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CHAPTER TEN

THE NEXT MORNING Noah parked outside the Wainwright house and drew a deep breath Then he climbed out of his four-wheel drive and headed up the path to the front door to knock loudly

When the door swung open, it took all his willpower not to pull Stacey into his ar her for another chance She looked sad, and dark shadows under her eyes suggested she’d had as little sleep as he had He’d done that to her ‘I’m really sorry’

She blinked Then nodded ‘Okay’

When she made to shut the door, he stepped forward ‘Wait I need to talk to you’

The door stopped‘I think you said it all yesterday, Noah Quite bluntly, in fact’

‘I haven’t come here to make demands’

‘I’ain the door was being pushed closed

‘Stacey, give o, I will’ Five hours wouldn’t be anywhere long enough to say as in his head In his heart But how else could he get her to listen to hiht work, but Stacey would h at him

‘Why, Noah? We are so different it’d be funny if not for Holly’

‘No, we’re not We laugh at the sas We have the same values And, yes, we have Holly’

‘Holly can’t be used to get me back on side’

Stacey was strong and self-contained She fought for what she believed in He’d found the wo forlike Christine in any way, shape or forive hi at hi to be easy

‘You’re right And I had no intention of using her to get you to listen to ht close the door firmly in his face

Finally Stacey stepped back and held the door wide

He stepped inside before she could change her mind

When the latch on the door snapped shut the air around them felt a little warmer, and the tension in his body eased a little He was nowhere near reaching what he’d set out for when he’d driven off from home, but Stacey was prepared to hear him out All in five minutes

With Toby present His stomach clenched when he saw Stacey’s brother seated at the table with Holly on his knee as they ate breakfast No sign of her parents Then he recalled Stacey saying so away for the weekend Of course he’d known the chances of being alone with Stacey were still remote, but he’d hoped for a

‘Morning, Toby Hello, Holly’ Noah brushed a hand over her sweet head and felt his heart lurch She was gorgeous She was his and Stacey’s More Stacey’s than his So far she’d done all the parenting Done it well, and with love

‘Hi, Noah You’re out early I hope you’ve corump for ever’

‘Shut up, Toby,’ Stacey snapped as she filled the kettle

Her brother ed ‘See what I mean?’

‘Haven’t you got solared at him

Toby grinned ‘Yep Holly and I are going to the park to play football, aren’t we, Hols?’

‘Yes, football!’

Stacey looked flustered ‘No, leave Holly here’

Did she need to have her girl by her side while he was here? Noah wondered