worry, you won’t even know I’m there.’
There was an embarrassed pause, before Ben shrugged apologetically at Matt. The three of them let themselves out of the house and turned into the street. ‘You go on ahead,’ Bella said, hanging back.
‘OK.’ Ben and Matt walked briskly ahead, both of them painfully aware that they were being watched.
Matt took a packet of cigarettes out of his pocket and offered them to Ben. He looked back over his shoulder at Bella, who was walking about twenty paces behind them. ‘Nah, I’d better not,’ he muttered, gesturing backwards.
Matt frowned. ‘She won’t mind you having one, surely?’
Ben pursed his lips. ‘She might.’
Matt put a cigarette between his lips and lit it, earning him a longing glance from Ben. ‘So, what do you reckon then? About the baby?’
‘I’m really happy about it,’ Ben fired back instantly, a note of defiance in his voice.
‘That’s good.’ Matt deliberately left a pause, knowing Ben wouldn’t be able to help filling it.
‘I must admit it was a bit of a shock, though.’
‘I bet.’ Again, Matt left a pause.
Ben glanced back at Bella nervously. ‘I keep thinking about Charlotte and me.’
‘And?’ Matt exhaled a long trail of smoke, which floated up into the still, dark air, before dissipating.
Ben sighed. ‘I think it just wasn’t meant to be. All that time and we never had an accident. First night with Bella and …’
‘Bingo!’ Matt finished the sentence for him.
Ben gave a dry laugh. ‘Yeah. Bingo.’
‘Well, as long as you’re happy about it, I’m pleased for you, mate.’ Matt blew out another long trail of smoke, before stubbing out his cigarette on the pavement.
Together, they turned towards Matt and Freya’s flat. Now in front of them, Bella turned, too, and began to walk slowly back the way they had come.
‘Does she always do that?’
Ben looked at Matt curiously. ‘Do what?’
Matt gestured towards Bella. ‘Follow you everywhere you go.’
Ben laughed. ‘No! ’Course not. I think she did just want some air.’
Matt grinned, feeling slightly stupid. ‘She’s an absolute stunner, mate. You certainly seem to have struck gold there.’
Ben looked up at Bella, who was now waiting for them at the gate to the flat, with shining eyes and a wide smile. ‘Yup,’ he said matching her smile. ‘I certainly did.’
‘So … What did you think?’ Freya pulled on one of Matt’s T-shirts and climbed into bed beside him, wrapping herself around him as she did every night, using his body as a human hot-water bottle.
Matt pulled her towards him so that she was resting her head on his bare chest. He kissed the top of her head, enjoying the smell of her. Not quite perfume. Not quite natural. A heady mix of the two. ‘I like her. She lets him be himself and he seems happy. Let’s face it, it’s been a while since we’ve seen him smile that much.’
Freya nodded but didn’t reply.
‘What about you?’ he prompted, after the silence had stretched just a beat too long. ‘What did you think of her?’
‘Hmmm. Well, she’s lovely-looking and she was friendly enough.’
‘But?’
Freya sighed. ‘But nothing, really. I can’t put my finger on it but there was just something about her that I found a bit unnerving.’
Matt stroked her silky blonde hair. ‘Sure you’re not feeling a teensy bit jealous?’ he teased.
Freya tensed immediately. ‘No!’ she snapped. ‘Why would I be jealous?’
Matt rolled his eyes in the darkness. Talk about putting his foot in it. ‘I’m just teasing. Relax, honey.’
Freya tutted. ‘Well, don’t! No, I’m not jealous of her. She might be beautiful but I think she’s also a bit weird. A bit intense.’
‘It was odd the way she insisted on following us on our walk,’ Matt agreed.
‘Exactly. What did Ben say about her?’
‘He seems happy.’
‘Did he mention Charlotte?’
Matt shifted uncomfortably. He always told Freya everything but wasn’t sure if he was betraying Ben’s confidence in this case. ‘Um, he just said it obviously wasn’t meant to be. That’s all.’
‘Why not? They were together for years. He was going to ask her to marry him.’
‘I know, but …’ Matt paused, trying to find the right words. ‘He thinks it’s a sign that Bella got pregnant almost immediately, whereas he and Charlotte never even had so much as a scare.’
‘Well, we’ve never had so much as a scare either.’ Freya’s voice suddenly sounded very small. ‘I hope you don’t think that means we’re not meant to be?’
‘Don’t be daft!’ Matt gave her shoulder a squeeze. ‘I don’t really share his view that the pregnancy is some kind of miracle …’
‘What, you think she may have deliberately trapped him?’ There was a sudden note of excitement in Freya’s voice.
‘No!’ Matt said quickly, although that was indeed what he thought. ‘But it does seem a bit odd that he would have been taken so much by surprise. He clearly thought she was taking precautions …’
‘Hmmm. It does,’ Freya agreed. ‘I miss Charlotte.’
‘You still see her.’
Freya laughed. ‘I know, but it’s not the same. I miss her being part of our foursome. It was so easy. I never had to check myself with her. I knew she loved me whatever.’
‘You’ll get used to Bella. I’m sure she’ll grow to love you just as much as Charlotte did.’
‘You sound like you’ve got used to her already.’ Freya adopted a sulky tone. ‘That didn’t take long.’
Matt sighed and kissed Freya’s head again. ‘Shut up and go to sleep.’
Jo twirled in front of Peter. ‘Will I do?’
Peter gazed down at her, his eyes swimming with love.
