a chance to rest. I’ll find somewhere to stay for tonight.’
And give myself a chance to think, at least, he thought. He reached into his wallet and pulled out a piece of paper on which he’d written his number. ‘This is my mobile number. Phone me when you’ve rested.’ And then he spun on his heel and walked away from the lot of them, wishing he had warned them he was coming, though he wasn’t sure it would have gone over any better if he had.
Well, they knew the truth now. He’d done what he’d come to do. Learnt something he’d never envisaged and was still grappling with that momentous news. He allowed himself one long sweeping glance over the woman he had dreamed about every night, soaking in the splendour that was Maeve. Her breasts full and ripe for his child, her belly swollen and taut, and her face pale with the distress he’d caused her.
Maeve allowed Tara to steer her back inside, up the hallway to her bedroom, because suddenly she felt as weak as a kitten. Simon was still standing on the street, watching the black utility disappear down the road with a frown on his face, but she’d worry about Simon later.
An almost silent whistle from Tara beside her drew her attention as she sat down on her bed. ‘So that’s Rayne. Not quite what I imagined. A tad larger than life.’ Tara squeezed her arm in sympathy. ‘You look pale from shock.’
Maeve grimaced in agreement. Glanced at Tara, calm and methodical as usual as she helped her take off her shoes. ‘It was a shock. And highly embarrassing. Not only did I faint but then proceeded to throw up in front of him.’
She felt the assessing glance Tara cast over her. ‘For a very pregnant lady you’ve had a busy morning and it hasn’t really started yet.’
It was barely seven o’clock. ‘Lucky I got up early. It was supposed to be a gentle Christmas morning walk for Simon’s newspaper.’
‘The shop won’t be open. But your Rayne is a Christmas present with a difference.’ Tara laughed. ‘What was it you said when you described him to me? A head taller and shoulders like a front-row forward and those dark eyes. No wonder you fell for him, boots and all.’
A fallen woman. And still in love with him, boots and all. ‘Is it mad that even after ten minutes with him after all this time, I wanted to go with him? That I feel like we’ve been together for so much more than one night? That I can even feel that when he’s just been away? When even I know that’s too simplistic and whitewashed.’
She saw Tara look towards the bedside table, cross to her glass of water and bring it back for her. ‘Even from where I was standing, I could feel the energy between you two. I wouldn’t be surprised if Simon felt it too.’
‘Thanks for that, at least.’ She took a sip of water and it did make her feel a little clearer. ‘Problem is, I was okay to sleep with but not okay to tell that he was going to prison.’
‘Well.’ Tara looked thoughtful. ‘It seems he has got an explanation if he took the blame for his mother. And things are different now. He can’t just walk away and think you’ll be better off without him without even discussing it.’
She touched Maeve’s shoulder in sympathy. ‘And you have been carrying his child. So I guess at least a part of him has been with you since then.’ Tara gave her a quick hug. ‘He looks tough and self-sufficient but doesn’t look a bad man.’
She knew he wasn’t. From the bottom of her heart. ‘He’s not. I believe he’s a good man.’ She stroked her belly gently. ‘I have to believe that if he’s going to be part of our lives. And until this …’ she patted her belly again ‘… Simon wouldn’t hear a wrong word said about him.’ She glanced at Tara and smiled to lighten the dramatic morning. ‘And we both know Simon has good taste.’
Tara blushed but brushed that aside. ‘Did he say he wants to be a part of your lives?’
In what brief window of opportunity? ‘We didn’t get that far. What with me fainting like a goose at the sight of him.’ Maeve shook her head. Thought about it. ‘He said he hadn’t opened my mail. That he didn’t know I was pregnant.’ She thought some more. ‘But he didn’t look horrified when I told him.’
‘Helpful. Though why he wouldn’t open your mail has me puzzled.’
Me, too. ‘I’ll be asking that when he comes back. And it’s Christmas morning.’ She suddenly thought of the impact of her commotion on everyone else’s day. That’s what Lyrebird Lake did to you. Made you begin to think more of other people. ‘I hope it doesn’t spoil your first Christmas with Simon. I feel like I’m gatecrashing your engagement celebrations with my dramas.’
‘Nothing can spoil that.’ A lovely smile from Tara. ‘I’m just glad we’re here for you. No better time for family. And Simon will be fine.’
Tara had said family. The idea shone like a star in a dark night sky. It was a good time for family. Tara had probably meant Simon’s family but Maeve was thinking of her own. Rayne and her and their baby as a family.
To Maeve it had felt like she’d been marking time for Rayne to arrive and now he was here he was her family. As long as he could handle that idea. Well, he’d just have to get used to it.
She heard Simon’s footsteps approaching and as he paused at her bedroom door Maeve felt his assessing glance.
She looked at him. ‘Rayne went to gaol for his mother! That’s what he’d come to tell you that night.’
Simon nodded. ‘So it seems. Fool. He didn’t get around to it and if he had I would have tried to talk him out of it. I’m not surprised he didn’t rush into an explanation. He knew I would have told him that taking the blame for his mother wouldn’t help her at all.’
What kind of man made that sort of sacrifice without flinching? Actually, her man. ‘He went to prison for her. Lost his job and his reputation.’ And me, she thought, but didn’t say it. Well, he hadn’t lost her yet.
Simon rubbed the back of his head. ‘That news just makes me more angry with him. But I’ll get over it.’ He rubbed again. ‘Obviously I’m still battling with the idea I didn’t suspect Rayne would do that. Now it’s glaringly obvious. So I let him down too.’
He put his finger up and pointed at her. ‘Maybe you should do what he suggested. Lie down. You’re as pale as a ghost and the family won’t be here for another two hours for breakfast.’
Maybe she would. Because she had plans for tonight. ‘I want Rayne to spend Christmas with us.’
Simon didn’t look as surprised as she’d thought he would. He glanced at Tara and Maeve caught the almost imperceptible nod between them. ‘Thought you might—just don’t rush into anything,’ was all he said.
Rayne threw his duffle bag on the floor of the sparse hotel room and himself onto the single bed on his back. He’d had to knock on the residence door to ask if they were opening today. The guy had said not officially and let him in. Given him a room and said he’d fix him up tomorrow.
Rayne pulled the packet of letters from his pocket and eased open the first one. Started to read about Maeve’s pregnancy. After ten minutes, and an aching, burning feeling in his gut, he loosened his belt and lay down on the bed. His mind expanded with images, good and bad, of his time with Maeve and what she’d gone through because he hadn’t been there for her. He couldn’t stomach it. He searched for
