Page 89 of Lilly
“Yeah. I could do it, take the stress away fromyou.”
“But my dress,” Ipout.
“Okay, let’s compromise. I hear that’s what relationships are all about anyway. We have a small wedding now and then a proper big celebration when the babies are here. They could be bridesmaid andpageboy.”
I stare into his excited and happy blue eyes, and although I really want to hold out for my perfect day, I know this is really important to him. Having a proper family. “Okay, fine. But it’s going to be small and you’re planning it. I have enough on my plate as it is,” I say once again, rubbing my belly. “I’d like to just turn up and have it happen.” I know that sounds harsh, but he knows what I mean, I hope. “Then I’ll plan the proper wedding for a couple of years’ time. How’sthat?”
“Perfect, thank you,” he says, before pushing me down on the mattress and kissing the life out ofme.
The rest of the weekend is mostly spent in the hotel suite bedroom. And trust me when I say I’m not complaining. After weeks of being a horny mess, I more than got what I needed. It’s just a shame I have to have nap after almost every orgasm thesedays!
* * *
“Ithinkwe should get married here in Cheltenham before we move down south. What do youthink?”
“You know what I think, Luc. I thinkyousort it out. As long as I know when we’re leaving so I’ve said goodbye to everyone, I’mgood.”
We’ve been back almost three weeks. The weather is swelteringly hot and I’m massive. How I still have fifteen weeks to go is beyond me; I swear I’m going to explode. Although, every time I see the midwife or consultant they tell me I’m not going to make full term. They think I’ll be lucky to get to thirty-six weeks. And as much as I’m enjoying being pregnant, I think I’ll be more than ready for it to be over bythen.
“Okay. What are you doing today?” he asks as my phone pings again with another incomingmessage.
I don’t pick it up just in case he decides to be nosey and look at it. “Oh, I’m…uh…just meeting the girls for coffee after their shift. Then I’m not sure.” Lucas looks at me and raises an eyebrow. I’m a useless liar so he can obviously tell something’sup.
“Right.”
I get myself ready once Lucas has left for the hotel. He’s already pretty much handed the reins over to Catherine so he could stay home and work, but he says he feels more productive working away from home. Even if it means he is working in thepenthouse.
It feels amazing to be able to go out now without worrying about someone watching me, that he could be around the corner. Knowing I’m totally free from him is an amazing feeling. I don’t want to feel happy and relieved that he’s gone. That’s not the kind of person I am. But it isgreat.
Lucas was noticeably much more relaxed when we got back from Devon. I just put it down to the fact he wasn’t keeping secrets from me anymore. But a couple of days later I went over to my flat to check the post and I found a blank envelope with all my other letters. I took them all up to the flat so I could grab some more bits before sitting on the sofa to go through it all. I opened the envelope, not having a clue what I was going to find. A small and thin square of paper slid out on to my lap. When I turned it over and read the headline, I had no idea what to think. A weird mix of happiness, relief and sadness washed through me. I had some great memories from the beginning of ourrelationship.
Body found Sunday morning has been named as JakeAshworth.
I read through the short article about how his body was found in a derelict warehouse that was well known for its drug dealing and unsavoury goings on. A post-mortem showed a very high level of heroin in hissystem.
I let the article drop to my lap as I think about my time with Jake. Unfortunately, all the happy memories I have of us have been muted by the horrific ones towards theend.
Once I’ve pulled myself together a little, I look back at the envelope and check inside to see if there’s any clue as to who it’s come from. There isn’t anything, but I’m fairly sure this isn’t a coincidence or an accident. I’m not stupid enough to ask questions about it though. It’s best leftalone.
I take the envelope and article to the bathroom. I pull out my box of matches in the cabinet usually used for candle lighting and I light the corner. I let the charred remains drip into the toilet. I feel a weird sense of closure from the whole thing as I push the flush and watch it all disappear. I have a new life now. New priorities. Jake is well and truly in thepast.
I grab a bottle of water and throw it in my bag before rushing out to my car. I don’t know what it is about being pregnant, but it’s like suddenly I can’t get anywhere on time. I don’t think I realised how long everything would take, being the size of a smallrhino!
I’m only ten minutes late as I walk through the entrance of the coffee shop. I only partly lied to Lucas this morning. I am going for coffee, just not with the girls. I’m meetingMarcus.
I sent him a selfie of me a few days ago so he would recognise me—not that it’s really necessary. I’m not sure many blonde women will turn up in the few minutes he’ll have been waiting for me with a belly this size. I look around the room after I let the door close behind me and I find him immediately. My breath catches at how much he looks like Lucas. His hair is the same colour, although shaved close to his head. His eyes, from a distance, look a little darker, and he’s a slimmer build than his oldercounterpart.
He begins to look more and more unsure of himself the closer I get tohim.
“Marcus?”
I watch him swallow nervously before he cautiously sticks his hand out towards me. “Lilly?”
“It’s so good to meet you at last. What can I get you todrink?”
“You sit down. I’llgo.”
I give Marcus my order and watch as he heads over to the bar. Their similarities are mind-blowing. You could easily mistake them astwins.
