Reaching for Happiness

Chapter 60

Landing back in the UK four days after my brother's wedding, we were met by tonnes of paparazzi at the front of the airport being held back by airport staff. Of course we expected a few paps to show up, but this many? No, something must have happened whilst we were away.

'What the fuck is going on here?' Nikki asked, confused.

'I don't have a clue.. I'll call our management, see if they know what's up' Aston said. He pulled out his phone and turned it on after our flight.

'Woah..' he said quietly as his phone started bleeping in his hands.

'What?' I asked.

'I have 32 missed calls from our management since I turned my phone off to get on the plane..' he explained, pulling a worried expression.

'It must be important.. Let's go somewhere private so we don't make a scene if we find out any shocking news' Marvin suggested.

'Good idea, let's go' Aston agreed, linking his fingers with mine, leading us out the airport. Confusing questions were being fired at us all, but mainly me.. I didn't understand what was going on.

'Okay, here goes' Aston said as we sat in mine and Aston's house, whilst we called management. Aston turned his phone on loudspeaker whilst the four of us sat there anxiously.

'Hello, this is Modest Management, Debbie speaking! How can I help you?' a cheery woman spoke down the phone.

'Debs, it's Ast.. Can you put me onto Phil?' Aston asked.. Phil was JLS' personal manager.

'Oh, hi Ast.. Sure' she replied, kinda nervously, with a hint of worry in her voice. She put us on hold, so we sat there with some pathetic tune playing for a couple of minutes.

'Aston?' Phil said once he'd picked up the phone.

'Phil, what's going on? We got to the airport, and it was full of paps..' Aston explained.

'Aston, somebody's sold a false story to the papers.. We don't know who just yet, but we're trying to work it out' Phil spoke.

'What is the story about?' Aston asked.

'As Chloe's bump is no gone, and she isn't fully 9 months pregnant, if she was still pregnant.. AND you're unfortunately left without a baby.. The public think you two were faking the whole thing for publicity' Phil sighed. I placed my hand over my mouth.. I couldn't believe this.

'Thanks Phil.. I'll talk to Chloe about it, and I'll get back to you' Aston said.

'Okay, talk to you soon then' Phil sighed, hanging up on us.

We were silent for a while.. Just the four of us, sat there.

'Okay, we should go.. Leave you two to discuss' Marvin suggested, breaking the silence.

'Okay' I mumbled. Marvin and Nikki saw themselves out, leaving me and Aston sat on opposite sofa.. He came and sat next to me and pulled me into them.

'Do you want to tell them what happened baby?' he asked quietly.

'We'll have to.. What other choice do we have?' I said.

'Okay then.. I'll tweet' he sighed, pulling out his phone. He typed out a tweet;

'You guys deserve the truth.. Chloe WAS pregnant, but unfortunately our baby girl, was 1 month premature and didn't make it. Sorry we didn't tell you sooner.. This is for our Little One<3 A + C xx'

He attached a picture of his 'Little One' tattoo to the tweet, before hitting 'send'

'Done. I'm gonna call Phil, tell him I've finished it' Aston sighed.

'Okay baby' I smiled faintly. As Aston disappeared to call Phil, I headed upstairs to see our Little One's room.. I hadn't been in here for a while; I missed it.

'I miss you, beautiful' I sniffed, stroking my left hand over my flat stomach and my right hand over the baby scan which we'd stuck on the cot. I knew I'd never get over this loss, EVER.. But with Aston by my side, I'd just about make it.