Page 27

THIRTEEN

MILLIE

“We’re doing what?”

“Shopping, then brunch, followed by an afternoon at the Aman spa. It’s insane, you’re gonna love it . I booked mani-pedi, facial, and we’re finishing up with a massage.” Holiday listed each treatment off with her fingers. “Pregnancy one for you. And Radley’s coming as well.”

It was the second time she’d told us, but I was still waking up and I could have sworn I didn’t know Holiday was coming over.

My brain might be a little more foggy these days, but I would have remembered someone telling me that I was spending an entire day shopping, eating, and lying down.

Because it included two of my current favorite things to do.

Shopping was also a pastime of mine, though it had been a while.

I was yet to brave a store with my newly swollen belly, the one getting bigger by the day. Even online, I couldn’t quite bring myself to visit the pregnancy sections of each retailer. Which is why I could now only wear my leggings below my bump.

But going with someone else might not be so bad, even if she was a glossed-to-perfection, A-list starlet, and I was yet to brush my hair.

“Did I forget this was happening?”

“No.” She threw her arms in the air. “Surprise.”

I was trying to remember if I’d ever seen Holiday at this time of the morning. The enthusiasm and energy levels were normal, but this early in the day seemed extreme.

“Tanner might have mentioned that you could no longer fit into anything, and I haven’t seen you since, you know”—she waved her hands in front of her flat stomach—“so I wanted to make a day of it. I had to set my alarm.”

“Tanner asked you to take me shopping?”

“Yes, now come on . Hurry up and get dressed.”

Radley stretched out of a yawn as she leaned against the kitchen counter. “Hol, it’s not even nine a.m. Can we get a coffee first?”

“We’ll get one on the way. I figured you’d want something to eat, too, so I brought bagels and brownies from Darling’s. Tanny said you’re keeping them in business.” She winked at me. “The driver’s downstairs waiting.”

“Darling brownies?”

Her eyebrows waggled. “Still warm.”

It was all she needed to say. In fact, she hadn’t even finished her sentence before I shot off.

“Give me five minutes,” I shouted behind me as I hurried into my bathroom. “Radley, hurry up. Don’t make me wait for brownies.”

It must have been the promise of a chocolate that had me in the elevator four minutes later heading to the underground parking lot, where a blacked-out Lincoln Navigator was waiting for the three of us.

Radley’s Secret Service detail was next to it, and based on the borderline annoyed look on his face, I’d say Jake wasn’t too thrilled about spending the day shopping and pampering.

He barely reacted to the smirk I shot him when I climbed into the SUV to find the pink Darling’s Bakery box placed on the center console.

While he discussed the route and security protocols with Holiday’s driver, I undid the ribbon and inhaled the sugar.

Ahhh . If anyone saw me now, they could easily question how sugar wasn’t considered a class A drug.

“Wow, he wasn’t kidding about the brownies,” said Holiday as she eased into the seat in front of me, while Radley slid in the other side.

“Your brother has been bringing me these superfruit, bright green smoothie things every morning, but they do not hit the spot like this,” I mumbled through a bite, then swallowed.

“Thank you, Hol, this is really kind of you. This baby’s kept me chained to the toilet, or I’ve been so tired all I want to do is lie on the couch. I haven’t been out for so long.”

“Neither have I,” added Radley.

Holiday turned around in her seat. “Me either. This is the first short break from filming I’ve had in weeks. And I haven’t had a girls’ day in forever.”

“Where are we going shopping? Come to think of it, are there any stores open before ten?”

“Bergdorfs is opening early for us. We get two hours of uninterrupted shopping, where no one can bother us. ”

“Bergdorfs? How did you get that?” I spluttered, though even as I asked I knew it was a stupid question.

There were doors open to celebrities that mere mortals like me would never even know about. Radley could usually get some good perks, but only for security reasons and we rarely used them.

“My contact at Gucci has a hookup with all the personal shoppers,” she replied as the driver finished up his conversation, closed our passenger doors, and jumped into his seat. “Let’s go, ladies.”

It could have been the sugar rush from the brownies, but I think it was a sense of excitement that placed the wide smile on my face as we made our way out into New York, with the thought of buying new clothes that actually fit.

Summer had turned into fall, which would become winter before we knew it, and a couple of snuggly, cozy sweaters were immensely appealing.

I also needed new jeans, new shirts, new everything.

Today would be the first day I’d truly ventured out in a while, and the change in the air was noticeable. The sun was lower and the trees lining the road looked like they were on fire now that their leaves had turned color.

Since we’d moved into the apartment a few weeks ago, I’d spent most of the time unpacking and arranging our bookshelves in between naps while Radley got ready to start her new school year.

Over the summer when we hung out and spent most of our spare time together, it was hard to tell anything had changed, but now she was buying all the books she’d need for the coming semesters, while I was working my way through A Modern Guide to Pregnancy or whatever it was this week .

I’d already decided that I’d get ahead with my reading for when I went back to school after the baby was born.

Holiday spun around from the seat in front. “So where are we starting first.”

She happened to ask the question right as I was pulling at the bra strap digging into my side. “Underwear?”

“You got it,” she replied. “Start from the inside and work out. If we run out of time, I can push brunch to lunch.”

“There’s no way Millie is going to forgo brunch for shopping, no matter how much she loves it.” Radley laughed, rubbing her hands together. I wasn’t going to disagree. “Ooh, this is so exciting. I haven’t been to a store in so long, everything I buy is online.”

“Tell me about it,” agreed Holiday.

I realized that of the three of us, I was the only one who could lead a normal, private, and totally unregulated life. I could go to a store without paparazzi taking my photos or passersby wanting an autograph. And no one stared.

“How’s filming going?” I asked as we passed a giant movie billboard with Holiday’s face on it.

She puffed out her cheeks and her head fell onto the headrest. “I love it, but it’s exhausting, I’m never doing a back-to-back again. Promoting one movie while filming the next one is not for the fainthearted.”

I glanced behind me, but the billboard was already out of sight. “When’s this one out again?”

“December. In time for the holidays, and to make the deadline for the awards season. The second part is out next December.”

“When are you getting a break? ”

“We finish filming the second part in a couple of weeks, then it’s full throttle for promo and awards season, so after the Oscars in March. Which means I’ll be around for the baby.” A big smile pulled at her mouth. “Then I’ve decided to take the rest of the year off.”

“What are you going to do?”

She shrugged. “I don’t know. Find a beach? Escape the chaos? Eat all the cookies? Maybe rent a cute house somewhere you and Tanny can visit Auntie Holiday.”

“A beach sounds so good right now.”

“Mmm. With someone to bring you cold cucumber face cloths and poolside cocktails all day.”

“You know what I’d like to do?” Radley said, staring wistfully out of the window, “I’d like to go to England and live in a little cottage. Visit where Shakespeare lived. You should totally do that.”

Holiday sighed quietly. “Maybe. I do have to be in London for the BAFTAs in February, but I’ve never had the opportunity to see anywhere else and that might be fun. Doesn’t it always rain?”

“So take an umbrella,” she replied.

We turned onto Fifth Avenue, and as we pulled up outside Bergdorf Goodman, with its signature black awnings and arched display windows, an immaculately dressed woman rushed out to greet us.

“Ms. Simpson,” she said, holding her hand out to Holiday. “Welcome to Bergdorf Goodman, we’re honored to have you here. I’m Cynthia.”

I’d never seen Holiday in Holiday mode. Not the one the public thought she was, the pristine, American princess. It wasn’t too different from the Holiday we saw at home, but there was a rigidity and extra polish to her as she smiled brightly and shook the woman’s hand.

“Thank you so much, Cynthia,” she replied, “and these are my friends, Millie and Radley. We’re all very excited.”

It was barely noticeable, but the woman’s eyes flared as they landed on Radley before darting to the side where Jake and Ethan were discreetly standing.

“It’s a pleasure. Please, ladies, follow me. You have the store to yourself for two hours. Is there anywhere you’d like to start?”

Holiday looked at me, silently asking for permission to share my news.

“If you could point me in the direction of the maternity department, that would be great.”

“And we’re going with her,” added Radley.

“I’ll take you up there now.” She smiled, the practiced smile of someone who’d be serving customers all day long. “And for your convenience, all your purchases today will be boxed up and shipped to your home.”

We headed toward the escalator, making our way through perfume and beauty, and along the floors filled with couture, shoes, bags, dedicated designer stores, and the staff readying the space for the day. I could feel my pulse calming with each flight passed, until we reached the top, that is.

“Oh my god.”

Baby paraphernalia was everywhere.

Strollers, bouncers, car seats.