Page 63 of Everything After

I remembered Lily telling me how distraught she had been about being put in the middle of that situation. Rosie had sworn Lily to keep it secret, and Lily had still been struggling with her conscience about that after Jack came back.

I glanced at Lily and saw the faraway look in her eyes, and I wondered if Mya’s reminder had triggered memories from that time as well. “Are you okay?” I asked, frowning.

“Yeah, I’m sorry I told others about the baby before I could tell you myself,” she blurted.

“Fuck me, I can’t get my head around that,” Jack muttered. Lily’s face turned red, and she screwed her eyes shut. “Jesus, Lily Parnell is going to have a baby.” I chuckled at the awe in his tone. “How did that happen?”

“Jesus what is it with you English men? I mean, you’ve got five, Jack. Haven’t you worked out how Mya got pregnant yet?”

Jack laughed. “I think we both know I’ve got rock star status when it comes to knocking Mya up.”

“Listen to you acting misogynistic,” Mya scolded.

Jack smiled, took Mya’s hand and affectionately kissed her knuckles. “I’m sorry but Alfie asked a stupid question.”

“Alright you two, I don’t want to be blamed for disrupting your domestic harmony. But to answer your question, the baby wasn’t planned but we’re both getting used to the idea,” I remarked, careful not to wave off Lily’s feelings as inconsequential.

“There’s a lot to work out, but Alfie’s going to be around for a while to help while the baby’s little.”

“You won’t stay home?” Lily glanced at me for support the moment Jack posed that question.

“Lily has contractual commitments with the band that she needs to fulfill.” As I spoke those words Lily’s cell phone rang. “See what I mean?” I asked as Lily rifled through her bag and pulled out her cell phone.

She flashed me a guilty look. “Sorry, I told Lennie not to call unless it was urgent, so I need to answer this.”

When she didn’t move away from the table, everyone’s eyes were focused on her.

“Hey, Lennie,” she murmured, frowning as she listened, and began to trace the grooves in the wood on the patio table with her index finger. After a few seconds her frown deepened. “What!” Her eyes widened in shock, and she fixed her gaze to mine. “You’re joking… hang on,” she said, suddenly shaking as she put Lennie on loud speaker.

“Who am I talking to?” Lennie asked.

“Alfie, Jack and Mya,” she said, looking animated as she pointed out each of us even though he couldn’t see us. “Say it again,” she prompted.

“We’ve got to be in the studio next Monday. I know you said you wanted a couple of weeks off, but we agreed we wanted Maz Lindle to produce our next album, and he’s got a window now. He wants to be back in Europe as soon as we’re done.”

“Do it. We’ll go back and you can polish that album,” I said, encouraging her to keep working, and knowing that none of the guys were aware she was pregnant yet.

“Okay, we’ll be back on Saturday evening so I can be there,” she muttered hesitantly. There was a look in her eyes that made me believe she was silently questioning herself, so I nodded. “Look, I need to go, we’re in the middle of something here,” Lily suggested, wanting to wrap up the call.

“Alright, see you on Monday,” Lennie chirped and hung up.

“Fuck, you only just got here,” Jack muttered. “This back and forth is grating on my nerves. How often am I likely to see you once the baby’s here?”

“You’ll be welcome any time Lily is home,” I said, answering for her.

“Home? You’re not going to stop working to take care of the baby?”

“Jack, stop it,” Mya scolded. “Having a baby doesn’t define who someone is. I may have chosen to stay home with the kids, but that doesn’t mean everyone else must. Lily has a career that she can’t just walk away from.”

“I’ll be taking care of the baby for a while with a professional nanny,” I explained.

“XrAid just signed a new contract with the record label,” Lily explained. “Alfie’s going to pick up the parenting duties while I…” She shrugged, and it became clear that she felt uncomfortable justifying herself.

“Yeah. But think of all those small milestones you’ll miss out on. The time when they’re tiny goes in the blink of an eye,” Jack mumbled, like he wasn’t a fan of that idea.

“Who said men shouldn’t take care of their kids anyway? Why does it have to be Mom? I’m going to do everything I know how to make sure she feels confident to continue with her band.”

Jack shook his head. “Well, I never thought I’d see the day where Alfie Black would want to stay home and play daddy with his kids.”