Chapter Text
“Daddy.”
Poke.
“Daddy.”
A harder poke.
“Mmff… ”
“Daddy.”
“No.”
“S’time for school, Daddy!”
Fuck.
Robert shot up in bed and frantically fumbled for his phone.
“No no no… ” His sleep-filled eyes squinted at the screen until he could finally make out the time. And the five alarms he'd set the night before – none of which had gone off yet. He fell back on the bed with a groan and reached a hand out to brush Seb’s messy blond hair off his forehead,
“Seb. Son. Light of my life. It’s not even 6 o’clock, it’s not time to get up yet.”
“But I’m ready!”
Despite the ungodly hour, Robert couldn’t resist a chuckle when realised that Seb had pulled his brand new school jumper on over his pyjamas. It was back to front. He sighed fondly, before sitting up and pulling it up over Seb’s head.
“Not just yet, bud, it's not even light outside,” he said as he carefully folded the jumper up, thanking his lucky stars that Seb hadn’t tried to eat breakfast in it, and laid it at the foot of the bed.
“C’mere, wretch.” Robert slung his arms under Seb’s shoulders and pulled him up onto his chest, snuggling down until the were both tucked under the blanket, blocking out the cool September morning air.
“Let’s get a bit more sleep, yeah?” He mumbled as the four year-old wriggled to get more comfortable on top of him. Robert ran a slow hand up and down his back until he felt his breathing slow as he drifted off mercifully quickly. “We’ve got loads of time… ”
****
They were running late.
“Come on, come on, where’s the sodding – aha!” Robert scrambled down and grabbed one of Seb’s new school shoes from under his bed, before darting back to the other side of the room where Seb was sitting on his own bed, dangling legs swinging impatiently.
“Okay, left shoe’s been captured, let’s get it on before it goes walking off on its own again, eh?” Seb giggled as Robert wrestled it onto his foot and neatly did up the laces (he’d initially suggested velcro, but Seb insisted on having “grown up shoes”, so laces it was).
“Alright, shoes are on, uniform’s on, coat’s on, you’ve got your bag – ” Seb held his Spider-Man backpack aloft. “Think we’re good to go!”
He hurried Seb up to where his car was parked outside on the street.
“You all ready for your first day, then?” Faith called out as she stepped out of the door to the B&B, Eric trailing behind her. “Oh Eric, doesn’t he look smart!”
Seb nodded enthusiastically and pointed to his feet. “Eric, look! Laces!”
“Very smart indeed,” Eric smiled down at him with a warmth he reserved for very few people.
“And er… ” Faith raised an eyebrow at Robert. “That’s what you’re wearing, is it?”
Robert looked down at himself. “What’s wrong with it? It’s not like it’s my first day.”
“No I know, but first impressions and all that. If there’s one thing I know about parents, it’s that they can judgemental as hell.”
Robert’s face fell slightly. Shit, he’d spent so much time making sure Seb was immaculate, he hadn’t given a second thought to how he was supposed to look. Truth be told, he’d just thrown on the first clean clothes he could find.
Faith tutted. “Eric, give him your coat.”
Eric blinked at her. “Excuse me?”
“Your coat, give it to him – just for this morning. Come on, we don’t have all day!”
Eric sighed, before taking off his grey overcoat and handing it to Robert. “Do not get it dirty.”
Robert grinned and swapped his denim jacket for the expensive wool, buttoning it up over his t-shirt. “I wouldn’t dare. Cheers, Eric.”
“And when you have a moment, stop by the office this morning, I need to have a word about something.”
There was a time when hearing that might have set Robert on edge, but after four years of dealing with Eric’s gripes, he wasn’t particularly concerned.
“Hi Aaron!!” Seb called from behind him, waving manically and jumping up on his tiptoes.
Robert spun around to see his best friend jogging towards them, grinning brightly. He looked disgustingly awake for this time in the morning.
“Hey, I just wanted to say good luck! And to give you this,” he crouched down and pulled out what looked like a small rock. “It’s my lucky fossil, thought you should have it for your first day.” He handed it to Seb with a wink.
“Daddy, look!” Seb held it carefully with both hands, turning so Robert could see.
“Wow, Aaron doesn’t share his dinosaur tat with just anyone,” he said, smirking when Aaron narrowed his eyes at him. “What do you say?”
“Ta.”
“Try again.”
“Uh, thank you. I’ll look after it, promise.”
Aaron laughed. “I know, mate. Have fun today, alright?” He gave Seb a quick cuddle and hoisted him into his carseat. “If you’re good, maybe Daddy will bring you into the pub and I can give you some chips.” Seb's cheer rang through the car.
“Thanks for that," Robert muttered.
“Eh, as if you were gonna cook tonight.” Aaron grinned as Robert leant into the car to help Seb with his seatbelt. “You got time for a coffee when you get back?”
“God yes, I’ve only had time for one this morning. One.”
****
“So?” Aaron grinned and took a sip of his coffee. “Did you cry?”
“Pff, no I didn’t cry, what do you take me for?”
“You sure? Not even one little tear?”
“No!”
Truth be told, as Seb had confidently toddled off across the playground, only stopping to give him a quick wave before he disappeared into the school, Robert had to swallow a painful lump in his throat. As the other parents began to disperse (most of them looking like they heading straight to the office – thank fuck Eric had let Robert borrow his coat), he’d stood at the gates for a moment, staring at the doors. Just in case.
“Mmm, if you say so.”
Robert threw a chunk of croissant at him.
****
Once they'd finished their drinks, they quickly headed out the door; Aaron having a delivery due at the pub and Robert needing to go find out what the hell Eric wanted from him.
“So you’ll bring Seb to the pub tonight, then?” Aaron asked, hands tucked in his pockets.
“Yeah, course. Should I text Adam about – ”
“Aaron!”
Robert sighed and fought the urge to roll his eyes, as Jackson came up behind Aaron and slid an arm around his waist.
“Hiya,” Aaron smiled softly at him.
“Alright?” Jackson asked Robert.
Robert nodded shortly, pressing his lips together. Aaron shot him a look, eyebrows raised in a way that silently said, be nice.
If Jackson had noticed Robert’s rudeness, he didn’t bother acknowledging it, eyes on Aaron. As usual. It was disgusting, really.
“Hey, your mum’s going spare about getting things ready for this delivery, she says can you come and clear some room in the cellar?”
Aaron rolled his eyes. “Yeah, alright.” He glanced at Robert. “See you and Seb later? I wanna hear about his first day.”
Robert nodded and began to smile, only for it to drop when Jackson cast an eye over him with that blank look that he always held whenever Seb was mentioned.
“Oh yeah, he’s starting school, right?”
“Yep.”
Jackson’s mouth twitched into a subtle smirk.
“Means you’re getting old, mate.”
“Not as old as you,” Robert muttered under his breath.
“What?”
“What?”
Robert blinked innocently, but he couldn’t resist a shit-eating grin when he saw Aaron biting his lip in an effort to keep from laughing.
“Right, better get going. Come on, you,” he said, tugging Jackson in the direction of the Woolpack.
Robert watched them walk away for a moment, before shaking his head and heading into the B&B.
To say he wasn’t keen on Aaron’s boyfriend was putting it mildly. Jackson had reappeared in the village just over a year ago, full of easy smiles and offers to buy Aaron a drink, so they could catch up and reconnect, “just as mates”.
A likely story.
It had been less than a month before Aaron told him that he and Jackson were giving it another shot, that they were both in a better place now and they were ready to try for a real relationship.
Until that point, Robert had never thought of Jackson as anything other than the twat who’d dumped Aaron when he was at his most vulnerable, who’d decided that him and his issues weren’t quite worth the hassle.
So when Aaron had said he really wanted Robert to meet Jackson properly, to give him a chance... he couldn’t help but be wary, fierce protectiveness (not jealousy, thank you very much) surging through him like hot fire.
But he pushed those feelings down and plastered on a smile. Aaron was an adult; if this was what he wanted, then what kind of friend would Robert be if he didn’t at least try to be happy for him?
And he had tried… until he actually met the bloke.
Jackson was, well. In Robert’s humble opinion, Jackson was about as intelligent and interesting as the bricks he lugged around on building sites every day. Robert’s four year-old was more capable of holding a stimulating conversation than Aaron’s boyfriend.
Worse than that, Jackson was annoying and clingy and always there. Just… hanging around Aaron like a bad smell.
And then there was his reaction to Seb.
Look, Robert understood that most blokes in their twenties didn’t have much interest kids – he’d had enough awkward dates at Bar West to get that. He didn’t really give a shit, either, he wouldn’t want someone like that around Seb anyway.
What he didn’t like was the look on Jackson’s face every time Aaron mentioned hanging out with Seb – with or without Robert in tow.
A few weeks into their renewed relationship, Robert had snuck behind the Woolpack’s bar, intending to talk to Aaron in the backroom (Chas had given up trying to stop him by this point). He’d been about to walk through, but had paused outside the door when he overheard a conversation between Aaron and Jackson.
“So, you up for lunch tomorrow? We can try that new burger place?”
“Sorry, I can’t,” Aaron sounded apologetic. “I’m taking Seb out for the day, we’re going swimming and then to the park.”
A pause. “Robert’s little boy, Seb?”
“Yeah.”
“Oh… why can’t Robert do it?”
“He’s got a big day at the B&B – they’re hosting a wedding party – so I said I’d have Seb.”
“Can’t he get a babysitter?”
“Uh, I guess, but I offered. I like spending time with Seb.”
“Right… ”
“Not a problem, is it?” Aaron’s tone bordered on defensive.
“No, course not, just… I dunno why you’d wanna spend your free day babysitting someone else's kid.”
Aaron’s silence had rung loudly, and the expression on his face mustn’t have been a good one, because Jackson’s next words sounded hurried and apologetic.
“Sorry, I didn’t mean – of course you should spend time with Seb if you want to, you’re great with kids. And you’re a great friend… s’one of the things I like most about you.”
Aaron had sighed. “Good save,” he muttered.
Robert had clenched his jaw and turned back the way he came.
Over a year down the line, Jackson still didn’t seem keen on Aaron’s relationship with Robert and Seb. On more than one occasion, Robert had caught him watching the two of them playing with him in the street or the park with an unreadable expression on his face. Robert would be lying if he said he didn't feel smug during those moments.
So yeah, Aaron’s boyfriend. Robert wasn’t a fan.
His one consolation was that Adam didn’t care for Jackson either. He had, after all, been on the scene when Jackson had broken up with Aaron the first time around and had seen the damage it had done to his friend. Adam may put on a better pretence at liking Jackson than Robert did, but privately (aka when he and Robert had a few too many beers), he held onto that grudge, said it was his right as Aaron’s mate.
Speaking of, Robert pulled out his phone and typed out a quick text to his friend.
Question - why is Aaron still dating such a massive knob?
He didn’t have long to wait for a reply.
ur guess is as gd as mine mate
Followed by a string of shrugging emojis.
Feeling marginally better – if a little petty – he pocketed his phone and knocked on the door to Eric’s office.
“Come in.”
Robert slipped inside the cramped room and took a seat opposite Eric, placing his expensive coat on the desk.
"Here's your coat, thanks again."
"Ah, that's quite alright," said Eric, looking up from his spreadsheets.
“So what’s up?”
“Jacobs Fold.”
Robert blinked. A conversation about the cottage Eric owned was not what he’d been expecting.
“Uh, what about it?”
“Pearl’s decided to move out, she’s got her eye on a static caravan near Demdyke of all places.”
“Okay… so does she need a room at the B&B for a bit? Do you want me to sort something for her?”
“No, no, that’s not why I’m bringing it up,” said Eric, shaking his head. “I’ll be needing a new tenant to take it over, and I wanted to offer it to you first.”
“I – oh.” Definitely not what he'd been expecting.
“And I’m willing to give you a very reasonable rate, all bills included.”
“Eric, I… ” Robert said quietly, squirming uncomfortably in his seat. “Thank you, really, but… even with a discount I don’t think I’d be able to afford it. And that’s not me complaining or asking for a raise, honest, but a hotel assistant’s salary doesn’t exactly pay enough to rent a three-bedroom cottage.”
“Yes, you’re quite right,” said Eric mildly. “But a hotel’s manager’s salary would.”
“… What are you saying?”
“I’m saying, I want you to be the Grange’s new manager. I want you to run the place.”
Robert gaped at him. “You’re not serious.”
“I’m perfectly serious.”
“Me?”
“Yes, you,” said Eric, looking a little perplexed. That made two of them.
“I’m 22!”
“You’re the hardest worker I’ve ever had, and you know how to run this place like clockwork. You’re wasted in your current role; I know someone with a good head for business when I see them. Since you’ve come along with all your – ” he waved a hand absently “ – social media and marketing ideas, bookings have gone up year on year. We’re busier than we’ve ever been, attracting a younger crowd, and that’s down to you.
Eric sighed and leaned forwards in his chair.
“I’m not getting any younger, and it’s time I take a bit of a step back from things, focus more on village community matters and spend more time with David, Jacob and Theo. And Faith.”
He paused and narrowed his eyes slightly.
"Not that I’d be gone completely, mind you, I’ll still be around. I’ll stop caring about this place when I’m dead but until then, I don’t mind sharing some of the responsibility. I wouldn’t trust this place with anyone else. I want you to be the new manager, and I want you and Seb to move into Jacobs Fold. Isn’t it about time for the two of you to had a proper home, your own space?”
He rested his chin on steepled fingers. “So? Will you take the position?”
“I… ” Robert was lost for words. “Of course I’ll take it, are you kidding? Eric, why didn’t you lead with that instead of blathering on about Pearl’s bloody caravan?!”
Eric gave Robert a rare smile, his eyes twinkling. “When you get to my age, you make your fun where you can.”
He began to rummage through his desk drawers. “Now, where’s the blasted – aha!” He pulled out some paperwork with a flourish.
“Now, here’s the contract for the manager’s position, as well as the tenant’s contract for the cottage. I’ll give you both of these to look over tonight, then if you’re satisfied we can have them signed and get the ball rolling as soon as possible.
Robert took them with trembling hands and rose from his seat.
“I won’t let you down, I swear.”
Eric nodded. “I have every faith in you. Oh, and Robert?” He added as Robert headed for the day.
“Make sure Faith knows I’ve told you, alright? She’s been dying to spill the beans for over a week now; if she has to hold onto it much longer, I fear she may actually explode.”
****
Robert floated through the rest of his day on a high, going about his shift with an immovable grin on his face. He probably frightened a couple of guests, but couldn’t bring himself to care.
At 3:15pm, he stood at the school gates craning his neck when the bell rang. He smiled widely and waved when he spotted Seb in the sea of blue jumpers that came dashing into the yard, backpack bouncing as he crashed into Robert’s legs.
“Hey, mate!” He hoisted Seb into the air and squeezed him tightly, the six hours they’d been apart suddenly feeling like a lifetime. “How was it? Did you have fun?”
“Yeah, I made three friends,” said Seb, holding up three fingers to demonstrate.
“Three?!”
Seb excitedly told him about the kids he’d met in his class all the way to the car, hand clasping Robert’s tightly. As Robert settled him in his carseat, he paused for a moment, before reaching out for Robert.
“You’re still my best friend, though, Daddy,” he said, patting Robert’s arm.
Robert grinned. “You’re mine, too, kid. Best mates for life, you and me.” He gave Seb a quick fist bump, before buckling him in and moving to the driver's seat.
As they drove back to the village, Seb chattered about everything from what his teacher looked like (very pretty, apparently), to the cool pictures he’d drawn, to the colour of the slide in the playground, to the names of the fish who lived in a tank by the window.
All in all, Seb had smashed his first day.
Eventually, he ran out of steam as they pulled up outside the B&B.
“How was your day?” he asked Robert with his hands folded in his lap, ever the tiny little adult he tried to act like sometimes.
For a split second, Robert thought about just telling him everything. He wanted to grab Seb and run to stand outside Jacobs Fold, tell him that this was their house, that they were finally going to have a real home, with a proper kitchen and living room and their own bedrooms and everything.
Instead, he shrugged and turned the engine off. He didn’t dare speak the words aloud until the contracts were all signed and everything was official. He could hang onto his secret for a day or two.
“Oh, pretty boring.”
“Did Eric shout at you today?”
“Excuse me, I never get shouted at!”
“Yes, you do, Daddy.”