A Father For Christmas by Meredith Webber

Author:Meredith Webber
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2011-06-04T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER SEVEN

MARNIE directed him towards the house hidden in the trees at the head of a narrow valley, relieved that the narrow road winding through the fern-littered rain forest demanded all of his attention.

‘Harriet is an ex-teacher who now makes paper. Paul writes poetry. They’ve lived here for about seven years and this child will be their third.’

She explained this more to break the silence in the car than to provide him with information he probably wouldn’t need. ‘You can stop wherever you can find a space,’ she added, staring with dismay at the collection of old trucks, vans, cars and bicycles cluttering the cleared area near the house.

As he cut the engine they could hear the muted sounds of revelry.

‘I can see another person would be overdoing things!’ Richard said, as a girl with flowers in her long flowing hair wafted past them and drifted along a track that led into the bush.

‘Sometimes people invite their friends,’ Marnie told him, aware of the stiffness in her voice.

‘All their friends?’ he persisted, his head cocked to one side as the noise from the house became a swelling cacophony of merriment.

‘I’d better go and see what’s happening,’ Marnie muttered. ‘I’ll just take the small bag—Harriet will have all the sheets and towels we’ll need.’

She climbed out of the car and looked back uncertainly at him.

‘I don’t mind waiting here,’ he said, and smiled as if he meant it, but the words did little to alleviate her anxiety and the smile did nothing for her equilibrium.

‘I’ll come and tell you if it’s likely to be a long wait,’ she promised, then she grabbed her bag out of the back and hurried up towards the house.

He watched her stride away from him, seeing competence and certainty in her bearing. Yet she’d looked uneasy when she’d turned towards him, as if his presence was some new variable that didn’t compute in the organised chaos of her life.

Then he saw her legs take the steps two at a time and he forgot about competence and confidence, thinking instead about the unpredictability of attraction and the dividing line between it and good old-fashioned lust.

Paul greeted Marnie at the top of the steps.

‘I’m sorry about the chaos, but Harriet’s pains began as the first guest arrived for Megan’s birthday party. She thought she’d be able to manage until after it was over, but this one’s in a hurry.’

Marnie sensed a tension in him, strange in someone as relaxed and laid-back as Paul.

‘I’ll get rid of them if you like,’ she suggested. ‘I’m sure they’d all understand.’

‘Who?’ he asked with a puzzled expression on his face.

‘The party-people.’ Marnie studied him more closely. He looked wretched, but not with the anxious look more common to expectant fathers. Paul’s face reflected dread and sadness, and his preoccupation had nothing to do with the birthday party.

‘What’s wrong?’

He responded to the blunt question with a start, then shook his head.

‘It might be nothing but these last few days Harriet hasn’t felt any movement.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.