“Yes, congratulations and if there’s anything we can do, just say, please,” said Jon shaking his hand.
“Thanks. There are a couple of appointments scheduled, so . . .”
Laughing Steph said, “Just email the dates to me, that’s fine.”
“Well, I won’t hold you up further, so have a great holiday and I’ll see you when you get back,” he smiled and left them alone.
“Ah, that’s nice,” Steph said genuinely.
“Mmm. Now sod off home and I’ll see you tonight.” He smiled as he leaned down and kissed her. “And forget about Jack Baker, I’ll sort it out.”
“Okay, just be careful with Jack, please.” Concern etched her voice knowing that Jack was vindictive.
“I promise.”
Leaning in to kiss her again he was halted by her phone ringing, making them both laugh as Steph held it up to show Lindsay on her display.
“Hi Linds,” she answered and stretching up she kissed Jon and said, “See you later handsome. What? No not you Lindsay, what? I don’t know if you should take extra spare knickers!” she exclaimed as she left the office leaving Jon alone until Rosie reappeared.
“Are you okay, Mr Brooker?”
“No, not really. Rosie could you call down to legal and ask Steve Cannon to come up to my office and would you join us, please?”
“Of course,” she replied and dutifully picked the phone up to call Steve.
Lookingaround his office Jon felt happy that he was in control again. He had a team of people he trusted. People he trusted to keep Steph safe. The idea of Jack Baker, his assault of her and his continued attack on her character, turned hisstomach. His first thought had been to go and find the man, to hit him hard, but he was smarter than that. Jon knew that Baker would have an advantage then and that was the last thing he needed. That man would pay for what he’d done to Steph, but he might have to play the long game.
Thinking of Steph in danger, under threat, he considered Simon who was someone else who needed to get theirs. The way that man had treated her when they’d been together was bad enough, even if Jon knew Steph hadn’t shared one half of what he’d done to her, but the way he’d treated her since, made his blood boil. He had attacked her, more than once, tried to abduct her and every time that man came anywhere near her she ended up hurt, often with a trip to A&E.
Plans were slowly emerging in his mind, but he’d need all of the facts before acting and that could take weeks, if not months. His phone lit up before it rang, drawing his attention.
“Kramer,” he answered. “Yeah, sooner the better for me. No, no, I can provide the full details of the money that I have invested for Penny’s care and treatment.”
With a grin, Jon looked at his framed photo, him and Steph, together, like they always would be, like they’d always been destined to be.
“No, no, it’s totally safe. Tied up securely. Really? That soon?” he asked as his finger skimmed across Steph’s cheek on the photo. “Can you let me know as soon as it’s finalised?” He laughed. “You’ve known me long enough to know that I always have a plan in mind. Thank you for dealing with this so swiftly,” he almost whispered, a combination of guilt and appreciation in his voice.
Sitting alonein the familiar surroundings of his home, Jon wondered how this had ever felt like his life should be. He wasn’tinsecure and hadn’t been scarred by a bad childhood yet after Penny’s accident he had accepted this as his life. From his first meeting with Steph, something had shifted. She’d gotten under his skin, if only by pissing him off initially. Their relationship had been built on truth from the beginning, kind of. He had a better understanding of how much of a compromise agreeing to be his mistress had been, meaning she had felt their connection too.
God he missed her.
He needed to get out and stop these racing thoughts that led him further into missing Steph.
“And we’re back,”called the nurse who was bringing Penny back into her room. “I’ll leave you two together.” She smiled and once she’d put Penny in her preferred position near the window but in the shade she left.
“There’s something I need to tell you,” Jon began, moving closer so he could take Penny’s hand in his. “I’m divorcing you, sorry,” he added, a slight break in his voice. “I’ll still be here for you and to take care of you, always but I love Steph.”
Watching Penny’s hand pull away and wave erratically gave a moment of clarity, possibly for the first time. The woman he had married really was no longer there. She hadn’t been since her accident and although their marriage had been flawed from day one, any chance they’d ever had of making things work had disappeared at the second of Penny’s accident. He shook his head.
“If you were here,” he began with a stammer. “You know, the old Penny, you’d be telling me to go for it, to hang onto her and never let go.” He grinned. “You would like her, really like her, especially the way she stands up to me and torments me.” Jonlaughed now. “And you’d bloody love her in full corporate mode. I love her, like properly love her, forever.”
Penny responded to Jon’s voice, as she often did. Today her sounds were loud and seemed animated making Jon feel that she in some way understood, approved and was giving her blessing. He knew that was unlikely, impossible really, but he took it as a sign.
“Come on, it’s a nice day. We’ll find your hat and I’ll take you out for a walk before I go. Charlie and I have a date with a pay per view fight, a takeaway and beer.”
Steph and Lindsayhad retrieved their cases and were on route to the exit when Lindsay shrieked startling Steph, “Oh my God! That’s for us.”
Steph turned to where her friend was staring and shook her head at the chauffeur in full uniform holding a sign with their names emblazoned across it.
