Page 14 of This is Where I Leave You

Priscilla and Dick both shook their heads together in a reverse nodding dog like fashion. “We couldn’t either, Cady, don’t worry, we will sell it and send you the money. That ok?”

Cady nodded, grateful to have that matter taken from her. She picked up her oversized bag and searched for the keys. Man, this bag needed a clean out. Rustling through scrunched up papers, balled up tissues and stray mints, she proceeded to pull things

out, still rooting for the keys. Priscilla gasped suddenly, and pointing to the scattered contents said, “Cady, are you on drugs?”

Cady’s head whipped up. Following Priscilla’s shocked wide eyes, she spotted what had given her cause for concern. Nestled amongst the Gallery leaflets and snot rags, was a urine sample sealed in a clear plastic sandwich bag. The sample she did this morning, for the midwife that afternoon.

“Well, are you? Is that why you need clean urine, to dodge rehab tests or something? Dick, she is on drugs! Do you see? I saw a Panorama program about this!”

Realising that she was about to talk about the perils of needle sharing and whiteys Cady blurted out, “I am not on drugs, Priscilla. I’m pregnant. And yes, it’s Richard’s baby, and yes I am keeping it. The urine is for my midwife.”

Priscilla crumpled then, knees hitting the floor. “Oh no, oh no, oh no,” she said, over and over. Dick went to her awkwardly, not daring advance for fear of her swatting him. Cady tutted at him and kneeled down next to Priscilla.

“Priscilla, I know that you are sad, I am too, but this baby is half Richard, and you are, and always will be its’ grandmother. I would never stop you being a part of our lives, if that’s what you are worrying about.”

Priscilla snorted loudly and grabbing Cady, yanked her into a death grip. “Oh thank you, thank you! You don’t know what this means to me, a whole new life, oh what a miracle, thank you!”

Cady nodded, or tried to, with Priscilla crushing her.

“I am glad you are happy, but can you let me go? The little miracle you are referring to is doing the stomp on my poor bladder at the minute.”

CHAPTER 16

Georgina stomped confidently in the plush Parisian offices of Marshall and Marshall and marched right up to the desk, flashing her credentials at the very glamorous receptionist. Within minutes George was sat in a huge office sipping coffee, facing a window wall looking out at the beautiful scenery. The weather was crisp and clear, not bad for June in Paris. She decided to take the rare moment to savour the country she was in for a change. Taking off her heels and rubbing her stockinged feet, she padded over to the window and rubbing her toes in the plush deep pile, she stretched her arms out wide and took a huge breath.

“One day, I shall come to visit and actually spend time with you,” she murmured wistfully to the skyline. Sighing, she dropped her arms, and straightening herself, whirled around. Three men were stood beside the open door, staring at her questioningly. Two of the men looked at each other quizzically and took her seats, declaring to each other in French that they thought she was quite mad. Which would be fine, except that George understood every word, being able to speak fluent French and Spanish. The third guy hovered there and as she took her seat, she peeked a glance at him. Suddenly glad she was sitting down, she cleared her throat and hands shaking, opened her briefcase to take out her paperwork. WOW. This man was gorgeous. Stood in a designer black suit and skinny black tie, (obviously Armani, this season, shoes, Dolce and Gabbana, also this season) he was the typical tall, dark and handsome man. Except this guy was also dipped in gorgeous sauce and smothered in hotty topping. Geez. George felt her body getting warmer by the second, and smoothing her suddenly damp palms on her jacket, she struggled to gain control. Mr Armani took his seat, and waited in silence. She straightened her papers and sat. Sat grinning like an utter idiot. The silence palpable now, the two other men, carbon copies of each other and significantly older than their companion, again looked at each other with a look of confusion. Then he spoke up.

“So Miss Elliot, is it? Are you ready to start our meeting?”

Georgina, ridiculously grateful for him breaking the ice, nodded and smiled, willing her body to stop acting like a lunatic teenager. Pull it together woman!

She spied a smirk on his face. Was he laughing at her? She remembered her performance at the window. Oh Christ, he thinks I am an idiot, oh great, and now I am proving that point by staring him like an imbecile. Standing up abruptly, she pulled out her laptop and starting it up, began to click into professional mode. Passing over handouts, she got to work making her presentation, all the while aware that he was watching her with an amused smirk on his face. George’s first thought was that he was arrogant, and slightly annoying. Second thought was what he looked like under that shirt.

Finally the presentation was at an end. The French equivalent of Tweedledum and Tweedledee were now much happier, nodding in agreement at each other. Satisfied, they shook hands with George, explained pleasantries and wandered off for lunch.

Left in the room alone now, she started to pack her things away and fired off an e-mail on her Blackberry to her boss telling him she had the contract squared away and was starting the IT package immediately. Tapping her phone, she then thought of Cady. They had not spoken in days and she hated how things had been left. Firing off a quick text, she simply put SO SORRY XX BACK IN A MONTH, PLS TALK 2 ME.

Frowning, she hit send and stared at her phone. She probably hadn’t even switched her mobile on yet.

“Bad day?”

George smiled wryly and looked straight at him. He had the nicest brown eyes, framed with short black hair and the slight signs of stubble on his well chiselled face. Gerard Butler, eat your heart out.

“Something like that, yes.” Locking her suitcase, she made for the door.

“I’m Ben by the way. Great work today, you nailed it. Fancy some lunch?”

George opened her mouth to decline, but thought better of it. She only normally ate in the hotel, plane or from the curled up buffets the offices provided, maybe he would at least suggest a café.

“Yes, that would be great thanks, and call me Georgina.”

***

Cady closed her front door behind her and sagged against it. The midwife had gone well, she was doing fine and had even heard the baby’s heartbeat, which in itself was an emotional experience. She was just glad she had managed to talk Priscilla out of accompanying her to the appointment, she needed to get her own head around developments without her exuberant mother-in-law in tow. She had just about ran out of the office, promising to phone regularly with updates. Richard Senior had patted her on the shoulder, murmuring gruffly, “I hope it’s a little Dick you have in there.” It was all Cady could do to keep a straight face. She had squeezed his hand and nodded instead, biting the sides of her mouth to prevent a bout of hysteria popping out.

George would have howled at that one. Remembering that they were not speaking, Cady sighed and plodded up the stairs. Nap time, definitely nap time. Thank god it was Friday, she could spend the weekend hiding away in peace. Just when she neared the top of the stairs, there was a knock at the door. Bugger. Bending down to peek at the caller, she saw a man’s silhouette through the frosted glass pane. She went to open the door. Marcus was stood there, all jumpy and nervous. The huge bouquet of Calla lilies he was carrying were vibrating, sending a waft of scent straight up her nostrils. Man, this pregnancy had turned her into a bloodhound. Over the scent of the flowers, she could smell Marcus’s aftershave. The combination was not entirely unpleasant.

“Er hi,” she ventured awkwardly, “would you like to come in?”

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