Chapter Nine
The clipped tones of the British Airways pilot welcomed her. It felt remarkably good to be back in the familiar surroundings of Heathrow Airport, with its Marks & Spencer, Boots and Pret. She had missed all the usual home comforts while she had been away, and was looking forward to seeing her flat, having all her clothes back and settling back into normal life. Though just how normal her life could possibly be now that she was pregnant was a question she was finding it difficult to answer. She felt a thrill of excitement, while a sickening sense of dread rose through her simultaneously.
‘Libby!’ A familiar voice called out unexpectedly across the busy Arrivals lounge.
‘Angus! What the hell are you doing here?’ Libby’s heart soared at the sight of her dearest friend. With his tousled auburn hair and deep laughter lines crinkling at the corner of his dazzling blue eyes, he was a welcome sight.
‘I’ve come to pick you up! The pros of being freelance, I’m available for chauffeuring any time.’ He kissed her on both cheeks and gave her a big bear-hug.
‘How are you feeling?’ he asked. Libby panicked momentarily that Jules had broken her promise and told Angus about the baby. ’Does it feel weird to be back?’
She breathed a sigh of relief as she realised he was none the wiser. She knew she had to tell him soon and she was dreading it.
‘It always feels a bit strange but it’s a good feeling too, and all the better for seeing you! You are an absolute legend, Angus. Thank you so much for coming to get me.’ She suddenly felt rather emotional.
‘You couldn’t have stopped me even if you’d tried.’ He reached down and grabbed her backpack, slinging it over his shoulder as though it weighed as much as a feather. He was so tall and broad he made the enormous backpack look tiny. He tried to carry her handbag too but she refused. Angus had the most impeccable manners; he was old-fashioned and chivalrous. Not for the first time, Libby thought how lucky Jules was; she just hoped she appreciated him as much as she should.
‘So how’s the painting going?’ she asked as they drove along the M4 back into London.
‘The latest series is almost complete – do you want to come and look?’ he asked.
‘I’d love to. Can I come over tomorrow? Give myself a night to sort myself out?’
‘Absolutely, I’ll cook if you like.’
‘Awesome. When’s the exhibition going to be again?’ Libby asked.
‘It’s on the twenty-fifth of November; enough time for them to dry out thoroughly and be ready to hang.’
‘You’re doing so well; I’m so proud of you!’
‘Ah, thanks Libs. I must say it feels good finally to be making decent money from my work. I feel like I’ve been dependent on Jules for far too long.’
‘These things take time. You can’t become an established artist without putting in the legwork.’
‘True.’ He glanced at her curiously. ‘How are you feeling about next week?’
‘Terrified. I need to get ready this week so that I can remember what the hell I’m talking about. Law has been the last thing on my mind these past few months.’
‘I bet. Will you bring your laptop tomorrow so we can have a slideshow?’
‘Sure. I’ve got a million photos, I’m sure it will bore you senseless.’
‘I am desperate to see what you’ve been up to. And to see pictures of Luca, the Italian who has finally stolen your heart!’
‘There are plenty of him, don’t you worry,’ Libby laughed.
Angus dropped her back home and helped her open all the windows to let in the air and freshen the place up. The short-term tenants had moved out a few days before and she was relieved to see they had left it in pretty good condition. The fridge and freezer were empty and clean and they’d clearly given the whole flat a thorough scrubbing before moving out.
‘Right, I’d better be off then,’ said Angus. ‘I’ll see you tomorrow for dinner?’
‘Great. What time?’
‘Come for seven?’
‘OK, perfect, see you then,’ Libby said.
She spent a couple of hours unpacking and loading the machine with her dirty washing. Luca was already WhatsApping her like crazy, wanting to know if she had arrived safely and asking for photos of her flat so he could picture exactly where she was. She went outside and scanned the road for her car, an old green Polo, and was pleased to see that it was still where she had left it all those months before. She drove to her local Sainsbury’s and did a big shop, restocking her fridge and cupboards with the basics, dropping some prenatal vitamins into her trolley – she knew it was high time she started taking them.
