Page 46 of The Un-Apparent Heir

“Can you not make an excuse, say I’m feeling unwell, and you must care for me? Your mum will understand, Tony.”

He thought for a moment. “Fine. I suppose I could play hooky and let Mac have the day with the grandparents and Aunt Bernadina.”

Lucy smiled broadly. It was all she wanted. She’d been saying all she wanted was more time with Malcolm before the new baby came, but today, she just wanted Winston to herself. It felt pressing. It was as if he was about to disappear into the parenting forest again. She just wanted to be loved and adored for a moment—just as Lucy and not as the woman incubating his child.

Winston disappeared. Lucy’s phone vibrated. It was Nat.

Natalie

You still surviving, love?

Lucy

Slowly. God, I need this baby to come. I am irrationally jealous of Sanne.

Natalie typed for a bit.

Lucy

I’m sorry. I didn’t think about how that must feel.

Natalie

It’s fair. I’m irrationally jealous of you both, but that’s just my life right now.

Lucy

I think about you every day. I miss you so much.

Natalie

Same. The minute Winston calls us, we are getting on the plane and coming right to you. Promise, Luce.

Lucy

I am so relieved to hear that. I need you here to run interference. You are the best at that.

Natalie

I promise to use my powers for good. Tell Winston to take care of you in the meantime.

Lucy

He is. Love you.

Natalie

Love you, too, darling. XX

Lucy smiled as Winston padded back and dove into bed next to her.

“You’re having a hard time. A dreadful day, darling,” he said.

Lucy giggled. He kissed her slowly in a way that would have made her weak in the knees. One thing she could say about Winston was that he never baulked when she was pregnant. He still worshipped her body. She felt lucky. She knew it wasn’t always that way for others. Her sister said she and her husband hadn’t had sex the entire time she was pregnant. Lucy couldn’t have handled that.

Winston played with Lucy’s nipple, sliding his fingers over it. She moaned a bit.

“You must keep it down if we are to keep up the ruse,” Winston kissed her neck.

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