Never Again

Part Thirty Seven

After dumping the car back at his apartment, Jack gave Erin half an hour to get herself ready, then beaming led her by the hand out into London. It was a long time since Jack had just kicked back and enjoyed being himself, and enjoyed where he was. When he’d first come to London as a teenager, he’d loved it, and had spent many a day walking through the streets absorbing the hectic life that he observed. But once he’d become richer, more well known, he’d stopped appreciating the little things in life. Now, with Erin beside him, he felt like skipping like a teenager, everything was wonderful, and not even the cold day and grumbling clouds could upset his happiness.

Erin glanced over at Jack repeatedly, he was grinning, and it made her laugh. Hearing her laugh he looked at her.

                “What?”

She shrugged, “nothing, you look happy!”

He nodded, “I am.  But then how could I not be?”

                “So what have you got planned for this afternoon?” She’d been wondering since he disappeared to make phone calls before leaving Michelle’s home. And the one thing she knew about Jack was that he was no good at keeping things secret. His beaming face was a giveaway that he had something planned.

                “It’s a surprise!” he announced resolutely, “I want to surprise you, so don’t ask again! OK?”

Erin grinned, she knew she could squeeze it out of him, but he looked so content that she didn’t want to burst his bubble, so she allowed him to lead her off into the distance.

As they walked along the Embankment, past the London Eye, and then Cleopatra’s Needle, several people stopped him to ask for photos or autographs. Initially he checked with her, and it tugged at her emotions that he would ignore his fans to keep her happy, but she couldn’t let him. So she paused patiently as he made the day of several men and children, loving that side of him as much as every other side.

Checking his watch, he broke into a smile, “right, Erin Bailey, it’s time!”

Taking her hand he dragged her at a jog a little further along the river, and down a ramp to the edge of the water. There a large cruiser was moored, an impeccably dressed captain, complete with peaked hat stood waiting.

                “Afternoon Mr Reilly, we’re all set to cruise...”

Jack smiled at the man then helped Erin on to the deck. She was amazed at the boat. She’d spent many a trip on various luxury yachts in the south of France, she was lucky in that way, but this was a whole different ball game. The whole of the inner level was surrounded by a wall of glass, which was tinted, so whilst you couldn’t see in, the whole of London was like a panoramic poster wrapped around them. There was a single table laid for two in the centre of the huge room, and at the furthest wall was a fully stocked bar, where another liveried man was awaiting their order.

A maitre’d saw them to the table, pulling out the chair for Erin to sit, then smiled at Jack, who gave a slight nod. The man gestured to the barman who suddenly appeared with a bottle of exquisite looking red wine, pouring a small amount into a glass. Jack sipped it and savoured a taste, then nodded again, and they both watched the barman fill their glasses then disappear.

Erin smiled at him as the engines of the boat kicked into action and the boat moved into the flowing waters of the Thames, “so what’s all this then?”