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‘Ah, jeez! Guys! Trying to think security here and anyway, you aren’t even married yet,’ Roger reminded them.
‘But we will be soon.’ Nicholas put his arms around Freya and kissed her on the mouth.
‘Nick, can we go out for lunch today? Maybe get a takeout from Casey’s and go and see one of the bridges?’ Freya asked, turning to face him.
‘Sure. Is that OK, Roger? You don’t need me here for anything, do you?’
‘No, if you’re happy with the plan, the team can get on with it. It’ll take them most of the day to install everything. As long as you’re back this evening for me to explain everything to you then that’s fine. I have your cell; I can call.’
‘By the way, Roger, what are all these alarms and beams and motion sensors going to mean for Willis?’ Freya wanted to know.
‘Yeah I’ve thought of that. Willis might be a problem. We might have to train him to limbo.’
Nicholas laughed out loud.
‘I was being serious!’
‘Yeah I know you were, babe. Don’t worry, we’re going to take care of it.’
20
Freya was glad to get out of the house. The security team seemed to be in every corner of her home and it was unnerving the amount of measuring, pointing and drilling they were doing. She didn’t really relax until they were at County Bridge.
They’d bought bagels, sodas and a mud pie from Casey’s and they took the food down to the bridge. They sat together, their feet hanging over the side, watching the water flow upstream.
‘God, it’s been a mad few days,’ Nicholas remarked, taking a sip of his drink.
‘Completely mad.’
‘Look, I know we agreed we’d try and live like two normal people, with no ostentatious behaviour or unnecessary, showy outings. We also said we’d involve ourselves in the community and try and become a part of that…’ he started.
‘I’m waiting for the “but”. Did I interrupt it? Was the “but” coming just then?’
‘I just want you to know, I don’t want the security either. I love living in Mayleaf. We have a real home there with friends who care about us. I don’t think I’ve ever felt as at home anywhere as I do there. Perhaps it’s a sign of getting old, but when I have to leave to film or something, I really don’t want to go.’
‘No, I feel the same. That’s why I hate that this is happening. It’s spoiling everything.’
‘We’ll try not to let it ruin things but we have to take precautions. We would be crazy not to.’
‘I know, Nick, I’m not stupid. I know we have to be careful and that, like it or not, we’re on the top of the celebrity tree. I just never asked for it, that’s all. The attention, the spotlight, that’s your thing, not mine,’ Freya reminded him.
‘I would never do anything to put you in any danger and if my chosen career is putting you in danger, putting us in danger, then…’
‘It isn’t you putting us in danger; it’s my father. And don’t you dare say you would give it up because I will not let you do that. You love what you do and you’re fantastic at it. And look at everything we’ve achieved in the last six months or so. We’ve donated more money to worthy causes than anyone else on the planet.’
‘But at what price? If this isn’t your father’s work then it’s the work of someone who obviously doesn’t care for us much.’ He took a sip of his drink.
‘Doesn’t care for me much, you mean. You weren’t headless in any of the pictures.’
‘I was just going to say, maybe we should step out of the limelight for a while. I don’t know, maybe your desert island idea wasn’t such a joke after all.’
‘I have so much going on right now, with the Every Day project, not to mention my photography exhibition coming up. I couldn’t hide away even if I wanted to. I can’t start something and then abandon it. Anyway, stepping away from things would be like giving in to my father, wouldn’t it? You know he scares the shit out of me, but you also know I hate giving in to anyone.’ She bit into her bagel.
‘I just want to protect you. As alpha male as that sounds. I don’t want to have brought you over here and made your life a misery.’
And now would be an excellent time to mention meeting with her father. Was he going to tell her? Or was he going to keep it from her? She paused long, met his eyes with hers. Nothing was forthcoming.
‘Nick, you’ve made me so happy, so unbelievably happy. Every morning I wake up lying next to this Adonis and I can’t believe my luck. I keep thinking someone’s going to produce some ruby slippers from somewhere, click the heels together three times and have me whirlwinding back to Clapham. I love you, so much.’ She took hold of his hand.
