Page 108 of Always Beth
As the phone begins to ring, I realise that I’ve not actually spoken to him on the phone in well over five years. I’m a fool for ever allowing that to happen.
‘James?’
‘Hey.’
‘This is a surprise, I thought you were still avoiding me.’
I squeeze my eyes shut with regret. ‘Jacob, I don’t know where to start. All I can say is I’m sorry. Can you forgive me?’
‘For what it’s worth, so am I and you’re already forgiven.’
It’s like a weight has miraculously been lifted and I exhale with relief. ‘I got your messages. I’m sorry, things have been hectic with work and well Beth.’
‘Ah so things have worked out then?’ He chuckles.
‘Indeed. We had a baby. You’re an uncle.’
He releases a low whistle. ‘Wow, I didn’t see that coming.’
‘Neither did I until she was in labour on the kitchen floor.’ We both laugh, it’s good to be able to finally share this with him.
‘So, Lauren was right then, she’s the one?’
I smile at the mention of her name. ‘She is. She was there when I needed her the most. Even after travelling to the other side of the world, it didn’t make a difference, it was always going to be Beth. I’m lucky she gave me another chance.’
The line goes silent, and I know that if I don’t mention her, he never will.
‘So…Grace?’
He draws a sharp breath and the hesitation on the line is almost as bad as if he were here in person.
‘Do you really want to talk about Grace with me?’ he mutters cautiously.
‘I wouldn’t be asking if I didn’t.’ I sink back into my office chair and smile at the photo of Beth holding Lorena that I’ve got strategically placed on my desk and my heart swells knowing that I would only have found this happiness with them.
‘I’ve blown it.’ He exhales heavily.
‘I very much doubt that. I dated her for three years and she never once looked at me the way I saw her look at you at Lauren’s funeral. She’d forgive you anything.’
‘Not this time. I had my second chance and as of today, I haven’t seen her in three long weeks, and it doesn’t look like I’ll be seeing her again anytime soon.’
Jesus and I thought I was pathetic.
‘You need to pull it together and show her what she means to you.’
‘Great, if I take your advice, then in about a year, she’ll be mine.’
A deep laugh emanates from inside me, he couldn’t have summed it up better if I’d tried. ‘Yeah, well maybe don’t take any dating tips from me, especially where Grace is concerned.’
As the last of any animosity disappears between us, I smile, it’s been so long I’ve forgotten what it was like to have a brother.
‘Listen, Jake, I’ve got to go. I’m glad we’re where we are though, let’s go forwards not backwards.’
‘I’ve waited too long to hear you say that.’
As we say our goodbyes, an image flashes up on my screen of Beth, Lorena and the hoard of dogs we now own. My jaw clenches as I think of the cold empty apartment waiting for me tonight and I realise that it’s nothing if they’re not with me.
ChapterThirty
