Embrace You: Book (Loneliness) by Alison Cole Read Free Book Online Page B

the magistrate and see if he'll give you lot the right to meet with members of the press. Act like you're going to answer all their questions. Build up to a huge denouement. Then, at the end, when it looks like you're going to give them a huge scoop, give them the big zero. Of course, you'd have to decide ahead of time what you're going to say and how you're going to build up to that big zero."
    I look at Marcus, completely confused. The past few nights of interrupted sleep are telling on me.
    "I don't know, Tim. I'd need to think about this and talk to Marcus about it. Right now, thinking of anything beyond Lizzie's next nappy is too much for me."
    "Guys, can we think about this and decide if it would work? If we think it might, we'll talk more about it then," Marcus suggests.
    "Okay, Johanna, I know you're completely exhausted right now. Let me explain why and how we came up with this idea. The press are dancing you two a very un-merry jig right now. Every time they are stopped by an injunction or gag order, they pop up somewhere else you don't expect them to. This is what we're thinking: Talk to the barrister for the magistrate. Let him know what we've suggested. Which is this...Marcus would call the tabloids and rags that have been bothering you the most. Promise a huge scoop to them - provided they leave you alone after you talk to them. They're going to jump at that. Then, we all sit down and decide just what you will give them. We'll decide what we're going to use as bait for the Big Reveal. Then, as you're talking to them, you reel them in with harmless little tidbits. Start building up to that Big Reveal. Then, when it's time, wind them up and give them - absolutely nothing. And usher them back out the door, all the while reminding them of what they've promised you."
    I'm barely able to keep up as my heavy eyelids drift down. I look at Marcus and he's slowly nodding his head. He's able to keep up much better than I can.
    "Coffee. Or tea. Something to wake me up," I mutter.
    Laslow hears me and puts his hand out, indicating he's going to get me something. A few minutes later, I'm holding a big, steaming mug of strong tea. I sip slowly, savoring the heat and flavor. I feel more alert and as if I can actually hold two thoughts in my melted brain.
    "Okay, so let me see if I have this straight. You lot are suggesting that we promise a big scoop to the press, get together with them, give them small pieces that we wouldn't mind having out there? And then, we wind them up and make them think we're going to give them something huge...am I right?" At Tim's nod, I go on. "Then, when they think we're going to give them the biggest scoop of their careers, we give them nothing. How do we keep them away after that? They will be highly upset," I say.
    "That's where your prior arrangement with the barrister comes in. Marcus, you make them leave. You escort them out, all the while reminding them of their promise to you - that they will leave you alone. And, if they threaten to come after you for anything, any scoop, you tell them that you will complain to the barrister and magistrate if they don't stop."
    "Okay, I think we need to talk about this. Right now, she's totally exhausted because the phone calls stop Lizzie from sleeping. Which disrupts her - and our - night time sleeping habits."
    "Have you shut your phone off?"
    "Yes. They can't get in through the gate."
    "How do they keep Lizzie awake then?"
    "They leave voice mails, and even though we have the volume turned way down, those calls are still loud - it travels upstairs!"
    "Disconnect the house phone. We'll communicate with you via email or your cell phones. Have your families call only your cell phones or contact you via email. Just...disconnect that farkin' phone!" Tim says.
    "Johanna, what do you think?" Marcus asks me.
    "I...think I like the idea, but I need time to think it through first." While I feel more alert, my brain is still moving like stiff cement.
    From that