‘No. I think you should take a chill pill. You’ve messaged him and it hasn’t gone through. His phone is going straight to voicemail, which means it’s either switched off or broken.’
‘I know… OK, that makes sense,’ I said, embarrassed.
‘He’s back here on Friday so I’ll get the lay of the land, and once I know if he’s seen your message or not, we can decide how to play it. And if you want to leave a letter with me too, I can pass it on.’
‘Fine. Good. That sounds like a plan.’
‘You really like him, then?’ Holly said, her kind face full of love.
‘Maybe a little bit. And I don’t want him to forever think that I didn’t like him. Know what I mean?’
‘No. But I’m sure it makes sense in your mind.’
‘Anyway – didn’t you say you’ve got some exciting news as well?’ I asked, tearing apart some focaccia and making a beeline for the olive oil.
‘I did. I’m pregnant.’ Holly gave a shy smile, looking up at me from under her lashes.
I dropped my bread and screamed. ‘Whattttt? Oh, my Goddddd!’ I threw my arms up, engulfing her in a massive hug. ‘Congratulations! Why have we been babbling on about my load of nothing, when we could have been talking about this?’
‘You’re only the second person to know. I’m happy and scared and in love and terrified. I don’t feel old enough to have a baby.’
‘Well, you are. Any idea who the father is?’ I asked with a straight face, and we both laughed.
Twenty-three
Wednesday 4thSeptember
I hid my bike in the bushes at the back ofLavedrine Xand messaged Xavier to check the coast was clear.
Me:Is the rabbit still in the hutch?
Xavier:???
Me:Has Holly gone out?
Xavier:Yes.
A man of few words. I knocked on the back door and waited. I wanted to get cracking and wasn’t sure how much time I’d have before she got back.
‘Bonjour, Abi,’ Xavier greeted me with a big smile, gesturing me in.
‘Morning, morning,’ I said, giving him a kiss. ‘Did you manage to get everything?’
‘Yes, all sorted. It’s all in the bedroom and Holly is at the wholesalers.’
I followed Xavier upstairs to their flat. Dark wooden floors, with the occasional rug, and bright white walls, with framed photos of Holly and Xavier smiling and happy. Skiing in Verbier, kissing in front of the Eiffel Tower, cutting the ribbon to officially openLavedrine X… different versions of their faces peered out from every corner. The cream leather sofa looked battered but snuggly and the kitchen was fit to bursting. Pots and pans hanging from the ceiling, an overpacked spice rack, a window box full of herbs. The flat was cosy and homely and very Holly.
‘We only have two bedrooms, so this one will be the nursery,’ Xavier said, showing me into a tiny room. He’d started to clear it, and a tower of boxes now stood in the hallway, but there was still a large, overstuffed bookcase and a table and chair in my way. ‘I just need to move the desk into the middle, to give you space.’
‘Let me help,’ I said, putting my bag down and grabbing one end. We wobbled it into the centre of the room and Xavier took the chair out. He came back with a dust sheet and covered the desk, then hung another one over the bookcase.
‘This one is screwed in, so has to stay. Coffee?’
‘Yes, please. I think with the time I’ve got, it’s best if I concentrate on one of the walls and you guys paint the others.’
Xavier nodded. ‘Whatever you think – you’re the artist.’ He left me to it, and I flipped the lid off the large tin of lavender paint and gave it a satisfying stir with a wooden spoon. There was nothing better than the smell, the texture and the feel of a freshly opened tin of paint and I couldn’t wait to transform this boring old wall into something Holly would love. I twirled my hair into a topknot and put on the old apron I’d borrowed from Mia, as Xavier reappeared in the doorway.
‘Caffe latte for the lady,’ he said, putting it on top of the dust sheet on the desk. ‘I’ll be downstairs in the restaurant if you need anything. You’ve got about four hours.’
