Page 87 of Bad Influence
My heart rate quickened.
‘Who else was in on it?’
He shrugged, glancing across at Mandy and Jose.
‘Everyone?’ I turned to Mandy.
‘Blair and Coco didn’t know initially,’ she said. ‘But theydo now. I couldn’t bear being banned from eating sashimi for the next few months.’
‘Remember, you’re the newcomer, Amber. It was a huge secret, a personal secret. And we didn’t know whether it was going to be successful or not.’
‘I can be trusted,’ I said. I swivelled and muttered this comment in Jimi’s direction.
‘So, are we agreed?’ Mandy turned to Jose. She seemed brighter, an energy returning to her limbs.
‘If it’s what you want,’ Jose said and squeezed her knee. Then he turned to his brother. ‘Do you think it will go down well with Mandy’s fans online, Jimi?’
I held my breath as we waited for him to speak. ‘I agree with Amber. There’s a huge opportunity here,’ said Jimi. ‘Posing without the bump, while releasing the news that your surrogate is carrying your baby, it will grab people’s attention, that is for sure.’ His eyes lit up, thinking about the engagement figures she would get for this.
‘You will show there is no right or wrong way to fall pregnant,’ I added. I felt desperately passionate about this point. ‘There is absolutely no shame in that. You have nothing to hide, Mandy and Jose. Being unapologetically you – it is the greatest way to be.’
‘Plus, that strap-on was really starting to chaff,’ Mandy conceded. ‘I have no idea how actresses do it.’
Her eyes seemed to regain their sparkle in that moment. I could tell something had clicked. Jimi had found the right way to present this to her.And if there is one thing Mandy Sykes loves, it is engagement.
‘Come on,’ I said, standing up, ready to leap into action. Jimi peeled back one of the Winnebago curtains to reveal sunshine breaking through the dark clouds.
‘I’ll see you outside,’ he said, opening the door.
Mandy stood up and I watched with pride as she adjusted her underwear and gazed at herself in the full-length mirror. I tweaked her dress and hair, and watched as Lola was called inside to hurriedly touch up her make-up. Her eyes nearly popping out of her head too when she saw the discarded bump.
‘It’s a long story. I’ll tell you later,’ said Mandy.
‘I’ll be right beside you,’ Jose reassured Mandy when she was ready to leave the Winnebago.
I paused for a moment to take her in, the Koma dress looked so much better without the fake bump squeezed underneath it. It wasn’t designed as a maternity piece and hadn’t really worked that way. This was meant to be. Mandy’s hair was still a little damp and extra curly from the rain, but it didn’t matter. She was a strikingly attractive woman, and even more so slightly undone.
‘Hey there, hot mama-to-be.’ I smiled, as I placed the Dryrobe back around her shoulders.
Outside, the rain and winds had eased.
Mandy passed Blair, to retrieve her coffee from Jose who had brought them in.
Blair looked down to the place where her bump once was and urgently waved their index finger above it, a figure of eight in the air.
‘Erm, Mands, have you forgotten something?’ they asked, eyes wide.
‘No, I haven’t. And there’s no need to pretend it’s a decaf either, Blair. Amber knows the whole story.’
As we headed back towards the sand dune we identified earlier as the ideal spot for Mandy to pose, I hung back from the group. In the hurry to leave the trailer, I’d left behind my kit containing bulldog clips, tape, and a few other bits I might need to ensure the dress stayed in place on Mandy in the unpredictable weather conditions.
‘One second, I’ll catch you up!’ I called.
Turning back, I took a moment to look out to the horizon, where something caught my eye.
The multicoloured arc of a rainbow had appeared, its faint hues reflecting on the sea’s surface. It felt like a symbol of hope, just like the image of Mandy we were about to capture.
A familiar voice spoke from behind me. ‘What a gift. We need to get that in shot too.’
