Baby Be Mine

babysitter. Surprisingly, I’m not nervous about leaving him, possibly because I still feel unsettled about seeing Paola.
    ‘Cheer up.’ Johnny has been pretty jolly today, full of buzz from the racing. It’s like our conversation last night didn’t even occur.
    I’ve asked him before about Paola and he refused to answer me.
    That’s it! Consider this a test.
    ‘Did you know Paola’s at Goodwood?’ I ask him, out of the blue.
    He glances across at me sharply. ‘My PA, Paola?’
    I nod.
    ‘Is she?’ The look on his face tells me that he had no idea.
    ‘Yes.’
    He meets my eyes for a moment before returning his attention to the road. ‘Are you okay with that?’ he asks and I’m taken aback that he actually sounds sympathetic.
    ‘Not really,’ I admit, jolting slightly at my own candour. He stares ahead at the road.
    ‘What the hell is she doing here?’ he murmurs under his breath.
    ‘When was the last time you saw her?’ I press.
    ‘Years ago. That time at the Skybar when you were there.’
    I feel like he’s being truthful with me and the uneasy feeling begins to settle.
    ‘It’s okay, Nutmeg,’ he says, placing his hand on my knee.
    This wasn’t how I expected him to react. Not at all. He knows the thought of her hurts me – has hurt me in the past – and he’s trying to help. This isn’t the Johnny I thought I knew.
    He returns his hand to the wheel. I stare ahead in contemplation.
    ‘You look beautiful, by the way,’ he says when we get out of the car. I’m wearing a long, black, designer evening gown that skims the floor, even in heels. I’ve curled my blonde hair slightly so it’s got that tousled look and have partly tied it back with diamanté clips.
    ‘Thanks.’ I look away awkwardly. ‘You don’t scrub up half bad yourself.’ He’s wearing a slim-fitting tux. He grins at me as he closes the door behind me and then he runs his fingers down my bare arm and squeezes my hand briefly before letting me go. A shiver goes through me.
    We don’t speak much during dinner because the other guests at our table in the beautiful Tapestry Marquee are quite taken with Johnny and he’s consequently the centre of attention. Later, though, we wander outside to the lawn to watch the fireworks before the concert starts. I notice the man who helped me up the stairs earlier.
    I lean into Johnny’s ear. ‘Who’s that?’ I ask curiously. ‘Don’t make it obvious!’ I urge.
    He glances to his right and then looks back at me with a grin. ‘Luis Castro,’ he explains.
    ‘Should I know who that is?’ My brow furrows.
    ‘F1 driver. Leading the championship.’
    ‘Oh, right. He helped me up the—’
    My voice cuts off. Paola has just joined him.
    ‘What?’ Johnny turns around and freezes. At that same moment, Paola and Luis spot us, too.
    ‘Hey!’ Johnny exclaims. Paola glances uneasily at Luis and then they come over.
    ‘Hello,’ she says, her eyes flitting between the two of us. I try not to take the deep breath my lungs need.
    ‘It’s been a long time,’ Johnny says warmly. ‘Hi.’ He reaches over and shakes Luis’s hand. ‘I’m a big fan of yours.’
    ‘Thanks,’ Luis replies with a grin. ‘Saw your hill-climb earlier. Nice work.’
    ‘I’m Meg,’ I say to Paola as Johnny and Luis talk cars.
    ‘Hello,’ she replies, shaking my hand. ‘I know that, of course.’
    ‘And of course I know who you are.’ We smile at each other and something passes between us. An understanding.
    ‘I helped you on the stairs!’ Luis interrupts with sudden realisation.
    ‘You did.’ I laugh.
    ‘Where’s your little boy?’ he asks loudly as fireworks start to explode over our heads.
    ‘At the hotel, with a babysitter.’
    Johnny folds his arms. ‘My son,’ he shouts at Paola.
    ‘I know,’ she shouts back with a raised eyebrow.
    Johnny reaches out and rubs the small of my back. I notice Luis does the same thing to Paola. Both of our men comforting us under strange circumstances.
    ‘We should go back and join the others,’ Luis says to Paola. ‘I don’t think we’ll be having a late one,’ he tells us.
    ‘British Grand Prix next week.’ Paola nods at Luis: ‘Needs his R&R.’
    ‘Good luck, mate,’ Johnny says as they shake hands again.
    ‘Thanks. Looking forward to hearing the new album.’
    ‘Bye,’ I say to Paola.
    ‘Bye.’ She smiles at me and they turn away. I watch them for a few seconds until Luis kisses her temple and then I turn back to