She was right about one thing, this camp was all about the kids, and the only people that needed to win were them, in terms of them having a good time, developing their skills and confidence. But the battle lines had now been drawn, and there was no way that Dee Jones would be beating me in anything.
CHAPTER6
Dee
“But you haveto understand that I need time away. I didn't ask to have Tobias, it was a complete surprise, unplanned, and if it hadn't been for you and Mum making me feel guilty, I probably wouldn't have gone through with the pregnancy.”
My sister, a person who shares the same genetic makeup as me, stood there with her hands on her hips, her face perfectly made up, and wearing clothes I was pretty sure she couldn't afford, telling me how the gorgeous five-year-old upstairs, currently looking through a football sticker album, was cramping her style. I wasn't buying her emotional blackmail either, all our mother and I had done was tell her that she had options. Neither of us had placed any pressure either way.
“Jo, I have a job. A career. One that supports you and Toby. You disappearing for two days and two nights, leaving me as the only person providing childcare isn't fair.” I picked up two pairs of trainers and put them in the bag I was holding. I was leaving now, and not taking Toby to the soccer school today. The coach taking us up to Scotland was leaving just after lunch, meaning that both Rowan and I would miss the kids' party in the afternoon and the medal ceremony. Dino, in all his wisdom, had decided to put big screens up so Rowan and I would be able to FaceTime in. Together. Which meant we'd have to pretend to like each other.
Joanne looked away from me, rolling her eyes like she had been doing since she was thirteen. “So, I've had a couple of nights away and now you're telling me that I've got to move out. That's not fair, Dee.”
“Neither is taking advantage of me. I don't mind looking after my nephew, but it has to be as an arrangement, not just abandoning him and not telling me when you're going to be back. There's an apartment you can move into on the complex until you get set up in your own house. I'll have Toby the same couple of nights each week.” I'd taken Genevieve up on her offer to see if any of the accommodation was available. It was, and within a couple of hours she'd worked her magic and secured one of the apartments. Telling Joanne now, before I headed away for four nights, was me being just as manipulative as she was. In ten minutes, my lift to the stadium ground would be here, and in another couple of hours, Lynn from player support would be turning up to help Joanne plan the move, which would happen in the next few days. I suspected that there were more people than Genevieve now that knew about the situation with my sister, not something I was thrilled about but I also knew that we couldn't go on like we had been.
I saw Joanne’s eyes fill up with tears, only I could never be sure they were real or not.
“But what about this weekend? I've made plans, and if you're not here - fucking hell, Dee, I can't move this weekend! Brody's coming up to Manchester to see me, and, you know, I think this could be serious.” She wiped away a tear with the back of her hand, only I wasn't quite sure if there was a tear actually there to wipe. “You're not giving me much time to move.”
I partially froze, focusing on what I was putting in my bag. My sister had a point; I was asking her to uproot Toby over the course of a weekend, not that she had tonnes to pack. However, my learned talent at stifling my own anger came into play. Joanne knew how my weekends were – to expect me to have Toby was wrong on her part. “The apartment’s furnished and it's been furnished to the same standard as the footballers’ houses. All you need to do is pack up Toby’s toys and clothes, and your stuff and you can move in. You can leave a lot of it here and take it when you find somewhere that's more permanent. You get your own space, and you get to have me not nagging at you anymore.”
“Toby is going to feel like you've thrown him out.” She shook her head at me and gave me a look that I could only describe as ‘dirty’.
For a second I felt like giving in. She could play me like a fiddle, knowing that I'd do pretty much anything for my nephew, so I briefly closed my eyes and imagined what Genevieve would say.
“Toby will be excited to have his own house. That's what he tells people; he lives with his auntie until him and his mummy get their own house. Move out over the weekend; if it's serious with Brody then can't he help you pack?” I heard a car pull up outside, knowing it was probably Genevieve who'd said she'd give me a lift to the training complex today.
Joanne folded her arms and let go a sigh that could have blown away a small city. “He's serious about me, or at least he might be until…”
Realisation wasn't difficult. “Until he finds out that you have a child? Because you’ve already mentioned he doesn’t like kids.” Because of course he didn't know, and that was who she'd been with for the last couple of days. If he knew, he'd be asking questions about where her son was. I picked up both my bags and headed to the front door. “Toby can stay with me Tuesday and Wednesday next week. But you'll need to look after him during the days; I've got training.” I didn't wait to hear what her response was. Instead, I put one bag on the floor, opened the door, picked it back up again and then left, pushing aside the niggling thoughts about what would happen while I was away.
Genevieve was on the phone when I got in her car. She went from one conversation, which was more like a rant at one of her minions who had clearly not done what she had wished, to another with the men's team manager, reassuring him that Ryan O'Connell was all settled in. The change in her tone did make me wonder if there was more than one personality in there.
She finished her conversation with Guy Babin when we stopped at a traffic light, turning to look at me and giving me a knowing smile, one that made my blood run cold. “So, what's all this about you and Rowan?” She sounded far, far too cheerful.
I had absolutely no idea what she was going on about. After Rowan stropped off yesterday, I hadn't had anything to do with him. I'd thought about what he'd said, or rather what he hadn't said about the girl in the nightclub. “What do you mean? About me and Rowan?” I braced myself, having no idea what she was about to say.
“Rowan had a conversation with a journalist yesterday who asked him about his work on the soccer score and he told him all about how supportive you'd been, and how much you give back to the community.” Her eyes danced mischievously. “I didn't realise how useful you'd be in helping his image.”
“His image has got nothing to do with me.” I rested my head back against the seat and groaned loudly. This was definitely a game that he was playing, probably revenge for what I’d implied about how he treated women.
“That's not what he's saying.” Genevieve started to accelerate, cursing the driver in front who wasn't quite going as quickly as she wanted. “He seems to think you're some sort of saint from what he said yesterday. In fact, I'd go as far as to say that hegushedabout you.”
“I really don't like that word.” I rolled my eyes in the same way that I knew my sister did. “And this is Rowan's idea of a joke.”
“He seemed serious about it. How's he playing this week with the kids? He looked like he was doing pretty well when I saw him.” She overtook the driver in front, flicking him the V’s as we passed.
I couldn't lie and say he'd been awful, because he actually hadn't. “He's been really good with the kids,” I answered truthfully. “I was surprised at how patient he was, and he was really good with Toby, too.”
“Yeah, he's not a bad bloke. He could just do with some more media smarts, so he doesn't leave himself wide open. I was wondering though about you two doing a few more appearances together. I've arranged with the children’s ward for some of the players to go in next week, once we get back from Scotland, and I figured you both could go together and take some of the new kit?” She was trying to sound extra polite, but we both knew I didn't have a choice in this. The expectation from the club was that we got involved in things in the community, and I knew that in order to raise the profile of the women's game they wanted the women's squad to be seen about more. Me doing an appearance with Rowan Reeves would get into the media wider than a couple of the women's players by themselves. This should be an opportunity that I was welcoming with open arms, so why did I feel so nervous about it? Rowan was no more my responsibility than any of the other players.
“Do you not want to ask somebody else to do it? Izzy could do with making a couple of appearances.” I'd had another text from her this morning saying she was still finished with her ex; I wasn't sure if she was trying to persuade me or herself.
Genevieve shook her head. “No, it'll make my life easier if you do it. Rowan seemed quite keen for it to be you when I spoke to him yesterday. He's even put a couple of tweets out about your work ethic with the kids, and I can't tell you how many likes it's had.”
I looked out of the window as we drew closer to the training complex. A couple of coaches were already parked up to take us up to Scotland for the long weekend. Knowing my luck, I'd get stuck sat next to Rowan for the whole journey up there.
I muttered something incomprehensible, that sounded like an agreement to Genevieve, and thanked her for the lift. I could tell she wanted to talk more about Rowan, and maybe do some digging, but we managed to pull up at the same time as a couple of the other girls in the team, so I was able to escape any further questions.
