Page 22

ROSIE

It’s been two weeks since my disastrous family reunion and I still haven’t heard from my parents. Jackson and I have spent nearly every second not at work locked in my flat and when he suggested we go for a walk before our twenty week scan this afternoon, this was the only place I wanted to go.

I love this time of year and there’s nowhere better to spend it than in Richmond Park. The air is crisp and mild, and rust colored leaves crunch underfoot. Unlike Hyde Park which is always packed with crowds, we’ve barely seen a soul in the hour since we made it here.

We’ve been meandering through the lanes, but I’ve been discreetly shepherding Jackson to the coffee hut in the center of the park that sells the best hot chocolate.

Anya and I discovered it last year when we were in the throes of wedding planning and staying in her London house. We’d spend days sipping from reusable mugs as I teased her about her new jet setting lifestyle.

“Okay, so you’re being pulled two meters by one arm?” I ask, interrupting Jackson as he explains the stunt he’ll be working on this week .

He shakes his head. “That’s how it will look on camera, but I’ll be in a full rig to avoid any injury.”

I bite my lip and concentrate on the leaves crunching underfoot.

“Are you worried, girlfriend?” Jackson grins down at me with a wink.

I roll my eyes but can’t stop the way my heart lightens. He’s called me girlfriend almost as much as pretty girl in the past week and I feel like giggling like a schoolgirl every time. I’ve had a few boyfriends over the years, but none of them claimed me in the way Jackson has.

“It just sounds crazy,” I burst out. “It seems like every week you’re getting thrown into a table or suspended in midair or plunged underwater in a car crash?—”

“That’s not for a few weeks yet.”

I cut my eyes to his. “It’s just a lot, is all. Have you ever thought of doing a courthouse drama? Ooh, or animation! That’s literally just you in a padded room.”

Jackson frees my hand so he can wrap his arm around my shoulder and tug me closer to his side. “What can I say, pretty girl, your boyfriend is a daredevil.”

“Adrenaline junkie more like,” I mutter as he plants a kiss to my temple.

“Look, I’ve got a good team around me and they’ve never steered me wrong. I’ve done hundreds of these stunts over the years. You should have seen some of the stuff they had me doing for Starseeker.”

“Like that fight scene where you smashed through a window and fell three stories in Starseeker’s Vengeance? I remember.”

He gasps and I feel my cheeks burn. “Rosie Taylor, you didn’t tell me you’ve seen them.”

I glance up at him and the bright grin pulling at his cheeks. “Oh, you mean the most successful superhero franchise of the last twenty years? I might have caught a few.”

He tilts his head back as he chuckles. “I was given the suit as a wrap gift.” He wiggles his eyebrows. “I can try it on for you if you like.”

I laugh. “You can try it on, but the lycra didn’t really do it for me.”

“You didn’t like my lycra?” he asks in mock horror. “What about the bulge that they had to fix in post?”

I snort, imagining the poor VFX person who would have spent hours minimizing Jackson’s sizable bulge so as to not scar any kids for life.

“All I’m saying is you need to be careful.

” I press my hand against my bump underneath my jacket.

Smudge has been much more active since Jackson felt her for the first time.

She’s really making herself known. It’s been really hard to not call the baby ‘she’ before our gender scan but Jackson’s unwavering certainty is contagious.

It doesn’t matter to me either way. I wouldn’t mind a mini-Jackson.

Jackson stops in his tracks, turning me to face him. “Are you really worried about this?” he asks, concern and apprehension clear in his dark eyes

“I’m not not concerned. I know you’re a professional and have been doing this for a long time, but I just can’t help but worry.” I shrug. “Sue me.”

Jackson steps closer, his hand tugging at my jacket and lightly stroking my bump. “I know what I’m doing, pretty girl.” He cups my chin and swipes his thumb against my lip. “Trust me.”

I take a deep breath. “I do trust you.”

He takes my lips in his and my worry burns away as he swipes his tongue against mine.

My toes curl in my boots as I rise up to meet his lips .

He pulls away with a final peck, “We should head back to the car if we want to make this appointment.”

“Let me get my hot chocolate first,” I laugh. “I can’t leave without it. Anya and I always get it with all the trimmings and it’s the best one in the city.”

We fall back into step as we head towards the hut, fingers entwined. It’s the middle of the week so the park is quiet but Jackson hangs back while I order to not draw attention. It’s only when we each have a cup of gooey goodness in hands that he pounces.

“Have you spoken to her recently?” Jackson asks. “Anya?”

My gut twists and I cradle my bump. “Uhh,” I say, thinking. “A few times here and there. She’s still on her honeymoon. They were in the Maldives last I heard from them.”

“Hmm,” he says.

“What?”

“Nothing!” Jackson insists. “Have you told her yet?”

“Told who what?” I take a sip of my drink, the whipped cream sticking to my lip.

“Rosie,” he chides gently.

“I will tell her,” I insist, Cleo’s smug face and my mother’s sharp criticism echoing in my ears. “She’s on her honeymoon, Jackson.”

He sighs. “She’ll be home soon right?”

I nod. “And I’ll tell her as soon as she does.” She’ll probably be able to tell as soon as she sees how big my boobs have gotten.

“Have you heard from your mum?”

I shake my head. I sent her a text the day after she left the flat and asked her when she was free to chat, but she left me on read .

Jackson is quiet beside me as he sips his drink. “You were right, pretty girl. This shit is delicious.”

I pull him to a stop and kiss the whipped cream off his lip. “I told you. I’d come here every day if I could.”

“Why don’t you?”

I shoot him a look, “We drove here Jackson. A two hour walk for a daily hot chocolate would be ridiculous.”

“You don’t want to move over here?” he asks, grasping my hand in mine.

I snort. “How am I going to afford a flat in Richmond? The rent here alone is more than my entire salary.” Plus, when the baby gets here, any left over cash will be spent on her.

My mother’s jibe rings in my ear. It was already a push to rent a one bed on one salary in the city, so I don’t know what I’m going to do when I have to factor in childcare costs.

That’s not to mention if my job will even still exist when I return from maternity leave.

I’ve already started meeting with Kathleen and the production team for the short film, but even with the extra hours, the pay will barely cover one month’s rent.

I could leave the city, move out into a cheaper area, but then I’d have to quit my job or find a new one.

And the opportunities outside London in the film industry are limited.

I could get a job doing something else. Admin or cleaning or baking, maybe.

Though how would I look after the baby if I’m waking up at five am to open up a bakery?

I’d be late sometimes and the customers would get angry and would stop coming and then the bakery would have to close and?—

“Where’s that head gone?” Jackson asks, after what I realize is a long silence while I worry about the turnover of my imaginary bakery .

I shoot him what I hope is a reassuring smile. “Just thinking.”

“Hold up, is that”—Jackson says, ducking his head and peering through some trees—“Pip?”

I whip my head, expecting to see my glamorous friend strolling across the green but instead I can’t help the laugh that escapes as I come face to face with a parked taxi with Pip Covington’s face plastered to the side of it.

“It is.” I drag Jackson closer. The whole cab is bright lilac, complementing Pip’s purple gown as she holds a bottle of Poise Perfect .

It’s one of those perfume ads that are designed to confuse you and simultaneously arouse you enough to want to buy a scent that you’ve never smelled before. I’m sold.

“Look, we’re matching,” I laugh tugging at my purple sweater. “Can you take a picture of me?”

I hand him my phone and turn, shooting a goofy smile to the camera as I point at the taxi.

“Don’t get my bump in it,” I say through my teeth.

“Looks good, pretty girl.” He shoots me a smile as he hands me back my phone.

I waste no time pulling up Pip’s name.

Me

Look what I found!

It’s surprising how close I’ve become to Danny’s sister and her best friend, Cassie, considering Anya and I used to scream sing Cassandra’s debut album all throughout university and would see Pip plastered on the cover of fashion magazines.

But as soon as Anya introduced us after she and Danny finally agreed to make a real go of their relationship, we all just clicked.

It’s nice to know I have friends on the other side of the screen, even if they do spend their time jet setting across the world.

Jackson and I walk back to the car as I see the bubbles appear by her name.

Anxiety curls in my gut the longer it takes her to reply.

Maybe we’re not as close as I thought we were and now she just thinks I’m a weirdo.

A minute goes by and I check my phone for the message but nothing has come through.

I’m about to put my phone away when the bubbles reappear and a message finally pops up.

Pip

Imagine the poor driver having to drive that around all day

I snicker as I tuck my phone back in my pocket.

“You ready for this?” Jackson asks, taking my hand in his as we heads towards the hospital.

I place a kiss to his knuckles. “I’m ready.”