Jay's POV
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The Lamborghini does make short work of all of our journeys and I'm not imagining it, as I cruise down the unmarked roads with my playlist on. Getting to my destination and more importantly back again without too much time elapsing is my absolute need. Taking the road by storm, and speeding since neither Henry or Taylor are passengers in the car I imagine all of the ways I could end Jacob's life. I hallucinate that he is standing before me on the horizon line and I picture myself running him over, the Lamborghini sending him to his timely death. Like some silly movie, I think of placing a hit on him, hiring a hitman and just having it all over. Ending his sorry life myself is my goal, and he may be far away from me but I must do it.
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Taylor is utterly unaware that Matthew and Ross will be arriving tonight, my mum has been doting on both her and Henry all afternoon. All be it I haven't told either my mother or father about the accident, they're aware that Taylor is feeling weak, I assume in their minds they are putting it down to exhaustion from being a new mom. However there is an edge to Taylor's behaviour, just a slight sense of despair that is palpable still now.
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Leaving my mother and Taylor in the kitchen curating up some kind of recipe as my father rocked Henry to sleep, I snuck out climbing into the car and setting it into motion. The airport is my goal, as I drive into Florence. It’s only as I gaze upon the urban structure that I realise you should never judge a part of the world by the airport that gets you to your destination. The buildings are like any other airport, built up and uninspired, unlike the rest of Italy that is breathtaking and full of outstanding natural beauty.
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On foot, I make my way to the terminal. Imagining what the airport will look like when the new terminal in planning for development will include a fully operating vineyard on its roof. It’s an intriguing idea, like a multi purpose building that not only is the centre to get in and out of the country but also a production site for wine.
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As I gaze down at my Rolex waiting for the inbound arrivals I realise it’s been around two hours already. The paranoia I already feel leaving Taylor has hit an absolute high since I saw her in the pool. I had to imagine that her life had ended, that she was gone. Our eternity over, our happy ever after had ceased for me in that moment as I dredged her body up unsure of her mental and physical state.
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It’s the first time I’ve truly known despair, it’s the one feeling I’ve guarded myself from over the many years of my life. Not wanting to ever be close to anybody in the pursuit of not feeling that wretched emotion which seizes your mind and heart and renders you useless and hopeless.
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The arrivals board indicates that the flight from London has arrived. And I take a seat on the plastic chairs knowing that Matthew and Ross will be here soon. It’s not that I feel Matthew is better with Taylor than I am, of course not. But seeing them again will hopefully allow her to forget it all, or at least that is my hope. He will tell her about his silly art adventures in London and Ross will go on about some book shop and she will smile again.
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Checking my phone just briefly and seeing no missed calls is a good sign I tell myself, it means that Taylor is safe. My mother would not allow anything to happen to her or the baby I remind myself as the paranoia seizes me again.
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“Hey man” Matthew says as I look up from my phone, smiling slightly at the guys as Matthew lays his eyes on me with an expression that holds both his worry and frustration. They’re overdressed for the weather, but one must assume that London was pretty cold in comparison to the temperatures here in Italy. Ross has his normal jeans on and a soft jumper, Matthew wears chinos and a leather jacket with a simple white shirt underneath.
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“You won’t need your jumpers or coats” I laugh as I stand up in my own polo neck and shorts and give them both a hug. Matthew pulls his leather jacket off and smirks slightly.
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“It’s cold in London” Ross laughs as we all begin walking towards the car.
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“How was your trip” I ask them openly.
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“Ross pulled two women on the first night, turns out he’s absolutely every London girls dream. We visited the sights” Matthew begins as Ross shoves him slightly and I laugh feeling the warmth of the setting sun as we head to the car. Realising that they are looking for the Audi and smiling when they see our Lamborghini instead.
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“Nice ride man” Ross laughs, and I remember that he has always been a fan of fancy cars.
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“And I did not pull. Matthew did, we were at this pub and these two girls were getting hit on by older men. Next thing I know Matthew is standing up and exposing these guys and their date rape drugs. He got them kicked out and the women barged in on our night out” Ross explains as the lamba roars to life and Matthew sits to my left laughing. I hit him on the shoulder in a joking way as he turns to face Ross.
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“Matthew you’re so predictable” I laugh as he protests.
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“I did not invite them back to our apartment, Ross did.” He exclaims and I chuckle, it’s the oldest trick in the book isn’t it.
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“Really, let me protect you from the bad guys gets girls every time” I laugh as he snickers and I tell them that they can light up with the windows down. I don’t smoke anymore not when I’m one of the main caregivers to Henry.
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“The apartment was nice, had a nice little balcony” he adds as I turn to him with a cheeky smile.
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“Don’t change the subject, I’m a married man granted to the women of my fucking dreams. I shall no longer ever want to have one night stands. Doesn’t mean I don’t want to hear your hilarious sordid tales” I laugh feeling like my best friend is back.
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“It was a one night thing, the girls I feel wanted to hang out again but Ross ushered them out” Matthew laughs.
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“And I only slept with her because you started making out with the annoying one on the sofa. She felt left out I couldn’t just say goodnight hope you enjoy watching my mate fuck your friend could I?” Matthew scowls at Ross with a wry grin.
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“Plus she literally asked nicely, she said no attachments” Matthew adds and I laugh cruising us back down the one track roads as the sun sits on the skyline.
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“We did other things in London too” Matthew laughs and I nod.
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“Matthew landed himself a job on the London eye” Ross laughs and I smirk.
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“Not on the London eye itself” Matthew snarks.
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“It’s for a media photography company, news and journalism. It’s remote I’ve signed the papers this morning” Matthew explains and I congratulate him.
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“Fancy looking man took an interest in him and asked him to take pictures of him and his wife. He offered him the job pretty much on the spot” Ross explains and I nod, Matthew has a keen eye. Those eyes are also pretty keen on my wife but we’ll disregard that for now.
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Eventually we pull into the lane that leads up to the farmhouse, the guys comment on the stars which you can clearly see in the open skyline. The moon glows tonight and illuminates the grounds as I pull the Lamborghini up to the front of the property.
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“You can get more for your money in Italy” I laugh as Matthew looks up at the size of the place in utter shock.
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“Jesus” Ross laughs as we climb out of the car.
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“So Taylor doesn’t even know you’re coming, I wanted to keep it a surprise. She’s been… well anyways.” I say not wanting to go into the details of how my wife has been a shell of herself for the past couple of days.
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“I can’t wait to see Henry” Ross smiles, the softy that he is.
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“His hair is much longer, and he’s fatter” I smirk and he laughs.
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I guide them up the marble steps to the front door before unlocking it and helping them pull their bags into the tiled hall. We keep ourselves quiet, hearing the chatter of my mom as Taylor presumably cooks and Henry gurgles in the distance. He’s started making soft noises and communicating his needs very effectively through his cries. Henry can lift his head and appears to look from side to side. Whenever Taylor sings he often turns his head to her and I surmised that it’s because she has the voice of an angel.
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“See that’s why I kept some of the pasta water to thicken the sauce” Taylor says standing over by the large double gas hob in her black dress. My mom watches me with a sparkle in her eyes as I approach Taylor from behind and wrap my arms around her waist whispering in her ear that I’m back. My mom makes herself scarce presumably off to find Henry who is being entertained by his grandad.
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“Looks great” I whisper smiling down at the sauce as she glances up at me wondering where I’ve been before she kisses my lips softly. I pull away softly and turn her around.
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“Hey Tay” Ross says as she turns around fully.
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“You’re both here” she remarks shocked and wiping her eyes.
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“You’re both here from London” she says shocked as she glances up at me before I guide her over the expansive kitchen towards them.
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“Taylor” Matthew says softly his eyes settling on her as she stands before him in my arms.
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“You came all the way from London early” she says as tears escape her eyes.
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“It’s a much quicker journey from London to Italy than it is from London to California” Ross smirks taking a seat at the large wooden table as I go to grab him and Matthew a beer.
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“Around two and a bit hours” Matthew says hugging Taylor before he takes a seat at the table.
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“They know don’t they” Taylor asks me abruptly, and I can’t read her. Shes utterly emotionless as she looks down at the kitchen side.
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“They know that I…” she begins crying and I start to reevaluate not telling her about their arrival. How she may have been somewhat emotional still and that perhaps I should have not kept it all a secret.
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“They know” she whispers returning to the stove and stirring the sauce.
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Eyeing Matthew as he watches me right back with an expression of concern shadowing his features before he stands up and crosses the room to her. Taylor sobs and he pulls her to face him, his arms going around her as my jealousy peaks but I squash it.
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“No, it’s okay” I hear him whisper.
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“I’ve been there” he whispers as I remind myself of his attempt on his own life a few years back. He had swallowed a concoction of pills, drugs and finished it all off with alcohol. Ross had found him and his stomach was pumped before Taylor and I arrived and saw him through his recovery. Essentially, I remind myself as she finds comfort in his embrace, that his perspective is invaluable. It’s not something I’ve ever experienced and I’m struggling to navigate her emotions, alongside caring for the baby. Matthew holds my wife and she stops crying, before I hover I help with the cooking and chopping set on keeping myself busy and distracted from the voices I have going off inside my own head. Telling me that I can’t solve her problems, and that Matthew can.
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