Page 45 of Everything After

“Is this about Alfie? He still didn’t come back?” Jack asked, sounding irritated. I loved the relationship Jack and I had. We could go weeks without talking and pick right up where we’d left off without the need for catch ups or explanations.

“I’m so disappointed. He called yesterday and asked me out to dinner. Lennie and Rick were visiting here, so Alfie came over instead. After the boys left, I thought Alfie and I would have the chance to talk things over but?—”

“But what?” he asked, interrupting me. “Tell me you at least told him you’d be devastated to lose him? That you’ll do what it takes to make him number one from now on? That?—”

“No… I mean we didn’t really get to that,” I said, interrupting him. “We spoke a little, but his temper was short, and he cut the conversation and went to bed. I’ve just… never seen him like this before.”

“He must be hurting badly if he acted coldly toward you.” Jack’s harsh words felt like a slap in the face. Jack and Elle appeared to be siding with Alfie, which made me feel misunderstood. I loved Alfie, and without him I felt lost.

“Tell me what to do. I feel like I’m being punished for having a successful career,” I yelled, my emotions instantly swamping me as I burst into tears.

“Lily, stop acting dense. Alfie’s shown you nothing but support in your choices. But you’re a smart girl, and you know Alfie’s right. You need to talk to your band. The guys need to know you need to prioritize your life with Alfie if you are to save your marriage. It’s no good just saying you love him. Show Alfieyou’ll do whatever it takes… and mean it. Back your words up with actions.”

“Maybe he’s tired of me… do you think this is his way out? That no matter what I do it won’t be enough?” I asked in despair.

“Fuck. No. You’re panicking and not listening. The solution is simple. Alfie comes first. Your band and management need to be aware that the opportunities they are accepting are causing you and Alfie to drift. They need to understand what those tight schedules are doing to you and your marriage. I bet Lennie doesn’t have the same issue with his relationships. He’s managing the schedule with the record label. What’s the bet that he’s arranging your time away around Rick and Coral’s schedules?”

I considered his point and nodded. “There’s something else,” I confessed.

“Something else?” he asked, sounding intrigued.

“I’m pregnant, Jack,” I mumbled as I climbed the steps to the house and went inside.

“You’re what?” he shrieked excitedly. “Seriously? You’re having a baby?” I imagined him jumping for joy and wished I’d felt the same.

“I guess that’s what pregnant means,” I muttered flatly.

“Tell me it’s Alfie’s,” Jack blurted, like he’d suddenly imagined another reason for Alfie not being with me.

“What do you take me for? Of course it’s Alfie’s. Who else’s baby would it be?”

“Well, I can think of one that would happily step into Alfie’s shoes.” I knew he meant Cody.

My body tensed up in frustration because Cody’s fascination with me wasn’t something I’d welcomed. When I stayed silent Jack knew he had gone too far.

“What’s Alfie saying about being a dad? He must at least be stoked about that,” Jack said, before calling for his wife. “Mya, you’re not going to believe this, but Lily’s pregnant.”

“Wow, I didn’t know she was trying,” she called back. Hurried footsteps grew louder and then she was on the line. “Congratulations, Lily. At last, you’ll smell of the same baby spit as the rest of us now,” Mya teased.

“Okay, this is my call,” Jack told her. “Shoo.” I heard her admonish him and walk away. Turning his attention back to me, he said, “Lily, this changes everything. Alfie would never dream of leaving you now. How did he react when you told him?” When I remained silent, he probed. “You have told him, right, Lily?”

“He left again before I had the chance,” I muttered, feeling like I’d failed Alfie, myself and the baby.

“When did you find out you were pregnant?”

“Around a couple of weeks ago… right after he’d left me.”

“Holy shit. Weeks? And he still doesn’t know? Believe me, you’re not helping yourself. What the fuck is wrong with you? I get that your hormones are likely all over the place now, but you need to wake the fuck up, girlfriend. It’s bad form that I know before he does. Believe me, if Mya had told you or anyone else before she’d given that news to me, I’d have been furious. May I remind you how I felt when I found out about Ava-Jacqueline from Rosie.”

I remembered how hurt Jack was when his deceased ex-girlfriend Rosie kept his daughter’s birth a secret from Jack. And how furious he’d been with me for keeping her secret like she’d asked.

I shrugged. “Tell me about it, I know I’m an epic failure when it comes to this stuff.”

“Now you’re excusing yourself. Those guys have treated you too well, but you don’t fool me. You can’t kid a kidder. You’re one of the smartest people I know.”

“And one of the most stupid not to realize how Alfie felt about us drifting apart in the first place,” I countered.

“I won’t argue with that,” Jack muttered. “You need to put this right, Lily. And everything else. If you lose the band because of the baby, it’s meant to be, but I have confidence in those guys. They’ll do whatever you want to keep you.”