"You sure they'll let me in Grace?" Frankie asked manoeuvring her way into the car so she could shut the door.
"I phoned ahead and checked. They said there is things you can't access but it's mostly common sense. We can check everything over when we get there." Looking over to make sure Frankie had her seatbelt on before she pulled away from the curb.
"I can't bloody wait for this. I can't see my feet, my back is killing me, and my skin is either super dry, or mega greasy. It can't seem to make its mind up. Who would have thought, me looking forward to a girly trip to a health spa." Frankie looking out the window as Grace took a right turn. "I thought we were picking Mel up?" Seeing Grace go in the opposite direction from Mels house.
"We are." Taking another right turn then a left and left again.
Grace parked the car alongside a row of terrace houses. She beeped the horn and looked up at the house they were parked outside.
"Wait a minute, this is Spencer's house." The comprehension finally dawning.
Frankie looked up just as the front door to Spencer's house opened and out stepped Mel, Spencer stood behind her in a dark blue dressing gown. Frankie and Grace watched as Mel turned to Spencer, stood on tip toes and leaned up to him, kissing him on the lips as she wrapped her arms around his neck.
"Okay, this is awkward." Frankie quickly mumbled as she looked away and saw Grace do the same.
"Now you know how we feel with and Boyd." Grace chuckling as Mel finally let go of Spencer.
"We don't make it that obvious, do we?" Frankie asked as Grace just laughed more.
"Well no, you didn't. But now Peter seems to have a problem keeping his hands to himself, he's been like that for months. Every since you started to show he's always needing to touch you, be it a hand on your arm, or his hand on your back, he needs to touch you." Seeing Frankie deep in concentration as she thought back over the past few months. "He doesn't even know he's doing it, it's a subconscious thing, a way to reassure him your still there, still real. You've become so used to it you don't even register it now." The back door of the car opening and Mels voice interrupting the conversation.
"Hi Grace, Hey Frankie." Mel greeting her friends as she got in the car and closed the door.
"Hey Mel. You sure you can tear yourself away up there." Frankie laughing as she turned her head to look at Mel in the back sweet.
"Piss off, Frankie. Like you have room to talk." Mels come back not nearly as good as she normally delivered.
"Ladies, it's just us girls now. Let's leave the men to do mainly things while we enjoy ourselves." Grace cutting in before Frankie and Mel started winding each other up.
"Mainly things, Yeah right. I've left Boyd with a screwdriver and some flat packed furniture. How well do you think that's going to end?" Hearing both Grace and Mel groan at the thought of Boyd building furniture.
"Wait, didn't he paint the nursery last week? I'm sure Spencer said he came over and got the paint." Mel shifting in her seat so she could see Frankie properly.
"Oh shit, you mean I've left him alone with paint and furniture. I need to not think about this, how long until we're there Grace?" The panic evident in Frankie's voice.
"Five minutes, and you know he'll rope Spencer in, Mark my words. He won't face painting and furniture on his own. Everything will be fine Frankie, don't worry." Grace attempting to make Frankie feel better.
"Frankie, what do you want to do first? Swimming, hot tube, pampering?" Mel using the spa as a way to distract Frankie.
"Ohhh, I say swim first. Let's leave the pampering until last though, facial, nails, legs, feet, a massage. I can't wait to be spoilt and waited on hand and foot." Frankie sighing at the thought.
Sure enough the first thing they did when they got there was went swimming. Mel was like a hypoactive puppy, swimming lengths, and generally making Grace and Frankie tired watching her.
"Mel, slow down. It's not the olympics. I'm bloody knackered just watching you." Frankie called out to Mel as she swam past.
Frankie and Grace were leaning with their backs against the side of the pool, the water just deep enough so they could float. Frankie was enjoying the feeling of her bump being supported by something other than her back. The baby seemed to be enjoying it to, shifting around and stretching its limbs. As Mel went to swim past she decided to stop, coming to rest beside Frankie on the side of the pool.
"You two not swimming?" Mel quired as she looked them both.
"Mel, I may just about be able to float. I'm not sure baby bumps are made for swimming, not this size anyway. I'm quite happy here, thanks. The water is keeping me and the bump afloat, which my back is pleased to report is a good thing. You can do laps for all of us, while we sit getting worn out watching you." Frankie and Grace Laughing as Mel went back to swimming.
"I need some lunch." Frankie proclaimed as she pushed off the side of the pool wall and went to stand up.
Grace saw Mel swimming and signaled her over, telling her they were going for lunch. They all went to get changed, agreeing to met in the small restaurant in the spa. Frankie was last there, her socks still in her bag and her trainers squished on. Mel knelt down and put her trainers on properly whirl Frankie looked at the menu.
"Where's the chips, and the burgers, and the pizza? I don't want a spring salad with tomatoes, basil and thyme." Looking at Grace as she sulked.
"We're in a health spa Frankie, that's so not going to happen." Seeing Frankie scan the menu again.
"Fine, I'll have a sandwich, ham and cheese, with pickles. Then on the way home we'll get pizza." Smirking as Grace just shook her head.
Frankie picked at her sandwich when it arrived but ate the whole thing, Finishing before both Mel and Grace. She excused herself to the bathroom and by the time she returned the others had finished.
"Let's hit the jacuzzi, nice long soak is just what I need." Frankie standing with her bag in her hand as she waited for Mel and Grace.
"I can't believe I'm being timed in a sodding jacuzzi." Frankie grumbled as she slipped into the warm water.
"It's for your own good, and the baby's." Mel chipped in as she joined Frankie in the water.
"Enjoy it while it lasts, Frankie. Then we can go get pampered." Grace added as she sat down on the other side of the Frankie.
Frankie's complaining lasted about thirty seconds, the warm water seeping into her body causing her to smile.
"God, this is better than sex." Frankie half moaned as she let her head fall back to the edge of the pool.
"Coming from the only pregnant one here, I somehow don't think that works Frankie." Mel chuckling as she looked at Frankie.
"You may have a point, but pregnancy sex is so overrated. To much like hard friggin work most of the time." Laughing as she saw Mel cringe and Grace nod her head in agreement.
"Times up, ladies." A spa worked said stopping beside the pool that Frankie, Mel and Grace were in.
Grace and Mel stood up, both turning to Frankie who was sulking. Frankie stood up and went to climb out, Grace and Mel on either side helping her. Frankie waddled her way to the changing rooms, Mel and Grace keeping an eye on her just as they had been told to do by the spa staff. When they were all dressed they slowly made their way through the building to the treatment rooms. Mel and Grace automatically went and lay down on the massage tables, removing the robes they had on, Frankie watching them as she looked down at her huge baby bump.
"I somehow think that's not going to work for me guys." Frankie's hands resting on her bump as Mel and Grace turned their heads to face her.
"We have a recliner here for you, madam. It's not very often we have to accommodate pregnant women." A spa staff member said unfolding a recliner and placing a towel on it for Frankie.
"Great, Thanks." Frankie said excitedly as she lay back and got comfortable.
"We unfortunately can't offer you a full body massage, but we will do our best to provide an excellent service." A lovely young lady said to Frankie as she moved a chair beside the recliner and started to massage Frankie's feet.
Grace and Mel received full body massages, while Frankie had her feet, legs, arms, hands and head done. She kept the massager entertained when the baby woke up and gave a full show of limbs poking out and either a head or a bum sticking in the air.
"Ladies, that's your spa treatment finished. Dinner is now being served in the restaurant, we hope you've enjoyed your day with us." Two overly happy staff members said as they helped Grace and Mel put their robes on.
Frankie was already on her feet, the mention of food making her suddenly hungry. It didn't take long for the three to change and be seated in the restaurant. Frankie was a little more enthusiastic about dinner, but she still insisted on pizza on the way home. Grace and Mel enjoyed the complimentary champagne, while Frankie sat with fresh orange juice, something she wasn't enthusiastic about. Then again, even if she wasn't pregnant she would still be avoiding the alcohol like the plague.
Just as dessert was served Frankie's phone gave a loud buzz from her bag. Only once person would be messaging her and that was Boyd. Sure enough when she opened the message it was indeed Boyd, checking in and finding out when she was back. She text back telling him they had just started dessert and wouldn't be long.
"Is he missing you already?" The smirk on Mels face as she ate a forkful of chocolate cake to hide it.
"Something like that." Sticking her tongue out at Mel just as Mels phone beeped.
"And like that's not Spence doing the same." Both women now having a full on tongue sticking out competition.
"You too behave, everyone is looking." Grace's voice making both women duck their heads as they tried to not laugh.
When they had finished eating they all linked arms, walking to Graces car in a food coma. When everyone was inside Grace asked Mel where she wanted dropping off.
"Frankie's, Boyds, whoever's, apparently Spence is there. Boyd roped him in earlier to help." Hearing Frankie grin from the front seat.
"Oh god, I forgot about that. You two are both coming in with me, after we get pizza of course." Making Mel groan at the mention of more food.
Grace did stop for pizza, which Mel offered to get out and get.
"I take it you have no plans to get laid in the next day or two. This pizza is disgusting." Mel commetend as she placed the pizza on the back seat as she did her seatbelt up.
By the time Grace pulled up outside Boyds townhouse the car was stinking of cheese and garlic.
"Mels right, that's really bad. Unless you're both eating it and then it won't make any difference of course." Grace Knowing Frankie would laugh while Mel would groan.
"Hey honey, we're home." Frankie called out as she opened the front door and stepped inside.
"In here," Boyd replied from the kitchen.
The three women walked towards the kitchen, the smell of paint drifting through the house.
"Did you have fun?" Boyd getting up from the chair he was in and making his way over to greet Frankie.
"We did." Surprised when Boyd stepped up to her and bent his head to kiss her.
Frankie returned Boyds kiss, blocking out the fact Grace, Mel and Spencer were all trying to look anywhere but at them.
"Missed you." He mumbled against her lips before he broke away.
Grace and Mel were stood with silly grins on their faces, both hearing Boyd saying he had missed Frankie.
"So, do I get to see what you two did to our child's nursery?" Folding her arms over her bump as she looked between Boyd and Spencer.
"Yeah, after your pizza. Did you bring me some?" Boyd reaching out for the pizza box and Frankie slapping his hand away.
"I'll make tea then." Grace said as she moved around past everyone to put the kettle on.
Everyone managed to sit around the table, even though there was only four chairs. Spencer made a crack about Frankie being to big to sit on Boyds knee, already Mel sat on his. Frankie just glared at Spencer while Mel elbowed him in the ribs.
"Thanks, Mel." Frankie thanking her as she caught the quick backward motion of Mels arm.
While Frankie and Boyd had ate the pizza, Mel and Grace to winked at other, cashing Frankie to mumble something that sounded like when hell freezes over.
Frankie wipes her grease hands on a tea towel when she was done and stood up.
"Ladies, shall we go see what arse up these two have made today." Indicating for Grace and Mel to follow her upstairs.
Everyone trooped upstairs, Spencer asking Mel to video Frankie as she entered the nursery. Frankie stepped inside and flicked the light on, Boyd at her side so he could see her face. Three walls had been painted a very light yellow colour, a colour that was suitable for a boy or girl. The fourth wall was what caught everyone's attention. Along the top, it was blue, with white fluffy clouds and a plane on it. Then it changed to a yellow sand colour, with crabs, sandcastles and buckets and spades covering it. Then it dropped down to a dark sea coloured blue, fish, sharks, seaweed and more crabs breaking up the ocean.
Frankie was crying, in total awe at what she was seeing.
"You like it? Please say you like it. Took me and Spence ages to do just that one wall." The nervousness clear in Boyd's voice.
Frankie could only nod, great big tears rolling down her cheeks.
"I'm very impressed. Did you two do this all by yourselves?" Grace asked as she ran her hand over some of the decorations on the wall.
"We did!" The pride evident in Spencer's voice. "And we built the furniture." Placing his hand on the white cot which had the small Moses basket placed inside.
Frankie ran her hand over some of the stickers on the wall, smiling through the tears.
"It's beautiful, thank you both." First looking at Spencer then Boyd.
Spencer just nodded his head, Mel stepping up beside him and wrapping her arm around his waist as he did. Boyd moved to stand behind Frankie, sliding both arms around her waist from behind, his hands coming to rest on their unborn child.
"Glad you like it, Spence and I had fun." Feeling Frankie lean back against his chest.
"How about we make a move, let Frankie get some rest." Grace suggested when she saw Frankie lean back against Boyd and close her eyes.
Frankie opened her eyes and smiled as she looked at her colleagues. They had started out as just colleagues, yet now here they were friends, a weird family of sorts. Brought together through death and destruction in their field of work, bonded together through many hours of no sleep, hard graft, takeaways, and many an argument and shouting match.
This was how life was supposed to be.