Chapter 14 – Make It Known
Jack couldn't believe it, she wouldn't leave him? Surely not. He ran out into the street.
Jack: RONNIE!
To his relief Ronnie and Emma were still there – the car was stationary. Jack looked at Ronnie and his heart sunk when he realised she was staring blankly at the road with her hands on the wheel. Jack walked round to Emma's door and opened it, with a finger to his lips he picked her up and closed the door behind them. Then he walked round to the other side of the car where Ronnie was sitting, and he put Emma down beside him.
Jack: Ronnie? Come on, come inside.
Ronnie got out of the car and although she was aware of the eye's following her, she did not react. Jack lead the way inside with Emma walking hesitantly along beside Ronnie, staring up with as much concern as a four year old could muster, into her cold blue eyes.
Inside, Jack – having decided to give Ronnie some space, walks into the lounge and sits down. Moments later, he springs up and walks to the bedroom, leaving the door slightly ajar behind him, he sat again, with his head in his hands.
Ronnie sat at the kitchen table, tears silently cascading down her cheeks, her eyes red and puffy, her blue eyes cold and desolate.
He knows, he knows how I feel. How can he know? All my life no one has understood how I feel, they never understood why I was so cold and unforgiving. But they didn't know. Even now, Jack knows the main cause of my emptiness, but not all of it, not by far. He doesn't know how it feels to have your dad take your baby away – to be alone in the world even with all the people you love around you. I have always been alone. But Jack understands why it hurts to be away from here. He knows Danielle lived here and that I can't possibly leave here now. He knows me, I've let him in, and I'm not sure how much I like that.
Ronnie looks over at Emma who is sitting staring down at the floor on a chair opposite her.
Ronnie: Hey Emma? How about you go and watch some telly?
Emma: OK!
Ronnie and Emma walk through to the lounge and Ronnie stops to look through the slightly ajar bedroom door. Jack is sitting wiping tears from his face. What's that in his hands? My jacket.
Jack was sat alone in the bedroom, cuddling Ronnie's favourite jacket in his hands. This might be all he had left of her now, she might not ever trust me again. I've ruined everything!
Ronnie walked slowly towards the bedroom door and the second before her hand touches the surface she pauses. She can't go in now, not yet. With that, Ronnie sat next to Emma on the sofa and let the sadness seep back in.
- -
Next Morning
Ronnie is asleep curled up in Jack's bed. Emma is asleep on the sofa and jack is stretched out on an armchair.
Ronnie wakes up.
Ronnie: Why isn't Jack here? Better go find him and check on Emma.
Ronnie gets up and pokes her head round the door. She sighs when she sees Jack with one arm propping his head up and his elbow resting on the arm of the chair, the other crossed across his stomach, and his legs straight out in front of him.
Ronnie: Oh God.
Ronnie walks over to where Emma is and on seeing she is asleep she continues through to the kitchen and pours herself a glass of water. She checks the clock. 5:30 AM.
Ronnie sighed. Ugh. What is going on here?
The seconds ticked by slowly and Ronnie found herself getting more and more frustrated. By 7:30 she was almost at the end of her tether when she heard the door open. Jack looked into her eyes and smiled a small smile. Ronnie returned it before looking back at her hands, which we slowly caressing the glass she held tightly in her hands still.
Ronnie: Emma still asleep?
Jack: Yeah.
Ronnie: Right. We both need to be at the club today.
Jack: Right. I suppose Emma could come then?
Ronnie: The club is hardly the place for a four year old, Jack.
* * *
Ronnie and Jack and sitting at the kitchen table, waiting for Emma to wake up.
Ronnie: Jack, maybe we should tell them. You know, Roxy, Peggy.
Jack: Well I guess. But that doesn't solve this morning does it.
Ronnie: Rox could have Emma?
Jack: Seriously?
Ronnie: Well I just don't see what else we can do!
Jack: What are we going to tell them though? It's not simple and it happened days ago now!
Ronnie: Hmm. The truth then. And we'll cut our shifts down. We'll just spend this morning there and get her at lunchtime.
Jack: Okay. You phone Roxy though.
Ronnie: Alright. But she's the mother of your kid Jack. You can't ignore her.
Jack: I think I know that but I...
Ronnie goes over to the phone and dials the vic, ignoring Jack.
Ben: Hello? Um...Queen, Vic?
Ronnie: Hey Ben!
Ben: Ronnie! Shall I get Gran for you?
Ronnie: No, no, can you get Roxy?
Ben: OK!
A few minutes later.
Roxy: Ron?
Ronnie: God what took you so long?!?
Roxy: I nearly burnt my hair with my new straighteners, and Amy was crying.
Ronnie: Oh. Listen. You know we haven't been around recently?
Roxy: You and Jack?
Ronnie: Yes!
Roxy: Right, yeah, what then?
Ronnie starts babbling.
Ronnie: Well, we had a situation at the club, a women brought in a four year old and then she was really drunk so we took the little girl and agreed to meet the mother the next day, the mother is clearly not a good one. Then when we did eventually find her, Jack got beaten up by her friends and then we were in hospital and now we have to work at the club this morning but we can't leave Emma on her own and...
Roxy buts in.
Roxy: You, I...You still have the kid?!?
Ronnie: We went to meet her mum but she wouldn't take Emma back!
Roxy: Right, you know what? I ain't even gonna try to understand. What d'you want me to do about it?
Ronnie: Well, I was kind of hoping you would look after Emma this morning. Can you bring Amy round here? Just until lunch. Please?
Roxy: You owe me. I'll be over in a minute.
Ronnie: Thanks rox.
Roxy: Bye.
Ronnie: Bye!
Ronnie puts the phone down and walks back over to the table.
Ronnie: She'll be over in a minute.
Jack: Well we'd better tell Emma then.
Ronnie: Come on then.
Ronnie and Jack walk through to the dark living room. Ronnie crouches quietly beside Emma's head.
Ronnie: Emma? Emma, honey. It's time to wake up!
Emma yawns and sits up.
Emma, glumly: We see mummy today?
Ronnie: No, but you are going to see Roxy. She's my sister!
Emma: Oh!
Ronnie: Yes. Now, me and Jack are going out for a bit, but Roxy will be here with little baby Amy!
Emma: Oh, a baby!
Ronnie: Yes, now let's get you dressed.
Emma: OK!
Emma walks into the bathroom.
Ronnie: Right, you put the toast on then Jack.
Jack: Fine.
* * *
Emma is sitting eating her toast, fully dressed, at the kitchen table. Ronnie is sorting out some papers for the club and Jack is sitting, not looking forward to a morning stuck in the office with Ronnie, especially when she's in a mood like this one.
The doorbell rings. Jack goes to answer it.
Roxy: Hi.
Jack: Urm, hi.
They walk inside.
Jack: This is Emma. Emma, this is Roxy and little Amy.
Jack gives Amy a tickle on the cheek as he introduces them.
Emma: Hello.
Roxy: Hey.
Ronnie arrives.
Ronnie: Well, you know where everything is, we'd better go.
Jack: Yeah. Bye Emma, Amy. Bye Rox.
Ronnie: Bye!
Ronnie and Jack walk out the door. Their false smiles gone and Ronnie's mood returned.
* * *
At the club.
Jack: Where are those new files.
Ronnie: Bottom draw.
A few minutes later.
Jack: I expect we won't have much business tonight. The staff will be fine on their own.
Ronnie: Yep.
A few minutes later. Ronnie's mood has not got any better. She is still upset with Jack.
Ronnie: Jack, do you think Emma's your daughter?
Jack: No.
Ronnie: But, what about what she said? She told me yesterday. She thought you were sad because she said 'Get Well Soon Daddy.'
Jack: She isn't. Because, because a year ago I got a text. It was an unknown number. And it said: 'Your daughter lives in Spain now. Do not try to find her. The on you love will die if you do.' I know your the one I truly love Ronnie. I didnt want you to die, I can't live without you.
Ronnie: But it's your daughter, Jack!
Jack: You don't know what these people are capable of Ronnie. You'd die, I'd die. I didn't want you to die!
Ronnie: I...You sacraficed your daughter, so I would live?
Jack: Yes! Don't you see? I didn't tell you because I didn't want you to think you could have been killed, or that... Or anything like that.
Ronnie: I guess. Come on, we have to go back and get Emma.
Jack: Right, okay.
They cross the square. The mood lightened now, with Jack's confession, Ronnie understands, and can forgive him now.
At the flat.
Roxy: Like this Emma. Tickle tickle tickle!
Emma: Tickle tickle tickle!
Ronnie and Jack walk in.
Ronnie: You three look like your having fun!
Roxy: Yeah, but Amy and I have to go. Aunty Peg has me doing the bar, what does she think I am? I have got a kid you know!
Ronnie: Alright, see you later.
Roxy leaves.
Jack, gesturing to the files: I'm gonna put these away.
Ronnie: Alright.
Jack walks into the bedroom.
Ronnie: Emma? You know what you told me yesterday. That you said 'Get Well Soon Daddy' to Jack?
Emma: Yes?
Ronnie: Well, why did you say that?
Emma: Because I... I...
* * *
A/N – dun dun dun! What will she say ?!? Find out next chapter. REVIEW!