Maybe This Time by Jill Mansell

Author:Jill Mansell [Jill Mansell]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: HeadlinePublisher
Published: 2018-11-14T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 27

It was Christmas Eve at last. Mimi had risen early to make sure the journey to the airport went smoothly, without them having to turn back because CJ had forgotten to pack something vital.

She was cramming the last of the wrapped presents into her case when she heard her phone beep with an incoming message.

‘If it’s work, don’t answer it,’ CJ ordered. ‘I’m not doing anything for anyone. For the next seven days I’m on holiday and they can all take a running jump.’ He looked out of the window as a car pulled up on the drive. ‘Taxi’s here. Want me to take your case out for you?’

Mimi pretended to faint. ‘Sorry, did you just offer to do something useful?’

‘I’m in a good mood. No more slaving over a hot notepad for the next week. Better still, no more being bossed around by you.’

‘In that case you can definitely take my suitcase,’ said Mimi. ‘Let me just check the rest of the villa, make sure everything’s switched off.’

The taxi was loaded up, the villa’s security alarms were set, and they left for the airport. CJ, who was catching an afternoon flight to Heathrow, had booked himself into the Connaught Hotel and would be spending Christmas Day with his friends Anna and Tom in Holland Park, followed by Boxing Day at a country house party in Kent. Mimi’s plane, leaving an hour earlier, was due to land at Bristol at three in the afternoon and she was being picked up by Lois. The thought of arriving back in Goosebrook, where the weather was currently crisp and cold with the fairy-tale promise of snow, was giving her prickles of anticipation. Marcus might not be there, but the welcome would still be warm.

Belatedly remembering the message on her phone, she unzipped her bag to see who’d sent it. Hopefully there wasn’t a problem with Lois being able to collect her from the airport.

But the message was from a number she didn’t recognise. The opening sentence on the screen said: Hi Mimi, this is Willa’s mum here. Willa doesn’t know I’m contacting you . . .

Mystified, Mimi opened the rest of the message.

. . . but I just had to. I need to speak to CJ. Could you please call me back on this number so I can explain? As soon as possible, please. Thanks so much, pet.

More mystery. Mimi opened her mouth to tell CJ who the message was from, then saw that he was sitting back with his eyes closed, plugged into music and entirely oblivious to his surroundings.

Maybe it was easier to leave him that way for now.

She called the number and heard a breathy voice pick up on the second ring.

‘Mimi, is that you? Oh thank goodness, I thought you weren’t going to call back. Hello, pet, it’s Helen here, Willa’s mam.’

‘Hi. Is everything all right?’

‘It’s Willa, pet. The thing is, she’s having a baby—’

‘I know she is,’ said Mimi.

‘No, I mean she’s having it now. It wasn’t

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