(Holiday in Heaven or some might have thought

Chapter 1 (Holiday in Heaven or Some Might Have Thought?)

Mark entered the suite a little ashen imagining Bridget dead and a little out of breath, “ Bridget I have been looking everywhere for you.” “ I thought you’d broken a leg or something.” Once he focused what was in her hand it dawned on him, “Oh, God.” “Your not.”

Fear in her eyes she responded, “I might be.” “What if I were?”

But what a surprise he responded in unexpected joy,” Well, I suppose I’d.” And with a smile that became even more evident across his face and a light in his eye. “To be quite frank it’d be bloody fantastic.” “I mean, if a little ahead of schedule.” Paused for a moment as he processed the moment. “Are you really pregnant?”

A smug manner came across her face, “well, give it three minutes.” Sitting down as the joy swept across her face, “what do you fancy a boy or a girl?” She sat there with such relief as his continence reflected a hopeful and happy manner.

Agreeable to a fault and yet a bit nervous he stated, “I dunno, it doesn’t matter.” But then the gleam and desire popped forth betraying his last comment, “although, I suppose I’ve always had the fantasy of a son, another Mark Darcy.”

Loosing her internal editor she blurted out, “or maybe something like Huck or River or some fabulous Hebrew name like Noah.” She was off in her own dreams and he quickly in his unease wanted to push forward pretending he didn’t here the preposterous names. He said, “Anyway, I could teach him to play cricket and rugby and visit him at Eton on St. Andrews Day.”

Shocked she said, Eton?

Alarmed a bit in his mild manner and turning to her shocked that she would expect anything else he stated,” Yes, Darcy men have been going to Eton for five generations.

Feeling her defense rise she said, “Well, my son's not going to be sent away from home.” “Especially to some fascist institution where they stick a poker up your arse that you’re never allowed to remove again.

Disappointed and a little pale he responded, “I see.”

Realizing the err of her words she tried to recover, “I didn't mean you.”

He tried to dismiss it, “No, of course not.” But the monologue began to play in his head and before he knew it his internal editor was not working either. “So what’s the alternative?” “Sleeping in his parents’ bed and breastfeeding until he’s a teenager while at some progressive school, where the day is spent singing Yellow Submarine and teaching group masturbation.”

A little shocked and annoyed she responded, “Oh, you're absolutely right.” “It’s madness to allow a child to enjoy his education or live with his parents.” All the while she was growing more upset as she realized he must have thought the same of her.

He couldn’t let it go or even apologize as he rallied back with, “what is madness is to have a child if his parents can’t have a discussion without one shouting at the other.” He huffed and then puffed a bit.

She saw the positive mark but grabbed it quickly not about to reveal what it truly said and instead stood up and said, “It’s negative.” “That’s too bad.” He did not respond and he certainly did not express regret. He was smug and self – centered.

All the while she just deflected a while he finally responded with, “Yes, very sad.”

(The Aftermath of an unfortunate argument)

(Bridget’s Apt)

Echo over and over again “very sad.” She woke up as if it was a long playing nightmare and what was worse she lied. Throughout the meeting with the parents to their ultimate break-up.

“It is Madness!” Since I left him this dialogue has played in my head. “How would he have even known that I was pregnant and why would he care?” “You heard him, we aren’t thinking about that yet.” And when I asked him point blankly he just stuttered. One thing is for sure a girl does not want to be in a loveless relationship where you know your partner is stuck on the stick insect Rebecca, that beautiful tall and long legged - don’t have to fix perfect Rebecca.

Determined to move on.

I am now packing for Thailand. Shazza is coming to protect me from the lecherous Daniel. However, all of them have been bound to secrecy that Mark is not to know that I was indeed pregnant. I just couldn’t tell him not after the row we had and I would hate myself if this were the only reason we were together. “No I will be fine.”

Bridget Jones career Mom and Independent Single Woman.

Later the Dating War Command came for their nightly briefing: “Bridget I’m very reluctant to have you go.” F#k before you even enter airspace Daniel will want to be in your knicker, warned Shazza.

Bridget threw down her clothes in her suitcase, “Stop will you...I’m going and that is it.” She said miffed and determined to take care of herself.

Magda interrupted the two before they said things they might regret later, “Bridget can’t this be worked out...Jeremy says Mark is not the same surely you two can talk it isn’t too late.”

Then Bridget turned on her,“Wait is that the phone I hear ringing,” in her sarcastic manner. “No it isn’t...if he cares so much he would have fought and he would have stopped me.” “Did he and has the bloody phone rang?” Everyone looked at each other. “No, let me answer that for you,” was my retort.

As she turned Magda shook her head stunned at the anger and hurt at her friend’s continence, but also aware of Mark’s, and the secret she was privy to as well. For aside from the secrecy Magda kept with Bridget she was also bound to the secrecy that Mark had been over their home several times distraught and worse for wear. Magda even believed at one point after a few whiskey sours that she heard Mark sobbing in her husband’s den with the door closed. They were both so proud that it was blinding them to any happy conclusion. She doubled her fist and begged out of remaining there because it was killing her as well as the dating war command starting making jokes about the emotionally repressed barrister and their family friend. Then it came to her that maybe the christening would be the appropriate place to reunite them.

(Inns of Court)

Emptying another glass of brandy. “God I miss her.” Hitting his head with his hand but being a man of few words he sniffled a bit.

“Mark, aspirin with a brandy chaser is not the answer,” said Rebecca in an almost scolding way as she put her hand on his shoulder and sat next to him.

He slid to create some distance, “Rebecca please file the brief and court instructions for the Cruces Case,” and with nothing much more to say he placed on his black coat and left the house.

“He has never been quite the same since Bridget has left him.” Rebecca commented as Giles helped her complete and organize the information Mark left.

“I know one day you are at the top of your game and you are alive in love and the next...”Giles reliving his own disastrous situation,”Next you are wondering what went wrong.” “Come Rebecca we have a lot of work to do and unfortunately nothing can bring Mark out of hole, he has to do that himself.” Giles resigned although he knew what he was witnessing within Mark was far more gut wrenching than when his wife left him.

(Holland Park Home)

When Mark arrived home late in his mail was Magda and Jeremy’s invitation to a Christianing. “That is right I’m supposed to be one of the God parents.” He thumbed it for a bit as he paused to call Jeremy, and under his breath, “might as well it will be the closest I will ever be to having children of my own.” He made the call as he picked up the framed picture of Bridget that still remained in his home.