The Contract

Epilogue: 1

"I can't believe Joey is five already!" Gemma exclaimed, sitting down next to me at the café. This had been our weekly tradition before I met Harry and married him and it remained our tradition whenever I was in the country.

"Tell me about it, I have no clue where the time has gone. Next thing I know, she'll be sneaking out with boys and Harry will be dying an early death the first time she goes out on a date."

Gemma smiled and shook her head, checking on her newest arrival, Ava, who was seven months old at the time. She was sleeping peacefully in her buggy.

"Shall we have some wine?" She asked.

I checked the time on my phone. It was only noon. I could have a glass or two before I had to pick up Joey from primary school. Or I could send the nanny. It had been ages since Gemma and I had properly seen each other, so why not?

We ordered a bottle of prosecco along with our lunch and settled in, filling each other in on random bits that had happened since we had last seen each other. It was an early day in September and Joey had started primary school a few weeks ago. I had finally gotten used to sending my baby to school but it still didn't make things any easier, especially when she cried every morning about how she didn't want to "leave her mummy' and how 'it wasn't fair she had to go school while I got to stay at home and play all day'.

I certainly didn't play all day, though, despite what my daughter thought. After I decided to join Harry on tour and we hired a nanny to help out with things, I had gotten back into fashion, except this time trying my hand at designing instead of styling. I worked with a few designers and launched an accessories line that included handbags, jewelry and shoes. It was a collaborative effort but the label carried my name: G. Styles and was carried throughout various department stores in London. I was currently working on opening a flagship store near Soho that would feature more unique and one a kind items.

If everything went according to my plan, I would be able to work in the boutique myself a few days a week now that Joey was going to be in primary school most of the day. That also meant I could cut back on the nanny hours. Our nanny, Sian, was a godsend - she was amazing with Joey and beyond helpful when Harry and I were travelling with the baby and she was happy to move in with us when we realized we needed to have a live in nanny. She had been with Joey since she was five months old so it would be hard parting ways with her.

"Georgia!" Gemma asked.

I glanced up and realized I had zoned out. "Sorry, what?"

I hadn't been paying attention to anything Gemma had been saying for the last few minutes, having been too caught up in my own thoughts.

"I asked if Harry was upset he missed Joey's first day of school? David was beyond upset he missed it because he had a trial that day when Leo first started," she repeated herself.

I nodded. "Yes, he was, but we got to see him on FaceTime so it was fine. I think Joey had a harder time parting than I did."

Gemma laughed and refilled my glass of prosecco. "I'm sure he was beyond upset. I bet you're glad he's done with everything. No more One Direction. No more tour life. You two can finally have a chance at a normal life. What are you going to do with all of his free time?"

"I think the better question is how long until he drives me insane?" Althought I was secretly glad he was done everything. One Direction had their last tour dates a few weeks ago, selling out a week's worth of shows in London at Wembley before going to New York and selling out another week's worth of shows in Manhattan. Harry had then gone to Los Angeles to wrap up some lose ends from the tour and god knows what else. He was due home in a few days time and I couldn't wait to see him.