It's always been you

Chapter 69 - Damage Control

LUCY POV

Less than a week after returning from America, it was time for me to film my scenes for Bridgerton. I'd decided to start thinking like Joe, and decided even though I only had a few lines in two different scenes, I was going to be proud of myself. I got the part, however small, and it was my first job after giving birth and grieving my husband at the same time.

The main cast and the whole crew were so welcoming and friendly and made me feel like I belonged. The day I finished filming I had noticed people continually looking at me and whispering amongst themselves. I had no idea what was going on and decided to push it to the back of my mind. I was enjoying some lunch in the sun when my phone rang. I looked down to see it was my brother in law David.

"Hey Dave! What's up?" There was a pause after I answered before he said "you haven't been online today have you?" My heart instantly sank at his words. "No? I've been on set since 6:30....David what is it?"

I heard him take a deep breath. "Lucy you need to know, none of the family are upset with you. Or Joe in the slightest. We're here to support you." "Jesus David what is it? What's happened?"  "There's been pictures published." I was racking my brain trying to think what kind of pictures and then it clicked in my head.

"Shit. Pictures of Joe and I?" "Yep. They were taken at Heathrow when Nikki and Hannah picked the three of you up and took you home." I felt my heart starting to race and a cold sweat break out. I buried my face in my hands and groaned. "How bad is it? The article with the pictures?"

David paused again. "David for fucks sake just tell me!" "It's bad." I felt tears prickle my eyelids. All I wanted was to enjoy my relationship with Joe and for us to be left alone with Billy. I was kidding myself to think this wouldn't happen.

"David send me the link." "Luce I don't think-..." "David please! Send me the link!" He sighed and said "ok Luce. Sis you need to understand. No one is upset with you both. No one that matters. Don't let this spoil anything."

I blinked away a few more tears that were threatening to fall. "Thank you for calling me and not letting me find out from someone else." I looked up and saw one of the directors waving at me indicating I needed to get back to work. "David I have to go. I'm being called back to set."

After hanging up my phone and turning it off for filming my mind ran a million miles an hour and I could feel the panic beginning to build at the thought of what the tabloids could have published about myself and Joe.

I completed my scenes, managing to not have a complete and utter meltdown thinking about online articles. As soon as I had changed out of costume and was heading to my car I turned my phone back on to find 4 missed calls from Joe, 9 from Nikki (dear god she's dramatic), 1 each from Richard and Sarah and my parents along with others from the rest of our friends. Not to mention all the text messages.

Shit.

This was bad wasn't it?

I opened Joes text messages first.

13:24
Joe
Darling I don't want you to panic. I love you. David told me he called you.

13:57
Joe
I know you're on set so you won't see this for a while yet. Please ignore the article. I don't even want you to read it. It's completely false and misleading. I've already talked to Richard and Sarah. They're going to handle it with Philip. I love you gorgeous xoxo

As I finished reading the first one my phone rang with a FaceTime from Joe. I answered it after the first ring, his handsome face filled my screen, Billy sitting on his lap.

"Hi darling! Look Billy it's mama!" "Mama!" I smiled at my two favourite people. "Hello boys!" I heard a screech in the background from Nikki and the screen jumped as she snatched phone from him. I heard his muffled protest and a "Jesus Nikki give it back!" Nikki's flustered face filled my screen then.