Jack laughed. ‘It just came into my mind – and then I realised why. It was the name of Kara’s terrapin, Sid Vicious, do you remember? He wasn’t there this time around.’
‘Of course I remember,’ Star told him, ‘and it’s not a name to bring up in conversation. You see, he suffered a very sad demise in the jaws of James Bond.’
‘Oh no,’ Jack snorted. ‘That is quite funny though.’
‘On a serious note,’ Star went on, ‘I’ve just given you the news that you’re going to be a father and you have taken it so bloody well. You don’t have to stay with me, you know. Just for the sake of the baby.’
Jack shook his head. ‘You need to stop this. I really, really want to be with you, Star Bligh. Nobody else, just you. The baby is the icing on an already delicious cake. Are you hearing those words loud and clear, madam, because I mean them.’
‘But what about your job? And do you want to live with me straight away? And—’
Jack put his finger to her lips. ‘We will work it out. I had no idea that this was going to happen. I assumed you were with Conor, so I’m booked in the hotel here until Boxing Day, when I promised to go and see my parents and sisters for a couple of days – and then I’m all yours, if you’ll have me? My job can be overseen from the London office, which basically means I can work from home anywhere I want to. They offer paternity leave too, so I will be able to help you when the baby comes. We both know my dream is to write, and that could be worked around joint parenting too, I’m sure.’
He kissed his happy girl on her forehead. ‘There’s alwaysa solution, always. I am yours. I’ve left New York now. My plan was to come and say my bit to you, then retreat to my parents’ house in Bristol until I worked out where I wanted to live.’
‘Hmm. I know of a beautiful estuary town called Hartmouth.’
‘Ah, well, that’s a consideration. And I’ve heard a gorgeous pregnant blonde girl lives there who is looking for her knight in shining armour?’
‘Just the red trainers will do.’ Star smirked. ‘By the way, I love the necklace I made for myself.’ She fingered it on her neck. ‘Aquamarine works so well for me – for us, in fact, in its message of love. And then for you to add that Blaise Pascal note, well yes, I’ll give you that, that part was romantic.’
‘Tick.’ Jack grinned.
‘The heart certainly has its reasons which reason knows not, but our hearts are at last together and now there is a third little heartbeat in the mix, it’s just perfect.’
Jack gently put his hand on her ever-growing bump. ‘Do you know the sex?’
‘No, I wanted a surprise.’
‘You’re good at firing those off.’ Jack kissed her on the lips. ‘Any names yet?’ He then gave a groan. ‘Oh no, they are going to be way out like Star and Skye, aren’t they?’
Star laughed. ‘I do quite like Storm for a boy.’
Jack made a face. ‘Let’s discuss it when he or she comes out, shall we? They say a name suits a face and we will just know, I’m sure. Drink?’ He got up and walked naked over to the minibar.
‘Fizzy water, please, and then I really have to go back to Tegan at the shop. She was fine when I texted her, but I need to get back to cash up with her, at least.’
Jack put the drinks on the side and got back into bed. ‘I don’t know why on earth I didn’t tell you what was going on in my head the last time I was here. I suppose I decided there was no point because of Conor and the baby. But then, when you showed me Molly and Ronnie’s inscription –There’s never an end to the sea, so why for you and me?– it stuck with me. Actually, who am I kidding. I never stopped thinking about you from the moment I met you, Star, I really didn’t. I’m so sorry that I hurt you, my angel.’
‘It was as much me as you. I should have had the courage to come out with it and tell you what I thought, but I assumed you would reject me. I wasn’t confident enough to think you would love me back, especially as you were living with Riley. Old Blaise Pascal must have been shouting down at us, saying “bloody sort it out, you two”.’
They both started laughing.
‘What do you think your parents will say?’ she asked.
‘I’m thirty-seven, Star, there’s not much they can say apart from “Congratulations”, I hope, and no doubt they will be relieved that I won’t be moving back in with them. Look, don’t worry, I just know they will be thrilled to hear that I have finally become a father. They will be grandparents again. My mum will be over the moon.’
They stared at each other pillow to pillow.
‘We are going to be parents.’ Jack put his finger gently on Star’s nose. ‘How mad and brilliant is that?’
‘It won’t be plain sailing.’
‘But there will be nobody jumping ship and I promise you that with my whole heart.’
‘If you do not love too much, you do not love enough,’ Star suddenly quoted, then whispered, ‘I understand that now.’
Jack pulled her towards him. ‘And so do I.’
