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‘A single e of Rafferty’s?’ Charles Rafferty huffed out a disparaging laugh ‘I thought you had more sense than that, Beaufils As for you, Polly, I knew letting you take over was a ut instinct’

The blood rushed from her cheeks and her knees weakened He’d admitted it He didn’t want her Her appoint but a mistake in his eyes

‘Clara’s a single mother,’ Raff said His voice was lint in his eyes ‘At least she was Polly, I’m sorry, you’ He rubbed his jaw, the blue eyes rueful ‘You surprised me but you’re not alone I hope you know that Clara and I are right here’ Polly nodded, nurandfather, still standing up, still glaring

‘You tays did stick together,’ he said ‘It doesn’t change anything It’s hard enough for any working mother to be at the top, impossible for a woman on her own It’s not old-fashioned, it’s common sense’

‘There are plenty of single parents at Rafferty’s, h the tense air, drawing all the attention away fro her hands together to keep the

‘The only person, monsieur, who sees a problem here is you Which is ironic because if you had seen her worth earlier, if you hadn’t pushed her away, then maybe she wouldn’t be in this position You need to think very carefully about how you treat and value your granddaughter before you lose her for ever—and the great-grandchild she is carrying’

Charles Rafferty paled and Polly and Raff exchanged a concerned glance as he sat down heavily in his chair His tongue wasn’t weakened though ‘I thought we had established that this has nothing to do with you’

Gabe didn’t quail under the withering tone ‘Non? Who held her hair when she was sick? Who sat with her during the first scan? I didn’t ask to be involved but she has no one else You make it quite clear that she can’t come to you’

Charles Rafferty gasped, a shuddering intake of breath, and Polly was back on her feet Before she could lass of water and her grandmother had moved round to him, her usually aloof expression one of concern

This was all getting horribly out of hand ‘Gabe!’ How dared he? How dared he try and explain away her actions? Interfere? ‘A word? In private?’

Still treer than with shock, she led hiarden was one of her favourite spots with shady, hidden spaces and a strea across the bottom Today it was just somewhere convenient

‘How dare you talk to randfather like that? What the hell do you think you’re doing?’

Hisup for you’