Page 90 of Bad Influence
‘Thank you so much for your understanding,’ he said, sounding flustered. ‘I’m afraid we’re going to have to close the pool in a few minutes.’
‘Understanding? I’m not sure I do understand,’ Mum replied in a tone that made me glad I wasn’t on the receiving end. If there was one thing Mum couldn’t tolerate, it was bad service.
‘I’m afraid we have to close the area for an hour. If you could please make your way out, as soon as possible.’
‘But why?’ Lucy raised her voice. ‘You might not be able to tell from up there, but I am six months pregnant.’
‘We booked this especially for my sister’s hen do,’ I added.
‘Non–hen do,’ Lucy whispered.
I pinched her thigh underwater. ‘We’ve only been in here for ten minutes,’ I continued, ‘and there was no notification about the pool closing when I booked. Why do we need to get out?’
I briefly considered whether staging an occupation of a spa pool was an arrestable offence.
‘I appreciate this, and I amsosorry,’ the man said urgently. ‘Wereallyhate to do this, but I’m afraid the directive has come from the top.’ Lucy and Mum looked unamused. He sensed this and knelt down, closer to our eye level.
In a hushed voice he said, ‘You see, a big celebrity has arrived, and she needs the space. It’s for aceremony.I really hope you’ll understand. Maybe we can treat you all to afternoon tea in the main house by way of apologising for the inconvenience? The pool will be open again in an hour.’
‘Ooh a ceremony? Maybe someone’s getting married out here,’ I said excitedly, looking around.
I had started to climb out, but Lucy felt affronted. ‘Who could warrant—’
Then she stopped speaking.
I almost stopped breathing.
At the exact same time our collective jaws dropped, as we all noticed who had come into view through the spa door.
Chapter Twenty-Five
‘Oh God,’ I squeaked.
‘Oh,God,’ said the attendant.
‘Oh Gaaaad,’ repeated a familiar American voice belonging to a dressing gown-clad glamorous woman who had appeared in full view.
Two people, also in dressing gowns, stepped out from behind her, near the entrance to the pool area. All three were presumably unable to wait any longer for the signal that the riff-raff had been cleared out.
Mum looked embarrassed, while Lucy broke into a peal of quiet, resigned laughter. There was no mistaking who it was.
I pulled my wet body out of the pool and stood on the side. At least I had waxed my bikini line, it could have been a lot worse. I instantly began to shiver as my wet skin met the cool air.
‘Oh hi, Mandy!’ I shouted, brightly, displaying an excitement that I didn’t really feel.
Her eyes narrowed and for one horrible moment I thought she was going to pretend she didn’t know me. My pulse quickened.
Then her face opened up in recognition. ‘I barelyrecognised you, all soggy. I thought you were a fan about to ask for a selfie.’
‘No such luck!’ I replied.
‘You remember Ebony from LA, my cosmic doula?’ Mandy said, encouraging Ebony to step forwards.
‘Of course, hi, Ebony,’ I said, shaking with cold and feeling very naked. Ebony and Mandy had fully made-up faces, which had discoloured the collars of their white towelling robes.
‘And this,’ Mandy continued, turning to a woman on her left – her eyes were sparkling as she proudly announced, ‘this, is someoneveryspecial.’
She took the woman’s right hand in both of hers. ‘This is Natalia. Our surrogate.’
