A Famous Affair

A Famous Affair chapter 12

As people begin to arrive, I try to remain calm. Jonny is attentive and thoughtful, always ensuring I am feeling comfortable and treating me like his treasured princess. He has thought of literally everything to make my birthday special, from the disco to the outside caterers who are doing the cold buffet. I haven't eaten anything since about 1:00 p.m. I've been far too knotted up inside to eat a single thing. However, my appetite appears to have returned with a vengeance because I'm now here with Jonny.

His friends are charming, polite and appear to like me, which comes as a huge relief. I particularly like his two oldest friends, Stephanie and Harry. Jonny went to secondary school with them. They tell me lots of funny stories about the mischief they all used to get up to.

Stephanie tells me all about a prank they played on Harry, whose parents had gone away for the weekend. The intention was that they were going to throw a party but knowing where the spare key was hidden, they stupidly thought it would be funny to stage a burglary. They hid the TVs in the bathroom and all the kitchen things like the microwave and kettle, in the bedrooms upstairs. For added effect, Jonny up tipped the bin and potatoes onto the kitchen floor. The plan was, Harry would return from football and come in via the back door, into the kitchen and then make his way into the lounge. Once there, everyone would jump out from their hiding places, shouting "SURPRISE!" However, there was a problem. Harry took one look at the kitchen, yelled "SHIT!" and ran off up the road. Everyone panicked, so when someone mentioned "What if he thinks it's a real burglary and calls the police?" They panicked some more and frantically began to put everything back as it was before and to then go ahead with the party. Sure enough, the police did arrive. Stephanie had to pretend to be Harry's girlfriend and let the officers in to check the house. When a confused Harry walked up the path whilst the police were there, clocking all of his friends inside his house, the penny finally dropped. To say he wasn't best pleased was an understatement.

Oh, I do love hearing all of their stories. It gives me an idea of who Jonny really is and who he was before he became famous. Stephanie is particularly lovely to me and is more than happy to share lots of her tales with me.

"Jonny talks about you all the time, you know?" Stephanie's pretty freckled face looks at me as she pushes her tumbling auburn curls back off her shoulders.

"Really?" I don't even know why I am blushing so furiously. I'm flattered and excited that Jonny does talk about me to his oldest of friends. It confirms that I really am important to him; I really do mean something to him.

Stephanie leans into me. "I don't mean to sound offensive here, but what do you think will happen with you two? I know you're married, Jessica, but how long can you really sustain living two lives? I really like you so please don't take it the wrong way, but Jonny is happy and cares about you, like really cares about you. I wouldn't want to see him hurt." I look at her non-confrontational face and can clearly see that she cares very much about Jonny. She has a gentleness about her, even though she's being boldly upfront with me, I take no offence to her forthright, yet protective, words.

I sigh deeply. "Only today have I realised that my life cannot carry on as it is. I know I need to think some things through and to talk about it with Jonny. You're right, things can't carry on as they are." I freely admit.

Instinctively, she holds my hand. This sweet girl has only just met me, but she's holding my hand because she sees someone who needs a friend. "You know Jonny will stick by you, whatever you decide. He's a sensitive guy underneath all that celebrity bullshit he carries around with him, Jessica." She glances up, looking in Erin Laurelson's direction. It would seem I'm not the only one who isn't a big fan of Miss Sour Puss. Stephanie realises I am looking at Erin, too.

"Don't let that Erin get involved with you guys, she's simply poison." Stephanie continues to watch Erin.

"We've already had words. How long has she worked with Jonny?" I ask.