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seen.
    ‘It was almost the best night’s sleep I’ve ever had,’ I confess, ‘but it was missing you.’ I tap the laptop that I’m still holding. ‘So?’
    ‘We were talking about it before, so I thought I’d do a little research.’ Piers shrugs. ‘I don’t have much else to do.’
    ‘You rest and get better,’ I say sternly, ‘and I’ll be taking this with me.’
    I put the laptop in my handbag because I know if I don’t that Piers will be working from his hospital room, if he hasn’t been already, and that’s not going to help him recover from surgery. I should also check in his bag if there are any work documents and take his BlackBerry away. I should have done that last night, but I expected him to be resting when I got here. He’s such an idiot.
    ‘I need something to do,’ he points out. ‘I can’t lie here all day.’
    ‘Well, I’ll be here, and I’ll pick up some books from Barnes & Noble. Any preferences?’
    ‘Whatever looks good, though if you’re in the mood for picking up something...’
    This had better not involve me going into his office and picking up files.
    ‘... one of the nurses this morning was telling me about a great little Mexican place that’s two minutes away,’ Piers says hopefully.
    ‘Oh, was she now?’ I tease. ‘Was that who you were considering eloping with?’
    It’s Piers’ turn to shoot a pointed glance at me. ‘Yes, he recommends their enchilada suizas. He said they are the best ones he’s ever had.’
    No comment on the fact that he was looking up how to get a marriage licence in New York City then.
    ‘And you should try out this place near the hotel,’ he continues. ‘Their duck and walnut porridge dish with four cheese grits is amazing.’
    I pull a face because that sounds so wrong. ‘For breakfast?’
    ‘No, no, for dinner.’
    I pull another face. ‘Hmmmm, if you’re good I might pop over and bring you back a portion of those... enchilada suizas, was it?’
    He nods. For a moment his face looks a little bit brighter.
    ‘And maybe we’ll try that porridge place when you’re better,’ I continue. ‘You can order that dish and I’ll have something a bit more normal.’
    He smiles at me. ‘I’d like that.’
    ‘And the wedding?’ I prompt.
    ‘It’s a thought, isn’t it, if we no longer want to get married at Tharnham?’
    He’s looking at me hopefully. I can almost block out his dark circles and grey pallor and see the man I fell in love with, until a machine beeps and I’m reminded that Piers is very ill and we’re in hospital. Things are not how they should be.
    ‘ You no longer want to get married at Tharnham,’ I point out, ‘and I understand why you wanted to get married sooner rather than later, but why didn’t you tell me about your illness?’
    I know I said I’d wait until he gets better, but I can’t stop myself. The thought of what I’d be dealing with right now if Piers hadn’t pulled through his surgery... I take a deep steadying breath and try to ignore the stab of pain I feel from merely thinking that awful thought.
    ‘I–’
    My phone buzzes, which stops Piers talking.
    ‘Aren’t you going to get that?’ he asks hopefully.
    I shake my head. ‘You were saying?’
    ‘It could be important.’ He’s so using this as a delaying tactic.
    I roll my eyes as I reach into my bag. ‘It’s Ob.’ I open the message and quickly scan it. ‘Shit!’
    ‘Pony?’
    I ignore him and reread the message again, hoping it will say something different, but it doesn’t.
    ‘Arielle, what is it?’
    I look up at Piers. ‘Ob’s going to be a dad,’ I tell him.
    Piers’ surprised expression probably mirrors my own.

Chapter Four
    ‘What?’ Piers looks as shocked as if I’d told him that Ob has grown a second head.
    ‘A-huh. Oh, and Etta was taken down to the police station for questioning,’ I share, as I quickly text Ob back. I tell him that I’ll call as soon as visiting hours are over, then I switch off