Middle of the Night

Chapter 17 - I love you

The weeks had flown by for them, but their joy wasn't always easy. Susie had insisted on being with Jack every time he had him around. It was like she knew. Claire thought she was just being spiteful. Anyone could see he was an amazing father, except Susie clearly.

Toto was still asleep. She rolled over and smiled. This man had become her everything. He'd saved her and opened up the world to her. Claire quietly slipped out of bed and grabbed one of his shirts, put it on and walked downstairs. It was just the two of them for a few days. Susie was bringing Jack over the weekend and they were finally going to tell him. She was nervous and excited at the same time. This little boy was Toto's world and she was going to make sure that they knew Jack would be hers too.

Claire walked downstairs to the kitchen, deciding to make breakfast for the both of them. She put on some background music, dancing as she busied herself. The mugs were filled with coffee, the plates set on the counter and their omelettes almost ready when suddenly the front door opened. Claire looked up shocked to see a face she didn't expect.

"Toto, I've left Jack with the nanny, we need to..." Claire and Susie froze. They just stared at each other. The ex-wife and the secret girlfriend. Could this get any worse? Oh yes, Claire was standing in Toto's shirt with just some panties. Yes, oh yes it could be worse. "Aren't you... aren't you his..." Susie was silenced by the sound of Toto walking down the stairs. "Well this is unexpected Susie. What are you doing here?" Claire watched as Susie focused on Toto who calmly walked towards Claire and then placed his arm around her waist. "This smells really good, can't wait for breakfast." Toto dropped a featherlight kiss on her cheek and turned back to Susie who seemed to get redder and redder by the minute.

"Susie, I asked you a question. What are you doing here? Is something wrong with Jack?" Toto asked again as he heard Claire excuse herself and watched as she disappeared upstairs. He assumed to change out of his shirt. Toto watched Susies gaze return to his. "Really Toto? Your personal assistant?" Toto raised his eyebrow at her. "Susie, if you're here to judge who I'm in a relationship with, then you can just leave. You made it clear you will only speak to me about our son, so what is it?" Toto was being blunt but he didn't need her judging him for moving on, she'd already done that. But most of all, it angered him that Susie was seemingly judging Claire.

"Yes, right. Well given the circumstances, I don't think I want Jack to come over tomorrow now." Susie was now pushing the wrong button. "Excuse me? And why is that?" Toto was trying very hard to be polite but now Susie was crossing a line. "Yes, well. Since you have this floozy here..." Susie was silenced by the sound of Toto's hand meeting the counter top. "Claire... is... not... a... floozy." He spat each word out with distaste. "We're in a relationship. You don't get to choose if Jack meets her or not. You didn't give me that option when you took Brad home." Toto watched as Susie flinched back.

"Brad was a mistake. It was all a mistake. I miss you Toto." It was barely a whisper, but he had heard it nonetheless. "So you thought you'd come here and I'd run into your arms? Maybe last year, but I'm finally happy Susie." He watched as her gaze dropped. "No. You'll never be as happy with her as you were with me. You'll see." She spat at him. "Leave now Susie. And you will bring Jack tomorrow. You are not using our son against me to get your way. You're a better person than that. Now get out of my house."

Claire stood at the top of the staircase, now dressed in her black jeans and a red jumper. She watched as Susie turned to the door and touched the handle. Suddenly she turned and looked up at Claire. "This isn't over." Those were Susies parting words to her. As the door shut behind Susie, Claire released the breath she didn't know she'd been holding. What if Toto went back to her now?

"Claire? Let's eat this breakfast you made." Toto's voice pulled her back to reality and she cautiously walked down to the kitchen again. "Well that was something wasn't it? I can't believe she just walked in like that and behaved like that in our home." Claire's eyes darted up to his. "Our?" Claire asked questioningly. Toto chuckled. "Well it seems more like ours than mine since we spend most of the time here when we are in the UK Little One." Claire blushed slightly at his response. It was true. Every time they returned to England during the longer gaps between races, they spent their time there except when Jack was over. Tomorrow was the first time she wasn't heading to her home during his visit.

Toto could see the encounter with Susie still had her rattled. He was still trying to work out how much of the conversation she'd heard. "Little One. You know there's nothing to worry about right?" Claire played with a stray piece of tomato on her plate. "She wants you back Toto. She was your wife. You were heartbroken for so long." Toto placed his hand on Claire's.  "Little One, she wants me back but I don't want her. She broke my heart, but you came in and fixed it. Tomorrow you're meeting Jack and then we're going to finally tell the world and the team." Claire rested her head on Toto's shoulder. "I love you, Toto." Toto turned in his chair and cradled her face in his hands, looking into her soul. "I love you too, Claire."