she felt awkward. Awkward that she’d abandoned them all. But it had been the only way. If she hadn’t cut the ties, she never would have survived. ‘I don’t know what time I’ll finish here …’
‘Doesn’t matter,’ Oliver said immediately. ‘Come over whenever. Bry and Jack are coming, and a few others. I’m trying to integrate my Helen into the community.’
Sally hesitated, wanting to know whether Tom would be there but not able to form the question.
To ask the question would make it look as though she cared.
And, anyway, hadn’t he said that he was working?
‘I’ll be there,’ she said quickly, not giving herself the chance to think about the invitation any further. It would be nice to go out. Nice to see Oliver again.
She went back to Charlotte and in virtually no time she was fully dilated and ready to push.
Sally called for Emma and together they quietly delivered the baby with the minimum of fuss and bother.
‘Well done, Charlotte,’ Sally said quietly as she handed the baby to her very tired but very proud mother. ‘You were amazing.’
‘I can’t thank you enough.’ Charlotte gazed down at her baby daughter and tears filled her eyes. ‘And I did it all by myself.’
‘That’s right.’ Sally smiled. ‘All by yourself.’
Emma sniffed. ‘And that’s the way it should be done.’
‘Another long day.’ Sally changed into her jeans and a jumper the exact colour of her eyes, slammed her locker shut and pocketed the key. ‘See you tomorrow, Emma.’
She ran down the stairs to the bike rack at the back of the unit and grabbed her mountain bike.
It was a cold, clear evening and she rode fast, chasing away the pressures of the past few days, enjoying the bite of winter air against her cheeks.
Oliver answered the door with a smile. ‘Sally!’ He stepped forward and hugged her tightly. ‘It is so good to see you. We’ve missed you.’
Touched by the warm welcome, Sally hugged him back. She’d missed her friends so much, but she hadn’t truly realized how much until she’d had the letter from Bryony. Her thoughts about home had always been dominated by Tom, and somehow along the way she’d forgotten just how many longstanding friendships she had in this small community.
For a moment she closed her eyes and allowed herself the rare treat of being held by someone, and then she pulled away and reached up to kiss his cheek, handing him the bottle of wine she’d brought with her.
‘Congratulations. Bryony tells me you finally met Miss Right. The women of Cumbria must be in mourning.’
Oliver grinned. ‘The fells are littered with sobbing females. Come and meet Helen. Everyone’s in the kitchen.’
Sally followed him through to the kitchen, smiling at Jack and Bryony and sniffing appreciatively. ‘Smells good, Oliver.’
A pretty blonde girl stepped forward, a smile on her face as she greeted Sally. ‘I’m Helen and I’m very pleased to meet you.’
‘Likewise.’ Sally glanced between them. ‘I’m really delighted for the two of you. I hear you met at Bryony’s wedding two months ago?’
‘That’s right.’ Oliver slipped an arm round Helen’s shoulders and hugged her. ‘We’re getting married in two weeks’ time and before you ask the obvious question, no, she isn’t pregnant but if I have my way she will be soon.’
Helen gave a shocked gasp and gave Oliver a little push. ‘Oliver, that’s awful! You shouldn’t say things like that in company!’
Her face was scarlet with embarrassment and Oliver cupped her face in his hands and kissed her gently.
‘That depends on the company.’ His tone was smug and his blue eyes twinkled. ‘This lot have always known I want a hundred children so it’s time we got started.’
Genuinely pleased that they were so happy, Sally managed a smile and tried to ignore the ache in her heart.
It would happen to her, she told herself firmly.
One day it would happen to her.
‘Have a drink.’ Oliver handed her a glass of wine and then tilted his head as the doorbell rang. ‘Be an angel and get that for me, Sal, while I finish cooking.’
The years fell away.
Suddenly she was ‘Sal’ again, and it felt good. Comfortable and safe.
During her childhood, being with Bryony, Oliver and Tom had been the nearest she’d come to belonging anywhere.
The nearest she’d had to family.
Suddenly she was glad that Bryony had married Jack. If she hadn’t, would she herself ever have found the courage to come home? Preoccupied, Sally walked to the front door and tugged it open, her smile of greeting fading as she found herself face to face with Tom.
CHAPTER FOUR
HE WAS dressed in black leathers, his motorbike helmet tucked under one arm, the dark stubble on his jaw an indication that he’d left the hospital in a hurry. He looked dark and dangerous and his blue gaze locked on hers in blatant challenge, his mouth tightening as their eyes met.
Her heart stumbled and her stomach lurched but her instinct to close the door and pretend that there was no one there was curbed by the knowledge that this wasn’t her house. She had no right to shut him out of his brother’s home.
And she really didn’t want him to know that she cared that much.
It was the one thing that stopped her dropping her glass and reaching for her coat.
Pride.
She was no longer so weak and pathetic that she believed that she couldn’t exist without Tom Hunter in her life.
Calling on inner reserves, she reminded herself that part of coming home had been to confront what she’d felt for Tom, and she couldn’t do that by avoiding him.
Avoiding him implied that she still felt something for him, and she wasn’t that foolish.
‘Well?’ A faint smile of self-mockery touched his firm mouth. ‘Are you going to slam the door in my face?’
The fact that she’d considered doing exactly that brought a trace of colour to her cheeks and she stepped to one side to let him in, careful that her gaze revealed nothing.
‘I hope I’m not that uncivilized, Tom.’
She wanted to ask why he wasn’t working, but stayed silent. She didn’t
