Page 63 of The Bet
“I told her we wanted to spend this weekend pampering Jacob.”
Damn it. No point in him sticking around here, then. He gulped down his coffee. Maybe it was a good idea for them to spend time with the kid. From what Izzy had told him, it sounded as if the kid needed his mother and Tobias more than Xavier needed to find an inroad to Izzy.
“You should do the helicopter ride,” he said, taking a final gulp. Damn, that coffee was good. He was tempted to ask for another cup, but he could make it to the cafe around Tribeca for brunch, and read the morning’s paper. That area was good for people-watching. Lots of models flocked to the cafe there. It was where he’d met Petra. “He would like that.”
“I know he would. I just don’t want him to get used to having helicopter rides the way most children get used to having ice-cream.”
“He won’t. He’s a sensible child. Grounded. You brought him up well, Savannah. I wouldn’t worry about him turning into a spoiled little brat.”
“Thanks,” she cupped her hands around her mug. “Izzy said everything was fine while we were away. She said Jacob didn’t seem too sad or upset that we were gone for so long.” She seemed to be seeking his approval, as if she felt guilty for leaving him.
“It was fine. Jacob had a ton of fun, ask him yourself. Izzy was good with him, and I would come over and we’d do stuff. Your parents were here, so I don’t think the kid had any reason to feel sad at all.”
“I’m glad to hear it. I was worried about him, what with me getting married and everything, it’s a huge change in our lives. I felt bad that I’d left him while I was on vacation.”
“He was well taken care of, Savannah. He seemed happy, and you have no reason to worry. Apart from that one small episode, I mean, I think it’s a perfectly valid fear, feeling left out, and him worrying about—”
“What thing?” Savannah interjected. From her reaction it was plain to see she didn’t know.
“That … Jacob was …” He’d assumed that Izzy would have brought Savannah up to date with everything, and now he realized she hadn’t. “It’s no big deal. I’m sure Izzy will fill you in when she sees you.”
“What’s not a big deal?”
He scratched his head wondering why he’d broached the subject at all. And so he told her what Izzy had told him, as best as he could remember, about Jacob feeling worried about a new sibling, and about Tobias not being his real dad. The more he spoke, the more worried Savannah looked. He wished he had kept his mouth shut.
“I had no idea,” she said when he had finished talking. Even worse, he was now worried about the possible fall out once Izzy found out he had told Savannah before she’d had a chance to.
“I’m sure Izzy was going to tell you.”
But Savannah appeared lost in thought.
“I think it’s a natural reaction, Savannah. I wouldn’t worry too much about it.”
“Maybe it is, but it makes me feel all sad inside thinking about him.” Savannah appeared to be thinking things over. “I was starting to think that I was worrying for no reason, but my fears were valid.”
“What fears?”
“I think I need to focus solely on Jacob. I need to forget about the house move, and the charity work, and everything else and just concentrate on him. He obviously needs me more than I thought. The change has been too unsettling for him.”
He listened, and hoped he hadn’t made too many alarm bells go off. Savannah was obviously so protective of her son. “Yeah, maybe there’s been a lot for him to take in.”
“It’s more than a young child should have to deal with. I get why Jacob feels anxious.” Her voice dropped lower. “It’s been mostly me and him.”
“Yeah.” He could see he had set something off, and hoped that Tobias wouldn’t walk back into the kitchen and see that he’d unknowingly made Savannah worried.
“I want him to see he’s the core of our family. Because he is.”
“I’m sure you guys make him feel as if he is.”
“I think it would be wrong of me to have Izzy come over at the weekends.” She placed her palm flat against her forehead. “And she’d only recently agreed to come and work for me.”
“You can still have Izzy come over,” he said, not liking where this was going. “Jacob likes her.”
“No,” Savannah drew out a long breath. “No, he obviously feels worried enough to tell you and Izzy.”
“He didn’t tell me, he told Izzy.” As if that was going to change things.
But Savannah was lost in her own thoughts. “I feel bad because I’d already promised her that she could work some hours for me, babysitting Jacob on weekends, and maybe evenings, around her college and other jobs.”
