Millionaire's Women Part 35

'Just as well,' said Kate dryly. 'My culinary skills don't extend that far.'

They stayed at the table to drink coffee, Jo completely at ease with her new acquaintance as she asked questions about Bran.

'Come round to my house at the weekend to see him,' said Jack casually. 'I'll get Molly to organise a special Easter Sunday lunch.'

'Who's Molly?'

'She's the good fairy who cleans my house and leaves me delicious meals.'

'She's very young to be such a fabulous cook,' said Kate. 'I've sampled some of her food, Jo. It's delicious.'

'No more delicious than the meal I had tonight,' said Jack emphatically. 'So is that a date, Jo? Or will you be too tired after your party?'

She shook her head, smiling. 'I'd love to come.'

'I'll expect you about twelve, then. We can have a stroll with Bran in the garden before lunch.'

'Great,' said Jo, and got up. 'Past my bedtime,' she announced and leaned down to kiss Kate's cheek.

'Goodnight, darling, sleep well.'

Jo smiled as Jack got to his feet. 'It was nice to meet you. Thank you again for the chocolates. I'll look forward to Sunday.'

'So shall I,' he a.s.sured her.

Jo hesitated, then held up her face and Jack touched his lips to the smooth cheek, his voice husky as he bade his daughter goodnight.

When they were alone Kate exchanged a long look with Jack, then went into his arms with a shaky sigh.

'Well?' she said, tipping back her face. 'What do you think of our daughter?'

'She's a darling.' Jack leaned his forehead against hers. 'I can't believe she's ours. I hope to G.o.d we can tell her the truth without turning her against me.'

'And me,' she reminded him, but Jack shook his head.

'She very obviously thinks the world of you, so that won't happen, Kate. As I said before, I'm the villain of the piece.'

'We needn't tell her about Dawn-'

'But we will.' Jack raised his head. 'Meeting her tonight clarified that for me. If we have any hope of life together as a family, Jo must know everything.'

'I just wish we could tell her in a way that wouldn't hurt her-or you.' Kate took his hand. 'It's not late. Stay for a while, Jack. I need you.'

'I need you too,' he said with feeling, and drew her down on the chaise with him. 'Would our daughter be shocked if she saw me cuddling you?'

'She's thirteen, not three, Jack! She'd probably think it strange if we weren't.'

He laughed and rubbed his chin over her hair. 'Do you think she liked me?'

'Of course she did. Otherwise she wouldn't have been chatting away so happily.'

'I'll ask Dad round to lunch on Sunday, too. He can always take off later if he can't face the showdown.'

Kate nodded thoughtfully. 'Good idea. Jo liked him and, after all, he is her grandfather.'

'He knew that the moment he saw her, which is why he was knocked for six.' Jack sighed. 'I suppose I'd better be on my way. Shall I call in tomorrow?'

'Not tomorrow. Ben's away so we're sharing pizza and a video with Anna in the evening, but we're in on Friday. Come for a drink on your way home.'

'I'll finish early for once. I need to make the most of her while I can.' He stood up with Kate and set her on her feet. 'After Sunday's revelations she may never want to set eyes on me again.'

Jack's words stayed with Kate as she got ready for bed. It was hours before a dream-troubled sleep overtook her, but she woke early and got up feeling tired and heavy-eyed, in direct contrast to Joanna, who came bounding into the kitchen, full of the joys of spring.

'I like Jack,' she announced. 'He's easy to talk to, like Ben. Only better looking,' she added with a grin, and poured herself some orange juice. 'He's quite a hunk!'

'I'm glad you approve,' said Kate dryly. 'How about scrambled eggs?'

'No thanks. I'll just have yoghurt and toast.' Jo applied herself to her breakfast while Kate drank a cup of tea. 'Aren't you going to eat anything?'

'In a minute.'

'You look a bit pale.'

'I'll be fine after more tea.'

Joanna gave her a questioning look. 'When you knew him before, was Jack your boyfriend?'

'Yes.' Kate braced herself. 'In fact we were engaged briefly, but it didn't work out.'

'What happened?'

Kate busied herself with pouring tea. 'I was determined to work in London; Jack was equally determined to stay here, so we decided on a clean break.'

Jo frowned and reached for more toast. 'I bet you were both sorry afterwards.'

'Yes, we were.' Which was an understatement. Feeling like someone on the edge of a precipice, Kate changed the subject to Jo's choice of birthday present for the twins. 'We'd better pop into town this afternoon and find something.'

Jack rang before they went out, to ask if his daughter approved of him, and laughed, relieved, when Kate told him he was not only easy to talk to but better looking than Ben Maitland.

'You can't get higher praise than that,' Kate a.s.sured him.

'Thank G.o.d for it. I'll sleep a lot easier tonight than I did last night!'

'So what do you think of Kate's friend, Jo?' asked Anna that evening.

'I think he's lovely. Much better looking than David,' said Jo, startling Kate.

'You remember David, then?'

'Of course I do.' Jo pulled a face. 'He used to come to Sunday lunch sometimes when you were together. He talked down to me. You know, as if I was a baby-which I suppose I was then. But Ben and Jack treat me like an adult.'

'As they should,' said Anna, trying not to laugh. 'So you approve of Jack?'

Jo nodded, and flashed Kate an impudent smile. 'I think he wants to get back with you.'

'Do you, indeed!'

'Why do you think I went to bed so tactfully last night? I could tell he was dying to be alone with you.'

Kate stared at her, speechless, and Anna dissolved into helpless laughter.

'What do they teach you at that all girl establishment of yours?'

'It's a school, not a convent,' Jo pointed out. 'And some girls have boyfriends back home and bore you rigid about what they get up to with them. Not me, of course,' she said regretfully.

'Not yet,' murmured Anna, and helped Jo to more pizza. 'How would you feel if Jack Logan did get back with Auntie?' she asked bluntly, ignoring Kate's glare.

Jo thought about it as she munched. 'I wouldn't mind at all. He's cool. And he's potty about Kate.'

'Why do you think that?' demanded Kate, her colour high.

Jo gave her a pitying look. 'It was pretty obvious! Besides,' she said thoughtfully, 'you sort of look right together.'

When they got home Kate waited until Jo was in bed, then rang Jack to report on the topic of conversation over pizza at the Maitland house.

'Anna just asked her straight out?' said Jack, laughing. 'What did you do?'

'Blush,' said Kate succinctly. 'Trust Anna to ask the question I wouldn't dare to. Anyway, we're in the clear. She seems quite happy about you as the current man in my life.'

'The only man in your life! Was marriage mentioned?'

'Even Anna didn't go that far!'

'Pity. Jo's opinion would have been interesting.'

'She thinks we look sort of right together, if that's any comfort.'

'd.a.m.n right it is! Dad's very happy about Sunday, by the way. Last I heard he was off to buy the biggest Easter egg in town.'

'How sweet!' Kate took in a deep, unsteady breath. 'Oh, G.o.d, Jack, I do hope there's a happy ending to all this.'

'Amen to that. In the meantime I'll call in tomorrow evening to make the most of my daughter while I can.'

Jack's second visit was as much a success as the first. Joanna opened the door to him again and greeted him with such open pleasure that Kate could tell he wanted to hug her. He stayed for an hour, admired the sweatshirts purchased as birthday presents for the twins, and approved the white jeans and jade-green top Joanna fetched to show him.

'I was going to wear my mini-skirt to the party,' she told him, 'but Kate and Anna said the jeans would be better.'

'Try them on and show Jack how you'll look tomorrow, if you like,' said Kate, and Joanna rushed off immediately.

Jack groaned. 'Mini-skirt with those long legs?'

'My sentiments exactly,' said Kate, grinning. 'Anna's, too.'

Joanna came back into the room in her party gear, her eyes sparkling as she did a twirl. 'What do you think?' she asked Jack.

'Absolutely gorgeous,' he said without hesitation.

Kate and Joanna saw him to the door when he left soon afterwards, and Jack kissed Jo's cheek and Kate's mouth before getting into his car.

'You really like him, don't you?' said Jo as they waved him off.

'Yes, darling, I really do. Now, take the new things off and climb into your pyjamas. You need an early night tonight if you're partying tomorrow.'

It was hard to know who was the more tense when Kate delivered Joanna to the Carey house the following evening. Music was thumping from a barn decorated with fairy lights and a large streamer wishing Josh and Leo a happy birthday, and Jo took in a deep breath as the two boys raced towards her, their eyes snapping with excitement as she handed them the parcels she'd taken ages to pack earlier.

'Hi,' they said in unison as they tore away the paper. 'Great! Just what we wanted-thanks a lot.' They handed the presents to their mother and grabbed Jo's arm. 'Leave your coat with Mum and come on on, it's party time!'

With anxious eyes Kate watched her ewe lamb run with the twins towards the lights and music, then turned to smile ruefully at their mother.

Megan Carey patted her hand. 'She'll have a great time. Don't worry; the others are a nice crowd of kids and Jim and Ben are on hand to keep a discreet eye on things.'

Kate thanked her warmly, told her she was at the Maitland house if needed and, with a last glance towards the barn, waved at Ben at his post on the door and went to join Anna.

As usual Anna's company was a calming influence as Kate reported on the previous evening.

'He seems to be calling in quite a lot lately. Are you still just good friends?'

'Jack wants more than that.'

'Of course he does-he's a man!' Anna looked at her curiously. 'Does he want to marry you?'

'Yes.'

'Do you want to marry him him?'

'Yes.'

'Then what's stopping you-?' Anna breathed in sharply and put a hand on her stomach, her eyes wide.

Kate jumped to her feet in alarm. 'What's wrong?'

'Nothing at all.' A beatific smile spread over Anna's face. 'I think my baby just said h.e.l.lo for the first time.'

Kate hugged her. 'How lovely! Isn't it the most wonderful feeling-?' She bit her lip and stood back, colour rushing into her face as Anna stared at her in silent, wide-eyed question. Kate sat down abruptly and took in a deep breath. 'It's all going to come out tomorrow, anyway, so I'll tell you first, Anna. I remember exactly how it feels to be pregnant because, although she doesn't know it yet, Joanna is my daughter, not my niece.'

Anna gave a screech and pulled Kate into her arms, tears pouring down her face as she held her close for a long, emotional interval. 'Sorry, sorry!' she said at last. 'It's hormones. But you must know about that. For heaven's sake don't leave me in suspense, love-' She stopped dead and moved back to peer into Kate's face, swallowing hard. 'Oh, my G.o.d, it's Jack, isn't it? He's her father.'

Kate sat with her on the sofa and told her story with as little drama as possible, but by the end of it both of them were in tears again. 'So tomorrow, after Easter Sunday lunch at Mill House,' Kate finished thickly, 'Jack and I are going to make a clean breast of it and throw ourselves on our daughter's mercy. Funny, really,' she added, sniffing, 'I've kept my secret all these years, and now I've told my story three times in one week.'