Players, Bumps and Cocktail Sausages (Silence #3)(53)

She sat beside me. “You’re going to be okay, both of you. Is Holly planning to move back when the baby arrives?”

“Yeah, her parents have already marked out a room for the baby. I feel like it’s a dream.”

“Well, it’s not, so you’d better get yourself sorted out, and I don’t just mean buying a house.”

She meant the alcohol and my promiscuous behaviour.

“I know. I don’t want my kid hating me.”

Oakley bit her bottom lip, and I knew what she was thinking: the way I hate our sorry excuse of a dad. That was the bottom line, as much as I felt like running until I got my head around the news; I would never let my child down like that. I would never put myself before my baby.

“You’re going to be a great dad.”

Shit. I’d gone from no kid to losing one to another man, to having one again. My head was spinning, and even now I was half waiting for Holly to say there was a mistake, and it wasn’t mine.

“I hope so. I’m fucking terrified.”

She laughed. “I remember that feeling. You both have a lot of support though.”

I didn’t want to tell her I was terrified of someone hurting the baby. I didn’t stop her getting hurt. Who’s to say I’d even know if anything was going on again? I trusted my friends and family, but I’d trusted my father at one point too.

“Does Brad know?”

“Do I look dead?” Holly wanted to wait a while. I liked the idea, but the longer we left it the harder it’d be.

“Make sure you tell him. He’ll be even angrier if he finds out from someone else. I’m sure he’ll be fine about it eventually; you and Holly are both adults.”

She stood up.

“Lecture over?” I asked.

“Yes. I just come here to shout at you before meeting Cole and Everleigh at the diner.”

“Lucky me.”

“Are you going out tonight?”

“No, I have Everleigh tomorrow morning. That kid plus a hangover…” I shuddered. “And I guess I should start that sorting-myself-out thing now.”

“Yes, you should. Call if you need me. Love you.”

“You too,” I replied as she left.



“Hey,” I said as Holly walked in the door to work.

She stopped in her tracks and checked her watch. “You’re early.”

“Funny,” I replied dryly. “How’re you feeling? Had any morning sickness?”

“Not really. I feel a little more tired than usual but apart from that I don’t feel any different.”

“Okay, good. You want a coffee? I picked up decaf on the way.”

She smiled and put her handbag down on the desk.

“That was sweet. Coffee would be nice, thanks.”

At that moment, Oakley walked through the door and did the exact same thing as Holly had, only she looked at the clock on the wall rather than her watch.

“I’m not always late,” I said defensively and walked away.

The kitchen being beside reception meant I could hear their conversation. It helped that I poked my head around the door.

“How are you?” Oakley asked Holly.

“Good, thanks. You?”

“I’m good. Jasper told me.”

Holly blew out a big breath. “Thank God! I hate keeping things in, but I wasn’t sure, and he should be the one to tell you. I’m sorry.”

Oakley laughed. “You don’t have to be sorry.” She suddenly hugged a surprised Holly. “You’re having my niece or nephew! Welcome to the family.”

My eyes widened, mirroring Holly’s, but I suppose she was now part of the family. She was the mother of my child, Oakley’s niece and Mum’s grandchild. Holly was going to be in our lives forever. I didn’t mind that. In fact, a part of me liked it. Me and Holly got along – out of bed too – and if I had to be ‘stuck’ to someone else for the rest of my life then I was glad it was her. There was something about her that I trusted. Perhaps it was just because she was having my baby and that meant we had to get along and not piss each other off.

“Thank you,” Holly replied, smiling shyly as they broke the hug. “It’s all kind of sudden but Jasper’s been great. He makes me worry less.”

“Good! And if you need anything, just ask, okay?”

“Well, I have an appointment.”

Oakley nodded. “Put your appointments in my diary, so I know when you’ll be out and that’ll save you asking every time.”

Holly visibly relaxed. “Thank you. I’ll try to schedule them when I’m not here, but I think Jasper wants to come too.”

“Stop worrying. Go whenever you have to. I remember all the appointments I had, but luckily I was here so I could take off when I needed.”

“Think you’ll be doing that again one day?”

“If Cole has his own way, definitely.”

“You don’t want more.”

“No, I do. Not yet though.”

She was still dealing with the stress of worrying about something happening to Everleigh. I could relate to that. I felt it every day too.

“Jasper, less earwigging and more kettle boiling,” Oakley said and turned her head.