Effy volunteering at the animal shelter.
Effy running art workshops for the elderly.
Effy graduating.
Effy in Ibiza with Joan, Finn, Alex, and Luca.
Effy at her first art exhibition.
“God, Tom, she’s beautiful. She has your eyes.”
“Mini Sapphire,” I joke. “Not so mini anymore…”
I’m debating whether I should spit out the next words. Can’t say I’m thrilled about it, but adding more of my drama to the mix will give him something to think about. He needed a distraction? Fine. I’ll give him one that’ll rattle his brain for at least a week.
“My baby is having a baby.”
Silence. The phone drops with a thud on the soft percale sheets.
Yosh stares at me, jaw dropped. He blinks, scrambling to grab the phone before it slides off the bed.
“Wait. Effy’s pregnant?”
I can’t tell if he’s about to smile or pass out.
I did when Joan told me. Woke up to the whole room spinning likeThe Starry Night. It can’t get worse than that.
“Tom, are you… I mean… how do you feel about that?” He presses the phone back into my hand.
“Great question. Still figuring it out. Next topic, please.”
He opens his mouth to say something, then closes it when he reads my face and realizes I absolutely don’t want to talk about it.
He slumps against my chest. His fingers glide through mine before curling them against my palm.
“I get it now. Effy’s about to become a parent, and you want to give her the support you never had when you became her dad. That’s why you agreed to Arcadia, isn’t it? To make it right?”
I throw an elbow over my eyes to shield myself from the sudden migraine he’s triggering. Why the hell is he placing needles right there where it hurts?
I let out a long exhale. He’s not wrong.
“I guess making things right is my new mantra. Not just with Effy, with everything in life. That means I’m going back to Palm Oasis tomorrow to take responsibility for what happened at Arcadia. The longer I stay hidden, the messier things get with Jay.”
Yosh nods, but I can see the worry in his eyes.
“Do you have a plan?”
“I’ll figure something out about the positive drug test. Don’t worry, love, I won’t mention it was you. I need to do this. It’s the only way to stop Jay from dragging my arse back to Europe.”
“You know that taking someone against their will is kidnapping, right?”
A cynical scoff rolls from my vocal cords.
“Jay made me sign an agreement giving him the right to act on my behalf if I violated any terms, like testing positive or getting arrested. My brother knows me too well.”
“Sapphire, a contract like that wouldn’t stand a chance in court.”
“It’s not about legal consequences. It’s about family, loyalty and what happens if you don’t follow the rules. I don’t expect you to understand, it’s complicated.”
