Johnny's Girl by Paige Toon Read Free Book Online Page B

everything,’ I reply in a dull voice.
    Wendel is based in London, and yesterday he spoke to an English man called Stuart Taylor, who claimed that Johnny is the father of his stepdaughter, Jessica Pickerill. Wendel
didn’t want to alarm Johnny immediately, so he worked through the night in the UK, checking as many facts as he could. He confirmed that Stuart’s wife, Candice, was killed in a tragic
accident just over five months ago, leaving behind her only daughter. Stuart claimed that Candice – Candy – was one of Johnny’s original groupies when he first kicked off his
career with Fence. He said that Candy fell pregnant, but by then, Johnny had gone on tour in Europe, and Candy, feeling sickened about being just another one of Johnny’s many groupies,
decided to raise the baby on her own. As the years went by, she became increasingly fearful that her daughter would choose to leave home and live with her rock star father if she should ever find
out the truth. So Candy kept it hidden. Now Stuart has told Jessica everything. And she wants to meet her dad.
    All of the blood has drained from my face. ‘Do you remember her?’ I whisper. ‘Candy?’
    Johnny looks away, but nods. ‘Yeah. I remember her.’
    I feel like I’m going to throw up. ‘So it’s true?’
    He doesn’t answer immediately. ‘There’s a chance that it is.’
    ‘But… But… What if she slept with someone else? What if this girl isn’t yours?’ My words come out in a rush.
    ‘That’s possible of course. Wendel is arranging for a paternity test.’
    I wrench my hands away from Johnny. He puts his hand on my shoulder, but I shrug him off. ‘Don’t touch me!’ I blurt, violently edging away.
    ‘Fuck,’ he mutters, covering his face with his hands.
    ‘Don’t you feel sorry for yourself!’ I all but shout. ‘I should have known this was going to happen when I married you!’
    ‘But you
did
marry me!’ he raises his voice in return, his expression fierce. ‘For better or for worse!’
    My face crumples and he takes me into his arms.
    ‘I’m sorry, I’m sorry,’ he murmurs into my hair as a lump forms in my throat and hot tears spring into my eyes. ‘We’ll know as early as next week. It might be
nothing to worry about.’
    Deep in my heart, though, I know that Johnny will always give me something to worry about.
    The next day, Wendel confirms that the paternity test has been delivered direct to the girl’s stepfather. They live in Maidenhead, in Berkshire. She’s only fifteen.
I wonder what’s going through her mind, having just discovered that her father is Johnny Jefferson, one of the most recognisable people in the world. I can’t even imagine.
    It’ll be a few days before the tests come back. But in the meantime, Wendel emails through a picture of Jessica.
    My heart sinks. We don’t need a paternity test. The evidence is right here in front of us. She looks just like her dad. And there’s no doubt in my mind that said dad is my
husband.
    My best friend Bess calls me on Tuesday afternoon when Johnny is at the studio. Despite the earth-shattering news, he’s determined to continue recording his album.
    ‘It’s been a pretty shit few days, to be honest,’ I tell her glumly when she asks how I am.
    ‘What’s up?’ She sounds concerned.
    It goes without saying that she’ll never repeat anything I tell her in confidence. ‘Johnny has a daughter.’
    ‘
What
?’ She’s aghast.
    ‘She’s fifteen. Her mother died recently, and her stepfather has only just told her the truth about who her dad is.’
    Silence. ‘Are you sure?’
    ‘Pretty much. The paternity test results will come back in the next couple of days, but I’ve seen a picture. She looks just like him.’
    ‘In what way?’
    ‘Same eyes, tousled blonde hair… I don’t know, she just
looks
like him. She’s very pretty.’
    ‘Jesus. How’s Johnny taking it?’
    I hesitate. ‘He’s a bit knocked for six, to be honest.’
    Last night I