Steph feltany annoyance with Jon dissipating as she reread his letter and smiled as she snuggled into the pillows and allowed sleep to wash over her. It was a couple of hours laterwhen Steph woke up and found Lindsay sitting on their private terrace sipping sangria.
“You’ve started early,” laughed Steph as she took the seat opposite her friend.
“I think you will find you’re late,” retorted Lindsay filling another glass from the pitcher before her. “Since when have you needed an afternoon nap?” she asked.
“Since I’ve been shagging my boss at every opportunity.” Steph grinned and sipped the fruit filled liquid.
“Linds, do you know this is the alcohol free variety?” She held her glass aloft wearing an express of horror.
“Yes, I ordered it that way.” Lindsay grinned smugly.
“Why?” Steph was confused by her alcohol free friend. “I remember the days where we’d have already been on shots!”
Lindsay rolled her eyes. “Says the woman who has just woken from her granny nap.”
“Whatever, but back to the alcohol free shit.”
“This is highly classified information that you can’t share with anyone, not even Jon,” Lindsay warned.
“What? Are you an alcoholic?”
“What? No, you silly cow I am not an alcoholic!” she protested laughing. “My period is late, almost two weeks late . . .”
With a gasp Steph asked, “Are you pregnant?”
Lindsay shrugged smiling as she replied, “I’m not sure, maybe, but because my periods can be a bit late anyway I decided that I wouldn’t do a test until I was two weeks late, which I am on Wednesday.”
“Wow! So do we need to go and find a chemist to buy a test?” asked Steph excitedly.
“Nope. I brought one with me, well, two actually, they come in twos.” Lindsay grinned.
“You are going to be insufferable pregnant, aren’t you?”
“Like you wouldn’t believe,” giggled Lindsay making Steph laugh.
“Why do they sell them in twos? Surely if you are you don’t need a second opinion,” mused Steph aloud.
“You don’t need two if you are pregnant, but if you’re not you might do one a couple of days later.”
“Ah, I see,” replied Steph sucking on a piece of orange.
“If my first one is positive I will let you pee on the second one as practice for when it’s your turn,” Lindsay suggested.
“Hardly. I kind of hope your first one is negative if you expect me to piddle on a plastic stick. Now, as I am fully rested and recharged shall we investigate the local area, Mrs Smith?”
“Cool. Let me top up my sun lotion and we can hit the beach, bars and pools, in fact let’s check out the lifeguard first,” giggled Lindsay as she ran to her room.
A coupleof hours later as evening was turning into night, Steph and Lindsay were walking back to the hotel arm in arm. Steph shuddered as the feeling of being watched washed over her, like that night when she had walked from her flat across the complex towards Jon’s. Glancing behind them she couldn’t see anyone who looked suspicious or out of place so decided that she was obviously imagining things as she let out a long and loud yawn making Lindsay laugh at her.
“I hope you’re going to keep up this week, Steph!” Lindsay joked about her friend’s fatigue.
“Sorry, maybe it’s the last few weeks catching up or the change in location, air, whatever, but I am sure a good night’s sleep will set me straight. Come on, a little night cap and off to bed for me which means I ought to call Jon too.”
Waking abruptlythe following morning Steph stretched across the bed and found her phone that told her it was just after nine. Stretching like a very stiff cat she almost occupied the whole of the huge super king size bed and smiled as she saw a text message from Jon waiting for her.
Morning darling, hope I haven’t woke you but couldn’t wait any longer. Am trying to work through how much I miss you, trying and failing. I think your days of girly holidays are over because I don’t think I can do this again. A week without you may be my limit. Have a good day and call me or text me when you’re free. Say hi to Lindsay. Love you. Jon x
Steph threw a short kaftan on over her body that was naked except for a small pair of black pants. The suite was empty as she padded bare foot and opened the sliding door leading to the terrace and smiled at the act of kindness on Jon’s part that was responsible for her being here. With a bottle of cold water from the fridge, Steph sat at the table outdoors and composed her reply.
