Page 72 of One Hollywood Sunset

‘You’re pregnant?’ he repeated.

‘I might be. But probably not. Because I would know, wouldn’t I?’

‘Well, how do we find out? Have you done a test?’

‘No… I… well, Dr Stone wanted me to have a scan but there’s no point. I mean, I would know, wouldn’t I?’

‘Come on, we have to go back. We have to know,’ Nicholas said, taking hold of her hand and pulling her towards the hospital entrance.

‘But I can’t be pregnant. I mean…’

‘Freya, if you’re pregnant, this is absolutely the best news I’ve ever had.’ A smile spread across his face.

‘Really?’ She still felt so uncertain.

‘Why do you sound so surprised? We talked about how we felt about children when we first met,’ Nicholas reminded her.

‘Yes, and do you remember what I said?’

‘You said something about not being able to look after your houseplants.’

‘Exactly.’

‘Come on. Let’s go and find out. What are you afraid of?’ He squeezed her hand.

‘That’s what Dr Stone asked me.’

‘And what did you tell him?’

‘I made some stupid comment about Mary Poppins,’ Freya told him.

‘Well, I’m sure he won’t hold it against you. Come on, we could be on the verge of becoming parents.’ There was thick excitement in his voice.

‘On the verge of bringing a poor, innocent child into this warped, twisted, creepy, weird circus of a life we live. Is it any wonder I’m terrified?’

‘This will be a chink of light in the craziness though, wouldn’t it?’

‘It would mean we have a damn good case for suing Durex.’

‘Freya, you could be having our baby. A baby I didn’t really believe I would ever have… no matter what the doctors told me.’ He let out a breath.

‘I know.’

She could see the expectation in his expression.

‘So, let’s go and see if we have something to celebrate. What have we got to lose?’

‘Nine months of alcohol and all the dignity I ever had?’

‘But eating for two. Come on, that has to interest you.’

‘You’re right,’ she agreed with a nod. ‘A valid excuse to eat takeaway for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Take me back.’

Nicholas smiled at her, leading the way back into the hospital.

26

The alarm clock was showing 6.34a.m. and Freya lay in bed, staring at the piece of paper in her hand. It was a small, black and white picture of a grey blob. There was just a faint outline of four stumps attached to the blob. It was a picture of their baby. She was ten weeks pregnant.

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