Page 66 of The Bet
“I’d better go and find out what it is.”
“Maybe they’ve pampered the kid as much as they can and now need you to take over while they recover from jetlag.”
“Jacob’s not a spoiled child at all,” Izzy replied, defensively. “And they’re good parents. Jacob’s really humble and really sweet. Even you would like him.”
“I doubt it.” Cara licked off the cream from her cupcake. “Maybe she wants to pay you?” Her lips were smudged with buttercream.
“Yay!” Payday was always good. And Savannah’s rates were generous. She got paid for a few hours looking after Jacob what would easily take double the amount of time at the diner.
~ ~ ~
“Mom’s back!” Jacob announced with a beaming face. “She said for you to come through.” He lead her towards Savannah’s bedroom.
It was only when Izzy stood at the open bedroom door, that she saw a heap of suitcases lying in one corner of the huge bedroom. It was nearly triple the size of her and Cara’s entire apartment.
“Hi,” said Izzy, knocking on the door.
“Hey.” Savannah’s smile said a thousand things. “Come in.” Her skin was the color of golden honey and the reddish highlights in her hair glinted even redder.
Izzy walked in and tried not to stare at Savannah’s stomach discreetly, trying to work out whether Savannah was pregnant or not, but it was hard to tell with the loose t-shirt she wore. She seemed the same as ever, only more tanned, and more glowing. Izzy couldn’t tell if that was from the honeymoon or if she might be pregnant, if Jacob’s words were to be believed.
“How was the honeymoon?”
Savannah closed her eyes momentarily, and smiled, as if reliving that moment. “Like a dream. It was everything I could have imagined and more.”
“I can imagine.” Life as the wife of a billionaire was probably a 360 degree turn from what Savannah’s life had been before.
“Let’s go into the living room,” Savannah suggested, “this room is a mess. And, thanks for coming over at such short notice.”
“It’s not a problem,” Izzy replied. “I wasn’t doing anything.” Except vegging on the couch with my friend and a plate of cupcakes.
Savannah motioned for Izzy to sit down on the couch. Already Izzy was wondering what was going on, because Savannah didn’t seem her usual carefree self. She seemed more business-like, more forced, as if there was something of a serious nature she needed to discuss.
“I could have come earlier, if you needed me to look after Jacob.”
“It’s not that. And, the reason I want to see you is because of Jacob.” She lowered her voice, leaving Izzy with a distinctly uneasy feeling. She tried to think if she had done anything wrong, by mistake, that could be the reason for Savannah summoning her.
“Jacob?”
“I missed him so much when we were away, and coming back to him now, I think it would be wrong of me to ask you to take him out and about when I can do that, for now at least. It’s nothing you’ve done,” she rushed to reassure her. “It’s me. I finally had the time and quietness to think things through and I believe I need to spend more time with my son.”
Izzy clasped her hands together. She had an idea of what this was about, and she wondered if Jacob had said anything to his mother.
“I don’t know how to say this,” said Savannah, clasping her hands together, and looking uneasy.
“Did I do something wrong?”
“Oh my goodness,” gasped Savannah. “No. Definitely not. You’ve been amazing, Jacob said, and Xavier said.”
“Xavier?”
“Yes. He came here earlier, not knowing we were back. He was ready to go out with you and Jacob. He said you’d had a good few weekends.”
Izzy forced a smile.
“This just makes it even more harder for me to say.”
“Just say it, Savannah.”
