I was about to get my laptop. Mind if I come with you? Don’t worry, I won’t be staying, so you two can have your privacy.’
‘Course,’ I said. ‘Let’s go.’
‘See you in a minute,’ Theo said before kissing Jess softly on the lips.
I knew from the way he looked at Jess that he loved her. It was the same way I looked at Jane. Declaring my feelings was scary, because she might break up with me, but I was still determined to tell her.
‘I really hope she’s there,’ I said as we crossed the road.
‘Everything okay with you two?’
‘We’re just… I had some stuff I should’ve told her and I didn’t and she found out and is upset. But I didn’t get a chance to tell her how I really felt, so I want to do that now.’
‘Ah, got it,’ Theo said as we walked up the pathway towards the library.
‘Yeah, so I…’ My voice trailed off and I stopped abruptly. ‘Hold on,’ I whispered, holding out my arm to stop Theo from going any further. ‘I think there’s someone there.’
We took a few more steps towards the building, and sure enough, we saw someone dressed all in black wearing a mask and holding some sort of container.
‘Shit!’ Theo said at the same time I realised what they were holding.
‘It’s a petrol can!’ I whispered, watching in horror as the perpetrator sprinkled it around the exterior.
‘I’m calling the police.’ Theo pulled out his phone and started dialling 999.
‘I’ll go and stop them,’ I said, racing towards the arsonist. But before I got there, they reached in their pocket and suddenly there was a flash of light as the match hit the ground and the fire ignited.
Theo was right behind me, talking to an operator as we sprinted to take the arsehole down.
‘I need to get inside!’ I shouted. ‘I need to find Jane!’
‘Go!’ Theo shouted back. ‘I’ll take care of this bastard.’
I saw the person look up just as Theo dived on top of them, but I didn’t have time to stick around. There was a chance that my lady was in that building and I had to save her.
After racing round to the front, I opened the door, then sprinted down the corridor towards the library hall.
‘Jane!’ I called out, snatching a fire extinguisher off the wall, just in case. The fire had been set close to one of the empty rooms, but it was only a matter of time before it reached the library. ‘Jane!’
I burst into the room and when I saw Jane asleep on the sofa, I exhaled loudly.
She was here.
She was safe.
For now .
There was no time to lose. I had to get her outside.
I raced over, dropped the extinguisher, then scooped her up in my arms.
‘Jackson?’ She squinted.
‘It’s me, beautiful.’
‘What happened?’
‘Someone’s set fire to the building. We need to get out of here.’
Jane’s eyes widened and I could tell she was trying to work out whether she was dreaming. More like a fucking nightmare. I didn’t have time to elaborate now, though.
After sprinting down the corridor with Jane in my arms, I flew out of the main entrance.
Several people were outside. Some were rushing towards the back clutching buckets of water, while others were armed with fire extinguishers.
Shit. The fire extinguisher . I’d put it down when I picked up Jane. It’d take time for the fire brigade to arrive and we needed to put the fire out ASAP. We couldn’t lose the library. Jess and Jane would be devastated.
No way. Not on my watch.
‘Wait here.’ I put Jane down gently and took off my jacket, ready to put it over her shoulders. It was then that I noticed she had my jumper tied around her and my heart squeezed.
She was only wearing a thin nightdress underneath it, though, so she must be freezing. ‘I’ll be back in a minute.’ I kissed her on the lips. ‘I love you,’ I said before racing back into the library, hoping I could stop the fire.
And hoping that I’d get to see Jane again.