In which earth-shattering news is relayed. Rupert was sitting in a nice little café in Dorset wondering why he was there. A letter from California had arrived a month after he’d returned from his holiday in the States. It was from the witch he’d dated for a few weeks over the holiday, a friend of one of the Chasers from the Reserve team. Her mail had simply stated that she was in England and wanted to meet him for lunch. He hoped it would be friendly, not one soaked in stilted conversation and hints of desired romance. They had agreed to stay friends, and he hoped it would remain that way.
His trip to California had been one of the rare opportunities for a month-long summer holiday. Though his body was beaten during training and he was forced to keep himself disciplined and hardly got a rest, joining Puddlemere United’s Reserve team was one of the best things that had ever happened to him. When Rupert had first joined, with his heart broken and disappointment burdening his shoulders, he was surprised by how raw and carefree many of his team-mates were. But now, after a couple of years in such an environment, he’d adapted quite well to the traveller’s life with his lads.
An olive-skinned witch walked into the restaurant wearing a lovely auburn dress, and Rupert stood and waved to get her attention. “Jess, over here.”
Jessica turned and smiled when she saw him, putting Rup on guard briefly. He hoped she hadn’t come all this way to Dorset to declare her undying love for him.
“Hi Rupert,” she said, sitting down. “How have things been? You’re in practise right now, right?” She picked up the menu and looked down, her fingers tapping against the plastic, her long black hair blocking her face from his view.
“Yeah, it’s been going well. I haven’t really worked out so intensely in a month, so I’m getting back into it. What are you doing in England? On holiday?”
“Just visiting. I’ve never been to London, and Steve’s always been telling me to come out and visit. I thought I’d finally take a trip out here to see him and, well, you.”
Her honesty put Rupert on edge again. What was she trying to say? Instead of pointing it out, he just smiled. “I see. How have things been with you and your family?”
“Good. My mom still wants to move back to Mexico to be with my grandpa, but Dad doesn’t want to. Says it wouldn’t be fair for the younger ones to live without their mother. My abuelo doesn’t look like he’ll be getting better any time soon, and I know it’s hard for her to be so far from him.” Jess brushed her black hair back and shot a nervous smile at Rupert. She was wearing makeup and looked nice.
Rupert cleared his throat. “I’m sorry to hear that. I hope your mum gets it all sorted.”
“So do I.”
The potentially awkward silence was prevented by the waitress who came to take their order. Once they were alone again, Rupert cleared his throat once more. “Why are you here in England, really?” he asked, his dark eyes trying to read her body language.
Jessica twisted the napkin in her hands and bit her lip. “There’s something I have to tell you.” Her anxiety was showing more clearly on her face. “Just don’t freak out on me, alright?” It was amazing how those words meant to calm one down instead caused one’s blood pressure to rise. Rupert watched, squeezing the edge of the table as Jess took a deep breath and said the most unexpected thing: “I’m having a baby.”
Rup was shocked into silence for the first time in his life. He stared at her, frozen, as she searched his face for some sort of reaction. “I, um, I just found out a couple weeks ago and thought it was only fair that I told you,” she continued nervously. “You don’t have to worry about anything. I’m going to raise him or her with my family in California, and if you want to be in his or her life then I’d really love for you to be involved. I don’t want us to date again or anything, just for the child to know his or her father.”
Anything she said after that was lost as the word reverberated in Rupert’s skull: FATHER. FATHER. FATHER. I’m going to be a father.
Sound came roaring back to Rupert’s ears. He couldn’t breathe, but suddenly he was gasping for air and draining his glass of water. He tousled his blond hair, trying to get a grip on everything. “Are you… good-good Merlin, are you sure?”
Jess nodded. “I’m excited. I know we’re young, but I’ve always wanted a child of my own. But I know how I feel; how do you feel? How are you taking all of this?”
A child. A little witch or wizard that would call him, ‘Daddy’ and look up to him for guidance and love and protection. A little child that would depend on him whom he would send to Sonora when he or she grew older. Rupert Princeton was going to be a daddy. His family was going to have a riot when they heard this one.
“I’m delighted,” said Rupert, truly meaning every word even though the world was still spinning. “This was the last thing I expected, but I want to be in the child’s life.”
Jessica’s dark eyes lit up at Rupert’s admission and she clutched his hand. “That’s all I needed to hear, thank you. I can’t wait for us to meet the little one.”