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‘Fine. But you’d better hurry up because I want to be gone before the reporters out front start guessing the baby’s weight already.’
‘Understood. Packing only the essentials. Passport and underwear.’
‘You’ve not run away before. Underwear is never an essential. Don’t pack anything you wouldn’t be able to sell, eat or turn into a lifejacket.’ She walked towards the bedroom door.
‘Fine. Hey! We’ll need someone to feed Willis while we’re gone.’
‘I’ll go and ask Jolie right now. Anything you want from the store while I’m there?’
‘Something I can turn into a lifejacket?’
‘Stop this! I’m the funny one. You’re the straight guy,’ Freya called back.
31
With the paparazzi unable to enter the Town Circle, Freya could walk around Mayleaf without fear of being followed and photographed. Despite the freezing conditions, it was still a picture-perfect place.
The trees were bare, there was frost on the branches and everyone she passed was bundled up in hats and gloves. She loved the town. It made her feel warm inside just walking the streets. It felt like home. She only hoped the security they were living under wouldn’t last forever.
Sam and Jolie’s store was quiet when Freya entered. That gave her unrivalled access to what she called “travelling food”. It wasn’t unusual for Freya to pack few clothes when escaping at the spur of the moment. But she rarely left without a family-sized bag of crisps and a huge chocolate bar.
‘Look after Willis? I’d be delighted. Oh, I wouldn’t have to set any difficult alarms or anything, would I? I mean…’ Jolie began.
‘To be honest, Jolie, right now, I couldn’t care less if the place burnt down.’ She picked up half a dozen chocolate bars from the counter.
‘Oh no, you don’t mean that, do you? You love that house.’
‘I did love it. When it didn’t resemble Fort Knox.’
‘Things no better? Haven’t the police found who’s responsible yet?’ Jolie inquired.
‘No, but then I’m sure they have far more important things to do, don’t you?’
‘So, how long are you going to be away for?’
‘I don’t know yet. A week? Maybe two? Don’t worry, Willis has stacks of food. And if he does go through it all, just get whatever he needs and charge it to our tab.’
‘No problem. And don’t you worry about anything. You both deserve a break. Make sure you enjoy it. By the way, have I heard right? Are you two hearing the patter of tiny feet?’ Jolie asked, a broad smile on her face.
‘What?’
‘Are you having a baby? I don’t usually believe what I hear on some of those news channels, but I’ve had five or six customers asking me about it this afternoon and…’ Jolie began.
‘It’s true, we’re going to be parents. We were trying to keep it under wraps but that seems impossible in our lives.’ She let out a sigh and grabbed another two chocolate bars.
‘Well, I think it’s wonderful news. You two are going to make great parents.’ She moved from behind the counter to put her arms around Freya and hug her.
‘I’ll be needing all the advice I can get. Particularly on the whole getting it out of my body stuff because I’m really no good with pain.’
‘You’ll be fine.’
‘I was fine with the getting it in there thing. I enjoyed that, a lot. I suppose what goes up must come down, one way or another. Perhaps I should abuse my privileged status and demand a C-section.’
‘I think you’ll find they’re not all they’re cracked up to be. My sister could tell you a thing or two about them.’
‘Please don’t give me her number.’
Her mobile phone began to ring.
