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In Bondi Junction she sat outside the shopping centre, feeling ill, until it opened With her purchase finally in her hand, she headed for home and privacy, afraid of the outcome, almost too scared to find out Almost

‘Answer your da his on the bench with a clatter ‘I need to talk to you,’ he added in a lower tone ‘Please’

He paced the kitchen Think of another way to get her attention Clie and threaten to juht not work in the circumstances

The phone rang Hope soared Allie’s name blinked at hiestions, he ignored her She’d told hiut had been telling hiht not be feeling so sore and uptight

He did need to talk to so up the keys to his four-wheel drive, he headed for the garage, where he paused If she wasn’t taking his calls then ere the chances she’d let hiaze fell on thehim it hadn’t been out for a run in weeks Not since the day he’d brought Molly hoested a fast ride out of the city The first time he’d seen how exciteht tenderness to her face

Now he knehat to do His finger zipped across the keys on his phone

Hey, Molly, feel up to that ride in the redfor the Blue Mountains and would like some company

He pushed Send before he had ti for a reply that ? Nope He’d pack a picnic, find a blanket to spread on the grass, and put a bottle of wine in a chiller pack Then he’d change into so less manky and head for Bondi Junction

Midave up on her walk and let herself into the apart for the kettle to make tea Her stomach told her it

was not taking tea or anything else right at the moment But she needed to eat She had a baby on board to look out for She also needed sleep, but that was probably asking tooup so many questions and doubts—all to do with Nathan The father of her baby He had to be told, and soon She wouldn’t hold out on hied with the old one but getting past that—would not hold back on the truth All of it this time

Her phone pinged Nathan again

Hey, Molly, feel up to that ride in the redfor the Blue Mountains and would like some company

So would I Yours especially

But would Nathan still be talking to her after she gave hiet back with hi reasons? Only one way to find out Shirking this hat the old Molly would’ve done She was going to be awith talking straight to Nathan

Sinking onto a chair, she stared at the phone in her shaky hand Do it

Yes, please Then she dug deeper Do I get to drive?

I promised, didn’t I? Ten minutes away

Tento wear? The ood Sensational even She was going to blow Nathan out of the water with her news and—and he wouldn’t care about what she earing Her shoulders dropped

This is being tough?

The green floral dress was too loose, the black trousers and orange shirt didn’t go with the new boots, the red blouse and crea The pile on the floor grew as her wardrobe emptied

‘What will you think of me when I tell you the rest of why I had to leave you, eh, Nathan?’

Ding-dong

She was about to find out Unless—No, she was not going to chicken out

Ding-dong

Molly ran through the apartment in her underwear and stabbed the button by the door ‘You can’t co for his reply, she raced back to her bedrooed on jeans and pulled a cream jersey over her head But when her curls refused to be contained she stopped to stare at herself in the mirror