Jay's POV
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Henry Gilbert Scott much to my surprise managed to keep himself absolutely spotless. I gaze down upon him in the silk suit Taylor insisted upon and the sense of pride I feel is staggering. My son, the future of the Gilbert Scott's. His eyes are open looking up at the priest who is baptising him. The priest’s dark mahogany brown eyes looking down into my son’s crystal clear blue ones as he begins the service with a smile
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"Our Lord Jesus Christ has told us that to enter the kingdom of heaven we must be born again of water and the spirit, and has given us baptism as the sign and seal of this birth" he declares as we all stand before him and his holy water. Oddly it dawns upon me in this moment that my past decisions are full of wrongdoings. Before I had met Taylor my lifestyle differed to the one that now I have been gifted with. It's something, I think to myself gazing at my wife that I will never take for granted and will always protect at all costs. It's something life altering, Taylor instilled a set of motions that created the man and the father that I am today. Without her I imagine myself trawling the streets of California or Australia scoring girls that I would ultimately disappoint with my lack of interest in sticking around.
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Matthew stands by us, as a godparent to Henry and my eyes try to deny the devotion that I see on his face as he looks up at my wife. The intensity of their relationship and ongoing connection is something that I will always find difficult to understand. I tell myself in that moment that he is my best friend. My best friend only and not the man that she first loved.
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Holy water is poured over Henry, he splutters a little and Taylor instinctively comforts him. I place my arm around the small of her bare back noticing Matthew’s perceptible shift as he repositions himself away from her. He has her back in every situation, it’s something I’ve noticed about him, however my reflexes are faster. I am her husband and yet I must continually make it clear to him that he is no longer necessary.
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Once the ceremony comes to a close I look up at the tears in Taylor’s eyes and I imagine our little girl; I’ve already pinned my hopes on our next child being a girl. Adorned with her mother’s eyes and hair. Two smaller versions of ourselves to look after; Henry will be just fractionally older and testing my patience with his boy like attitude and the girl will be the apple of my eye.
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“Henry, I baptise you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen” the Priest declares as Henry lets out a small cooing noise content that the water extravaganza is over.
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Henry is paraded through the church and the arms of our family and friends as Taylor works the room, she’s phenomenal especially in a vintage silk gown that I cannot keep my eyes off. My mother and Taylor have decorated our home, it’s safe to say that Rachel was very little help in the production of the babies party. I watch on as she drapes herself over Christopher’s arm in a gown that couldn’t hold a candle to my wife’s. My mother stands next to Taylor as she looks on holding in her disapproval of Rachel’s tipsy staggering through a place of worship. It could not be more evident that my mother is over the moon with Taylor, I notice how she watches her in amazement as my wife cradles Henry, socialises with my cousin Ella and my uncle who my dad is yet to talk too, all whilst growing another small human in her tummy. I scoop my hair back and smile at my mother as she mouths the word wonderful to me. It’s an accolade that my wife is able to withhold any social situation with ease.
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“Jay, you must be very proud” my dad says next to me as I turn to face him.
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“Son you have every right to be” he half laughs as I snicker.
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“I’m very proud of my family of course” I say looking down at my Rolex briefly before facing him again.
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“What a wonderful family” he says before we begin to walk towards the large curved doors that open up to the Italian sunshine. Wooden pews, all decorated with flowers and vines as I walk back down the aisle watching Taylor with my mother just ahead.
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“Matthew” he says very quietly almost as a whisper as I search for his brunette locks in the crowd. Locating him finally walking alongside Evelyn Taylor’s mother.
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“What about him?” I say quietly.
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“Forgive me son it’s not my place to say.” He says softly focusing on walking again, one arm over his chest.
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“No I believe in your instincts” I say, my father is the most calculated person I know, the most able to predict people’s behaviour. The keenest eye when it comes to motives and intentions.
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“Perhaps you do not see it because you’re in love. He is utterly enthralled with her, would do anything in his power to have what is yours” he says simply letting it sink in.
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“It’s in his eyes, the way he ingratiates himself with her mother.” He explains as I watch over Matthew and his cursed charm.
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“I’m not saying you have reason to worry, I’m just making you aware son” he says softly as we walk out of the church into the sunshine, my Lamborghini waiting for me as Taylor settles Henry into the back. Matthew hovering around her as my mother approaches us.
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“How was the trip to Dubai” I ask him before my mother intercepts our conversation. One eye on my mother and the other on Matthew. Matthew’s hands on the side of my car as he watches Taylor place Henry in his car seat.
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“Dubai was fine, son” he says hesitantly to which I look up at him, it’s like gazing in the mirror. Eyes that are just as piercing as my own although the frown lines are a new addition to his usual pristine reflection.
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“The business?” I inquire in my most steady tone. And suddenly I’m in the shoes of my father asking him the questions that he would usually persist my answers from. The roles reversed as he smiles gently and pats my back.
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“My son, you are my greatest achievement” he says softly holding onto my shoulder with his hand. A world of emotion falls over me; a lifetime of rebelling my father’s ideals smashes before me as a few tears escape my eyes.
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“Remember when you would sneak into my office as an adolescent and I would pretend not to know. The first time I was beyond angry especially when you polished off my brandy. But the more I realised what you were doing and how you were analysing my moves the more the pride grew.” He smirks as I look down at the ground briefly.
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“Business is important Jay, business keeps things rolling and money coming in. But really the work has been done. Your wife…” he begins, just one clutch at his chest that drags my eyes away from his face.
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“Your wife, your children are more important than the business always remember that” he says as my mother smiles coming to stand next to him.
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“He’s grown sentimental in his old age hasn’t he” she laughs looking over at him and oddly I’d never considered my father old. Even though he is, his tenacity and his business mindset always kept him young in my mind.
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“Now let me drink some more brandy at this fabulous farmhouse and annoy that old codger of your uncle over there” he says wryly looking over at my uncle, my mothers brother, climbing into a car with my cousin.
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Collecting up my thoughts as I place my blazer back on and pull myself together, walking through the bright glare of sun to the car. The cacophony of voices surrounding me as my father’s words stick in the forefront of my brain. The greatest achievement, I think to myself as I climb into the drivers side and gaze upon my wife and then my son in turn. My greatest achievements I think as I kiss her cheek softly and she giggles scooping her hair over her shoulders.
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“That went well” I whisper in her ear before turning the engine on.
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“You did phenomenally” I tell her as she smiles watching me closely and my glazed over eyes. Tears just ready to be spilled.
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“Are you crying Mr Gilbert Scott” she teases me rubbing my thigh with her hand, a broad grin over her lips as I smile down at her.
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“I just never thought I’d be this lucky” I tell her reversing the car out of the church grounds.
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“Taylor” I say softly once we’re cruising through the Italian countryside.
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“Yes Jay” she begins slowly.
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“You’re the greatest thing that ever happened to me” I smile over at her watching the sun spill light over her hair, her crimson lips beaming at me in a smile. I rub her thigh just once before focusing back on the road ahead.
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