by Lacey London
‘I wanna see!’ Gina yells, making both Noah and I visibly jump.
‘Oh, my God!’ I whisper, as Gina appears next to Marc. ‘Are you…’
My voice trails off as her giant smile answers my question. Clasping my hands over my mouth, I inwardly scream as MJ and Madison crawl through Gina’s legs.
‘We’re going to have a sister.’ Madison states proudly, placing both hands on Gina’s stomach.
‘Well aren’t you fertile Mertile!’ Janie cackles loudly.
Gina shrugs her shoulders and points at Marc accusingly. ‘It’s this one! He keeps knocking me up like a damn alley cat!’
‘What does knocking up mean?’ Madison asks with just a tinge of an Australian accent.
The room falls into an embarrassed silence before erupting into laughter.
‘What’s so funny?’ A tiny voice mumbles from the back of the room.
Spinning around, my face breaks into a huge smile as Lianna steps into the kitchen. Fumbling with her handbag, she curses as her mobile crashes to the floor. Our eyes meet and she shoots me a smile. Rushing over, I pull her into a bear hug squeeze her as hard as I can.
‘I’m so sorry.’ I whisper into her ear. ‘I’ve been such an idiot.’
‘Me too.’ She buries her face in my hair and lets out a sob. ‘I didn’t mean any of those horrible things I said.’
‘It’s OK.’ I attempt to blink away the tears before anyone notices. ‘Besides, you’ll always be my best friend… you know too much.’
Lianna laughs loudly and the room bursts into chaos for a second time. Oliver wraps his arms around me as we watch our friends and family rejoice happily. All of our nearest and dearest in the same place at the same time. I guess this is something I used to take for granted so much in the past. Interlocking my fingers with Oliver’s, I plant a kiss on his wedding ring and smile. I thought moving to Spring Oak would make us the perfect family. What I didn’t realise was that until you are happy with who you are, you will never be happy with what you have…
*
As the sun sets over Strawberry Lane and the children play happily in the garden, the grownups enjoy a glass or three of bubbles. Clinking my glass against the others, I take a sip of the ice cold fizz and lean back in my deck chair. Oh, how I have missed this. Shortly after Lianna arrived, so did Eve and Owen. Just as I thought, Gina and Eve clicked immediately and Marc and Owen have chatted like long lost brothers. It’s safe to say that this party has been a huge success.
For the past two hours, Marc has filled us in on his Australian adventure and I have relayed every gory detail of Noah’s birth. A year might not be long in some people’s eyes, but for a group of friends who used to spend every day together, we have a hell of a lot to catch up on.
‘And that leads us on to this little princess right here.’ Marc places a hand on Gina’s bump and raises his eyebrows. ‘Should we tell them?’
The rest of us exchange glances as Gina smiles excitedly. ‘Well… before the next rug rat comes along we are going to move back to the UK.’
‘No!’ I gasp, feeling butterflies flutter wildly in my stomach. ‘When?’
‘Considering that Gina is almost five months pregnant, I’m gonna go with pretty soon!’ Marc laughs loudly as MJ dives into his arms.
This is incredible! Should I tell him about our own impending move? I catch Oliver’s gaze and he shakes his head. He’s right. This isn’t about us. Now isn’t the time. Lianna fires a million and one questions at the pair of them about when, why and where, providing great entertainment for the rest of us. Apparently, a year was long enough for them to realise that London is where their hearts are. I for one couldn’t be happier about it and I can tell by the delighted looks on everyone else’s faces that they feel the same.
Inevitably, it’s not long before talk turns to us and by us I mean, Oliver, Noah and myself. In true Gina style, she demands a tour of the house. I don’t have the heart to tell her that this might be the first and last time that she sees it. Taking hold of Noah, we leave the rest of the group to talk and slip away. It takes me a moment to realise that Eve and Lianna have tagged along behind us. As we don’t have many hours of daylight left, I decide to make our first stop the front garden and lead the way through the house.
Taking a seat on the veranda, Gina kicks off her heels and rubs her stomach gently. The after effects of a long haul flight are starting to show and it’s actually pretty funny. The sleek black hair that she has sported for almost ten years is frizzy and wild, making the mascara rings under her eyes look even more fitting. The leopard print, skin tight dress that accentuates her burgeoning bump completes the look perfectly.
‘Are you OK?’ I ask, rocking Noah back and forth. ‘You look a little… agitated.’
‘Agitated?’ Gina laughs. ‘I have just flown for over twenty-four hours and I’m pregnant. Of course I am bloody agitated.’
Lianna laughs and pulls a bottle of bubbles out from behind her back. ‘It’s a shame that you’re pregnant and can’t unwind with a glass of fizz, but don’t worry, I will have one for you.’ Picking up the bottle, she takes a big gulp.
‘I hope you choke on it.’ Gina scoffs, running a hand through her hair.
For the hundredth time that day, we all fall about laughing.
‘And that is why I’m not having kids.’ Eve giggles, accepting the bottle from Li and taking a sip.
Wiping a happy tear from under my eye, I look up to see Gwen, Alice and Francesca staring in disgust from across the street. I can only imagine what the four of us must look like. One pregnant, one with child and two drinking from a bottle of Moet, but to be completely honest, I couldn’t care less. Eve follows my gaze as I raise my hand in acknowledgement. Smiling thinly, Gwen turns on her heel and marches off down the lane, followed quickly by Alice and Francesca. I can’t be certain, but I am pretty sure that I hear the words ‘common’ and ‘lout’ whispered as they flounce away.
I look over at Eve as a giggle escapes my lips. This is me. This is who am. I was never destined for twinsets and pearls. I was always going to be the woman who drinks champagne with her girlfriends and annoys the prissy neighbours. The woman who spills something down her dress within minutes of putting it on and says inappropriate things at inappropriate times. Stretching my lips into a huge grin, I lift Noah up as Lianna digs her phone out for a selfie. The camera flashes, momentarily blinding me with the light and suddenly everything becomes crystal clear.
It doesn’t matter what you envision the perfect life to be or how hard you try to make it happen. Life has a way of finding exactly what you need and leading to you to it. You might take a few wrong turns along the way, but if it’s meant to be, rest assured that you will get there in the end…
Epilogue
Looking down at the buzzing city below, I press my nose against the glass and try to breathe in the chaos that is London. The streets are alive with an utterly captivating energy, an energy that says anything is possible. It was this vibe that made me fall in love with London all those years ago and I am overjoyed to be back. Thousands of people run about their daily lives, having absolutely no idea that they are being watched from twenty floors up. A wave of exhilaration washes over me as I close my eyes and smile happily. This is what I have been lusting after for so long.
Tearing myself away from the window, I look around the luxury apartment that has very recently become our home. Considering that we moved in almost three weeks ago we haven’t really got much done. Boxes upon boxes are piled high, rendering most of the apartment unusable. The only room that can be classed as finished is Noah’s playroom. Pushing open the door to his nursery, I run a hand over the beautiful paintwork and smile fondly. The gorgeous zoo themed interior is the one and only thing we kept from the house in Spring Oak.
Well, that’s not technically true. You see, Owen and Eve decided that the suburbs weren’t for them either and as luck had it, they bought the apartment below ours! It was actually Owen who foun
d this place for us. With him being a property developer, he managed to find us a buyer for our old house and get us a fabulous price on the apartment.
I’d like to say that our neighbours upstairs are equally as nice, but to be honest, they’re a bit of pain. Noisy just doesn’t cover it and they are always calling around for one thing or another. Hearing yet another knock at the door, I let out a frustrated sigh and pad across the living room.
This will be them; you mark my words. A quick peek through the peep hole confirms my suspicions. Throwing open the door I smile broadly at Marc, who I have to admit looks frankly terrified.
‘Clara…’ Wiping a bead of sweat from his forehead, he hurriedly passes me MJ. ‘It’s time!’
Glancing over his shoulder at Gina who is breathing heavily and clutching her bump, I hold the door ajar for Madison to toddle inside.
See what I mean? Always wanting a favour…
To be continued…
If you have enjoyed this book, I would be so grateful if you would leave me an Amazon review.
I really appreciate you taking the time to do it.
It means a lot!
Lacey
xoxo
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@thelaceylondon
Have you read the other books in the Clara Andrews series…
Meet Clara Andrews
Book One
With a love of cocktails and wine, a fantastic job in the fashion industry and the world’s greatest best friends, Clara Andrews thought she had it all.
That is until a chance meeting introduces her to Oliver, a devastatingly handsome American designer. Trying to keep the focus on her work, Clara finds her heart stolen by Michelin starred restaurants and luxury hotels.
As things get flirty, Clara reminds herself that inter-office relationships are against the rules, so when a sudden recollection of a work’s night out leads her to a cheeky, charming and downright gorgeous barman, she decides to see where it goes.
Clara soon finds out that dating two men isn’t as easy as it seems…
Will she be able to play the field without getting played herself?
Join Clara as she finds herself landing in and out of trouble, re-affirming friendships, discovering truths and uncovering secrets.
Clara Meets the Parents
Book Two
Almost a year has passed since Clara found love in the arms of delectable American Oliver Morgan and things are starting to heat up.
The nights of tequila shots and bodycon dresses are now a distant memory, but a content Clara couldn’t be happier about it.
It’s not just Clara things have changed for. Marc is settling in to his new role as Baby Daddy and Lianna is lost in the arms of the hunky Dan once again.
When Oliver declares it time to meet the Texan in-laws, Clara is ecstatic and even more so when she discovers that the introduction will take place on the sandy beaches of Mexico!
Will Clara be able to win over Oliver’s audacious mother?
What secrets will unfold when she finds an ally in the beautiful and captivating Erica?
Clara is going to need a little more than sun, sand and margaritas to get through this one…
Meet Clara Morgan
Book Three
Wedding bells are ringing for Clara and Oliver in Meet Clara Morgan - the much anticipated, third instalment in the Clara Andrews Series.
When Clara, Lianna and Gina all find themselves engaged at the same time, it soon becomes clear that things are going to get a little crazy.
With Lianna and Gina busy planning their own impending nuptials, it’s not long before Oliver enlists the help of Janie, his feisty Texan mother, to help Clara plan the wedding of her dreams.
However, it’s not long before Clara realizes that Janie’s vision of the perfect wedding day is more than a little different to her own.
Will Clara be able to cope with her shameless mother in law Janie?
What will happen when a groom gets cold feet?
And how will Clara handle a blast from the past who makes a reappearance in the most unexpected way possible?
Join Clara and the gang as three very different brides, plan three very different weddings.
With each one looking for the perfect fairy-tale ending, who will get their happily ever after…
Clara at Christmas
Book Four
With snowflakes falling and fairy lights twinkling brightly, it can only mean one thing - Christmas will be very soon upon us.
With just twenty-five days to go until the big day, Clara finds herself dealing with more than just the usual festive stresses.
Plans to host the perfect Christmas Day for her American in laws are ambushed by her BFF’s clichéd meltdown at turning thirty.
With a best friend on the verge of a mid-life crisis, putting Christmas dinner on the table isn’t the only thing Clara has got to worry about this year.
Taking on the role of Best Friend/Therapist, Head Chef and Party Planner is much harder than Clara had anticipated.
With the clock ticking, can Clara pull things together - or will Christmas Day turn out to be the December disaster that she is so desperate to avoid?
Join Clara and the gang in this festive instalment and discover what life changing gifts are waiting for them under the tree this year…
COMING SOON!
Clara in the Caribbean!
Now available to pre-order from Amazon!