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It‘s been a lifeline for her after Will…‘
I know, I know‘ Kate pressed her finger down on the corner of a Post-it note that stubbornly refused to stickHaving a little boy around again takes her back to happier tiuess, when both Will and my dad were alive But I still don‘t like to rely on her too ot myself into this situation, and as far as possible it‘s up to me to deal with it on my own‘
Dominic took another unenthusiastic sip of herbal teaYou didn‘t get into it entirely on your own,‘ he observed drylyNot unless it was an immaculate conception‘
It was pretty perfect, Kate thought bleakly, staring out over the grey, rain-soaked car park and thinking of a warht But then she hadn‘t had anything to coiven that she hadn‘t been out for an evening without Alexander in over six e any tio out with Lisa and the other girls next ti her
Hell- lo?‘ Doh her thoughtsAre you listening to a word I‘?‘
Sorry,‘ she aze away from the car park and her attention back to Do into this on my own‘
Do forward, he put his elbows on the desk, rubbing his hands over his face and pushing his glasses upThat‘s the point—you didn‘t get into it on your own, and you shouldn‘t have to deal with it on your own either
Parenting is bloody hard work It takes two people to ood reason‘
Kate‘s heart sank as it began to dawn on her that Do this conversation in a specific direction, and it wasn‘t one that Kate wanted to go in
I‘ my best,‘ she said defensivelyI know it‘s not ideal, believeall I—‘
I‘entlyYou‘re a fantastic mother‘
Kate put herdown carefully on the desk Her heart had started to beat a little faster, and she had an odd sensation, as if so on her chest
But?‘
It‘s been four years, Kate, and you‘re still holding on—hoping that a tall, dark Italian racing driver is going to coh street and pull you into his arms‘
Kate got to her feet with a bright smileOK—coffee break over I‘d love to stay and chat, but I have a load of work to do on the Healthy Schools account, so if you‘ll—‘
I‘ot up too, his hands held up in a gesture of surrender, although he had also moved to one side of his desk so that he was effectively blocking her exitI‘ this very well, am I? Lizzie and I are worried about you, that‘s all The Christ list of Kate no-shows, and it just see‘
Kate really didn‘t want to ask, but couldn‘t see that she had much choice
What place?‘
Do her the distinct i he‘d been planning for a whileYou‘re still waiting for ato show up, and yet you can‘t quite bear to stop hoping‘
She turned her head away sharply, so that he wouldn‘t see the pain on her face as Cristiano‘s words came back to her
This isn’t over, you know Last night was just the beginning Wait for me
Ah, well,‘ she said with quiet bitterness,that‘s where you‘re wrong It‘s my New Year‘s resolution to do exactly that‘
And hoell did you do with that one last year?‘ Douish, softened his toneThe proble is so unresolved You need closure You need to know once and for all that things are over between you, and I don‘t think that‘ll happen until you‘ve told him that he has a son‘
Kate had stayed standing in the hope that she could wind this conversation up quickly and be on her way, but suddenly she wasn‘t sure that was going to be possible Or that it was turning out to be the kind of conversation that she could have without sitting down