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The car arrived to pick them up at ten. Roger, Nicholas’ bodyguard, arrived in it. As much as Freya liked raising money for charity, she absolutely hated the meet and greets. Meeting the people was fine; she loved talking. But being photographed from every conceivable angle and being asked endless questions by journalists was her idea of hell. Even though she had endured months of it already, she still didn’t seem to get any better at it. She slightly envied Nicholas’ relaxed demeanour in dealing with it all. He was excellent at being amiable to anybody and everybody.
Another reason Freya disliked public functions was the fact she felt she had to consider carefully what she wore. Too formal and she would be thought of as too business-like, too casual and she would be seen as not serious enough. It was a nightmare. Usually, she didn’t care what people thought, but the charity work was important to her. Today, she had opted for a smart, grey trouser suit and a black shirt.
‘Hi, Roger,’ Freya greeted, hurrying down the steps to embrace him.
‘Hey, Freya. How you doing?’ He hugged her.
‘I’m good. Really good.’ She couldn’t stop the smile from spreading across her face.
‘I know that look; you have something going on.’
‘We might have. Nick, Roger thinks we have something going on. Do you want to tell him or shall I?’ Freya called as Nicholas appeared at the front door. He was looking every inch the Hollywood heartthrob in a charcoal-grey suit.
‘We’ve set a date for the wedding, Roger. December twenty-second.’ Nicholas took Freya’s hand in his.
‘Well, that is fantastic news. Congratulations, man,’ Roger said. He held his hand out to his boss.
‘Thanks, Roger.’
‘And it goes without saying we would really love you and Dionne to be there. In fact, Roger, I kind of need you to do something else as well,’ Freya spoke in serious tones.
‘I’ll wait in the car,’ Nicholas said. He winked at Freya and opened the door.
‘You want me to organise the security?’ Roger asked.
‘No, God no! I’m hoping we can do this quietly and without the need for anything like that. No, I was rather hoping you might give me away.’
‘My, I wasn’t expecting that. I don’t know what to say.’ Freya watched him fiddle with the collar of his shirt.
‘Well, you know my history with my father, and my mother for that matter. And you know, since we share the same admiration of Bruce Willis, I thought it was a good enough reason to ask you,’ Freya continued.
‘Freya, I would be truly honoured to give you away.’
‘You would?! Well that’s great!’ She threw her arms around him and hugged him close. They’d formed a bond from the moment they’d met and he was the closest thing she had to a father figure.
‘Any idea on location yet?’ he asked.
‘I have a few ideas and I’m not telling you any of them. Because I know if I tell you, you’ll be mentally working out where all the exits are.’
‘You know me way too well.’
Half an hour later, the car pulled up outside Carlton General Hospital and Freya could see the whole state’s photographers and journalists were outside waiting to take photographs and ask questions.
‘I really, really hate this,’ Freya remarked to Nicholas as they prepared to get out of the car.
‘I know you do and you know I would rather go in through the back door. But it’s publicity the charity needs to ensure its future,’ he reminded her.
‘Yes I know, I know. I just would rather come here at the dead of night and speak to people privately, not pose for the papers.’
She also had the beginnings of a spot on her nose and although she’d concealed, those lenses were unforgiving.
‘It’ll be fine and remember, there’s a meal waiting for us after we’ve done the posing and the smiling and all the publicity shots.’
‘I know, that thought will see me through. OK, let’s go.’
They got out of the car and the photography began at once. There were whirrs and clicks coming from all directions and Freya gritted her teeth and smiled, holding on tight to Nicholas’ hand.
‘Freya, Nick, over here!’
