Page 72 of Tears of Gold

“Of course.”

“It’s important you get through to Barringtons; they are influential, and their customers come from far and wide to buy cutting edge art. They will be excited to buy from the Fairclough foundation.”

“Sure.” I rub at my face again. I wonder if anyone would notice if I went back to bed. I could sleep for a hundred years. I hate the thought of my work now being known as the Fairclough Foundation. It’s not, it’s Faith Hitchin; it’s all just me. Well, it would be if I had anything new. But I know how hard Eli fought for me, to secure the foundation so I could achieve all these amazing things. If it wasn’t for him, I wouldn’t be set up for a TV show due to bring art to the masses. He gave all of himself for me to have these opportunities. I can’t let him down now.

“Faith, are you sure you are okay?”

Miss Beesley takes the opportunity to cut in. Love this woman more than her biscuits right now. “Miss Hitchin, your bath is ready.”

“Ah, thank you.” I push my chair back from the table. “Laura, I’ll see you on Monday.” I feel bad being so abrupt. There is nothing wrong with her at all. I just can’t warm to her; she just keeps giving me things to do.

Upstairs, I sink into the bath. The bubbles are heavenly. Sweet and musky they fill the air with my favourite scent. As foggy as I am at the moment, I haven’t missed little things like my favourite perfumes and makeup filling the drawers in the dressing table in the gaudy bedroom or the fact my favourite expensive bubble bath is now lined up on a shelf in the bathroom.

Whether it’s Eli or Miss Beesley, I don’t know. Maybe it’s a dangerous combination of both of them. Eli has been back at the corporate grind the last few days, but he’s miserable, I can sense it. He sleeps with me tucked up and him wrapping himself behind me, his hand on my tummy. Two spoons about to become three.

I should get myself to Barringtons. He fights for everything. I should fight just as hard. Tomorrow I know we will be going to battle with Bowsley over our wedding, and I already know he will have to make sacrifices that will cost more than I want. It’s just the way they work.

I wish Peter was here. He would have helped, would have been in Eli’s corner.

I wish Al were here. He would have been in mine and together we would have had all the support we need.

I reach for my phone, drying my hands on a towel folded on the chair near the bath.

“If you show me your tits I’m hanging up.”

I glance down and check I’m covered by bubbles. I am, lots of them.

I smile at Abi. “I won’t flash, I promise.”

“How are you doing?” She’s in her kitchen. I can only hope she’s not making something that will make me puke in my bath.

“Tired. Like so bloody tired I never want to get up again.”

“How many weeks are you now?”

“Nearly nine.”

“It will get better, I promise.”

“Will it get better tomorrow? Honestly I’m not interested unless it’s tomorrow.”

Abi snorts. “About week sixteen if I remember correctly.”

“Week sixteen! I’m going to fricking die by then.”

She shakes her head and gives me her no shit stare. “How do you plan to get through childbirth if you can’t cope with a few weeks which feel like a glorified hangover?”

“I don’t know.” My chest tightens and I slip further under the bubbles, allowing the warm water to caress the tightness. “How am I?”

“You will ask your best friend to come and hold your hand through the whole thing.”

“Will you?” I start to cry which is utterly ridiculous.

Abi howls with laughter. “I see the crying stage is in full swing.”

“Is it the baby making me cry? I was beginning to think I was depressed.”

“It’s the hormones, just calm down.”