Chapter 67
CHAPTER 67
PEN
K ris enters with his friend in tow.
“Hey,” I say, moving forward and kissing him on both cheeks.
“Hey yourself,” he says, his smile warm and comforting, reminding me why we’re friends.
He takes my forearms and holds me away from him.
“You look well—” he says. “Happy.”
It’s my turn to grin.
“I am. You can say I told you so if you want to,” I say, knowing my grin must look like that of The Cheshire Cat.
“What me?”
I roll my eyes, enjoying the easy banter of a strong friendship. I wondered if it would be awkward, but it isn’t. We’ve reverted to B.E. Before Engagement.
Mum comes out of the kitchen.
“Kris,” she says, coming forward.
Kris stoops and kisses her cheek.
“Lovely to see you again, Louise.”
“You too. Thank you for helping, Harper.”
Harper appears in the doorway behind us.
“Yes, thank you,” she says, stepping forward, her hand held out. “I’m Harper Frazer.”
“Pleased to meet you, Harper. This is Tash. She’s here to help transform you.”
Harper smiles at the woman next to Kris.
“Shall we get started?” Tash says.
Harper nods and holds out her arm, leading her upstairs to where she’s been staying.
“Let’s get some tea on,” Mum says, and I watch Kris grimace.
“That will be a coffee, Mum,” I say, smirking at him.
“Of course,” she says, chuckling to herself. “Come on. I’ve also been baking. I have fresh scones just out of the oven.”
“Perfect,” Kris says.
“So, how was your mystery meeting?”
“Interesting,” he says. “That’s all I’m going to say.”
I harrumph. I know his meeting was with Elijah, even if neither man has told me why. To say I’m intrigued is an understatement, but if Elijah has said nothing, he has his reasons. I just need to be patient.
Having Harper stay here has meant he’s stayed away. We’ve spoken on the phone, but his whole family has kept their distance. As our relationship is not public knowledge yet, they have no reason to suspect I’m harbouring the youngest Frazer.
We enter the kitchen. Mum has laid out quite the spread. Finger sandwiches, pastries. The perfect afternoon tea.
“This looks amazing, Louise,” Kris says, taking his usual spot at the island.
It seems strange having him back in my space, even if it has only been a couple of months. So much has changed. My whole world has changed in that time.
Kris helps himself to food, Mum keeps up polite conversation. After a while, she looks at me.
“I’m going to see if Harper and Tash want anything,” she says, making a sharp exit.
Kris chuckles.
“She never was subtle.”
“No, that’s my mum,” I say, my elbows on the side, my chin resting on my hand.
“When are you and Elijah planning on going public?” he asks, taking another bite of scone, the jam and cream oozing over the edge.
“I don’t know. We haven’t discussed it. There’s no rush.”
“I hope you’re not holding back because of me.”
I smile.
“It’s not been discussed, but also, I don’t want any baggage. Talks of infidelity, rumours of affairs. There are pictures of us all together at Caleb’s wedding.”
He shakes his head. “You need to stop worrying about what everyone thinks. This is about you and him. What you have together. The rest of the world be damned.”
“But what about you? You won’t remain unaffected.”
“No, but I’m in my forties. I’m a big boy. A few intrusive journalists are not going to ruin my day. I want you to be happy, Pen. And I can see that Elijah makes you that.”
“He does. Thank you for making me face it.”
“Isn’t that what friends are for?”
“True friends,” I say.
“Know I will always be there for you. Whatever you should need.”
“The same goes for you, too.”
“Does he know?”
I look up, my eyes clashing with his.
What the?
“Know?”
He raises an eyebrow.
“How?” I ask.
“You have the same glow Annie had. How far along?”
“I don’t know. I’ve only just missed my period. I haven’t even done a test yet.”
“I may be wrong. If I’m not, congratulations.”
My hand goes to my mouth, and the sickness I’ve been holding in for the past couple of days rears its head.
I run to the bathroom, emptying my stomach into the toilet bowl.
I lean against the sink and stare at my reflection in the mirror.
I swill my mouth out and spit the water into the sink, scraping my hair back.
Fuck! Could Kris be right?
I make my way back into the kitchen.
Kris looks at me, his eyes full of concern.
“Pen?”
“Don’t,” I say, my throat tightening, a sharp pain sparking in my chest.
This can’t be happening. Not when we were so close. Why has life done this to us?
Kris gets up and pushes my head between my knees.
“Breathe,” he says. “That’s it. In for four, pause, now out for four. Slowly.”
I concentrate on the sound of his voice.
When my breathing finally regulates, I sit up.
“Want to explain why the woman who was so desperate for a child of her own has just had a panic attack when she thinks she might be pregnant by a man she clearly loves and who clearly loves her?”
I pinch the bridge of my nose.
“It’s complicated.”
“Not really. A child is a gift, Pen.”
“I know, and I am happy. Please believe me. It’s a shock, not one I was expecting. I imagined we’d have more time. We’ve barely found each other. This is not something we’ve discussed. We’ve hardly discussed anything.” I shudder. “Oh, hell.”
Mum takes that moment to reenter the room. I shoot Kris a warning look, which he acknowledges with a smile.
“Everything all right?” Mum asks, her gaze flicking between us.
“Fine,” I say, patting her arm. “Probably something I ate earlier clearly hasn’t agreed with me.”
She walks up and places a hand against my forehead. “You do feel a little clammy. Maybe you should go and lie down.”
“I’ll be fine,” I say. “I can lie down when everyone has gone.”
Harper appears at that moment. I only recognise her because of the clothes she’s wearing. Tash has done a remarkable job reshaping her nose and cheekbones.
“Wow,” I say, making her laugh. “No one, and I mean no one , is going to recognise you. Especially with that honey blond wig.”
“Tash has done an amazing job,” Harper says, breathing a sigh of eager relief.
“Are you ready to go?” Kris says, standing up.
Harper switches her gaze to him, her chin goes up, her shoulders back.
That’s my girl.
“Absolutely. Thank you again.”
He smiles. “My pleasure.”
Mum and I walk everyone into the garage, where Kris’s UK driver has been waiting patiently.
Kris hugs me. “Take care of yourself.”
I smile at him. “I will.”
Harper is next. “Look after my big brother,” she says.
I grin. “I will, if he’ll let me.”
“Oh, he’ll let you. I never remember him being as free and easy as he is when he’s with you.”
“Thank you. Take care of yourself, Harper. You have the phone I gave you. It’s a secure line. All your family members have one, so you can talk without the risk of anyone tapping into it. If you need us, we are here.”
“You’re amazing. Thank you for everything.”
She wraps her arms around me once more, squeezing tight.
“Now get in before I cry,” I tell her.
“Oh no,” she laughs. “It was bad enough this morning with Mum and Kat.”
“Exactly,” I say, her outline blurring.
I blink rapidly, brushing a tear off her cheek. “Take care.”
She turns and climbs into the car.
Kris pulls me in for a hug. “Look after yourself.”
“You too.”
My emotions rise to the surface as I shut the door behind them, closing Harper and Kris in together.
I hit the button to open the garage door and watch the car back out.
My hand goes up, even though the blacked-out windows prevent me from looking in.
“It won’t be forever. Just until all this drama blows over,” Mum says, running a hand down my back, the same way she used to when I was a child.
“I know, but of all the Frazers for him to go after in this way. Why her?” I say as the car disappears out of sight. I hit the button and wait for the door to close.
I follow Mum back into the kitchen.
“So is Kris right? Are you pregnant?”
I stop and stare at her.
“What?”
She shrugs. “I heard the tail end of your conversation.”
I drop my ass onto the stool I vacated when Harper left.
“I don’t know. My period is late. But I’ve been taking my pill. I haven’t been ill or sick.”
My mind goes back to me being sick at Caleb’s, but I would have already been pregnant at that point.
“Why do you look so worried?”
I look up and raise an eyebrow.
“Oh, I don’t know. The last woman Elijah was in a relationship with got pregnant and he was forced to marry her. Maybe I don’t want history repeating itself.”
“Is the child Elijah’s?”
“Haha, very funny. Of course, if it exists, it’s Elijah’s. What do you take me for?”
“Then I’m not sure what the problem is?”
“Did you listen to a word I just said?”
“Every single one. But I still don’t see a problem.”
I stare at her, trying to work out what’s going through her mind.
She shrugs. “It’s not like Elijah has proposed. Even if he does, you don’t have to accept.” I open my mouth, but she holds up a hand. “Hear me out. Elijah is a grown ass man. He married Darra because he was young and did what he thought was best for everyone. He is no longer young and na?ve. He also loves you. That is clear for everyone to see.”
She steps closer and takes both my hands in hers, rubbing her thumbs over the backs soothingly.
“Elijah loves you. If it had been you who came to him fifteen years ago and said you were pregnant, he would have happily married you. The problem was not the pregnancy. It was the woman. He never loved Darra. He may have thought he did, at one point. But I think it was more ease. She was there, and she met his needs. She and her father wove a web of deceit and then she sprung the trap.”
“But what if he doesn’t want any more children? It’s not like we’ve had that discussion. We’ve barely been together three months.”
My voice rises as I voice my growing panic.
Mum lets go of my hands and cups my cheeks.
“Elijah knows why you were marrying Kris. He knows what you want. I can’t see him not wanting to make you happy.”
“But I want his happiness.”
“Oh, Pen, happiness…and I’m talking lasting happiness is give and take. It is a two-way street. Neither party can give up their heart’s desire without serious consequences.”
She must read something in my expression, because she gives me her best Mum look.
“Before you completely despair, speak to Elijah. He might surprise you. And if you only think he’s doing something because it’s the right thing, tell him you won’t marry him until after the baby is born.”