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the car exited the garage and roared off
into the distance. How awful; he was clueless about what was going on in his
family. And now she had six hours to put in till James came for their talk. She
felt like a sixteen-year-old with an important exam ahead of her; her stomach
was heaving and she felt… Oh no.
    It was morning sickness, of course. She’d had it badly with
Jaden; not physical sickness, more a horrible nauseous feeling, and it had gone
on for most of the pregnancy. Another eight months of feeling like crap was
staring her in the face, and who was going to hold her hand through it this
time? Amanda rolled out of bed and went to make tea and toast. They’d been the
only things that had helped last time.
    Fortunately, a slice of toast and a mug of sweet tea put
paid to the nausea for the moment. Amanda woke Jaden to ensure he’d be properly
tired at lunchtime, and started to think about what she should cook for James.
The few times he’d come here before, they’d had a glass of wine and some finger
food and then gone straight to bed, but that wouldn’t happen today. Eventually
she decided to make apple cake. Then they could have ice cream or just cream with
it, and coffee. She bundled Jaden into the buggy and set off for the local
shop.
    By twelve o’clock the house smelled like a farmhouse kitchen
and Amanda was putting Jaden into his cot. He stared at her, bleary-eyed and
thumb in mouth, then rolled on his side and slept. Amanda’s heart contracted
with love. What a good boy he was. He didn’t know his little world was in
danger of disappearing forever. Maybe the best thing would be to tell James the
baby was Gareth’s, end the relationship and make a go of her marriage, but oh,
she wouldn’t be able to live with the lie, she knew she wouldn’t.
    James arrived at ten past and hugged her. No smoochy kiss
today, no grabbing her the second the front door was shut. His face was serious
as he followed her into the kitchen. Heart thumping, she poured coffee for them
both and passed him a plate with a chunk of still-warm apple cake. And what
were they doing, sitting here playing happy families when they should be
discussing their future – and the baby’s future? She looked at him miserably.
    ‘Chin up,’ he said. ‘I’ve done a lot of thinking, and I’ve
come up with the perfect plan. Two words: you decide. If you want me to stick
around and play daddy, I will. If you want me to disappear, I’ll do that too.
My only proviso is, if I’m going to be paying out hard cash, we do a paternity
test.’
    The moist apple cake turned dry as dust in Amanda’s mouth.
So he would do the decent thing if pushed, otherwise he’d let her – and the
baby that was almost certainly his – go. Wasn’t that telling her something? And
he’d said nothing about moving in together; that was significant too. And she
still didn’t know how many girlfriends he had.
    He finished his cake and reached for her hand. ‘I know it’s
a lot to decide, but we don’t need to set it in stone today. I won’t leave you
in the lurch, don’t worry – unless you want to be left in the lurch. But that
would break my heart.’
    He grinned at her, the old sarcastic grin, and Amanda
melted. She could never resist him when he was like this. Five minutes later
they were in bed together.
    And ten minutes later she heard Gareth’s key in the door.

 
     
    Chapter Five
     
     
    Friday 16th May
     
    Ella couldn’t settle to anything. It was her day off and
normally she’d have had a quick blitz round the house to get it ready for the
weekend, or started preparations for any dinner guests they’d invited. But the
only visitor they were expecting today was Soraya, and the preparations were
complete – weren’t they? She opened the fridge yet again.
    Soraya’s favourite lime cordial – check. Victoria sponge –
check, and the vanilla ice cream to go with it was in the freezer. Chocolate
digestives in the cupboard –