Hired Girlfriend, Pregnant Fiancée?

‘Do you love Zander?’

The sheer unexpectedness of the question caught Gabby off guard and the cake dropped from her suddenly nerveless fingers, crashed on to her plate in a scatter of iced crumbs. ‘Of course not.’

‘Gabrielle. I’m an old lady, but I’ve known you all your life. Tell me the truth—I want to help and I know you aren’t happy.’

‘I am happy. I’m happy about the baby. A bit terrified, but mostly happy.’

‘And what about Zander?’ Lucille persisted. ‘Gabby, you can tell me. That’s what family is for.’

Gabby hesitated, and then the need to confide, to share the secret that burned within her with her gran, overcame her doubts. ‘I do love him. But he doesn’t know and he mustn’t ever know.’

‘Why not?’

‘He doesn’t want my love, Gran, and I can’t face the humiliation of inciting his pity or compassion.’ She couldn’t take the rejection. ‘Plus, it would make things complicated, and that’s not fair on the baby. We’ve agreed to explain that we’re friends, that we don’t love each other but we both love him or her.’

Her gran frowned, her delicate skin creasing. ‘But that’s not true. You said you wanted to tell your child the truth, that you didn’t want to live a lie by getting married. This will be living a lie, too.’

‘For my child.’

‘No, Gabby. It will be years before he or she is worried about the intricacies of the relationship between his parents. I don’t think this is about the baby. I think it’s about you. And, darling, I understand how scared you must be of having your love rejected again. Like your mother did. But I know that I would have told your grandfather I loved him no matter what. Because love should always be given a chance. And if Zander does reject that love I know you’re strong enough to face it and move forward.’

The last words were slurred slightly and Gabby could see the forcefulness of her speech had tired her grandmother.

Quickly she poured another cup of tea, and then she covered her gran’s veined hand with her own. ‘Thank you. I’ll think about it. I promise.’

And later, when she had gone back home, she did. She would never break a promise to her gran, so she thought about it long and hard. Replayed every word Lucille had uttered.

She closed her eyes and cringed at the idea of the pity, the compassion, the sheer awkwardness such a confession would generate. Yet Gran was right—love deserved a chance.

Gabby stared at the ceiling and made her decision, then snuggled down under her duvet and told herself it was the right thing to do.

Zander drummed his fingers on the desk and stared at his phone, willing it to ring and for it to be Gabby. Saying what? He closed his eyes. They had said everything they needed to say. Antenatal classes didn’t start for weeks, and until then the baby quite simply did not need him. Neither did Gabby—and he certainly didn’t need her. Though it was galling to realise how much he missed her. Somehow during the charade Gabby had got under his skin, permeated his life in ways he hadn’t foreseen and didn’t know how to combat.

His intercom buzzed and his PA’s voice rang out. ‘Your sisters are here.’

‘Both of them?’

For heaven’s sake. Zander sighed. The Grosvenors were gathering for lunch at their usual venue of a London Italian restaurant to celebrate his mother’s birthday. But the plan had been to meet at said restaurant, not at his office.

‘Tell them I’ll be right down.’

Zander rose and hitched his jacket off the back of his chair, made his way to the marble-floored lobby where his sisters waited. ‘Why the escort?’

‘To make sure that you actually come.’

‘I wouldn’t bail on Mum’s birthday.’

‘Well...just in case. We haven’t seen you since you emailed us that you and Gabby aren’t getting married after all.’

‘Work has been busy...’ It was true enough. He’d thrown himself into work with a ferocious energy, even though he knew he could have delegated many of the tasks he had undertaken himself.

‘How are you feeling?’

‘I’m fine. It’s all worked out for the best.’ The words sounded so hollow they echoed.

His sisters exchanged glances.

‘Are you sure?’ Gemma asked gently.