Page 104 of A Secret Escape

“What will you do?”

Nicole curled her legs under her, totally at home on Joel’s sofa. “What will I do?” A slow smile spread across her face. “I intend to take a little time off and do the things I enjoy most. I’m going to go hiking, read a few books on how to be a good mother, see a doctor or midwife or whatever it is I’m supposed to do, eat proper meals, maybe learn to cook, help Zoe rehearse for her play.” She drew breath. “I was also thinking that maybe I could help out at her drama group.”

This was a whole new version of Nicole. Closer to the person she’d been when they were growing up.

“You’re going to learn to cook?” Milly kept her tone light. “If you’re going to do that, at least let me give you some basic lessons. So you don’t poison yourself or chop off your fingers.”

Nicole laughed. “Sounds like a plan.”

“I love your idea of helping at the drama group. They’d be delirious with excitement, and I know you’d be good at it. I’m happy you’ll be sticking around.” Her mood lifted. “All we need to do now is get rid of the press.”

Nicole’s smile dimmed a little. “I just need to accept that they’re not going to leave me alone. At least for a while, until they get bored. But once they find out I’m pregnant, there will be a lot of speculation, and I hate that.”

“We need them to lose interest before you start looking pregnant.” Milly thought about it but couldn’t see a solution. “It’s maddening that they can’t respect your right to privacy and leave you alone.”

Nicole finished her coffee and put the mug down. “I’ll give an interview about retiring and hope that will keep them at bay for a while.”

Milly frowned. “I just don’t see that it’s any of their business.” It bothered her that Nicole seemed to think she had a duty to make parts of her life public. “Surely your agent can put out a statement saying that you’re taking a break. That’s enough.”

Nicole shrugged. “It isn’t enough, though, is it? They’re going to want to know what I was doing here. I need to give them a reason or they will never leave me alone.”

A reason for being here.

Milly stared at her. An idea came into her head.

No. It would never work. Would it?

“What?” Nicole looked at her expectantly. “What are you thinking? Tell me.”

“I’m not sure if it’s a terrible idea.”

But they had to do something, so surely it was worth a try?

Chapter27Nicole

This was a terrible idea.” Nicole paced across Joel’s living room and back again. “I can’t remember ever feeling this tense about anything.”

“Could you sit down? You’re making me nervous too.” Milly checked the time. “Why hasn’t he called? It has been four hours. He said he’d call and update us.”

“Probably means it has all gone horribly wrong.” Nicole sat down for two seconds, but it was impossible to relax so she stood up again. “We shouldn’t have asked him to do this. It wasn’t fair.”

“Don’t say that.” Milly threw her a look. “It was my idea, and now I’m doubting myself.”

“What are you two worrying about now?” Joel walked into the room carrying a plate of sandwiches and a jug of ice water.

Milly blinked. “Sandwiches? It’s eleven in the morning.”

“The day started early. I’ve adjusted mealtimes accordingly. Also, eating stops me from falling asleep.” He put the sandwiches down on the table.

“Maybe I should call and tell him not to do it.” Milly stared at her phone, as if she was willing it to ring.

“You two are overthinking this. If he didn’t want to do it, he would have said no.” Joel topped up Nicole’s glass of water. He caught her eye briefly and smiled, and she smiled back.

He was so attentive, and Nicole was having to make a real effort not to watch him the whole time. He’d been such a good friend to her.

Fortunately Milly didn’t seem to be paying much attention to them. “I didn’t exactly give him much of a choice. He probably hates me now. It will be the end of a short but beautiful relationship.”

“And you hadn’t even had sex.” Nicole gave her an apologetic look. “Next time, seize the moment. Life is too short not to grab fun whenever you can.” She saw Milly turn scarlet, and Joel raised an eyebrow.

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