Page 91 of One Hollywood Sunset

Freya snapped open her eyes and took in her surroundings. It was familiar. It was her and Nicholas’ bedroom. It was home. She was filled with relief.

Willis climbed up onto her and pressed his cold, wet nose into her cheek.

‘Hey, boy,’ Freya said, stroking his fur as he turned around and around in circles.

Everything hurt. It had been almost a week and everything still hurt. Just breathing made her chest ache and she had been confined to the bedroom, by order of Dr Stone. She was sick of it. She hated being dependent on Nicholas to look after her. It was driving her crazy and, as sweet as it was he was seeing to her every need, what she really wanted to do was get up and get back to being the one who gave the orders. On the bedside cabinet was a plate of fish, potato and green vegetables Nicholas had made her for lunch. She hadn’t been able to touch it. Just looking at the food made her feel sick. Even though her stomach was empty.

Her empty stomach. It growled on cue, as if to let her know it hadn’t been satisfied. Freya placed her hand under the duvet and smoothed the skin with her hand.

Her abdomen wasn’t entirely empty. There was still a baby growing inside her and he or she was probably hungry too. Perhaps it was time to give healthy food a try.

She looked over at the plate and nausea rose in her throat. Before she had the chance to think anymore about eating it, the phone rang.

She snatched it up before Nicholas answered from downstairs.

‘Hello.’

‘And how is the patient doing today?’ Emma asked her.

‘Oh, Em, it’s great to hear your voice.’

‘How are you feeling? I rang late last night. Nick said you were asleep and I didn’t want to disturb you.’

‘I’ve been doing a lot of sleeping. If I sleep, it means Nick has less time to keep on about me seeing a therapist to get over the trauma. I mean, which trauma does he want me to talk to them about? I could be having two-hour sessions twice a week for the rest of my life and it still might not be enough.’

‘He’s so worried about you. You and the baby. He just wants to do what’s best.’

‘I know. But can you imagine what a field day any therapist would have with me? I can’t go there. I don’t need to go there.’

‘None of this is your fault. You have to keep focused on that. You’ve been let down by most of the people in your life. They’ve done that to you because of who they are.’

‘I know how to pick them, don’t I?’

‘Well, you can’t choose your family and as for Sasha… it sounds like she did a very good job of being believable.’

‘Yes, she did.’

‘So, I suppose you aren’t really feeling up to a wedding at the moment. Have you rearranged the date?’

‘No, not yet. There’s been so much going on, there hasn’t been a chance and we really want to do it properly.’

‘Oh well, I was hoping I hadn’t wasted a trip.’

‘What?’

‘I stopped by that Chinese you keep telling me about. I just had to see in real life. I got sweet and sour chicken balls, egg foo yung and beef in black bean sauce if you’re hungry.’

The bedroom door opened and Emma appeared, a phone to her ear and a takeaway bag in her hand.

Freya screamed. She leapt out of bed, sending Willis crashing to the floor and enveloped her friend in a bear hug.

‘Careful! Don’t do yourself an injury or Nick will never forgive me,’ Emma exclaimed, hugging her friend tightly.

‘I can’t believe you’re here! This is the best thing! You came all the way from Corfu? All ten hours and…’

‘And a stop in Paris,’ Emma replied, smiling.

Tears were pricking Freya’s eyes as she looked at her best friend. It was so good to see her. She needed her.

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