Arriving back at home was just a relief. The journey back from Bournemouth wasn't the smoothest. Getting caught it mostly every single piece of traffic. With screaming babies in the back of the car didn't help either at one point, Jac had to climb into the back, while Joseph was driving, in an attempt to calm the twins down. It didn't help that Joseph was hardly speaking a word to anyone. He just kept his eye on the road, not looking at anyone. Occasionally he would peer at Jac, or look up through the mirror at the twins..
Joseph took out Amelia from her car seat, and wondering straight into the house he placed her in the bouncer and staggered over to the kitchen. Jac came strolling in after, she was bouncing Ethan on her hip. She expected to see Amelia with her dad but instead she saw her alone in the bouncer, her face didn't look to happy. Jac gently placed Ethan in his bouncer before pulling them both closer to her. Stroking each of their fists, she began to smile at her two precious gems. Taking a deep breath Jac went and sat next to Joseph in the kitchen.
'There is something wrong with you, you have hardly spoke to me since this morning. You've been ignoring me and the twins, every time one of them cried In the car you tutted. What was that about just a minute ago, just leaving Amelia in her bouncer and walking off. Not making sure she was alright or anything. When you took her out the car, you looked fed up. As if this was too much for you. The twins have done nothing wrong, they don't understand what's going on. Why do you have to take it out on them? So if you decide to release any of the anger that is clearly irritating you then let it out on me. Just not on my babies.' Jac snapped.
'You know I would never take it out on them twins, so don't twist it around to make out like im am the bad guy in this situation'
'Who said I was twisting it? I just don't want to see the twins get hurt because you're clearly extremely agitated and annoyed at'
'Its not like you haven't twisted words before'
'Why are you being like this?'
'I'm not being like anything Jac, can we drop this or at least do this another time'
'No we cannot, you've have responsibilities now Joe, you can't just push them aside like a piece of dirt. Something is clearly bothering and we aren't going to move on until you tell me'
'Since when did we have to share every single thing with each other'
'The day we got married. Remember that day do you?'
'I can't take this. I'm going out'
'Go ahead, leave me with the children'
Joseph stood up, knocking the chair over, and stormed out slamming the front door on his way out. Amelia woke with a startle as the sound of the slamming door rattled through her ears. Sighing Jac rushed over to Amelia scooping her up cradling her. Walking over to the window, she saw Joseph copped in his car. Both his elbows were resting on the steering wheel. His head in his hand. Yesterday, Jac and Joseph were the happiest they've ever been, enjoying each other's company as husband and wife but now, its like their relationship was already in ruins. Jac felt like that vulnerable Jacqueline Naylor again, being left alone. Not knowing why.
Repeatedly tapping the steering wheel with his fingers, Joseph couldn't contain his anger. He had to let it out some how. Arguing with Jac felt like the worst feeling ever especially as it included the twins. Why shouldn't he of just told her there and then. Instead of making the situation harder. Whenever he and Jac argued it felt like someone was jarring a knife into his heart and just for fun pushing it in harder. Feeling the need to escape from it all, Joseph began his journey to Rochdale.
Sitting alone on the sofa Jac couldn't help but shed a tear. This partly one of the reasons why she doesn't let anyone in. Staring at the sleeping babies in front of her, she felt the faintest smile appear. Carefully picking up Ethan, she carried him upstairs and placed him in his cot, pulling the cover over his legs and making sure his beloved duck was by his side. Quickly pacing back downstairs Jac took Amelia out of her bouncer and too placing her in her cot with the cover over her legs with her blanket under her arm and a dummy in her hand. Then she took herself into her room before laying on her side and closing her eyes, trying to forget the day.
The journey to Rochdale was much quicker then the earlier journey he went on. Arriving at the hospital Joseph sat in silence. Feeling ever so guilty about Jac. Joseph whipped his phone out and quickly sent Jac and text message 'Jac im well and truly sorry about earlier, more sorry then you'd believe. I will explain everything later, I promise you'
walking into the Hospital, Joseph felt a wave of mixed emotions overcome his body. Knowing that he would have to take his son home today and explain it all to Jac was just frightening. Part of him wanted Faye to pull through, then the child could live with her but he would still see him on a regular basis but then a part of him wanted to her die, he hated her. The grief and the pain she caused him was unforgivable.
'I'm Joseph Byrne, I spoke to someone on the phone early hours of the morning about my ex wife and son being her?' Joseph spoke.
'Ah yes, I'll take you to see your son'
When ever your at hospitals the thing you do most is walk. Tackling a good 5 flights of stairs Joseph was now at the special care unit. Looking through the class window at all the young children in hospital beds, tubes going through their bodies like no other. Parents sat either on the bed or at the end of the bed, their faces were drained and pale, But for Joseph one little boy caught his eye. The little boy was all alone in the corner of the room. His face looked damp with tears. His arm were clutched around a bear. Being ushered in further into the room, the nurse took him over to his son which was in fact the little boy he had been looking at.
'This is Jacob, your son' The nurse smiled before leaving them alone
Jacob looked scared, he lifted his legs up to his chest and began to whimper. Joseph pulled the chair up towards the chair before whispering to the little boy.
' Hello Jacob, do know who I am?' Jacob shook his head. ' Well im your daddy'
The little boy began to release his tight squeeze and he sat up. Studying his dad for a moment, trying to take in every detail. Jacob stretched his arm's out to Joseph. Realising that he had accepted who Joseph was, he took Jacob in his arms. Joseph still didn't know how to feel, he was expected to take Jacob home with him. How on earth was he meant to explain this to Jac. Well that was the least of his problems right now.
The nurse re-entered the room, sitting down next to Joseph she told him about Jacob and how long Joseph was expected to have him for. Packing some of Jacobs things up, Joseph held his son on his side and made his way to see Faye.
As soon as he entered her room, Jacob shouted 'mummy'. Faye was laying still in the bed, her head all bandaged up. She was awake. Strolling over to the chair next to the bed, Joseph sat down with Jacob on his lap.
'Jacob mummy's missed yo-' Faye didn't finish her sentence when she saw who was sat next to her bed
'Care to explain?' Joseph demanded.
Putting Jacob on floor and getting out some of the toys in his bag, Joseph sat back in the chair as he waited for Faye to explain.
' when you left me for Jac, I didn't think ill ever see you again, or ever have a part of you any more. That was until I found out I was pregnant with Jacob. If I told you then Jac would stuck her ore like she normally did, so I kept it to myself. Moved to Rochdale and gave birth to him. He was the perfect little baby weighed 6lb 5oz. My little Jacob harry was perfect.
'Harry? As in Harry after my brother?'
'Yeah? Is that a problem'
'One im delighted that my son has my brothers name, but you had no right, we aren't together'
'I didn't know it was against the law to give him your brothers name.'
'How did you end up in this situation anyway?'
'Me and Jacob were going to the town centre, when I bumped into Donna, I don't know what she was doing here but we got talking. I didn't tell her her was yours don't worry. Your precious ego was safe. She began talking about you and Jac, and how you had twins. You seemed very happy. I got upset. I brought a bottle of wine, and drowned my sorrows in it. I put Jacob in the car and next thing I know, im here. Happy now?
'How can I be happy? You put my son at risk, just because you got upset over me?' 'Faye you know, me and you were over. I'm happy with Jac, like Donna said, we've got twins. Everything was happy until this happened. I cant imagine how I'm meant to tell her when Jacob comes home with me'
'What? He's staying where he is thank you very much. I'm not having my son anywhere near that spiteful bitch'
'If you remember, your not in a fit condition and he's my son'
Putting all his toys back in his back, Joseph picked up Jacob before walking out the door and towards the car. Jacob looked like the spit of Faye. The little boy had blonde curly hair, his face was shaped the same as Faye, he seemed really paranoid over something. Maybe Joseph was in for more then he was expected. The only part of Jacob that was inherited from Joe was his ocean blue eyes. Something Jacob and Ethan shared.
The ride home from Rochdale was a bit more happy spirited, Joseph listened to Jacob talking to bear who he held tightly in his little hands. The drive home was a great time to think about how he would explain to Jac how he went out and came back with a son. Turning into the drive Joseph knew that this was it.
Jac awoke to the sound of a car door slamming shut. Hoisting herself off the bed, her pillow was damp with tears, she wondered into the twins room. Amelia and Ethan were still sleeping sound, they had no idea what their dad had in store.
Joseph held Jacob securely on his side with his little Thomas the tank engine bag and entered the house. Jac waited eagerly in the lounge as she saw he enter. Something was different about him, very different. She then realised what it was.
'Um Joseph, who's that?' Jac questioned as she pointed to the little boy in his arms.
'Jacob. My son'
'Your what?' Was she hearing this right? Joseph had another son? Jac sat back down in the chair, her head in her hands. Her reaction was pretty much the same as Joseph's when he too found out about his son. Joseph gently placed Jacob on the arm chair and joined Jac on the sofa. He tried to put his arm around her but she shook him off. He couldn't blame her, she didn't say a word to him. She kept looking up at Jacob as she played with his bear.
'I know this is hard for you Jac, but I only found out last night myself' Joseph mumbled.
'And you didn't think to tell me? Who's his mother?' Jac questioned but then she knew the answer to her question. 'Lemme guess, Faye?'
Joseph nodded as Jac rolled her eyes, it was obvious who the mother was. Faye always had to ruin it for Jac. She despised her, and now she's coming back for revenge.
'How do you know he is even yours? Don't you remember, she's had 4 husbands. And is prone to cheating? How can you be sure that Jacob is yours?
'I know he's mine, yeah I know of her history but if you look at him. He's a Byrne'
'and why do you have him here?'
'Faye she um, drank drove and crashed the car'
'That sounds like her, and I take it she's dead?'
'nope, but she's in no fit state to look after my son'
'So what happens now? What about me? And the twins?'
'There isn't enough room here Jac, you know. Faye has still got the old house round the corner, I might go stay there for a few days, at least its not a full house'
Jac shook her head, this couldn't be happening' but but, what about the twins? They need you, I need you'
'I'm not leaving you Jac, you know that. I just have to get some space, come around the idea of having another son. But Remember I love you, Amelia and Ethan with all my heart. I promise that'
Joseph took Jac in his arms, why was he doing this? He should of just said he'd stay there. Surely they could cope with Jacob. Jac had offered to to sleep on the sofa but Joseph denied, he wouldn't let Jac give up the bed for his son. Joseph knew him going away would jeopardise his relationship with Amelia and Ethan, he was leaving them for a few days. His little babies were going to be without a father. What was he doing?
