“I’ve told you, there is no me and him. This is all about him wanting to get to know Frankie.”
“Calm down, Jen,” Dad soothed. “Just let Maisie explain.”
“She’s explained,” Mum scoffed. “The father is back in their lives and spending time with them, and she just so happens to have ended her long term relationship.”
“Which you’ve been wanting me to do for ages,” I added.
“Not the point Maisie and you know it.”
Mum crossed her arms over her chest and moved her head to look out of the window, into the garden. Her gaze intently fixed to Frankie’s swing, blowing in the wind.
“Listen,” I said with a long exhale. “You should know he stayed the night but -.”
“And you’re telling me there is no you and him.”
Mum’s angry eyes were back on me and the hardness of her stare made me feel about ten years old again.
“Jen,” Dad warned.
“Well I’m sorry Michael, but she needs to realise it’s not good for Frankie for her to be moving from one man to another, even if the latest one is his dad.”
“I’m not moving from one man to another,” I cried, agitated by my mother’s refusal to understand. “He’s been making sure we’re safe, that is all. He slept on the sofa the night Josh tried to get in. There’s no hint that he wants anything more than to be in Frankie’s life. Which is the only reason that I’m telling you this. He took us for pizza last night and pretty much asked if he can start being Frankie’s dad.”
“Pretty much?” Dad repeated. “What does that mean?”
I was beginning to wish I hadn’t bothered telling them until I was sure what Sam wanted to do. I knew that if Sam decided fatherhood wasn’t for him, my parents would be on at me for the rest of my life about how all of this would affect Frankie. Somehow though, something was telling me that Sam was ready and he just needed a little more time to be sure.
Maybe I should have told him to take a running jump, but while his uncertainty scared me, I didn’t want to dismiss him immediately in case I was denying Frankie the opportunity of knowing his dad.
Sam could just as easily say he wanted to be in Frankie’s life and be an amazing dad as he could turn around and tell me it wasn’t what he wanted, but as long as Frankie didn’t find out until I could trust Sam’s decision, then I had to give him that time.
“It means, Dad, that I’ve told him to go away and think about it. To be one hundred percent sure before we take it any further. I won’t have my son hurt, so Sam needs to be aware once he tells me he wants in then he has to be fully in, because if messes up just once, then I’ll make sure he regrets it and he’ll never get a second opportunity at this.”
My dad nodded and looked to my mum who didn’t seem half as calm as him. She was looking up at the ceiling muttering wordlessly to herself. Dad gave her thigh a squeeze and smiled at me.
“Do what you have to do, love,” he stated. “Your mum and I will stand by you, but if he messes up just once, I’ll punch his bloody lights out.”
I allowed myself a little smile, not really fancying my dad’s chances against the six feet of tattooed muscle that was Sam Cooper. He’d have to get in line behind me anyway, because I would not allow him to hurt Frankie and get away with it.
“You know this might all be immaterial,” I sighed. “Sam might decide it’s not what he wants.”
“Whatever, we’re right behind you, aren’t we Jen?”
“I’m worried about both of you,” Mum said, leaning forward and reaching for my hand. “You obviously liked him once, enough to sleep with him, so what if you fall for him again but it’s only Frankie he wants.”
“Mum, nothing is going to happen between me and Sam.”
I felt my skin heat, because I’d be lying if I said I didn’t find him attractive and think about that night we’d had together, because I did, but I couldn’t afford to let my judgement be clouded by lust for Sam. I needed to be on the ball and making sure he was doing right by our son. It didn’t matter how sexy or good looking I thought he was, Sam and I were a thing of the past. We’d had our time, one night, almost nine years ago.
“We’ll see,” she replied and gave me a small smile. “I suppose we should meet him.”
I shrugged. “If he wants to be a dad to Frankie then, yes, you will.”
“And Frankie?” Dad asked. “When are you going to tell him?”
“That,” I breathed out heavily, “is something I’ll need to consider very carefully. I want him to get to know Sam first. He already likes him, but they need to spend more time together, just the two of them.”
I saw worry whisper across my mum’s pretty features and knew she was going to find it difficult, letting go and allowing another man into mine and Frankie’s lives. She’d always been protective of Libby and me, but her instincts to safeguard Frankie’s safety and security were much more intense.
