Her Melting Point

Walk the Walk

"Remington, heel!"

Jackie saw a tall man in a field jacket, a flat cap, denim, and wellies - the picture of the countryside style - and she recognised him immediately. After all, said picture was suspiciously perfect, like a cover of Country Life.

"Remington!" Jarvis Montjoy repeated, with more steel in his voice.

The dog's ears drooped; and it trudged to its master, expressing its distaste towards the growing distance between its furry, glossy self and Jackie. It had a healthy thick pelt, 75% of it obscured with the moor's muck.

"Good afternoon," the man greeted Jackie merrily. "You're the last person I expected to see here at this hour. Aren't you supposed to be cheering your fella on the pitch?"

"Afternoon," Jackie grumbled back, taking a page from Alexander's book and ignoring the question.

The man gave Jackie an attentive look over.

"Are you quite alright, Ms. Burns? You look a state."

"Quite so, thank you," Jackie answered, and couldn't help but to take a small revenge and toss his line from that night in the club back at him, "And if I wasn't, would I tell you?"

He chuckled. "And here I thought I was forgiven for my behaviour from back then." He tut-tutted. "Considering that you never disclosed to our mutual friend what a prick I'd been towards you."

"I decided it was between the two of us," Jackie said in a low voice. "Alexander seems genuinely fond of you. I didn't want to take it away from him. Plus I believe you had good intentions. You're just young, you don't know any better," she added pointedly, making sure her sarcasm was obvious in her tone.

"Touché," Jarvis said with another convivial chortle. "I deserved this. I have a confession to make. That night wasn't– wasn't about you. I was taking my irritation towards a different person out on you. And I apologise." He pressed his hand to his chest and bowed to her. "Sincerely. With all my heart. I only have a small excuse that I, too, deeply care for Fergie. Seeing him the way he was before, was painful," he said, and then continued before Jackie opened her mouth to tell him off. "Which is none of my sodding business. I do know that, believe me. And projecting my own heartbreak of being rejected by an older woman was childish and unfair."

Jackie gave him a surprised look; and he laughed joylessly.

"Plus seeing how chipper Fergie is these days, I have been proven wrong. Yet again." Jarvis shook his head. "Just shows you how much I know. Ms. Burns, I am sorry. Will you accept my apology?"

Jackie studied his repentful face, his bright blue eyes emotional; and then she snorted.

"I will accept an apology from Joy," she said.

He guffawed. "It's not a Jekyll and Hyde setup, Jocelyn. May I call you Jocelyn?"

"You did last time we met," Jackie pointed out. "Without asking."

"I did a lot without asking. But now I am. So, may I?"

"Yeah, sure, go for it." Jackie shrugged.

"Thank you." Another small bow from the man followed. "As I said, I don't have a split personality. They are just clothes. Between the full drag, my everyday nonbinary outfits, the uniform, and this–" He patted his stomach. "I'm still me."

"That's true," Jackie couldn't help but to agree. "You're definitely very much... you. You've always been."

"Same goes for Alexander. As different as we are, we're oddly similar, aren't we? We both wanted to get away from Fleckney; neither could stay away. We both were after unattainable women," he drew out and then shot her a cheeky glimpse. "Except, he's gotten his Holy Grail. And by the way, he never shares anything with me, I'm just very good at guessing. But you aren't hiding your relationship anymore, are you?"

"No, not since he–" Jackie stopped herself. "Actually, there's been a complication; and we had to put that on hold. Well, I had to. A few people around the county know anyroad; but just don't discuss it with anyone for now, alright?"

The man narrowed his eyes at Jackie. "I can't imagine with whom I would discuss your affair with Fergie, but that surely sounds rather alarming."

"I'm just dealing with something right now," Jackie mumbled, pretending to watch his dog digging in the nearest shrubbery. "I'll solve the... complication, and everything will be fine," she added.

There was no confidence in her voice - but what could she do? Her state of affairs looked rather bleak.

"So, you are dealing with something, and you are the one who will resolve it," he repeated. "What does Alexander have to say about it?"

"Nothing. It has nothing to do with him!" There was a sudden knot in her throat, and she swallowed with difficulty. "And I'm not dragging him into my problems, especially considering that my past actions are partially to blame for what's going on."

"I reckon you aren't disclosing anything since it's confidential; but is there anything I could do to help?"

Jackie wasn't expecting the earnest concern in the man's tone.

"No, it's OK. But thank you for asking. I can't– I'm generally not used to delegating and venting to others. And you're probably the last person I should open up to."

"Because I'm your boyfriend's mate?"

"Because you're a police officer," Jackie quipped; and his eyebrows jumped up in bewilderment. "Let's forget it," Jackie sighed. "I am working on it, and I'll find a way out of it."

"Jocelyn," he said and tilted his head, searching her face. "There are all sorts of rumours about you, and your wankerish ex, and Stephen Bassey. Have you ever thought that you aren't used to delegating and sharing and asking for help simply because there was never a possibility you'd get any support? Our dear Xazzo would probably die and kill for you, in a very non-dramatic way. He craves to be useful to you, to be relied on. I know I would be in his shoes." He pressed his lips in distress. "Anything, not to feel like an attention-seeking child."

Jackie thought to herself that Jarvis Montjoy was very much an attention-seeking child - but a sweet one, nonetheless.

"I'll think about it," she said softly. "Thank you, Jarvis."

Her thoughts swirled; her doubts, solidified over the year, mixed with a sharp craving to turn around, march to the pitch, and press into Alexander and to finally let it all out. Maybe, he had been right that time. Maybe, they owed Jarvis a present as a thank-you for knocking some sense into Jackie again.