Four
Jessica stood just outside the bathroom
door listening to her father’s girlfriend be sick inside. “Are you okay in there?” she called; Jo
straightened up and eyed herself in the mirror.
“You want me to call my dad?” the little girl offered. Jo Logan, Hollie’s sister panicked. “No!
No sweetie, I’m fine, I’ll be out in a minute.” She cried anxiously but
she had already gone.
Ben, who was busy fixing breakfast for
them all, looked up when Jessica entered the kitchen. A puzzled look on her face. “What’s up with Jo?” she inquired, Ben stared
at her. “Nothing, why? What made you think there were something
wrong hon?” she pulled out a chair and sat down. “Coz she was awfully sick in the
toilet.” Ben flew from the kitchen and
upstairs to the bathroom “Jo, Jo you okay in there honey?” he asked as he
knocked on the door, she opened it and smiled “Sure, why wouldn’t I be?” he
looked puzzled.
“It’s just Jess said you were feeling a little
off colour.”
“I’m
fine.”
“Are
you sure?”
“Yup,
come on, where’s that breakfast you owe me?”
They entered the kitchen together and
smiled down to where Jessica sat eating pancakes, “Daddy, can I go see the
parade with Brit today?” Jo frowned, it felt strange that Jessica should refer
to Ben as daddy but she supposed it was only natural. He was probably the only father she knew.
“If
Brit’s folks say it’s okay.” Ben permitted.
“I’ll
go call them now.”
Jo
smiled as she watched her dive from the chair.
“So,
how did it go with Mark?”
“It
didn’t, he’s representing Ingebrigtsen.”
“Oh,
so what you gonna do?”
Ben
grinned “Colin’s gonna represent me.”
“Wow,
the Read brothers up against each other.
They should sell tickets.”
“Colin
seems pretty optimistic that I’ll get custody.”
“Well
that’s something then.”
“And
he thinks she’ll be here for Christmas.”
“Who’ll
be here for Christmas?” Jessica asked.
Ben
and Jo exchanged glances.
“Rosetta,
she said she might stop by.” Ben lied.
“Oh. Brit said I can go.”
“Okay,
have you done your chores?”
“Yeah”
“Okay,
you can go get ready then.”
“Cool,
by Jo”
Jo got
down from the stool. “My cue to leave I
think.”
“You
don’t have to, I ain’t gotta be in work until late.” Ben told her.
“Mmm
sounds tempting but I really gotta get going, I’m on duty soon.”
Ben
had forgotten she was still a police officer.
“I
still say you went back to work too soon.”
“And I
still say I’m fine.”
“Ok”
he said, she kissed him.
“Oh
Yuk, would you guys knock it off, that’s just so gross.” Jessica chastised
them.
“I
gotta go.” Jo said at last.
“I’ll
see you tonight?”
“Yeah,
maybe.”
Ben
grinned. “I’ll see you tonight; I’ll be
home around
“Ok.”
Giggled Jo as she made for the door.
Ben watched her make her way along the
pathway and get into her car before returning to the task in hand. Washing up, why he’d given Rosetta the day
off he didn’t know. He finished washing
up and then made his way down to the basement where he put a load of washing
on.
When he returned he noticed Jessica
sitting by the window, she was wearing a pink duffle coat, hat scarf and
gloves. “Hey what’s up hon?” he asked,
she looked up through huge tears.
“Brit’s awfully late.” Ben crouched down, coming face to face with her.
“Hey
give her time, it’s still early. Parade
don’t start until two.”
“Yeah,
it’s almost that now and besides, I saw Britney leaving already.”
Ben
took a deep breath and slowly exhaled.
“What
exactly did Britney say honey?”
“She
just said, sure you can come.”
“Did
she ask her folks like I said she should?”
“I
don’t know, she said that her mom said she can bring one special friend and
well I’m her friend aren’t I?”
“Maybe
they couldn’t take any special friends in the end?” he suggested. Jessica shrugged a shoulder. “Hey, I got some time off, what you say I
take you to see the parade?”
She
beamed up at him and wiped away her tears.
“Yeah, you’re the best daddy in the whole world.” she said as she hugged
him tight. He closed his eyes,
cherishing those words.
Kate
pulled on Christian’s arm. “Come on,
it’ll be fun. Besides you said you’d go already.” Christian glanced at the
frost covered streets then back to where Kate stood.
“Yeah,
but its cold out. Wouldn’t you rather
stay here and err keep warm?”
“Oh
and how do you suppose we keep warm?” she teased.
“I
think I can think of a way.”
“Is
that all you think about?”
“Why? What am I thinking?”
“You
know darn well what you’re thinking.”
He
caught her around the waste and pulled her close and although she was very
tempted she managed to restrain herself.
“Come
on, it’s started already.”
He
frowned and let go.
“Why
would I wanna go watch a stupid parade?”
“Because
you want to make me happy, you do wanna make me happy don’t you?”
“I
could make you ecstatically happy hon.
If you’d just let me.”
“I
might.” He straightened up, “After the
parade.”
“Kate!”
“Chris.”
“Okay,
you win; I’ll come and watch the stupid parade.”
The town’s streets were brimming with
streamers and tinsel, everything Christmas held to offer could be seen on the
streets. Kate pushed her way to the
front, dragging Christian with her. His
eyes surveying every little girl visible.
“Well you could look as if you’re enjoying yourself.” She called over
the noise; he glanced down at her then smiled.
“Oh I am, believe
Roxi pushed her way through the crowd
minutes later and stood at the other side of Christian, he turned to her and
grinned wickedly,
“What,
no cool uniform today?”
“Chris,
I know this might be hard for that puny brain of yours to take in, but I don’t got
to wear it everyday. Where you had to
wear…”
“Ok,
you win. I’ll shut up now.”
“What’re
you doing for Christmas Rox?” Kate inquired.
“I’m
not sure.”
“You
wanna come to us for Christmas?”
Roxi
smiled but noted the look on Christian’s face and promptly declined.
“Are
you sure? We’d love to have you. Wouldn’t we Chris?”
No
response.
“Chris”
she nudged him, following his gaze to where a little girl stood.
“Chris,
are you okay?” Roxi joined in, she to following his gaze.
“Why
the hell did no-one tell me?”
“Tell
you what?”
“That
“Oh
God!”
“Great,
just great, I got another fucking cop stuffing up my life.”
“Chris,
Chris were are you going?” Kate cried “Chris, Chris you can’t approach him.”
“No-one’s
gonna stop me from talking to her Kate.
No-one.”
Kate looked frantic, her worse fear was
that Christian would end up back in jail, and this time he would be
guilty. “Chris, listen to me. I know this sucks but you got to be patient,
don’t blow it on a whim.” Roxi advised, stepping in front of him. He stood there just staring across to where
his daughter stood watching the parade.
“I just want her back.” He said finally.
Kate slipped her arm around him, “I know.” She said quietly. “Let’s go
home?” she added, he took one last look at Jessie then agreed, allowing Kate to
lead the way. “D’you need a ride Rox?”
asked Kate, the pretty woman shook her head and so the couple walked away.
As
the last float passed Ben squeezed Jessica’s hand, telling her it was time to
go. “I had a swell time Dad.” She
suddenly announced looking lovingly up at him.
He crouched down; “I’m glad, so what you say we go have dinner in
Luigi’s?” she beamed then nodded, taking his hand as they walked.
They rounded the corner and bumped into Britney
and her parents. “Hi Jess.” Britney said
guiltily.
“Hello
Britney.”
“I,
err.” The dark haired Britney stammered as she looked at their other friend
Bailey Wade.
Jessica
smiled warmly at them both, “Hi Bailey, you come down with your folks to?” she
inquired.
“No,
Brit invited me.”
“Oh! I see.”
“What
did you think of the parade? Cool or
what?” he went on.
“Yeah,
it were okay.”
Ben
looked from Jessica to where Britney and her parents stood.
“We
err, em, forgot Brit had invited Bailey.” Mrs Woods cut in awkwardly.
“Sure
you did.” Ben retorted, he knew when people were trying to cover up, “Come on
Jess.” He added as he walked away.
Luigi made a big fuss of Jessica as soon
as she stepped inside. He was the kind
of man who always make a fuss of the kids who came to his restaurant which
doubled up as a deli during the day, but he always gave Jessica extra special
attention.
“You
go get a table hon; I’ll be over in a minute.”
“Ok”
“What
can I get you?” Luigi inquired.
“The
usual and make Jess up something extra special, she’s having a bad day.”
“Ok
something extra special coming up.”
Ben hurried over to where Jessica sat and
slipped in opposite her, she was looking thoughtful as she removed her gloves,
scarf, and coat but left the pink little hat on. Ben sat staring at her, those greeny/blue
eyes filled with pain.
“Daddy,
d’you think I ain’t Brit’s special friend anymore?”
“No. I think she’d just forgotten she invited
Bailey along that’s all.”
“But…”
A
waitress brought their drinks, a large chocolate milk shake for Jessica and
coffee for Ben.
“Thanks.”
He said.
“But
daddy, Bailey’s…”
Their
food was then served.
“Bailey’s
what hon?”
“Well
he’s a boy.”
Ben
lifted his coffee.
“Err,
yeah.”
“Well
boys are different to girls aren’t they daddy.”
Ben
chocked on his coffee, wandering just where the hell this conversation was
going to lead.
“Yeah
Jess. They are. Eat your pizza.”
She
looked down at her plate.
“Daddy
you don’t think Bailey and Brit are, well you know?”
He
certainly didn’t know.
“Know
what?”
“Friends.”
He
relaxed a little. Friends, yeah friends
was good, he could talk about friendships.
“They
might be.”
“But
Brit said she hated him. He smelt”
“Oh.”
“So
you see daddy, that’s what’s confusing me.
We don’t like Bailey.”
“Oh,
okay. Well looks as if Brit’s changed
her mind.”
He
took another sip of coffee.
“But
she can’t, we made a packed that we wouldn’t be friends with boys. Like ever.”
“Oh.”
“Why
d’you think she changed her mind?”
“I
don’t know hon, now eat your meal.”
He was
feeling mighty uncomfortable now. She
lifted a huge piece of pizza and bit into it but he could see more questions
working over in her little mind.
“Daddy,
d’you think that Brit and Bailey might get together?”
“Get
together, what d’you mean by together?”
He wasn’t
sure he wanted to know.
She
rolled her eyes. “You know, like
together, kiss and stuff?”
Ben
looked her in the eye. “JESSICA. You’re eight years old, way to young to be
even thinking of that stuff, you should be thinking of dolls and prams, you
know. Kids stuff.”
She
went back to her thoughts.
“But
daddy.”
“Enough
already come back in eight years time when you’re sixteen. We can talk then ok.”
“Ok”
She
looked annoyed and Ben looked relieved.