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‘You’ve read too much into our relationship’

‘We all think she’s wonderful She fitted in with everyone, and that’s saying so’

How true ‘You’re right on that score’ Why did Allie auto on the scene?

Ever consider Molly ht have dumped me?

‘I’et hauled back to the departht than get into a scrap somewhere’

‘Nathan’

‘If I didn’t know better, I’d say that was Mu to me’

Allie chuckled ‘Believe it, brother Now, tellon’

‘I’m at work, Allie’

‘Having a break You wouldn’t be worrying what Rosie would have to say about you finding someone else, by any chance?’

‘Hardly She told me to move on and not live on my own for ever’ So why the hesitation on his part? He couldn’t put it all on Molly Was trying to save her pain an excuse for his own insecurities? Talk about mixed up At some point they both had to take a step into the unknohether it was together or with other people He wanted to do it with Molly So was he worried about letting Rosie’s memory down?

‘Are you sure?’ His sister echoed his doubts

No, he wasn’t sure about any dao Talk later in the week’ He ended the call before Allie said anything else disruptive to his thinking Not that it was hard to do, he thought as he bit into the chicken roll he’d bought at his favourite bakery Today they’d failed him The roll was tasteless, the bread dry, and there wasn’t enoughthe lukewarm coffee down the sink, he went back to work in search of a distraction One that didn’t have red curls and sad eyes

Saturdayup and down the laith the mower as if a swaroing? The place was closer to Bondi Beach than Bondi Junction She’d shown no reticence about filling hiency when he’d asked He hadn’t asked what had happened to the idea of purchasing a property Could be she wasn’t as ready for so permanent after all It’s what she’d said about a relationship with him

Nathan ran out of lawn to do battle with Nohat? If there were so, but the sea couldn’t be calmer If only the kids had turned up He was in his happy zone with them Family hat it was all about

There’s ht woman first Not only as the mother but for you, your partner, lover, holder of your heart

He shook his head When he’d finally found the wo into his heart, it had all gone wrong

Did I scare her off?

Nathan sank down on one of the outdoor stools and stared unseeingly out to sea Was that why she’d pulled out? The only thing wrong with that idea was that she’d sounded so genuine about not being sure of herself, of needing more time to become comfortable with herself A lot erate She’d meant every word, so he could relax on that score He hadn’t frightened her away But there had been h her eyes as she’d turned to leave that night

Could it be his need to have children that was the proble hi everything right with the iven, after what her ex had done to her

This was getting too co in an atteive him

Tugging his phone from his pocket, he called Molly on speed dial, and listened to the ringing go on and on until voice e to leave a nuhten Da her phone just to hear her voice He hit ‘end’ This was spooky Molly was out there soone away for ever Co the situation with that of Rosie was desperate

He rang Molly’s nuain ‘Hey, Molly, it’s Nathan Give ent’

She ot that because he didn’t hear back from her

Finally, unable to focus on any of the

chores that needed doing, he went for a drive It wasn’t until he was driving over the Harbour Bridge that he realised where he was going A calm settled over him Yes, he needed to do this, to find out if he was ready to move forward