Page 42

JACKSON

The shoot got extended by almost a month due to the change in personnel.

It’s the only regret I have about the whole thing, even though my double Petyr pulled off every impressive stunt without a hit.

I watched from the sidelines, but instead of jealousy, I just felt relief that he made it to the ground safely each time.

The film is officially wrapped, and I’m only a few hours away from my girl being in my arms. We’ve spoken everyday, but any time away is hard, especially these last few weeks. All I want to do now is end every day with her hair tickling my chin and Smudge kicking against my palm.

Wrapping any project is hard. I usually spend the immediate aftermath replaying every scene I’ve done over the last six months until I’m convinced I am the worst actor in the world.

I usually want to stay close to the director, ready to jump back into re-shoots as soon as I can.

But this time, I couldn’t get my costume off quick enough.

The drive isn’t long, and it’s barely any time at all before we pull up outside the house.

Eric rounds the car to help me drag my suitcase out of the trunk, and I offer him my hand. “Hey man, thanks for everything on this one. You’ve been a lifesaver, truly.”

“If you ever need—I mean, if you ever want me to work with you again…” Eric stammers.

“You’ll be my number one call, Eric,” I tell him as I shoulder the door open. “I owe you.”

The gravel crunches underneath my feet as I cross the driveway. The lights are on downstairs and I resist the urge to peer in like a creep.

“Where are you, pretty girl?” I call out as I cross the threshold.

I hear a gasp from the direction of the living room and can’t stop the warmth blooming in my chest.

“I’m in here!” I hear Rosie call. I toe off my boots and follow her voice.

She’s sat on the sofa, a blanket wrapped around her lap, and her big eyes hidden behind her glasses.

I cross to her and rest my hands on the arm of the sofa. “There you are,” I say as I press a kiss to her lips. I want to sink into her, feel her soft body pressed against me, but I’m careful not to crush her.

She smiles against my lips as I press kisses along her jaw. “I missed you,” I murmur against her skin.

Her hands slide up my forearms until she clutches my biceps. “I missed you too,” she whispers against my lips.

I fall to my knees before her and finally catch my breath before tugging the blanket away from her lap.

Her bump looks bigger. I can’t believe I’ve been gone for nearly a month and missed so much.

“Don’t say anything,” Rosie groans. “I’m huge now.”

I frame her bump with my hands, gently pulling her t-shirt higher. I trace my fingers across the gentle line that spans from her belly button and disappears into her underwear.

“Beautiful,” I whisper reverently. I press a kiss to her bump, to the only thing separating me from our daughter. “Hi, baby girl.”

Rosie entwines our fingers before tugging my hand to the side more. “She’s over here.”

What once was a little flutter is now a veritable kick that I can feel against my hands.

“Ouch,” Rosie hisses.

I press another kiss to where I found her little foot. “It’s like whack-a-mole.”

Rosie snorts, rubbing her face with her hands. “I changed my mind. I haven’t missed you at all.”

“Such a liar,” I purr, rising to my feet and sliding in beside her on the sofa.

“Are you okay?” Rosie asks, scratching her nails through my hair.

I nod. “Better now.”

“Have you heard anything about Tony?”

I close my eyes as she combs my hair back. “A bit. Mostly Kaia’s been sending me updates. He’s been in and out of it apparently, although he’s starting to stay awake longer now.”

“That’s good,” Rosie whispers, pressing a kiss to my head. “I’m glad you didn’t do those stunts,” she confesses quietly.

“I am too,” I murmur as I press a kiss to her lips and cradle Smudge between us. It was worth it for this.

We stay like that for hours, until Rosie’s stomach grumbles enough that I start cooking. I’ve actually perfected my culinary skills under her watchful eye, and it’s easy for me to rustle up a risotto.

“I’m going to go visit Tony tomorrow, do you want to join me?” I call over my shoulder as I load the dishwasher. I don’t hear anything so I peer at her from across the island where she’s perched on a stool. “Rosie?”

“Uhm, I’m busy tomorrow.”

“What are you doing?”

“It’s my baby shower.”

I’m momentarily confused. Did I forget?

She must see the question on my face, because she says, “It’s a last minute thing.”

“Where is it?”

“Uhm, I don’t know.”

Okay, now there’s definitely something weird going on.

“What time is it?”

“Uh, afternoon?”

“Rosie.”

“Hmm?”

“What’s going on?”

“Nothing’s going on.”

“Why are you being so secretive about a baby shower? What am I missing?”

Rosie sighs and leans back in her chair.

I round the island and lean back against it, crossing my arms.

She tilts her head back. “Mum’s planning it.”

My arms fall to my sides. “ Oh .” I rub my beard. “I didn’t realize you were talking to her.”

“I’m not,” Rosie says. “Well, I am. Sort of. She was outside my office the other week and we went for dinner and she offered to host it. I felt so guilty that I’ve not spoken to her in months, and Pip and Anya have been on at me to have a shower, and mum looked so excited when I said yes.

I told her about the crib dad got us, so I think she wanted to do something too. ”

“Hey,” I say, crossing to the table and pulling out the chair beside her. “It’s okay Rosie, you don’t have to explain anything to me. Why was she outside your office?”

She shrugs. “She said she hadn’t been able to reach me.”

“You blocked her?”

She shakes her head.

Rosie hasn’t changed her number and I even gave Terry mine, so why wouldn’t she have been able to reach us?

“Are you…excited?” I ask, taking her hands in mine.

“Yeah,” she says, very convincingly.

I trace my thumbs across her knuckles as I think about how to phrase the next question. “Cleo, is she…?”

“No.” Rosie shakes her head. “No, I made it very clear that she wasn’t allowed to be there. And Mum even invited the girls to come come.”

I nod. “Does your mum know them?”

“No, but she asked for Anya’s email and forwarded the invite.”

“Hmm,” I say, still rubbing my beard.

“What?” Rosie asks, eyes narrowing behind her glasses.

“Nothing,” I reassure her.

“You think I shouldn’t go.”

“No! No, of course I don’t think that. I want you to have a baby shower and be spoiled by all your friends. I’ve wanted that for you for weeks. I just think it’s…suspicious.”

“Suspicious,” she deadpans.

“Not suspicious then, that’s the wrong word. I just have a feeling.”

“A feeling,” Rosie says flatly.

I nod. “I just don’t trust it.”

“You don’t trust me ?” She slides to her feet.

“No!” God, this conversation has run away from me. “Of course I trust you Rosie, but it’s your mother I don’t trust. I just think she might be taking advantage.”

“Right,” Rosie says, pushing her chair back from the table. “And you think I’m too naive to not notice if someone is trying to take advantage of me.”

“No, hell no. Rosie, I’m just trying to protect you.”

“Well I don’t need protection from my own mother, Jackson,” she snaps, placing her hands on her hips.

I could back down, I could apologize and diffuse the tension with a joke, but there’s something in my gut that’s telling me that something is off.

“Rosie,” I say, crossing my arms across my chest. “I just think you should conside?—”

“Don’t stand there with that Dad stare. It’s not going to work.”

I mirror her with my hands on my hips. “I don’t know why we’re arguing about this, Rosie. I’m just trying?—”

“Well, stop trying,” she snaps. “I’m going to bed.”

She turns and storms out of the kitchen, her ponytail swishing behind her.

“Do you need me to help?—”

“No,” she snaps, over her shoulder.

“Okay then,” I say, running my hands through my hair. That went well .