Devoted: The Blackwell Lessons Part 29

'I'm really sorry,' I say, pus.h.i.+ng the tea away. 'I don't know what's wrong with me.'

'I'll call the doctor,' says Marc. 'Ask for a private visit.'

'It's far too late-'

'I don't care how late it is. You're not well.'

I manage a smile. 'Marc, I think this is normal.'

'For you not to eat? When you're carrying a baby? Sophia, I'm calling the doctor whether you like it or not.'

54.

Marc carries me to the bedroom and tucks me under the duvet.

The nausea is settling down now, although my stomach still feels sea sick.

'Thank you,' I say. 'For looking after me.'

'It's my pleasure.' Marc sits on the edge of the bed.

'You shouldn't be worried. It's just morning sickness. It's normal.'

'Still. It's important to have you checked over. Just in case. If anything happened to you-'

'Marc, this is just pregnancy. I'm fine.'

'I know. But still. It's hard. Seeing you ill.'

'It's only a little bit of sickness. I think I can cope.'

'Let's see what the doctor has to say.'

Dr Christian arrives half an hour later.

'Well missy,' she says, bringing a chair to the bed. 'Marc tells me you've been having some sickness. Perfectly normal, but I'll check you over just in case.'

'I told him it was normal,' I say. 'He insisted on calling you. I would have just slept.'

Dr Christian smiles. 'He's worried about you. Like any good would-be father. This kind of thing is hard for men. Nature. They tend to want to control everything. But the truth is nature can't be controlled. It does what it likes.'

'I know.' I struggle to sit up in bed. 'Oh wow. I really do feel sick today.'

'Do you think you're actually going to vomit?' Dr Christian asks.

I shake my head. 'I don't think so. I just don't really want to eat.'

'Don't worry too much. If you can't eat anything at all by tomorrow afternoon, give me a call.'

'Okay.'

Dr Christian checks me over and declares me in perfect health.

'You know, morning sickness is a good sign,' she tells me. 'It says your body is preparing the hormones you need.'

'I'm glad there's a positive,' I say.

'Get a good night's sleep. Plenty of fluid if you can manage it. Rest. Hopefully you'll feel better tomorrow.'

The next morning, I wake up in a foetal position with Marc's arms around me.

I'd hoped to feel hungry. But instead I feel sick. Really sick. Even worse than last night. The thought of breakfast makes me want to throw up.

I push Marc's arm off and run to the toilet.

I only just make it and throw up as quietly as I can. But I should have known Marc would hear and as I'm wiping my mouth I see his bare feet behind me.

'Sophia-'

'Go back to bed Marc. I don't want you to see me like this.'

'Don't be ridiculous.' He stoops down. 'You look beautiful to me all the time. All the time.'

He hands me a tissue and I dab my mouth.

'Water?' Marc asks, his voice soft.

I shake my head. 'I don't think I can stomach anything just now.'

'Let me help you back to bed.'

'But I need to get to work. To the film set.'

'You're not going anywhere.'

'Marc I have to. I promised Nadia that pregnancy wouldn't make a difference. And she's rearranged the whole filming schedule for me. Morning sickness can go on for months and months. I can't stay in bed the whole time.'

Marc's thick, dark eyebrows pull into a frown. 'Sophia, nothing is more important than your health. And the health of our baby. Nadia will understand-'

'I'm going.' I get to my feet and walk into the bedroom, grabbing a silk dressing gown. 'Maybe there's something I can manage for breakfast.'

55.

In the kitchen, Rodney prepares a whole menu pastries, smoothies, porridge, yoghurt ... but I can't manage any of it. The only thing I can cope with is tiny sips of sparkling water.

Marc stays by my side, watching me with concern.

'I don't want you going to the film set today,' he says.

'I know. But I have to.'

'Sophia-'

'Marc, we've been through this. I'm not going to change my mind. If I feel like I can't cope I'll come home. Okay?'

'At least let me accompany you on set.'

'For today,' I say. 'But after that we have to carry on as normal.'

'I can't agree to that.'

'Marc.' I take his hands. 'Listen. I'm going to be pregnant for a long time. We have to have something of a normal life. Will you please support me? Pretty please? I agreed to do this movie.'

'I know that.' Marc sighs. 'I will support you. But the second I think something could be affecting your health-'

'The doctor said I was fine. It's just morning sickness. I should get dressed. I need to be on set.'

It turns out to be a long day. The sickness doesn't go away and in fact gets much worse when I'm near coffee or the buffet lunch table.

I don't want to admit I'm feeling sick, so I tell Nadia that Marc is here to keep me company. I can tell she doesn't quite believe me, but she's too polite to question it.

Every time I visit the toilet, I return to find Sigourney trying to talk to Marc.

It's annoying, but that's all it is. In fact, her flirting helps me realise how uninterested Marc is. He practically turns his back on her, and is clearly sick and tired of her efforts to chat him up.

My jealousy vanishes, and instead of thinking about my own feelings, I notice Baz.

He looks sad.

It's sort of sweet in a way. This big strong man hung up over a girl. I've seen Baz in movies before and he usually plays ruthless, murdering psychopaths. Men to be feared. It's nice to know he has a soft side.

'Give me a minute,' I tell Marc. 'I just want to talk to Baz.'

'Why?' Marc asks.

'Just ... I'll be back in a second.'

I head over to Baz and grab the chair beside him.

'Hey,' I say.

Baz gives me a tired smile. 'What's up princess? You've got bored of Marc already?'

'That princess nickname really has stuck, hasn't it?'

'It's well deserved.'

'So how are you doing?'

'Not great.'

'How are things with you and Sigourney?'

'f.u.c.king terrible.' Baz downs his Red Bull. 'I liked her, I really did. But she doesn't get that I could be good for her. She's freaking out.'

'There'll be other girls-'

'Not like her.' He throws his Red Bull can in the bin. 'I thought she could be the one. Finally.'

'You could see yourself with Sigourney?'

Baz nods. 'I could be good for her. I understand messed up. She just needs someone who can put her in line. Hey.' He puts a friendly arm around my shoulder. 'You're a good girl, princess. You know that?'

I feel Marc's shadow over us.

'Is this man bothering you Sophia?' says Marc. He's joking. Sort of.

'We were just talking about relations.h.i.+ps,' I say.

'Make sure Baz knows you already have one.'

Baz laughs. 'Like I'd mess with your girl. I've seen you fight, remember? You're f.u.c.king lethal.'

'I was taught by the best.'

Nadia hurries over to us with a clipboard. 'Sophia! You're up, honey pie. It's time for you and Leo's big scene. Are you ready?'

'Me and Leo?' I ask, glancing at Marc. 'I thought it was me and Ruby today. And me and Leo tomorrow.' I lower my voice meaningfully.

Nadia doesn't catch my tone. 'No, no, I made a change. I thought hey, if you and Leo are going to have this big romantic moment, it should be by this fabulous building.' She waves her hand at the Tower of London. 'Right? I mean what a backdrop for some hot love action.'

'Hot love action?' says Marc, his voice low.