Without a Doubt by Fleur McDonald

Author:Fleur McDonald
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Allen & Unwin
Published: 2019-02-22T05:00:00+00:00

Chapter 18

‘I’m going to go to Bunbury,’ Melinda told him.

Dave didn’t need to be a detective to know that’s what was going on. Her bags were packed and sitting by the front door, along with Bec’s pram and nappy bag.

He’d come in from work earlier than usual and the bags had been the first thing he’d seen. The familiar anxiety swirl had started in his stomach. Bec had walked in her unsteady gait towards him, her face split with joy. Dave had picked her up and buried his face in her neck. ‘Oh no,’ he’d whispered.

The white Ford Explorer, which had sat in the driveway, two days ago, was gone was replaced with Melinda’s small runabout. They’d only bought that to get around Barrabine, not to take the long journey back to Bunbury. Now it looked like it was about to make that trip.

‘It’s not forever, just until I get my head together. Have a bit of a break.’

He nodded, not trusting himself to speak. Reaching out, Dave held his finger to Bec and she took it, laughing up at him.

‘I think it’s for the best,’ Melinda finished.

‘I do too,’ Dave answered. ‘You need to know what you’ve got here, rather than imagine what’s back there. You’ve got to remember that we’re a family, that I love you and together we’ve had a child. We do what’s best for us, not what others think is right.’

‘That’s not fair, Dave, and you know it.’

‘Do I? Do I, Melinda? I love you, more than you could ever realise, but I’m not playing second fiddle to your father all the time. He’s the one who insists that I’m not good enough for you and there are times I think you agree with him. Whenever things aren’t going well, you call them. Tell them that I’ve been working late or haven’t been home much. But you never tell about the good times we have, so they just think I’m a prick!’

‘That’s not true.’ She put her arms around herself and hugged her body, distress on her face.

‘But it is, Melinda. I’ve come home and heard you on the phone. I’ve heard what you’ve said before you’ve realised I’m there.’ He looked at her sadly. ‘As much as I love you, we both know that if we’re not happy it impacts on Bec and I’m not prepared to do that to her.’

‘So you’re telling me to go?’

‘I thought you were telling me you were going.’

‘Dammit, Dave, don’t turn my words around and do what you’d do to your criminals. Yes, I want to go. For a little while, not forever, but the way you’re talking it sounds like you mean forever.’

‘It’s got to be your choice. I still have a year or so left here. If you’re not happy, you can’t stay, can you? I can’t make you. I don’t want you to be unhappy, Melinda. It hurts me if you’re sad.’ He shrugged. ‘When you love someone, you want what’s best for them. If leaving me to go back to Bunbury is what’s best for you, then you need to go.

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