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‘A very good one, too,’ Noah added from directly behind her

She hadn’t heard him move, or sensed his proxi her

Well, I ht not be rich or have the dress sense of the faenuine and love my family and life

‘Thank you’ She smiled at Noah

Noah straightened his already straight back ‘And this is our daughter, Holly’

‘Right’ Robert stepped nearer ‘Take a seat Jackson, would you please bring Noah and Anastasia sonored Holly

Stacey glanced at Alice, saw incredulity on her face Why? Noah was capable of fathering a child Even with her No wonder he wasn’t overly happy with these people They were cold, and aloof What had that done to a grieving ten-year-old boy needing so Holly closer Holly seemed to sense the atmosphere because she was unusually quiet, too

‘A glass of wine, Anastasia?’ Jackson asked with a friendly smile

Was Jackson his first or last na someone by their surname didn’t sit comfortably ‘Yes, please, Jackson A pinot noir, if that’s possible?’ A very large one, please

‘Of course What would Holly like? An orange juice, perhaps?’

‘She’d love that’

‘No proble when he turned to Noah ‘A chardonnay for you?’

‘A very small one, thanks’ Noah sat in the chair next to her ‘Where are the others?’ he asked Robert

‘Unfortunately your cousins have had to cancel,’ Robert answered ‘Perhaps you and I could go to s the wine There are a couple of issues I need to discuss with you’

‘Good idea’

Stacey saw Noah’s slight shrug as he stood up again Who was this Noah? No one she’dround as there would be at her home Not that her family made an issue of it It was just there in the way they spoke to each other

‘I won’t be long, Anastasia If Holly gets restless, sit her at that low table where she can colour her pictures’

‘Will do’ And she’d try to ignore that glare from Alice

‘Mummy, down’

Great ‘Shall we do so in?’

‘What happened to her arm?’ Alice asked

‘She was knocked over by a kid on a skateboard’

‘Should she be on the road at her age?’

‘So book in front of Holly, Stacey sat back on her ankles and looked around the roos in here’

‘Yes, I’m a bit of a collector Do you like art yourself?’

‘I know very little about it Just like what I like without understanding the nuances’

‘At least you’re honest’ For a mo in front of her ‘I used to dabble in art ood’

‘That’s a shame’