Extra Time (66 page)

‘Do you know the sex yet?’ Debbie asked, wide-eyed and hopeful.

Amber looked down at her hand on her tummy, the smile still there on her face.

‘Amber? Come on, chick! Do you know what you’re having?’

Amber looked up, nodding. And then her smile grew even wider as she realised she had to tell someone, even if she
had
been trying to hang on until this evening, when she was going to call Ryan to tell him the news. But she was too excited to keep it all to herself.

‘Well?’ Debbie persisted, gripping Amber’s hand tight.

‘It’s a boy,’ Amber whispered, shushing Debbie immediately as she looked set to screech out loud. ‘And don’t tell anyone else, do you promise me? I was trying to let Ryan be the first to know, I haven’t even told Ronnie yet. But I couldn’t keep it to myself any longer.’

‘A little Ryan Fisher…’ Debbie grinned, linking her arm through Amber’s as they headed off to the Players’ Lounge. ‘Do you think he’ll be happy? That it’s a boy?’

‘I think we both just want a healthy baby, Debs. But, yeah. I think he’ll be over the moon that he’s getting a son.’

‘And you’re still feeling okay? No problems?’

‘Dr. Lowry is keeping me under very strict observation, Debbie, believe me. I hate to use the term “older mum”, but, like it or not, that’s exactly what I am, and given the problems I’ve had in the past, well… he just wants to keep an eye on me.’

‘And so he should. I told you he was an angel, didn’t I?’

Amber smiled, squeezing her friend’s arm as they both grabbed bottles of water from the bar. ‘I’m just grateful you’ve been through it all before,’ Amber sighed, leaning back against the wall as she looked around the room, trying to see if she could spot her dad anywhere. ‘I’d be terrified otherwise.’

‘It’s easy.’ Debbie grinned, running her fingers through her platinum blonde hair.

‘Not sure that’s how I remember you describing it when I saw you straight after Jodi’s arrival,’ Amber said, giving her friend a sideways smile. ‘Oh, look, there’s my dad. I’d better go say hello. See you later.’

‘Yeah, see you, hon. Tell Freddie I said hi!’

Amber pushed her way through the growing crowd of people gathered in the Players’ Lounge before finally reaching her father.

‘Hey, kiddo.’ Freddie Sullivan smiled at his daughter, slipping an arm around her waist and pulling her in for a hug. ‘You look well. You been to see Dr. Lowry today?’

Amber nodded, kissing her father’s cheek. ‘This morning.’

‘And? Is everything all right with my grandchild?’

‘He’s fine…’ She stopped talking, wincing slightly as she realised what she’d just said.

Freddie’s smile turned into a grin and Amber knew she might as well just tell him, too. It was pointless trying to hide it now. ‘I’m getting a grandson?’

‘You’re getting a grandson. But don’t go shouting about it, okay? I’ve only told Debbie, and I shouldn’t even have told her, not before I told Ryan. It doesn’t seem fair that he isn’t the first to know the sex of his own child.’

Freddie just gave a derisory snort. ‘Well, you know my feelings on Ryan Fisher. Still, if this baby inherits just half of his errant father’s talent, he could be one very special little boy. It’s what else he inherits from him that concerns me.’

‘I really wish you’d give him a chance, Dad. I honestly believe he’s changed from what he used to be. He’s curbed that playboy image, tried so hard to put all that shit behind him, and since he heard about the baby… It could be just what he needs, you know? This kind of responsibility. This chance to prove he really has grown up.’

‘If you’re so sure of him, why aren’t you willing to give him another chance? Not that I’m condoning you doing that, in fact, I’d really rather you didn’t. But you seem so certain he’s changed…’

Amber’s focus was suddenly distracted by the door opening and Jim appearing, which was strange in itself. Most managers, and especially Jim, very rarely showed their faces in the Players’ Lounge before a game. But just the sight of him was enough to make her heart race and her stomach sink, all at the same time. Her handsome soon-to-be-ex-husband.

‘Are you two okay?’ Freddie asked, squeezing his daughter’s waist.

‘We’re on speaking terms, if that’s what you mean. But only in passing. We’ve got to try and keep a professional relationship going, to some extent, given our jobs. But I think you talk to him more than I do these days. And how ironic is that, huh?’

‘Hey, come on. Who said life was going to be an easy ride?’

Amber looked at her dad, so happy they were finally getting back on track. ‘It still hurts, Dad. I know you never really approved of my relationship with Jim, but… I don’t think anyone will ever understand how I really feel about him. Not even me.’

Freddie gently kissed her forehead, pulling her in for another hug. ‘I know, sweetheart. But you’ve just got to try and move on. Easier said than done, I know, but you’ve got that little one to think of now, so maybe you should concentrate on doing what’s best for him. Okay? And you know I’ll always be here for you.’ He kissed her forehead again, hugging her tighter. ‘Always.’

Amber smiled, snuggling into her dad, placing a hand on her stomach again as a slight commotion over by the door to the lounge struck up. She looked over, craning her neck to see what was going on, finally catching a glimpse of just what was causing all the fuss. Or that should be,
who
was causing all the fuss.

‘What’s
he
doing back?’ Freddie asked, his grip on his daughter’s waist tightening slightly.

‘I don’t know,’ Amber said quietly, confusion now joining the mixture of emotions that were slowly gathering inside her head.

‘Well, he’s with Jim, so…’ Freddie stopped talking and looked at Amber, but her eyes were fixed firmly on the group of people at the door. ‘You didn’t know he’d be here?’

She shook her head. ‘As far as I was aware he wasn’t due back for another month or so. Maybe he’s just over for a visit.’ But Amber didn’t think that was really the case. There were far too many people with him, too much attention and fuss being generated for this to be just a quick trip home.

‘I’ll go have a word with Jim. Find out what’s happening. You gonna be okay?’

She smiled at her father. ‘I’m thirty-eight, Dad.’

‘You’ll always be my little girl, Amber, and right now you need looking after. Why you and Ronnie couldn’t…’

‘Go and speak to Jim, Dad. Go on.’

She watched him head over to the group gathered by the doorway before finally catching sight of Max. If anyone knew what was going on he would, because he’d probably orchestrated it.

‘You all right, kiddo?’ Max smiled, walking over to her and leaning in to kiss her cheek.

‘I’m fine. And I’m pregnant, not ill. What’s
he
doing back here? Because the fact he seems to have an entourage with him tells me this isn’t just a flying visit.’

‘No. It isn’t. Hasn’t Jim told you?’

‘Told me what? And in case you hadn’t realised, me and my husband aren’t exactly close at the minute.’

‘Ryan’s back.’

‘Back? Back, where?’

‘Back at Newcastle Red Star. He was only on a rolling monthly contract, Amber, remember?’

‘Yeah, but that contract was still supposed to run until the end of the season, wasn’t it?’

Max shrugged. ‘Technically, yes.’

‘Technically?’ Amber frowned.

‘Circumstances have changed, Amber.’ Max looked briefly down at Amber’s stomach. ‘Ryan wanted to come home a little earlier than planned, for reasons I’m sure you can understand, and that contract meant it was easier for that to happen. You know how these things work.’

Amber looked back over to where the gathering crowd had thinned out slightly. But she couldn’t see Ryan anywhere.

Max followed her gaze. ‘Jim’s called an emergency pre-match press conference to explain everything. Speaking of which, I’d better get in there.’

‘Max…’

‘I’ll talk to you later, kiddo.’

Amber stood there, rooted to the spot, trying to let the brief details of what Max had told her sink in. Didn’t anyone think she’d had a right to know about this before now?

Pushing her way out of the lounge, she headed straight to Jim’s office opposite the home team dressing room, barging in without even attempting to knock. He was still talking to Freddie, both of them turning round sharply to see just who it was who’d decided to make such an uninvited entrance.

‘It was nice of you to tell me, Jim.’

‘I was assuming Ryan would have had the decency to do that,’ Jim replied, leaning back against his desk, his hands in his pockets. Freddie walked over to Amber, reaching out to touch her arm but she shook him off, too angry to respond to him any other way. Even though none of this was his fault.

‘Amber, sweetheart, I’m sure Jim’ll explain everything after the press conference… in fact, why don’t you…’

‘It’s okay, Freddie,’ Jim said, not moving from his position at the desk. ‘I’ve got time. I’ll talk to her now.’

‘You sure?’ Freddie asked, finally managing to give Amber’s hand a quick squeeze before she pulled it away.

Jim nodded.

‘Okay. Well, I’ll be outside,’ Freddie said, looking at Amber, but her eyes were still very much on Jim.

She waited until her father was back outside before she spoke again. ‘Was this Ryan’s idea?’

‘He wanted to come home, Amber. He wanted to be with you.’

‘Why? I mean, it’s not like we’re even a couple, we’re not together…’

‘He’s the father of your baby. Surely he deserves to be a part of that? Doesn’t he?’

She narrowed her eyes as she looked at him. ‘None of this makes any sense, Jim. Why would you pull yet more questionable strings to bring him home early? I don’t get it.’

‘Are you casting aspersions on my integrity?’

‘Jesus, Jim, come on! I thought you would have done your utmost to prevent him from having anything his own way. Again. Especially now. I just don’t understand…’

‘We all need to move on, Amber.’

For some reason, the second he’d said those words she felt a pain akin to someone sliding a sharp blade through her heart, her breath catching in her throat. ‘Yeah. I suppose we do.’

‘He wanted to come home, so I brought him home. And CD Adeje were very understanding, under the circumstances. But they’re very big on family, aren’t they? The Spanish. You more than anyone should know that, Amber. So they completely understood Ryan’s reasons for wanting to come back to the U.K.’

‘Family…? Jesus… Why didn’t you tell me this was happening, Jim?’

‘Like I said before, I assumed Ryan would have told you. It’s not up to me to keep you informed of his comings and goings anymore, is it? I would have thought, in your line of work, you’d know more than me.’

‘You’re not being fair,’ she whispered, shaking her head. ‘This… all of this is confusing enough without you making it any worse.’

Jim said nothing for a few seconds, his eyes looking straight into hers, and as much as Amber wanted to turn away, she couldn’t. She couldn’t seem to move.

‘I’m sorry,’ he said, his voice quiet, the tone of it more friendly now, less cold. ‘Look…’ He finally moved away from the desk, walking slowly over to her. ‘This has been one hell of a few months, and even though I might not show it, Amber, I still care about you. I always will, and I want you to know that.’

‘Then why do you play these games, Jim?’

He looked down at the ground, his hands still in his pockets, before his eyes met hers again. ‘If it was me… if I was in Ryan’s shoes, I’d want to be here, too. I’d want to be with you.’

She couldn’t tear her eyes away from his, every painful feeling she still carried for this man hitting her head-on.

‘You’re looking good,’ he went on, reaching out to gently touch her cheek, but she found herself backing away. What was the point in letting him get too close when she couldn’t do anything about it? It was painful enough without adding any more confusing feelings to the mix.

‘I’d better go,’ she said, her hand finding the door handle, a strange feeling of breathlessness taking over until she was back out in the corridor. Only then could she breathe again.

If he was Ryan he’d want to be with her, too – but he wasn’t, was he? And that’s what hurt the most.

Jim watched her walk out the door, closing his eyes as it slammed shut behind her, the smell of her perfume lingering in the air. His chest felt tight and his heart was beating so fast he had to quickly sit down on the arm of the sofa, pushing both hands through his hair as he threw his head back, sighing heavily.

That had been hard – that had been so hard. He hadn’t seen her in person for so long, his only glimpses of her being on the TV, and even that was difficult to cope with, seeing her there, smiling and laughing, blossoming into the popular presenter she was fast turning into.

Of course he’d pulled strings to have Ryan brought back to the North East early. But it wasn’t because he really cared about how his star striker was feeling; Amber was right on that score. He didn’t see why he should be so keen to let Ryan Fisher have his own way when
his
feelings were the last thing Jim was concerned about. But having him close was what Jim needed right now.

His plans had changed, his options had suddenly become clearer. It was easier to have Ryan right under his nose rather than fight to make sure he never returned to Newcastle Red Star. That would only have attracted more unwanted attention and ruined any chances Jim had of showing his young player just who was winning this game. And it certainly wasn’t Ryan.

‘Well, who’d have thought?’ Ronnie sighed, leaning back against the wall outside the main entrance of Tynebridge as he and Amber grabbed a few minutes of fresh air, away from all the commotion Ryan Fisher’s sudden reappearance back at the club was causing. ‘Can’t believe not one reporter out there had any idea he was coming home.’ He looked at Amber. ‘And you didn’t know a thing about this?’

‘I’m as surprised as you are,’ Amber said, closing her eyes and letting the unusually warm early spring sunshine wash over her face. ‘Although, right now, pissed off would describe my mood better.’