Never Again

Part Twenty Four

A few days later Jack jetted off to Malaysia for a week with his squad, and Erin was glad for a moment off his radar. After work she planned to relax with a movie, just her and Barney, she was visiting Michelle this weekend, and then there was the plan to tell her parents about the baby.

Groaning - that wasn’t the best thought, she left her office and made for her car.

                “Erin!”

The female voice caused her to stop in her tracks, turning she saw Danielle Millward stood next to her own car an apologetic smile on her face. Erin had a moment to think, she wasn’t angry with Danni, in fact she was quite glad that she’d saved Erin the awkwardness of actually broaching the subject with Jack. He was right to be angry, and it wasn’t Danielle’s fight, she had no obligation to Erin, if anything her loyalty was with Jack. And Erin respected her for that.

                “Hi Danni,” she walked over to the other woman and saw the emotion on her face. She was nervous, and that was ridiculous. Erin smiled and pulled her into a hug, and she sighed as she felt the other woman physically relax.

                “I was thinking you’d hate me by now.”

Erin smiled, “you did me a favour, I was struggling to make that call.”

                “He turned up, as soon as I got home, I didn’t intend to tell him, but he could tell I was anxious!”

She was the worst person at hiding stress that Erin had ever met, so she knew that was true, she answered with a grin, “it’s ok, honestly! I would never expect you to cover for me.”

Danni smiled with relief, “I was wondering if you wanted to go for a coffee? That was the plan if you didn’t slap my face!”

And so they found themselves having a hot drink and a piece of cake in a small cafe overlooking a busy street of shops and boutiques.

                “So how are you feeling?”  Danni played with the spoon in her coffee. “I know I felt like crap the whole time I was pregnant.”

Erin laughed, “You were having two, this is definitely only one, so it must take less toll on your body! I’m fine...so far; I anticipated feeling a lot worse!”

                “Lucky you! Enjoy it, it only gets harder...How’s Jack about it all?”

Erin sipped at her tea for a moment, contemplating an answer, how did she think he was coping? Danni probably had more of an idea than her; he wasn’t exactly one for sharing his emotions. “He’s ok I guess, he doesn’t tell me much...” she glanced up at the other woman, “he probably tells you more!”

Danni nodded, “so it seems! I didn’t want to meet you to tell tales or compare stories, but I liked you when I met you, and you’re going to be linked to Jack, that was my motivation, but yes he does talk to me. He came around after you’d bought the car.” She stifled a laugh, and Erin did too. “I thought it was a great move by you! He’s not very good at relationships Erin, and that was a prime example of why! He wants to control everything, compartmentalise it, he doesn’t realise that it’s give and take. But I do think he’s getting there.” She laughed again, “I’m not trying to big him up, he doesn’t need my help in the charm department, but I love him like a brother, he’s a good guy...even if he works hard to hide that fact!”

Erin drove home digesting the afternoon intently; Danni had given her along with an invitation to dinner when the men were home, a lot of food for thought. Not that it was anything new, she would never have slept with Jack if he wasn’t a fundamentally good man, but Danni was right, he hid that trait well!