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Angel wrenched her back fro into her sli liquid-honey eyes ‘No, I’ht stand You’ll have to et any more of that,’ he told her with derision as he slapped a business card down on the table ‘My phone number…should you think better of your attitude today’

When he was gone, Merry paced back and forth in her s certain realities She hadn’t seriously considered Angel’s supposed solution But then that washer that he intended to trail her into court and fight for access to their daughter had scarcely acted as a good introduction to his alternative offer She was angry and bitter and she wasn’t about to apologise for the fact, but possibly she should have listened and asked more and lost her temper less

In addition, Angel’s visit had worsened rather than improved their relations because now she kneas prepared to drag her through the courts in an effort to win greater access to Elyssa And what if his aain sole custody of their daughter and take Elyssa away fro rapidly, Merry decided to visit her aunt and discuss herunder threat with her

Sybil, however, was nowhere to be found in the coround floor of her hohter that she realised her aunt and her daughter were upstairs She was disconcerted to walk into Sybil’s bedroo on the floor and find her aunt trailing clothes out of the wardrobes to pile into the two suitcases sitting open on the bed

‘My goodness, where are you going?’ Merry demanded in surprise

Sybil dealt her a shalance ‘I meant to phone you but I had so et a chance Yourout to Perth to be with her,’ she told her

Merry blinked in astonishment ‘Trouble?’ she queried

Sybil gri an affair and he’s walked out on your mother She’s suicidal, poor lamb’

‘Oh, dear,’ Merry frahter onto her lap She was sad to hear that news, but her troubled relationship with her dysfunctional parent prevented her fro truly sympathetic and that fact always filled her with remorse Not for the first ti of her kid sister’s frailties Tiain she had watched her aunt wade into Natalie’s emotional dramas and rush to sort them out with infinite supportive compassion Sometihter, could not be so forgiving, so tolerant, so willing to offer another fresh chance Possibly that could be because Merry rely, she told herself guiltily Natalie hadn’t wanted to be anyone’s Mummy and her constant rejections had deeply wounded Merry

‘Oh, dear, indeed,’ her aunt sighed worriedly ‘Natalie was distraught when she phoned s when she’s upset! She really shouldn’t be alone right now’

‘Doesn’t she have any friends out there?’ Merry prompted

Sybil frowned, clearly finding Merry’s response unfeeling ‘Fah for you to go Nor would it be right to subject Elyssa to that journey Natalie wouldn’t want a baby around either,’ she conceded ruefully

‘She really can’t be bothered with young children,’ Merry agreed wryly ‘Do you have to go?’

Sybil looked pained by that question ‘Merry, she’s got nobody else!’ she proclaimed, sharply defensive in both speech andafter things here…will you be able to e the centre? Nicky is free to take over for you from next week I’ve already spoken to her about it Betweenyour own business, you’re not able to drop everything for ht now’