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She stares from me to Lukas in my arms then up to Dain, standing tall beside me, then back to me and around the three of us again—a circle of movement and amazement.
‘Surprise...’ I say weakly.
‘Oh, my...’ Ava looks from Lukas then up at Dain again. ‘Oh, my!’
‘May we come in?’ He floors her with his most charming smile.
Gaping, Ava steps back and we file inside her cramped student flat.
‘You’ve been keeping secrets,’ she hisses at me.
‘I know. This is Lukas.’ I pass my baby to his aunt. ‘And his father, Dain.’
Ava melts as she stares down at Lukas. ‘Talia, he’s gorgeous.’
Yep, both of them.
‘How did you—when?’ Ava’s eyes fill with curiosity and reproach. ‘What’s been going on?’
Emotion clogs my throat. At the sight of her displeasure I suddenly feel so guilty. I hadn’t really thought this might hurt her.
‘Talia didn’t want to worry you,’ Dain says gently.
‘I met Dain in Queenstown,’ I say. ‘One thing led to another...’
‘Sure did.’ Ava smiles awkwardly.
‘It was an instant thing,’ Dain says.
He still has his arm around me. He’s playing a part. I play my part too. Only for me it isn’t a pretence. My legs really are like jelly, my heart isn’t just racing, it’s turbulent. The attraction that hit me the moment I first saw him rears from its slumber. But it’s always been there. It never left me and now it’s wide, wide awake.
Ava offers us tea or coffee and apologises for the tiny flat. I’m used to it but I see Dain’s assessing glance around and stiffen. He sees me notice him and simply holds me closer. And that just makes me flustered.
‘You look thinner in the face.’ Ava studies me intently. ‘Are you sure you’re okay?’
I feel Dain’s quick frowning look down. After what happened last night I don’t need him being any more over-protective. ‘It’s just been busy. I’m fine.’
‘You’re able to feed him okay?’ Ava checks.
‘He’s a hungry boy.’
‘So you need to be eating enough to—’
‘Stop it.’ I force a laugh. ‘You’re a second-year med student, not a paediatrician already.’
‘Maternal nutrition is—’
‘Enough. I eat well.’ I shush her. ‘Dain’s overprotective enough, you’ll only make him worse.’
‘Good.’ Ava shoots him an imperious look. ‘Make sure she eats properly. Little and often.’ Ava glances at me again. ‘Make that lots and often.’
I shake my head.
‘You work too hard. You always have.’ Ava leans close and her voice lowers. ‘You should have told me.’
I feel queasy at her plaintive tone. I’ve hurt her when it was the last thing I wanted.
‘You needed to focus on your studies,’ I murmur.
