Never Again

Part Twenty Seven

Erin’s mother turned back to Jack, “nice to meet you, and call me Sara.”

Jack nodded and gave a gracious smile, then looked down at Erin, she looked terrified. It was his first chance to study Dan Bailey, though he had seen him play a lot when he was young. He was a distinguished man, he’d aged well, he was tall, broad and seemed younger than his sixty plus years, in fact he barely had a grey hair on his head, he was frowning, and that gave him an imposing appearance, not that Jack was scared. His father had been more threatening when he’d been in his teens than this man could ever be to him as an adult.

Turning to the door, Jack smiled at the older man, “and you of course Mr Bailey, a face I remember from childhood.” Extending an arm he forced Erin’s father to accept the hand shake, “saying that it’s not your face that I remember, but that goal against Italy, what was it 1981? It’s played every time England play the Azzurri, and quite rightly so. Great game and a great goal!”

Jack watched the older man struggle to deal with his enthusiasm, so he decided to keep unsettling him. “Sorry that you had to hear about me dating your daughter from the bloody paps, I really hate that.”

With a grunt, Danny Bailey turned and walked back into the house, when Jack turned to look at the other two women he saw reluctant smiles on their faces. They’d been apprehensive of the contact between the two men, but it seemed that he’d diffused everyone’s tension.

With his own smile, he held out a hand to Erin and they interlinked fingers, suddenly she could see he was right, their solidarity was vital, any hint of the truth about their relationship, or lack of would spell disaster.  As they entered the house he squeezed her hand then when she looked up at him smiled down at her.

                “Coffee?” Sara offered and Jack replied enthusiastically.

                “That would be great Mrs...Sara!” He added at her look of chastisement. “With milk if possible.”

Sara smiled then filled the machine.

There was no sign of Danny, so the three sat at the kitchen table and drank coffee, Jack answering Erin’s mother’s questions, Erin watching the interaction with interest. When her mother finally left them alone on the pretence of visiting the bathroom, he edged his chair closer to Erin’s.

                “You ok? You’re quiet!”

She sighed, “I didn’t think this would work, but you’re right, my dad is a moody git at the best of times, that’s no different, but my mother seems happy...but then I’ve got to tell them about the baby.”

He nodded, “and we’re grown adults, we don’t need their approval. But they love you, they already have grandchildren they love...it’ll be fine, you’ll see!”

When Sara returned, she announced excitedly that Erin’s brother and his wife were going to join them for lunch; the recently mentioned grandchildren were out with their maternal grandparents. Within moments, just like the old days, Erin was drawn into helping cook the meal. Erin’s father had finally lowered himself to join them and the two men were at opposite ends of the table both perusing Sport’s sections from various Sunday papers.

Half an hour later Jack had broached the topic of golf successfully and a begrudging conversation had been struck up. Erin had shared a few knowing glances with her mother as things seemed to get a little easier.

Then Peter and Yvonne had burst in bearing wine, beaming smiles on their faces. What could possibly go wrong?