Baby Be Mine

just a baby in the photos.
    Christian laughs. ‘He’s got Meg’s now.’
    I find my voice. ‘Come on, Christian, we should go.’
    ‘Right you are,’ he says.
    ‘Haven’t you got any recent ones?’ Johnny asks Eugen.
    I tense up again, but he shakes his head. ‘No. Mandy—’ He clears his throat. ‘There are some on her computer.’
    ‘Don’t worry about it,’ Johnny says quickly, not wanting to set him off again.
    I say my goodbyes to Eugen and Joel.
    ‘Thanks for all your help, sis,’ Joel jokes as I turn away from him to hug Eugen.
    ‘Yes, thank you,’ Eugen says, with tears in his eyes.
    ‘It was the least I could do,’ I reply as tears start to fill mine.
    ‘I’ll see you out,’ Johnny says and I don’t argue. I feel awkward enough looking at him, let alone hugging or kissing or doing neither of those things in front of Christian’s family.
    Christian leads the way to the front door and opens it. ‘I’ll put these in the boot,’ he says tactfully, hauling the bags over the threshold and down the front steps.
    I look up at Johnny. ‘See ya.’
    He gives me a sad smile. ‘Bye, Meg.’
    At least he didn’t call me Nutmeg again. I tell myself it’s for the best. I turn away.
    ‘Hey,’ he says with surprise. ‘Is this Mandy and Barney?’
    I whip around and there, on the hallstand, is a close-up photo of Mandy and Barney. A recent photo. Johnny picks it up. I want to scream, ‘NO!’ but it’s too late.
    I hear the car boot slam. ‘All set,’ Christian calls. I stare at Johnny in shock as he studies the picture and then everything turns to slow motion as his eyes meet mine. He looks stunned, like I’ve just punched him in the face. And if the similarity between him and Barney isn’t already clear enough, the look on my face will have instantly confirmed his suspicion.
    I flee down the steps and climb into the car. Christian, oblivious, starts the ignition. I look out of the window at Johnny, who’s still staring after me, and silently beg him to keep quiet, to not say anything to Christian when he gets back from the airport, and then I face ahead and try to still my beating heart.

 
  Chapter 9  
    Text me when you land
    Oh my God, what does that mean? I’ve wanted to call Christian during every minute of the two-and-a-half-hour flight to Barcelona, but when I’m finally allowed to switch my phone back on, this is the message from him that greets me.
    I grip my phone with white knuckles and call him. It rings and rings before reverting to voicemail.
    Text me when you land . . .
    Why? Has Johnny told him that he thinks Barney is his? I try him again as I’m waiting for my suitcase and again when I reach our car in the parking lot. I can’t think straight, and I need to concentrate on driving this journey that I’m supposed to be doing again in just two days’ time for Bess’s birthday. That trip no longer feels appropriate. I must speak to her.
    Christian rings me himself when I’ve exited the motorway and have started winding my way through the mountains towards Cucugnan. I pull over and take the call, my voice shaking as I answer.
    ‘Hello?’
    ‘Five missed calls!’ he practically shouts. I couldn’t resist pressing redial another two times on the motorway. ‘Are you alright?’ he adds, and, thank God, he sounds normal.
    ‘I’m fine,’ I reply as some of the tension evaporates. ‘But you wanted me to call you when I landed and I wasn’t sure why.’
    ‘I said “text”, you divvy. I just wanted to check you got there safely.’
    ‘Oh!’
    Dur . . . He wouldn’t ask me to merely text if it were something serious. I did say I couldn’t think straight.
    ‘Are you home yet?’ he asks.
    ‘No, not yet. How are you?’ I ask. ‘Why didn’t you answer your phone?’
    ‘I forgot to take it with me. Dad wanted me to go with him to see his solicitor. I’ve only just seen your missed calls.’
    ‘Aah.’ I so want to ask about Johnny, but I keep my focus on Christian. ‘How did the meeting go?’
    ‘Oh . . .’ He sounds sad. ‘It was just a formality, but it’s still not easy.’
    ‘Of course not,’ I say sympathetically. ‘I wish I could have gone with you.’
    ‘I miss you,’ he replies and I wish I could hug him down the phone.
    ‘I miss you, too,’ I say softly. I try to hang onto this warm, compassionate feeling, but my dark side drags my thoughts, kicking and screaming, towards Johnny. Finally I give in. ‘Is Johnny still with