Page 217 of Modern Romance September 2026 Books 1-4

Despite the now clearing rain, the night was warm. The cold she felt had another source.

‘You don’t what? Don’t want to face the fact you made a mistake? Or is it me you can’t face? Either way there’s no point sitting out here feeling sorry for yourself. You can feel miserable in the comfort of a dry house. Once I know you’re inside and not about to be struck by lightning, maybe I can relax and get some rest at last.’

That hadn’t come out the way she intended but he wasn’t the only one strung out by tonight’s revelations.

Dido had gone from wanting nothing more than to stay in his bed, to answering his questions then reliving one of the worst times of her life.

She was bombarded by so many mixed emotions she didn’t know how she felt. All she knew was she didn’t hate him as she’d once told herself she did.

Slowly he turned to face her, his face deeply shadowed, yet she felt the weight of his gaze. ‘You wouldn’t be happy if I got blasted by lightning? After what I did?’

‘Of course not. Don’t say such a thing.’

Dido knew he didn’t mean it literally, but she remembered the shock of losing her parents to a freak accident, there one minute and gone the next. She couldn’t wish such a thing on anyone.

‘You’re a remarkable woman, Dido Jones.’

‘I’m not at all remarkable.’

A crack of laughter filled the air. ‘Yet I’ve never met anyone like you.’

She was about to tell him he’d mixed with the wrong people but snapped her mouth closed. That truth cut too close to the bone.

He rose and she was struck again by the urge to tuck herself in against him and seek solace for them both in a cuddle.

‘I wasn’t feeling sorry for myself. I was feeling sorry for you, realising how much you’d suffered because of me. I’m furious with myself.’ He continued before she could interrupt. ‘My intransigence was the problem, that and my readiness to believe the worst. Because of that I destroyed our relationship. Because of that, because of me, you suffered alone. You had no one with you when you needed help. If I’d known, I’d have gone to you.’

‘I don’t need your sympathy. I survived.’

Yet pain pinched her chest at how much she’d lost. At the idea of him being there, sharing the excitement of her pregnancy and supporting her through the difficult days and nights.

It was silly because chances were they’d have separated eventually. Everyone said strangers marrying in haste was a recipe for disaster.

‘Of course you survived. You’re a strong, remarkable woman and I admire you.’

‘You’ve changed your tune.’ The words burst free despite her concern for him. ‘You wouldn’t even hear my side of the story. Why take my word for it now?’

His hands flexed and he rolled one shoulder as if easing strain there.

‘The truth? I don’t completely know. Except for the glaring difference between the woman I’ve come to know and the woman I believed you to be three years ago. Every day, every hour that difference is like a fist slamming into my chest, pounding out doubt after doubt. Even someone as prejudiced as I couldn’t ignore it.’

‘But you wanted to.’

It was like prodding a sore tooth, raising old grievances.

‘Yes and no. For a long time I refused to concede any doubt about what you’d done. It was easier to retreat into my own world and pull up the drawbridge behind me. I was used to being alone. That’s how I’ve always lived. It seemed impossible we could have a future.’

‘Until you found out about Athena.’

He nodded. It was a timely reminder. This rapprochement was about their daughter, not Dido, nor them as a couple. She needed to remember that.

‘I apologise wholeheartedly for my unreasonable behaviour. You deserved far better. But I know an apology can’t undo the hurt I caused.’ He paused as if debating whether to go on. ‘It’s not an excuse but over the years I learnt to walk away immediately from people who only befriended me for my money. It’s my self-defence mechanism.’

‘Because you’ve been hurt too many times.’

Her words stopped whatever he’d been going to say. Did she imagine his eyes widened? In the silence she heard the shushing of waves on the beach and in the distance, a low rumble of thunder.

She wished she could read his expression.