Page 69 of Owen

Never finding pregnancy or babies appealing previously, I time travel into the future, an image of Jade pregnant, her swollen tummy full with my baby, coming into view. My desire to make that happen makes me feel like a fucking caveman.

Over the next twenty minutes, Violet and Lincoln share their news about the hotel they run.

I shared my empty bank account update with my two friends, filling them in on my having-seven-figures-lifestyle-to-losing-it-all situation.

Lincoln offered to help me out, pulling his phone out to transfer me some money, which I graciously turned down, informing him that Gregor has loaned me some and I am now living on a tight budget until I find a job. I’ve worked out I have eight weeks to find one.

“We’re looking for a new finance director.” Violet looks excited at the prospect of me joining the team.

“I’m not coming back to Castleview Cove.” I grab Poppy’s soft sensory book full of bright images off the table and hand it to her to play with. “Thank you, though,” I add with a nod of appreciation.

“The offer won’t expire, Owen. Peter isn’t due to retire for another six months, so it’s yours if you want it,” Lincoln adds.

In every way, I can count on Jacob and Lincoln. Even if they didn’t have a role for me in their businesses, they would make one. “I need to speak to Jacob about something. Could you get him to call me?”

“Can I not help?” Lincoln questions.

“Maybe.” I retrieve Poppy’s soft book off the floor she threw away. She grabs it and sticks it in her mouth as soon as I hand it back to her. “Remember that private investigator Jacob hired to find Skye?”

“Yeah.”

“Do you reckon he could rush through a DBS form for me?”

Lincoln blinks in confusion. “What the hell is that for?”

“It’s a check to ensure I’m suitable to work with children. Jade and I…” I stall. “Well, she doesn’t know me very well.”

“Carnally though, right?” Lincoln winks cheekily.

I shake my head with a smile. “Never change,” I order.

“Never.” He smirks.

I continue. “So this DBS thing, it’s a way to check if you have a criminal record and whether you are suitable to work around children, too. I want to run the check to show Jade that she can trust me with Poppy and that I’m a good guy with no convictions.” I’ve been reading up about it, but it can sometimes take up to ten days. However, Walter is well connected, and I think he can help me get it quicker.

Violet eyes me curiously. “You really like her.”

“I think I’m in love,” I say without hesitation.

Although I haven’t told her how I feel.

Both Lincoln and Violet sit silently, as if they can’t quite comprehend my confession.

“This is big,” Violet whispers. “For you, this ishuge, Owen.” She pushes her hands out to the sides as if she’s holding the biggest fish as the catch of the day.

“This is real,” I firmly state, brimming with confidence, but also nerves.Can you fall in love this quickly?

Lincoln pipes up. “This is crazy.” Then he adds, “Leave the DBS form with me. I’ll sort it all and I want to pay. However much it costs, I’ll cover it. I’m sure he’ll email you with instructions; just do whatever he asks, and fingers crossed, you’ll get it done pretty quickly.”

I nod, my chest full of gratefulness. “Thank you,” I breathe. I’ve not always been the best or most supportive friend in the past. However, knowing both Lincoln and Jacob would do anything for me, regardless of my circumstances, and have forgiven me for being a shitty friend, is causing me to fight to swallow down the emotion brewing within me.

“And what then? What’s the plan, Owen?” Lincoln asks, part concerned, part curious.

“I’m going to move in with Gregor back in England. He’s offered me a room as he’s renting off camp, and then…” I shrug. “I’ll get a job, I suppose.” That’s as far as I’ve gotten with my life plan. Voice unsteady, I say, “If only I could work out my big ‘why’, then I wouldn’t still feel that niggle of discomfort.”

“Do whatever makes you happy,” Violet’s cheerful American accent sings merrily.

Then Lincoln says, “When Dad made me leave Scotland to travel to America and ‘find myself’”—he holds his fingers up, wrapping air quotes around his words—“I was already certain I still wanted to work at the hotel. I never wavered. Meeting Violet, though, she’s the reason I went to California. Not to find myself like my dad thought I would, or soul search, or anything like that. It confirmed to me how I already felt, but my reason for being there was to find Violet. To find my soulmate.”

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