Threes a crowd. - Now Complete.

Part 19

Paul slammed the phone down.

"You all right mater?" John asked.

Paul looked up, his face puce with rage. Needing to have an 'urgent'call put through to the studio was bad enough,but the news was worse! Jane was taking the piss now! He'd had enough.

"Nah!" Paul scowled at John, "I'm gonna have to go! No one to look after Mary!"

"Where's Jane?"

"Working."

John shook his head. "Told you letting her go back to work would cause shit!"

"Leave it John!" Paul grabbed his coat and left the studio!

"Rose!" Paul called as he came through the front door. "Rose, I'm back!"

She appeared from the living room. "Paul? I thought Jane..."

"She's been delayed so I'm here instead.."

"Oh, alright." She paused for a moment, "If you need to be in the studio I'll babysit."

Paul smiled gratefully.  "I appreciate the offer Rose love, but you'e had here all day! Mary might be forgetting who her mummy is, but she'll know me. Thanks for today Rose. Come here then Missie!"

Once he held his daughter in his arms, he immediately felt himself relax. He settled down on the sofa and let 10 month old Mary practice standing up beside. He watched her, now glad he'd had to come home earlier than planned. Moments like this were priceless! The phone rang. Still holding Mary, he answered it.

"Hi Paul!" 

"Jane."

"Just to tell you they've cancelled the train I was going to catch. There's not another one until tomorrow. So I'm going to stay over. OK?"

"Not really! Why don't I come and pick you up in the car?"

"Why? You've probably had a drink anyway!"

"No. I'm sat with our daughter, remember her? And I'm perfectly sober!"

"Paul, don't be like that." 

"Jane. Come on...your drinks here!" a man's voice called in the background.

"Who was that?" snapped Paul, "Are you in a bar?"

"Paul, when I missed the train, I came back to the theatre where the rest of the cast are. We're having a quick drink before going home."

"So who shouted you? Where are you sleeping tonight...or should it be who are you sleeping with tonight?"

"I'm not talking to you when you're being so horrible." said Jane, anger in her voice, "Kiss Mary good night for me. See you tomorrow." 

She hung up!

Paul was furious! He slammed the phone down, startling Mary, causing her to cry pitifully. He sat down once more in the living room and soothed her. Finally, the sleepy baby became quiet and fell asleep in her Daddy's arms. He stayed like that until he began to feel tired himself. Getting up carefully so as not to wake the sleeping, he turned off the lights and after checking everywhere was locked up, he headed upstairs. He was half way up when there was a knock on the door. He hesitated, tempted to ignore it and just go to bed. 

"Paul!"

It was John.

Paul opened the door. "Shhhh." He pointed to the Mary, sound asleep across his shoulder. "I'm just putting this one to bed. Go in. Won't be a mo!"