Saved by the Single Dad (3 page)

If he was honest, he was sorry about that too. Jack knew exactly what it was like to have to come to terms with the idea that his father was never coming back, and he'd promised Ellie that he would always come back for her. Right now the storm and the floods made that impossible, and the feeling that he was letting Ellie down was eating at him.

Cass didn't need to know that. ‘I'm concentrating on Lynette and the baby too.' He received a bright grin in acknowledgement of the sentiment. ‘I'd really like to call my daughter to say goodnight, though. Would you mind if I borrowed your phone?'

‘Yes, of course.' She stood up, handing her phone over. ‘I'll leave you to it.'

‘That's okay. Say hello to her.'

She hesitated and then sat back down with a bump. Awkwardly, she pointed to one of the icons on the small screen.

‘You could try a video call. She might like to see you.'

‘Yeah, she would. Thanks.'

Jack couldn't remember his sister's mobile number so he called the landline, repeating Cass's mobile number over to Sarah. ‘My sister's going to get back to us.'

‘Your wife works too?'

‘I'm a single father. Sarah has a boy of Ellie's age and she looks after her when I'm working.'

‘Sounds like a good arrangement.' She seemed to be getting more uncomfortable by the minute. If he hadn't already come to the conclusion that Cass could deal with almost anything, he would have said she was flustered.

He didn't have time to question why because the phone rang. Cass leaned over, jabbing an icon on the screen to switch on the camera and answer the call.

* * *

He was so in love with Ellie. Cass had reckoned that a wife and family would put Jack firmly out of bounds, which was the best place for him as far as she was concerned. But he was handsome, caring, funny...
and single
. She was going to have to work a little harder now, because allowing herself to be tempted by Jack was just an exercise in loss.

‘Daddeee!'
An excited squeal came from the phone and Cass averted her gaze. Jack held the phone out in front of him, his features softening into a grin that made her want to run away screaming.

‘Ellie! What are you up to, darling?'

‘We're having tea. Then Ethan and me are going to watch our film.'

‘Again, sweetie? Doesn't Auntie Sarah want to watch something else on TV?' He chuckled as a woman's voice sounded, saying that if it kept the kids quiet, she was happy.

‘Listen, Ellie...' He waited until the commotion on the other end of the line subsided. ‘Ellie, Daddy's got to work, so you'll be staying with Auntie Sarah for tonight.'

Silence. Then a little voice sounded. ‘I know. Miss you, Daddy.'

Cass almost choked with emotion. When she looked at Jack, he seemed to have something in his eye. ‘I miss you too, sweetie. You know you're always my number one girl. And I'll be back soon to give you big hugs.'

‘How big?'

‘As big as a bear. No, bigger than that. As big as our house.'

A little squeal of delight from Ellie. Cass imagined that Jack's hugs were something to look forward to.

‘As big as our house...'

‘Yeah.' Jack was grinning broadly now. ‘Be good for Auntie Sarah, won't you.'

‘I'm always good.'
Ellie's voice carried a note of reproof.

‘Sure you are. Would you like to meet my new friend?' He winked at Cass and her heart jolted so hard she almost fainted. ‘She's a firefighter.'

‘She has a fire engine?' Ellie was obviously quite taken with the idea.

‘Why don't you ask her?' Jack chuckled and handed the phone over to Cass.

A little girl was staring at her. Light brown curls and luminous brown eyes. She was the image of Jack.

‘Hi, Ellie. I'm Cassandra.' She wondered whether Ellie was a bit young to get her tongue around the name. Child development wasn't her forte. ‘All my friends call me Cass.'

‘You're a fire lady? With a fire engine?'
Ellie was wriggling excitedly.

‘Yes, that's right.'

‘Do you have a ladder?'

‘Yes, more than one. And we have a hose, for putting out all the fires.'

‘Auntie Sarah...!'
Ellie clearly wanted to share this exciting news.

‘Yes, I heard. Tell Cassandra that you've seen a fire engine.' The woman's voice again, laughing.

‘I've seen a fire engine.' Ellie turned the edges of her mouth down theatrically. ‘It was a long, long, long way away...'

Suddenly Cass knew exactly what to say to Ellie. ‘Tell you what. We're having an Open Day at our fire station soon. We're showing all the children around...' She was about to add that Ellie would have to ask her father if she might come, but that seemed to be a foregone conclusion.

‘Yesss! Daddeee!'

Jack shot Cass a wry smile. ‘Do I get to come along too, Ellie?'

Cass thought she could almost see the little girl roll her eyes.

‘You have to take me, Daddy. I can't drive...'

‘Ah, yes, of course. Looks like it's the two of us, then. Say thank you to Cassandra.'

Jack leaned in, speaking over her shoulder, and Cass swallowed a gasp, suddenly aware that his body was very close.

‘Thank you, Cassandra.'

Ellie managed the name without even blinking, and Jack chuckled.

‘Time to say bye-bye now, sweetheart.' Ellie responded by waving and blowing a kiss, then Jack took the phone from her to say his own goodnight to his daughter.

Cass stood up, her limbs suddenly trembling. It was impossible to fall in love in so short a time and over the phone. And, if she was honest with herself, she hadn't fallen in love with Ellie's brown eyes but with Jack's. But he was a grown man. It was much easier to admit that his child was all she could see.

‘She's gorgeous.' Cass had let him finish the call, looking away when he blew kisses to Ellie.

‘Yeah.' His fingers lingered lovingly over the blank screen for a moment, as if he couldn't quite let go of the memory of his daughter's face, and then he handed the phone back. ‘I didn't think she'd manage to pronounce
Cassandra
.'

The second time he said her name was just as disturbing as the first. Awakening thoughts of what it might feel like to have him whisper it.

‘She must be growing up fast.'

‘Seems too fast, sometimes.' He shrugged. ‘She loves fire engines...'

‘Yeah, me too. You didn't mind me asking her to the Open Day?'

‘Mind...?' He laughed. ‘Sounds like fun. Do I get to sit in the driver's seat?'

‘No. Children only. Dads get to watch.'

CHAPTER THREE

T
HEY
'
D
EATEN
IN
the church hall, the dreaded Monday Club turning out to be a group of perfectly nice women who cooked good food in large quantities and didn't mind a laugh. The evening was spent at the vicarage with Lynette and Cass, who persuaded Martin to make up a fourth for board games. Then Jack made his apologies and retired to his sleeping quarters, shutting the door and lying down fully dressed on the camp bed.

Suddenly he felt very alone. Ellie would be tucked up in bed by now and although he knew that Sarah would have given her bedtime kisses on his behalf, he hadn't been there to give them himself. Mimi was probably exhausted and looking forward to a good night's sleep. Cass was...

He wasn't going to think about where Cass was. He had a child, and he had to protect her. Jack had made up his mind a long time ago that the best thing for Ellie was that he remained single.

He must have drifted off to sleep because the next thing he knew was a tingle behind his ear, and his eyes shot open involuntarily as he realised that someone was rubbing their finger gently on his skin. He blinked in the light that was flooding in through the doorway and saw Cass.

For one moment all he could think was that this was a delicious way to wake up, coaxed out of unconsciousness by a red-haired goddess. Then the urgency on her face snapped him back to reality.

‘Her waters have broken. Jack...'

‘Okay. I hear you.' Jack swung his legs from the bed and shook his head to bring himself to. He'd been hoping that this wouldn't happen. He had the training and the experience for it, and this certainly wasn't the most outlandish place that he and Mimi had delivered a baby before now. But without the possibility of any backup, and only the medical supplies that Rafe had sent, it was a heavy responsibility, which he had to bear alone.

This was no time to panic. Contrary to all his expectations, Cass was panicking enough for both of them at the moment.

Keeping his pace brisk but unhurried in an effort to slow Cass down a bit, he picked up his medical bags and made for the vicarage. As they reached the back door they passed Martin, who was hurrying in the other direction, a sleeping child in his arms.

‘Go through, Jack. Just getting the kids out of the way.'

Jack nodded. Following Cass through the kitchen and up the stairs, he found Sue and another woman on either side of Lynette, supporting her as she paced slowly up and down.

‘We'll take her into my bedroom.' Sue looked up at him. ‘There's an en suite bathroom, and the mattress in here is wet.'

‘Thanks.' First things first. Jack smiled at Lynette, wiping a tear from her face. ‘How are you doing?'

‘Um... Okay. I think.'

‘Good. You want to walk a bit more?'

Lynette nodded.

‘All right. I'm going to get the other room ready for you, and then we'll take it from there. Tonight's your night, eh?'

‘Yes... Thanks.'

Cass took Sue's place at Lynette's side, and Sue led him through to her own bedroom. Jack pulled the plastic under-sheet from his bag, silently thanking Rafe for thinking to pack it, and Sue set about stripping the bed.

* * *

When Cass supported Lynette through to the main bedroom, it seemed that everything was ready. She helped her sister sit down on the bed. ‘Do you want your scented candles?'

‘No!' Lynette's flailing hand found Jack's sweatshirt and held on tight. ‘I want to keep a close eye on the guy with the pain relief...'

‘I'm here.' Jack was calm and smiling. ‘I'm going to wash my hands and I'll be right back, okay.'

‘Yeah. Whatever.' Lynette frowned and closed her eyes.

Get the candles anyway...
Jack mouthed the words to Cass and she hurried through to the other room to fetch Lynette's hospital bag.

When she got back, Sue waved her towards the bathroom door and Cass tapped on it tentatively. Jack was standing in front of the basin, his T-shirt and sweatshirt hung over the side of the bath, soaping his hands and arms. ‘There's a clean T-shirt and some dressings in my medical bag. Will you get them, please?'

‘Dressings? What's the matter?'

‘Nothing. They're for me.' He grinned, turning round, and she saw the new bruises on his chest, the bright red gashes that ran across his sternum and upper arms.

Her sister was in labour. Now was a fine time to notice that his muscle definition was superb. Or to feel a tingle at the warmth of his smile. Cass swallowed hard.

‘How did you do that...?' She pointed to the spot on her own arm to indicate the patch of red, broken skin on his. That had to hurt.

‘It's just a friction burn. It's bleeding a little so best I cover it up.'

She nodded and went to fetch what he'd asked for. The dressings, along with a roll of tape and some scissors, were right at the top of the bag. Jack must have been thinking ahead.

‘Okay, will you tape these on for me, please? Right around the edge so that there are no openings anywhere.'

Couldn't Sue do it? The temptation to run away and hide from his body almost made her ask. But her sister was out there having a baby, and Cass had already decided she'd do whatever it took.

He held the gauze in place and she taped around it for him. Trying not to notice the fresh smell of soap on skin. Trying not to think about how close he was, or how perfect.

‘Thanks. That's great.' He nodded his approval and Cass stepped back, almost colliding with the linen basket. Then, thankfully, he pulled the T-shirt over his head.

‘Ready?' His smile held all of the warmth that she could want for Lynette. Which happened to be a great deal more than Cass could deal with.

‘Yes. I'm ready.' Cass had told herself that this was going to be the best night of her life. Being with Lynette all the way, seeing her nephew being born. Now, all she could feel was fear, for everything that could go wrong.

* * *

He was calm and quiet, soothing Lynette when the contractions eased and helping her concentrate and breathe when they came again. When Lynette became frightened and overwhelmed, he was there with reassurance and encouragement. When she wanted to change position, he let her lean on him. When she needed pain relief, he was there with the Entonox.

Lynette seemed almost serene when she wasn't crying in pain, switching from one to the other with astonishing rapidity.

‘Is this right?' Cass mouthed the words to Jack.

Jack's gaze flipped to the portable monitors at Lynette's side. ‘Yeah, we're okay.'

‘It's so fast...' Cass had been preparing for a long haul, but it had barely been an hour since she'd woken him up and already he was telling Lynette that they were nearly there.

‘That's a good thing. Lynette's fine and so is the baby.'

Ten minutes later, her nephew was born. Jack cleared his mouth, rubbing his chest gently. Everyone held their breath and then the little man began to cry. Lynette squeezed Cass's hand so tight that she thought she was going to break her fingers.

‘Say hello to your mum...' Jack laid the baby on Lynette's chest and covered him over with a towel. The two women lay on the bed together, cradling the baby, in a daze of happiness.

* * *

Suddenly, it was all perfect. Martin had welcomed the newest member of the village to the world, and Sue went to make tea and toast. Jack managed everything perfectly, melting into the background, clearing up and making the medical checks that were needed, without intruding into their bubble.

Then the call came from Lynette's husband, saying he'd received the photo that Cass had sent and was ready and waiting for a video call. Lynette was left alone for a few minutes to talk to him and show him their new son.

Cass waited outside the door, a sudden heaviness settling on her. However close she and Lynette were, however much her sister had needed her, it wasn't her baby. It was Lynette and Steven's. Their joy. One that she would only ever feel second-hand.

This wasn't the time. There were too many special moments ahead for her to spoil with her own selfishness. And they came soon enough. The moment when Jack helped Lynette to encourage her son to feed, and he finally got the hang of what he was supposed to do. The moment when his eyelids flickered open and Cass stared for the first time into his pale blue eyes.

‘Do you have a name for him yet?' Jack was busy repacking his medical bag.

‘We did have. But we've decided on something different.' Lynette smiled. ‘We reckon Noah.'

‘Very appropriate.' Jack chuckled.

‘Is Jack a nickname for John?' She was beginning to tire now, and had lost the thread of what she was saying a couple of times already.

‘Yep. Named after my grandfather. They used to call him Jack as well.'

‘Noah John has a nice ring to it, don't you think?'

Jack turned. ‘What does your husband think?'

‘Steven suggested it. What you did tonight meant everything, to both of us, and we'd really like to have your name as his middle name. If you don't mind, that is.'

A broad grin spread over Jack's face. ‘I'd be very honoured. Thank you.' He walked over to the bed, bending down to stroke the side of little Noah's face with his finger. The tiny baby opened his eyes, seeming to focus on Jack, although Cass knew that he couldn't really focus on anything just yet.

‘Hey there, Noah.' Jack's voice was little more than a whisper. ‘We guys have to stick together, you know. Especially since we share a name now. What do you say we let your mum get a bit of rest?'

‘Will you and Cass look after him for me? I just want to close my eyes; I don't think I can sleep.'

‘Of course.' Sue had prepared the Moses basket that she'd used for her children and Jack took Noah, setting him down in the cradle. But he immediately began to fret and Jack picked him up again, soothing him.

‘Now what do we do?' Cass whispered the words at Jack. Sue and Martin had quietly left at the first suggestion of sleep, and Lynette's eyes had already drooped closed. It seemed that they were quite literally left holding the baby.

Jack chuckled quietly, nodding towards the easy chair in the corner of the room. ‘Sit down. Over there.'

‘Me?' She was suddenly gripped with panic. ‘You want
me
to hold him?'

‘I've got things to do. And it's about time he got acquainted with his aunt.'

It was almost a bitter thought. Holding her sister's baby and not her own. But in the peace and quiet of the room, candles guttering in their holders and a bedside lamp casting a soft glow, it was easy to forget that. Cass plumped herself down in the chair, wondering what Jack was going to do next.

‘Suppose I drop him?'

‘You won't.' Jack seemed to be able to manage the baby in one arm while he picked up a pillow from the bed in the other hand, dropping it on to her lap. ‘Here you are. That's right.'

The sudden closeness felt so good she wanted to cry out. Jack's scent, mingling with that of a baby. Instinctively her arms curled around Noah and she rocked him gently, holding him against her chest. He fretted for a moment and then fell into a deep sleep.

‘I just want to wake him up. See his eyes again...' She looked up at Jack and, when he smiled, Cass realised that all the wonder she felt must be written clearly on her face.

‘Yeah, I know. Let him sleep for a while; being born is a tiring business.'

Jack fetched a straight-backed chair from the kitchen and sat in the pool of light from the lamp, writing notes and keeping an eye on everyone. When Cass could tear her gaze from Noah, she watched Jack. Relaxed, smiling and unbearably handsome. She envied the shadows, which seemed to caress his face in recognition of a job well done.

When Noah woke and began to fuss a little, Lynette was immediately alert, reaching for her child. Jack delivered him to her and this time there were fewer grimaces and less messing around to get him to feed. Cass watched from the other side of the bed and, when he'd had enough and fallen back into sleep, she curled up with her sister on the bed, holding her hand until they both followed Noah's example and slept.

* * *

The morning dawned bright and clear. Jack had managed to sleep a little, in the chair in the corner of the room, and now he had heard from the HEMS team. They were flying, and would take advantage of the break in the weather to take Lynette and Noah to hospital.

Despite the early hour, a few people had gathered around the village green. An excited chatter accompanied the landing of the helicopter and a ragged cheer went up when its crew followed Jack towards the vicarage.

He said his goodbyes to Lynette and Noah inside, keeping his distance as the HEMS team took them outside with Cass. Jack wondered if this would be the last he ever saw of her and, despite all his resolutions, he found himself staring at her, as if to burn her image into his mind. But she waited for Lynette and the baby to be safely installed in the helicopter and then jogged back to stand at his side.

‘There goes your last chance of getting out of the village today. The roads are still blocked.' Cass's eyes seemed to be fixed on the disappearing speck in the sky.

Jack nodded. ‘Yours too.'

‘What does that make us?' She turned her querying gaze on to his face.

Jack shrugged. ‘It makes us people who know our families are safe, and that the village might still need us.'

‘It's not easy...'

‘I don't think it's meant to be.' Jack's decision to stay had been made in the small hours of last night and it had torn him in two. Doing his job and being a good dad was a complex and sometimes heartbreaking juggling act.

‘Well, it's done now. The only thing I can do to justify it is to make today count.' She smiled suddenly. ‘Hungry?'