Balls Fore (Ball Games #4) (10 page)

‘I’d like that,’ I tell her.

‘Whereabouts do you live?’ asks Andrew.

‘Whiston.’

‘Right. You made good time picking up Beth and getting here then. Nothing on the roads this time in a morning.’

‘Er, yes.’

Alison looks at Andrew and then at Beth. She shakes her head. ‘Yes, very good time,’ she says and raises an eyebrow at us both.

The Consultant calls us in, saving my skin.

The doctor assesses Trey and tells Beth and myself that he has the start of what appears to be an upper respiratory infection and that we need to keep him on the painkillers until he fights it off. We’re reassured there’s nothing too serious or sinister going on and to take him home and give him lots of fluid and rest. Try telling a three-year-old that, I think as he tries to pick up every piece of equipment he can get his hands on in the consulting room. I pick him up and hold him in a firm grip. Within two minutes, Trey has admitted defeat and fallen asleep on my shoulder.

‘Let’s get him home,’ Beth says.

My pulse rises as she says it. It sounds unified. Me and her. I mustn’t get my hopes up.

I drive back to Beth’s where we put Trey in his bedroom. We’re both wiped out and yawning. She prods me in the arm.

‘You’re welcome to share my bed if you want to get some more sleep?’

I won’t want to sleep if I’m in your bed.

‘No, I’m fine. I won’t sleep now. Am I okay to fix myself a coffee and hang around?’

‘Of course,’ she says. ‘I’m going to try to rest for an hour. Thank you.’

‘For what?’

‘For being here. You took me to the hospital.’

‘I took
us
to the hospital.’

‘Well, if you weren’t here now I wouldn’t be able to even think of going back to bed myself. I’d be glued to Trey’s bedside door.’

‘Must have felt like you against the world these past few years, hey?’

‘Sometimes.’ She smiles. ‘But I wouldn’t swap it for the world.’

‘Are you sure about that?’ I ask her. ‘Think of how things could have been.’

It’s a mistake. The shutters come down fast. Beth tenses.

‘I’m going to bed.’ she snaps.

‘Beth, I didn’t mean-’

‘I don’t know what you want me to do, Leo. I can’t change the last three years. It's going to keep coming up, isn’t it?’

‘Beth, I-’

Tears run down her face. ‘I was out enjoying myself when I should have been looking after my son. My drunken behaviour let us cross a line that should have been firmly drawn. I’m a fucking stupid mess.’

She slams her bedroom door in my face.

I listen at her door. I want to go in, but I don’t. Instead, I leave her alone. Give her space. Her sobs are loud and it sounds like the tension of the night with an ill son has led to an outpouring of emotion. It's almost like a grief reaction. It's hard for me to walk away, but I do. I go to Trey’s room and check he’s okay. He’s fast asleep, little breaths being emitted from his tiny rosebud lips. I close the door to and head downstairs to the kitchen to make myself a drink.

Taking a seat on the sofa, I do a lot of thinking.

Hours later, I hear Beth’s door open and her feet cross the landing. When she comes into the lounge, her eyes are puffy. She has a large fluffy cardigan wrapped and belted around her clothes from earlier this morning.

‘Trey seems okay,’ she says.

‘He seems fine. Still sleeping bless him. My mum always said you let a poorly kid wake up when they’re ready. I don’t know what you want to do now you’re up.’

She waves a hand. ‘I agree with your mum. When he’s poorly, I let him rest as much as he needs. I imagine he’ll wake as soon as his medicine wears off. As his temperature gets higher, he’ll stir.’

I nod.

‘I’m sorry about my outburst,’ Beth says. She draws her knees up on the sofa and puts her arms around them. ‘You need to know how sorry I am about this situation. I wish I could go back in time and tell you I was pregnant. I really do. Leo, I fucked up. We can’t know what would have happened between us, but I can’t bear what I’ve done to you.’

‘Beth -’

‘If something had happened to him last night. You’d have barely known your own son. I can’t look at myself.’

‘Beth.’ I put my hands on her shoulders. ‘You did what you thought was right. Joe is the one at fault here. We’ve been through this in the sessions. You’re right. We can’t go back in time. If we don’t learn to move forwards, we have no chance.’

She looks up at me through tear-tinged lashes. ‘I was drunk and should have been with my son.’

‘No.’ I shake my head at her. ‘You have to be able to leave Trey. This could have happened at nursery. Soon, he’ll be going to school. There’ll be residential trips. I went to Cubs, he might stay away weekends if he joins that. You can’t be with him 24/7. It’s not good for you and it’s not good for Trey.’

‘But -’

‘Look what happened last night. You called me. We were together when Trey was ill. We went to the hospital as a team. If you’re asking me to regret last night, I can’t. In fact, it’s what I want.’

‘Leo -’ Beth’s chin trembles.

‘Beth, I want you.’ I take a deep breath and stroke my fingers down the side of her face, capturing her chin in my hand so she can’t turn away. ‘I want you, and I want Trey. Yes, we’ve had three years we can’t get back, but are you going to risk losing any more time because you’re too scared to try? I don’t want a future without you and Trey in it, Beth. I love you.’

She shakes and tears come again. ‘Leo, I love you too. I never stopped, but I’m so scared. What if we don’t last?’

I put my finger across her lips. ‘No what ifs. We start from today and see where it goes. Do you want to try?’

She grabs my fingers with her hand and moves them down to my side. ‘Okay. Yes. Let’s try. Gosh,’ she gives a nervous giggle. ‘We’d better double our counselling time for Monday.’

I laugh, and then I lean towards her and press my mouth to hers. Her lips part, letting my tongue intrude.

There’s a groan from the small bedroom. ‘Muuuuuummmmyyy,’ followed by whimpers.

‘You get the Calpol, I’ll get Trey,’ she says.

‘Take that kiss as foreplay,’ I tell her. ‘I’ll return to it later.’

And I do.

A few days later…

Trey is completely well now. He’s running around Kid Zone like he’d never been ill. I’ll never get over how quickly kids can bounce back from illnesses. He’s passed it onto his mother who’s not doing as well. In fact, she’s resting in bed, hence why I’ve brought Trey here.

The counselling session went well. I’m staying at Beth’s until we’re sure things will work out, so not to upset Trey’s routine too much. I’m hoping that soon, we’ll all move into my home in Whiston, which can then become our family home.

I watch as Dora comes into Kid Zone with a delivery of biscuits and cupcakes. She’s been happy to take everything on while Beth gets better.

‘Hey, Leo,’ she heads over and hands me a couple of biscuits.

‘Hi, Dora. Thanks for everything you’ve done to help.’

‘It’s no problem at all,’ she says, with a smug grin on her face.

‘What?’ I ask her.

‘Well, I know you’re referring to the business but you do know I got you two together, don’t you?’

‘Erm, how?’ I laugh.

‘I made Cam take her to the nightclub. You’re lucky that Cam headed one guy off at the pass. Beth was only supposed to notice there were losers all around and return home disappointed, but hey, if she got frisky for you afterwards, well that’s a total bonus.’

‘How do you know what happened the night of the club?’ I press my palms to my cheeks. I feel hot.

‘Number one rule about women. We talk.’ She winks and walks away.

Thank goodness I have a son. Or is it? I worry about what he’s got to come as he grows up.

‘Daddy,’ shouts Trey. He runs towards me at top speed.

‘I got gilfren. I kiss her.’ He gives me a smug, cheeky look. I recognise it from how I feel when I kiss his mother. I glance to his side. A little blonde girl is tugging on his arm. ‘Trey, I love you,’ she tells him.

They go running off together.

Oh hell. Now I know why Beth’s never calm. Parenthood is a constant test of nerves. But like she said, it’s worth every minute.

THE END

A familiar face...

Those of you who have read
Underneath
, my suspense novel will have already met Sebastian ‘Seb’ Kingsley, the
twat
Beth met in the nightclub. If you haven’t read Underneath and want more Dragon tattooed goodness, read on.

Seb will be back sometime in 2017 when he meets Katy, a downtrodden woman who’s about to undergo a transformation…in
Unleashed
.

Extract from
Underneath
.

Buy link: Buy/Borrow here:
http://getbook.at/underneath1

‘I’ll help Mrs Lawler with the sponge stocks,’ says the male voice to my right. Mr Kingsley has finally spoken up. ‘The kids would much rather pelt a teacher, and Mrs Lawler can collect the money and pass me towels to help me dry off.’

‘A good point,’ says Mrs Sullivan. ‘Well, that’s the roles all decided then. I suggest you take some time to consider what you need for your stalls, and we’ll reconvene at the same time next week. If there’s nothing else, I’ll see you then.’ Her tone suggests that the ‘discussion’ part of the meeting isn’t something she’s required for and we’re all dismissed.

I turn to find Mr Kingsley hovering beside me. ‘Can you spare me ten minutes to go through what we need to do?’

‘Sure,’ I say turning round to Bettina. ‘I’ll catch you tomorrow missus, and you’d better watch out on fair day for stray flying sponges.’

‘I’ll do you proud with the book stall,’ she says in a quiet voice.

‘You’d better,’ I say to her retreating back.

‘Right, well, school’s closing. Any chance you can nip round the corner to the Queen’s Head?’ Mr Kingsley shifts from foot to foot.

‘Why not?’ I reply. I feel riled with Bettina and consider I need a drink after being roped into being hit with wet sponges all day. At this rate, I’ll be in The Priory by the end of the term.

The Queen’s Head is about a five-minute walk from school. It’s an old fashioned pub that’s been there for years and is badly in need of redecoration. The burgundy leather seating is worn but comfy, and I deposit myself on it. Mr Kingsley takes the seat opposite me on a purple and gold chair in need of some TLC.

‘What would you like to drink?’

I go to get my purse from my bag.

‘Oh, no, this is on me.’

‘Oh, okay, thanks. A whisky with ice then please, Mr Kingsley.’

He bursts out laughing, which suits him. His teeth would be flawless except for one at the front that twists just slightly.

‘Seb, please,’ he says, ‘or I just won’t answer you.’

‘Okay, Seb please,’ I josh back. ‘I still want a whisky.’

He smiles and heads to the bar.

Drink placed in front of me I watch as Seb looks around and removes his glasses. ‘Phew, that’s better.’

‘Do you wear contacts?’ I ask, taking a drink.

‘I’ll let you into a secret Mrs Lawler,’ he leans over the table towards me and whispers near my ear. ‘I don’t need glasses, they’re just for show.’

The mouthful of whisky I’ve taken splatters ungainly from my mouth. ‘It’s Lauren. Sorry, I don’t get it.’

‘Well, Lauren sorry I don’t get it,’ he deadpans back at me. ‘I’m just dressing for the job.’

‘What?’ My forehead creases. I lean back into the seat and cross my legs. Seb gets up from his seat.

‘Give me a couple of minutes,’ he says.

The brown haired man who returns to the bar from the gents’ loo bears little resemblance to the man I sat next to at the school fair meeting. His hair is tousled in very sexy waves. At a guess, I’d say it’s been wet and dried in the bathroom. Without the glasses, I see that he has the most beautiful dark brown eyes. He’s removed the pullover and undone the collar of his shirt. I suddenly get the thought that Niall would not be happy to find me sitting here with this version of Mr Kingsley.

I rise from my seat and take a last swig of my drink. ‘I need to go.’

‘But I’ve not explained yet,’ he says.

I hesitate. ‘Okay, five more minutes then,’ I reply as I am a little intrigued. I sit back down.

‘I’ve not been very reliable in the past, so I decided to try a new tack.’ He shrugs. ‘I dressed up in my best impression of a stereotypical teacher, gelled my unruly hair down, put on a pair of fake reading glasses and went for an interview. I gave it everything I had. The head said she’d keep me on if I knuckled down and earned the respect of the other teachers. I’ve had to dress like it ever since. It works though; the other teachers love me, but it’s killing me dressing like Clark Kent.’

‘It serves you right for being fake.’ I take out my ponytail and re-fix it.

‘Hey, we’re all fakes in some way,’ he replies, his brown eyes on mine. ‘People can be completely different with others. Look at you, acting like you were interested in being part of the fair tonight.’

I shuffle in my seat.

His mouth turns up at the corner and his eyes sparkle with mischief. ‘I’d like to know what’s underneath the surface of you, Lauren Lawler.’

I look down my nose at him. ‘What you see is what you get. Anyway, now that I have your life story, what do we need to do about the fair?’

He stretches his hands behind his head. ‘Well, we turn up on the day. Get the stocks, sponges and the bucket out of the store room and we’re ready. Can you bring some towels?’

My voice turns sharp. ‘You could have said that in the school hall.’

‘But then I wouldn’t have had the pleasure of your lovely company.’

‘I’m married, Mr Kingsley.’ I place emphasis on his name.

He puts his hands up in front of me. ‘Have I stated any improper attentions towards you? No. It’s very presumptuous of you, Mrs Lawler, to imply I was angling for a shag or something.’

I feel the heat rise in my cheeks, although I’m not someone who usually blushes.