Chapter 7
Jack and Ianto talked ten to the dozen throughout the whole journey to the countryside. Ianto talked about his childhood a lot and about Rhys even more. It seemed to Jack that Ianto was hinting something about Rhys. Could it be that Ianto thought Harriet and his father would hit it off in a big way? 'I can do this, I can,' Jack thought to himself. He wanted this time with Ianto and Rhys couldn't really be serious about Harriet after so short an acquaintance, could he? Rhys was there waiting for them as they got off the train. They drove to the farm. It was lovely but Jack was a city boy at heart.
Rhys showed Ianto to his room. 'I'm that side and Ianto is the other. There's a bathroom between you so just be careful you don't surprise each other in the middle of the night.' Jack raised an eyebrow and thought what a big surprise that could be for both of them!
The rest of the day was spent looking around the farm with Rhys taking the lead. Jack hung on as Rhys took him on a tractor ride and then insisted that Harriet should have try at milking a cow. Jack thought he'd never handled teats that large before! Later he watched as Ianto showed off his riding skills. Jack was thankful he was wearing a skirt as he watched Ianto's strong thighs gripping the horse as he rode. The man was truly gorgeous. When Rhys handed Myfanwy over for him to hold he was brought back to reality. He was surprised how lovely it felt to hold the baby in his arms. Perhaps being Harriet was bringing out his feminine side. He kissed Fanwy lightly on the head and carried her back towards the house.
They all cooked dinner together. Jack was a pretty good cook. They stood side by side as Jack chopped veg and Ianto made the sauce, holding out a finger to Jack for him to taste it. Jack couldn't stop himself and, as he ran his tongue around the finger, Ianto looked back somewhat surprised. The dinner was just perfect and, as the night was warm, they sat outside on the swing. Jack thought his moment had come; he'd tell Ianto the truth.
'Can I tell you something, Ianto?' he said breathily. But as he spoke, Rhys appeared. 'John is on the phone.' Ianto hurried inside to take the call.
'Damn,' Jack thought, as Rhys sat down next to him, making the swing creak ominously. Rhys put an arm around him and Jack realised that Rhys did indeed fancy him. This was going to be a bit difficult.
'It's getting a bit chilly. Perhaps we should go indoors' He needed to get out of this situation as soon as he could. 'I saw a piano. Perhaps I could play for a while?' Jack was a bit rusty, but as he played Rhys sang. He had the voice of many a Welshman and Ianto, who joined in with his dad, wasn't bad either.
'I think I need to go to bed,' Ianto said yawning. 'I'd forgotten the effect country air has on me.' Jack started to get up as well.
'No, you stay down here, Harriet. It'll give me time to use the bathroom.' Jack sat down opposite Rhys, hugging his brandy.
'It's funny,' Rhys began. 'I thought you'd be more like one of those liberators.'
Jack smiled 'You know, I'm not really like the woman on the show.' (Well that was an understatement.) 'That's just a part. I'm not all that militant.'
'Don't get me wrong, Harriet. I believe in equality, but I sometimes think women want to be men.' Jack gulped the brandy as Rhys continued. 'Like men are all equal in the first place, which we're not. Now you have all this stuff about men and women being more the same and well, we're just not; and certainly not on a farm. Here bulls are bulls!' Jack almost choked on his brandy. Rhys continued to chat, talking about his wife.
'Ianto tells me that you're not married.' Jack knew it; it was time to make a quick exit. He made his excuses and went upstairs. He got ready in the bathroom. The wig with rollers just wouldn't stay put and in his confusion he went through the wrong door. He was adjusting the wig when Ianto spoke.
'Harriet, is that you?'
'Yes. Sorry! I went through the wrong door. I'm still a bit disorientated, I guess.'
'It's okay Harriet; stay for a bit. It's been lovely having you here. My Dad is a big fan of yours. He really loved my Mum and he's been pretty lonely since she died. She helped me choose this wallpaper. I wanted black, typical teenager, but she persuaded me that this would be easier to live with so I got purple. I made a million plans looking at this wallpaper.' Ianto yawned and turned away from Jack. 'Sorry, I'm tired now.'
'Night, Ianto.' He reached his hand over and stroked Ianto's hair. Ianto sighed contentedly, wishing Harriet could stay and carry on stroking until he went to sleep.
The next day it was back to work. Whilst sitting with the others, an assistant brought in a box of chocolates for Harriet. Jack realised that they were from Rhys.
'What a thoughtless gift to give a woman,' Owen said. A few minutes later Jack was called in to see the producer, Martha Jones, sitting behind her large desk.
'You know Harriet, you're a complicated lady. On the one hand, you're a real pain in the ass. I've got one of the most expensive directors in soaps.' She stopped. 'Damn! I owe myself a quarter. And you've got him defensive and hostile. However, we're getting 2000 letters a week and we've picked up share points. And that's down to you; you're the first woman character who is her own person. You're a breakthrough lady for us. We're picking up your option for another year. Congratulations!' Jack fixed his smile as he panicked; he couldn't do this for another year! As soon as he left the office, he phoned the Doc.
'I'm sorry Jack, there's no way out of it; it's their option. You signed the contract.'
'But I didn't know I could' be working as a woman for the rest of my life! '
'Look, Jack, they've increased your wage; it's a good deal.'
'Sort it Doc, or I'm going to tell them.' Jack was desperate. So was the Doc. 'Tell them what? My secretary loves Harriet Jackson! She wants to be Harriet Jackson! They'll kill you! This is major fraud. What about me? You got to make it work!'
Later, back at the flat, Jack tried to talk to Tosh. 'Perhaps you could do something filthy?' she suggested. 'But then again I can't think of anything that they haven't already done on the show!' The phone rang. It was Ianto in a bit of a state. He'd decided to finish with John and needed a babysitter, urgently. Pulling on his Harriet guise in double quick time, Jack rushed over to Ianto's apartment. He found Ianto determined but knocking back the wine as he rushed around.
'You've influenced me, Harriet.' Jack was shocked but pleased. 'You wouldn't compromise your feelings or live this kind of lie.' It sounded like Ianto was going to out himself completely, as well as getting John out of his life.
'You need to think about this, Ianto. It's a big step. Give yourself some time.'
'What the hell! I'll live, maybe not happily, but honestly,' Ianto declared adding: 'That sounds like something you'd say.'
'Ianto, you mustn't idealise me. Honesty, in many ways, is a relative term.'
'Listen my father is coming later. Don't tell him about me and John; I'll do that myself. But I'm pretty sure he'll want to see you later.'
'Oh no,' Jack thought, 'not again!' His thoughts were interrupted when Ianto came up and kissed him briefly. Jack felt those soft lips on his and just wanted more. He was rooted to the spot until the moment came crashing down as Ianto said, 'I can feel that little moustache perhaps you should put some make up on it.' Jack reached for his compact. He was still dabbing at his upper lip when the doorbell rang. Ianto let John in before disappearing to change. John sauntered into the room, stopping when he saw Harriet.
'Hi honey, I can call you that when we're not working? You don't like me, do you? There's not many people, men or women, I can't make like me. Why don't you like me?'
'I don't like the way you treat Ianto. I don't like the way you patronise him. He's worth more than a quick secret shag every now and again.'
'Look, I've never promised Ianto anything. He knows how things are. I can't tell people about us, can I? So I see other people; he knows that. So what's wrong? If someone wants me to seduce them I usually do; I'm the victim here!'
'Bullshit, John. I understand you better than you think!' John looked unsettled by that; he'd never come across anyone quite like Harriet before and it unnerved him. He didn't like that!
Ianto came back in. 'Oh Harriet, she never wakes up.'
'Go Ianto, how much trouble can a baby be?' These were to be famous last words, of course!
