I make a mental note to talk to Gail about the food for Friday and what shopping will need to be done, not that it means for one minute I will be sure of remembering. I will check with Kate, I know Elliot has a beer he enjoys the most, I think Christian will probably stick with wine, maybe spirits and of course Kate and I will be on soft drinks.
I start to make a list otherwise I know I will not remember. Christian has left already; I find Gail in the kitchen and begin to discuss food with her.
"I was thinking a light starter, maybe Caesar salad with Garlic and cracked peppercorn croutons" I suggest
"Or how about Marinated chicken and mango salad" Gail says as she is leafing through her recipe book.
"Oh perfect, I like that" I continue "Dinner I was thinking something mildly spicy"
"What about Duck pancakes with hoisin sauce and all the trimmings?" Gail just knows how to be fancy but not over the top
"I know Christian will really enjoy those but dessert has to be something with chocolate to satisfy Kate, myself and our appetite for chocolate" I giggle.
"That sounds fair to me" Gail warmly smiles "let me get my other cookbook" as she disappears for a moment, she returns with a picture and recipe for Divine Mont Blanc Roulade.
"Wow that looks fantastic but it's a lot of work for you Gail, really something simple will be fine" I tell her.
"It's my pleasure Ana, beside it's not going to be easy to dine when the babies are born so think of it as the last meal before life changes forever" she smiles again.
"That sounds…scary Gail, I realise my time for myself is going to be really reduced and as you say the opportunity for dinner parties will be less" I must have a slightly wistful look on my face as Gail comes around the counter and stands next to me.
"It will be a wonderful time, hard but wonderful, I regret I didn't have children myself Ana, I ran out of time and I hadn't found anyone to spend my life with until Jason came along. Jason has a daughter from a previous marriage and I see how he has been with her over the last few years, I am envious of his relationship but that's in the past and if you still want my help, I look forward to helping you and Christian with the twins"
"Oh Gail, I can't think of anyone I would rather help us, you are so calm and collected, nothing seems to phase you" I give her a hug.
"Thank you Ana, that means a lot" she blows her nose into a tissue and dabs her eyes.
"I am armed with my shopping list, I better tell Taylor I need to go shopping" I say.
"I will go Ana, it's no trouble, honestly" she replies.
"Will do a deal, how about going together?" I suggest.
"You have got a deal, shall we say 11am? Give Jason time to plan" she chuckles.
"11am it is, see you later" I wave as I head off to the bedroom to get myself ready. I call Taylor to tell him our arrangement and I can detect he is a little surprised that we are going together. He will, of course have to clear it with Christian and I have no doubt that we will have at least three men from the security team with us the whole time.
I put on my blue jeans, pastel blue swing top and flat black slip on shoes, 100% comfort, 10% style I say to myself when I look in the mirror but comfort is most important and at 33 weeks pregnant with twins I am not sure anything could look 100% stylish. However, I put my hair up in a ponytail; apply a little perfume, some light foundation and lip gloss, hmm passable I guess.
I check my bag for keys, purse, phone and shopping list, all present so I wait for Gail in the kitchen. Taylor arrives shortly afterwards and briefs me on who will be with us. Taylor will be driving with Sawyer and Peters in the trailing car and all three will accompany us into the shopping mall. Christian by all accounts seems ok with us going out although I did detect a flicker of pain on Taylors face when telling me we could go.
Gail returns to the kitchen a short while later and we take the elevator to the parking lot. No press today thank goodness, that's one thing I am finding difficult to deal with particularly in the last few weeks, I just hope the mall is also pap free.
It is thankfully quiet on the roads and parking close to the mall is easy. Sawyer does some checks before we exit the car. He gives Taylor the all clear signal and our shopping trip begins. Flanked by 3 suited men is starting drawing attention, Gail is pushing the cart up and down the supermarket aisles as I look from side to side picking the ingredients for our dinner on Friday. I curse myself for missing the Hoisin sauce and we back track to the correct aisle when…
"Hello Ana, good to see you, haven't you grown" my blood freezes as I recognise the sneering voice behind me.
Immediately Gail comes forward standing next to me and Taylor, Sawyer and Peters stand close to me, partially shielding her view.
"What do you want Elena?" I snap
"There is no need to take that tone Ana dear, I am merely exchanging pleasantries with you" she looks so innocent as she says this.
"Nothing about you is pleasant Elena" I can't help but sneer at her, all the frustrations of the last few months come bubbling to the surface. I see Taylor nod at Gail and she moves the cart and herself away from where we are. My hands are sweaty and I can feel them clenching in a fist.
"Such aggression Ana, it doesn't become you" she states and if Taylor hadn't moved a little bit more in front of me I would have slapped her or worse.
"It's time we moved on Miss Steele, please come" Taylor orders me but in a nice way.
I glare my fiercest look at Elena but don't say anything as Taylor takes my arm and guides me towards the exit. Sawyer and Peters follow behind putting themselves between Elena and me.
"Where's Gail?" I ask Taylor.
"She has finished the shopping, paid and is heading to the car as we speak" he tells me. His eyes are darting everywhere, like he is ready for someone to jump out on us but it's reassuring he is alert.
We walk as briskly as my bump will allow, Gail is at the car, shopping is loaded and we speed out of the parking lot toward home.
"Are you ok Ana?" Gail asks "You look a little pale and you are shaking"
"I am just fuming at her and how she just brazenly walks up and pretends we don't know what she is doing" I rant.
"She knows you know it's her, she enjoys taunting Christian, you and the family but try not to show she is getting under your skin, it will just spur her on to keep doing things" Gail advises.
"I know but grrrr, just so infuriating" I lean back on the seat and close my eyes. Gail motherly pats the top of my hand for reassurance and I do feel comforted by her action.
Back at Escala the men do their checks and then help bring the shopping bags in. Gail and I unpack them when I hear my phone ring.
"Hello"
"Ana, are you ok? She didn't touch you did she?" the tension in his voice is evident
"Were fine, no she didn't touch me, Taylor stopped me from letting rip with my hand" I chuckle "I wish he hadn't stopped me as I think I would feel much better about today if I had" I hear laughing at the other end of the phone.
"I would have to get you registered as a weapon if you had" it's my turn to laugh.
"Ha-ha, your funny" I say "Are you ok?"
"Busy baby but hoping to be home around 6pm. Love you" he tells me
"Ok Christian, go back to work, see you later, and love you too"
"Bye" and the phone goes down.
I feel exhausted so I tell Gail I am going for a bath. I gather some scented candles, spread them around the bathroom and light them while my water is running. I add some bath soak and watch as the foam builds before undressing and immersing myself in the warm and luxuriating water. I curse for forgetting to put some music on, that along with a glass of wine would be heaven.
When I am suitably rested, relaxed and wrinkled I pull the plug from the bath forgetting I need the buoyancy of the water to help me get out of the bath. I stick my heel in the plug hole and decide to wait for Christian to rescue me. Fortunately I hear him open the bedroom door so I shout out to him.
"Christian, can you help me" I yell, it goes quiet as if he is trying to figure out where the plaintiff cry came from.
"In the bathroom!" I shout
"What are you doing Ana?" he says as he comes through the door.
"I let some of the water drain out forgetting I need it to help me get out" I swear I blush then as I feel a right Wally for having baby brain.
"Ana you need to be more careful, what if I hadn't come in when I said I was?" he gently scolds.
"OK! I get the message but can you help me, I am getting cold now" my teeth chatter gently.
Christian grabs a large bath sheet, pulls me up and out of the bath before wrapping me in the softness of Egyptian cotton.
"Better baby?" he asks.
"Much better, thank you" I reach up and kiss him.
I sit on the edge of the bed drying myself, putting on some sweat pants and a t-shirt before brushing through my hair.
"Ana, did you realise both your ankles are swollen?" he looks concerned
"No, I thought they felt a little tight but I have not seen my feet or ankles for weeks" I smile.
"Right, bed for you, legs up, I will bring some food in here and massage your feet" he promises.
"Oh that would be lovely honey, if you don't mind. I don't want to stop you if you have work to do" keeping my fingers crossed he doesn't.
"It can wait pumpkin, you are more important right now" he strokes his hand across my cheek "So you want food first or massage?"
"Well I would like a massage first then food and thirdly another massage" I beam.
"Slave driver!" but he picks up my foot and begins with a gentle circle motion over the swollen bits and I am instantly in heaven. I think I must drift to sleep as I am aware of a movement on the bed
"Hey baby, some food Gail prepared, tuck in" as he sits beside me and starts picking at the food himself.
"Ooh this is lovely" I am eating what I can only describe as finger food, chopped raw vegetables, Gruyere cheese bread sticks, some cold sliced meat, fruit and some Bacci chocolates. When that it all consumed Christian takes my other leg and starts massaging, transporting me back to heaven.
"Is that ok baby? Does that feel better? The swelling has certainly gone down a bit" I will have to take his word for it as unless I contort myself I still can't see them very well.
"That felt great honey, thank you" I glance at the clock and it reads 9.30pm, an involuntary yawn escapes me.
"I think you should go to sleep now" he suggests "I will finish up in the office and be along shortly. I also have a meeting with Elliot first thing so will be up and out early in the morning"
"Ok, I wasn't planning on going in tomorrow but the day after instead" I tell him.
"No problem, laters baby" and I watch his delicious form leave the room.
A/N: Wow. 50 is a major milestone for me not having written anything before. Thank you all for you continued support.