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He stepped out onto the porch and looked down the driveway at the journalists congregated outside.
Seeing enough, he stepped back into the house and shut the front door.
‘What’s going on? Oh my God, someone’s erected a prison wall in the back of the garden.’
Looking through the patio doors leading from the kitchen into the garden, she could see a large, metal fence surrounding the entire boundary.
‘It isn’t as bad as it seems. You’ll get used to it. It’s for our protection. And our protection is the most important thing.’
‘I can’t live like this.’
‘I know.’
‘I mean, I really can’t live like this. We discussed it when I moved here. We said we were going to have a normal life, doing normal things, just being normal and you promised. You promised no electric fences, no cameras, no motion sensors.’
‘I know.’
‘Well, what the hell happened? Look at this place! You can’t move for security paraphernalia! I’m scared to breathe too heavy in case I set off an alarm and Willis hates it. Have you noticed he’s spending more and more time outdoors? In this weather! They’re expecting snow, you know!’
‘I know all this, Freya. D’you think I’m enjoying living under lock and key? But you heard what the police said. We have to take every precaution; we’d be stupid not to. And now it’s more important than ever. We have a baby to consider.’
‘Oh my God, that’s it! That is it! Enough! I’ve had enough!’ Freya yelled, waving her hands in the air.
She turned on her heel, left the kitchen and headed for the stairs.
‘Freya, come back.’ He followed her.
‘No. This last week has been just about the worst time of my entire life. And here was I thinking nothing could possible top my prison stay or my life in the Lawson-Peck household,’ Freya spat as she marched up the stairs and into their bedroom.
‘It hasn’t been all bad. We’ve made plans for our wedding and we’ve found out we’re going to have a baby.’
‘I’ve been sent a “bitch” letter and a wreath. We’ve had to open an account at the glaziers and the security firm. Our driver has been assaulted. We’ve been beating off dead crows on an almost daily basis. And, if that wasn’t enough, I’ve just found out my ex-fiancé is actually my half-brother! Tell me those aren’t good, strong, valid reasons to be pissed off?!’ She tugged her suitcase off the top of the wardrobe.
‘Of course they are. And I can’t say I’m too thrilled about any of it either but… what are you doing with that suitcase?’
‘What does it look like I’m doing? I’m packing.’ She put the case down on the bed and opened it up. Then she pulled open a drawer and chucked in some tops.
‘Oh no. No, you’re not running away.’
‘I need to get out of this completely crazy, messed-up life I have right now. I need to be somewhere else.’ She opened another drawer and pulled out some trousers.
‘You can’t just leave. We’ve made plans and…’ Nicholas started.
‘I don’t care. I can’t stay here, Nick. It’s making me ill. I can’t look at another reporter. I don’t want to see my face and news about our baby on the front of another magazine and I don’t want to wait and see what my warped admirer has in store for me next.’
‘Freya, this is stupid. Where are you going to go?’
‘Where I always go.’ She slammed the case shut and let out a sigh.
‘Corfu.’
‘Right on the money.’ She picked the case off the bed.
‘Fine. Well, give me two minutes. I’ll pack some things and come with you,’ Nicholas said. He went to the wardrobe and took down another suitcase.
‘You want to come with me?’
‘Well, you can’t think I’m going to sit in this secure compound on my own.’ He smiled at her.
