Page 48 of Finding Jacob
He kissed my cheek and walked away. I watched heads turn; eyes followed him as he strode from my office with just a quick word to Nathan as he did.
“Yes,” I called out to the office, and while Jacob was still in earshot. “Meet my baby’s daddy.”
He turned to face me, blew a kiss, and then carried on.
I shouldn’t have felt happy, but I did. More so when the bump decided to wake up and I hoped he or she would stay awake so Jacob could feel movement.
The rest of the day was spent in the same way, fielding calls, and commiserating with colleagues and friends. The only surprise I had was a text from my mother. Why I was surprised, I had no clue, but I felt compelled to reply.
Anna, could you please contact your sister? She is hurting over losing her friend and I’m sure she’d appreciate your call. It’s the least you can do.
Mother, I take it you’re not serious? Is this the friend she didn’t invite to either the church or meal at her wedding? The friend who she hasn’t seen to speak to for ages, years? And after all that has happened, you want me to comfort her? I’m lost for words, other than... No.
I didn’t receive a reply, I didn’t really expect one, but spent a good hour astonished at her cheek.The least I can do? I started to fume. Grief and anger welled up inside me and I picked up my phone. I wanted to call my mother but forced myself not to. The woman was delusional, and if she thought there was any hope of a reconciliation between me and any of them after the wedding fiasco, then she was sorely mistaken. I wasn’t sure I even had my sister’s phone number anymore.
“Fuck you,” I said, blocking my mother from contacting me again.
“Do you think we should head off now?” I heard. I looked up to see Nathan. Beyond him, it was mostly an empty office.
“Have I lost track of time?” I asked, glancing at my watch. I really ought to get my eyes checked, I was finding it harder and harder to see the dial.
“It’s gone five. Only Jane left in the office.”
I nodded and switched my office phone to voicemail. “I don’t seem to cope with stress very well now,” I said, and then told him about the message.
“You’re pregnant, and that’s a great reason to go off on one to your birth giver. Bollocks to them, Anna, I really don’t know why you even bother to reply sometimes.”
Nathan didn’t like anyone who had upset or hurt me. I smiled at him. “My champion, always,” I said.
I made sure to tell Jane to head home. She would often be the last one and it occurred to me that I might have been taking her for granted of late. I’d need to rectify that. She had been holding the fort more than was expected. Not once had she questioned about staying in the office for the rest of the day, despite it being Sunday. And she was dressed in her office clothes. She gave me a hug before she collected her bag and made me promise to call if I needed her. She also insisted that I didn’t rush in the following morning, that she could cope. I reminded her I was at the hospital first thing anyway.
I linked arms with Nathan as we headed for the stairs. “Jacob is cooking, will you stay for dinner?” I didn’t want him on his own considering his confession earlier.
“Can’t imagine Jacob would want me tagging along,” he said. I detected something in his voice but couldn’t put my finger on it.
“Iwant you along,” I replied. He smiled at me as he held the car door open. “I’ll text Jacob and tell him.”
“Honestly, I think I’d rather just go home and... Well, you know.”
I wanted to hug him, or at least hold his hand. “Did you love her?” I asked as he climbed behind the steering wheel.
“No, it was way too early for that, and, I hate to say this, but I don’t think we would have been suited for any length of time.”
“Have you ever been in love?”
“Sure, a couple of times, I guess. Didn’t work out,” he said, shrugging his shoulders and looking over one to pull into the traffic.
“Julie loves you,” I said. I would love for him and my friend to get together.
“Julie would love me to fuck her. I don’t think she’d love to live with me. Although...” He winked and I got that was his way of changing the subject. “Anyway, I’m too busy looking after you.”
The selfish part of me was grateful for that. I’d hate for Nathan to find someone to fall in love with who was insecure about our relationship.
“I don’t like the thought of you on your own tonight,” I said.
“I’m a big boy, Anna, and thanks. It’s nice to know you care, but I really do think I’d prefer just to grab a takeaway and a whisky.”
It was only a short drive to my mews and as we bounced along the cobbled street, I felt a wave of sadness wash over me. “I would live with you. Maybe we all need to build a commune, or something. Find a large piece of land and all have our little houses but with one big central area we can all meet up.”
