Famously Yours - Sequel to A Famous Affair

Famously Yours chapter 9

Life has become much simpler, more sedate now. I no longer have to travel to Cheltenham every weekend. I continue to do much of my work, here in London. Liaising with clients from the comfort of the quaint, former library that is now my well-loved office.

I usually meet Katie or Lydia at any conventions or trade fairs that Mason's Toys needs to attend. So far, the changes are working well. I'm only ever a phone call away, should I be needed for anything. So visits to my former hometown are much more infrequent now, yet strangely, I'm okay with that.

Cheltenham no longer feels like my home anymore, it hasn't for some time. Many of the ties I once had there have now been severed. I will always think of Cheltenham with the greatest of affection and of course, Lydia, who incidentally is still busily organising her forthcoming wedding, and myself, remain as close as ever.

I honestly cannot believe that she and Jake are really taking the plunge. I always thought that Lydia would never marry, like never ever!

She has always been adamant that she never would, until she met Jake.

This was the woman, who at the mere mention of marriage, came out in a cold sweat. Only a bottle of Pinot in one hand and a Valium in the other would ever calm her down. Yet here she is, preparing for marriage.

So while Lydia is preoccupied with confetti, wedding favours, and flowers, my girls are embracing London with both arms. They make the most of the weekends by doing things that they enjoy: shopping, eating out, visiting museums and art galleries, and the odd gig if they have time. Their relationship with Jonny continues to strengthen and grow. I honestly couldn't be happier about that. I'm sure the road ahead isn't going to be all smooth tarmac. We will undoubtedly hit a few bumps and potholes along the way, but we are all trying to adjust being together. Being open and honest about our feelings is all that we can really do to ensure our happiness. I always drum into my girls' heads, "If you're not happy about something, tell me."

Lissy and Lottie's happiness, and indeed safety, is paramount to both Jonny and I. Which is why Jonny now has extra security in place for the girls, for here and in Cheltenham. They could easily become targets for any unhinged individuals out there. Messed-up individuals who may want to use them, just to get to Jonny. So the extra security was deemed very necessary. Jay has had to talk to the girls about many things: who to trust, never going anywhere alone, deleting any messages from us. To never give mine, and more importantly, Jonny's number to anyone. They would never get it from their mobiles anyway; we are now disguised within their phones. I'm now someone called Rachel and Jonny is Dave. We laughed a lot about that one. Even Beef gets a new name, the very proper name of Timothy. That too, gave us another big laugh, but he said it was far better than his real name, Barnaby. I literally nearly died on the spot when I found out that Beef is really a Barnaby! I thought it might have been something far more manly, but no, Beef is definitely a Barnaby.

Though I shan't ever have the pleasure of calling him it, because it's apparently strictly forbidden. That name is to never be mentioned again, ever!

So, as silly as it sounds, it's imperative that should anyone get hold of the girls' phones, that those people are unable to easily find our personal numbers. The extra security may seem a little over the top, but I'm not taking any risks with my babies. I need to know that they are safe from any nut-jobs out there. It has also made Shawn feel a lot happier about things, too. I know the girls are feeling a little overwhelmed with all of the new safety measures, but it's for their own good. It's now unfortunately a necessary evil.

Still, at least we have something to take our minds off the increased security. Saturday is the huge charity gala that I'm accompanying Jonny to. Being as it isn't being televised, I thought it would be nice if the girls could join us, too. That's if Shawn is happy for them to come, of course. I will have to call him to check whether he minds, but the girls seem really keen. If I'm honest, I suggested it for purely selfish reasons. I'm so bloody terrified of my first red carpet bash. I figured that if Lissy and Lottie were with me, it would help me to relax, just a little. I'll be too busy worrying about them having a good time, forcing me to quietly shit myself with fear whilst wearing a big confident smile on my face. I'll be in full-on mummy mode!