Page 26 of Savage Obsession

“You can thank me by sorting out this nonsense with Kris. You two need each other.”

“I never wanted it to get to this,” Baz replies. “I just needed a few days…”

Kris is saying nothing, so I glare at him. “Well?” I mouth.

“Well what?” he mouths back.

“We have news,” I blurt, giving my obstinate man the hardest stare I can muster this early in a morning. “Kris?”

He clears his throat but eventually takes my hint. “We’re to have a baby,” he mutters.

There’s a brief silence, then, “Sorry, what was that?”

“A baby. We’re having a baby,” he repeats, clearer now. It’s as though he needs to practise saying the words out loud.

“A baby? Wow. Congratulations, boss. And you, too, obviously, Janey.”

“Thank you,” I gush. “We’re really excited. It wasn’t exactly planned, but we’re both thrilled.”

“I can imagine. When’s it due?”

“Oh, not for months yet. It’s early days. You’re the first person we’ve told.”

“I’m delighted for you, both of you.”

Kris interrupts again. “We haven’t told Ethan yet, so if you do speak to Casey, could you keep it to yourself for now?”

“Yes, obviously.”

Kris is clearly keen to end the call. “Look, we need to go…”

“Yes. Yes, right. Boss…?”

Kris waits, saying nothing.

“Boss, I’d like to come and talk to you. Soon, once this is over. I need to…”

Still stony silence from Kris. I nudge him in the ribs. Hard.

He glares at me, then, “Janey’s agreed to do this favour for you. That’s up to her, but it changes nothing between us. You broke your oath.”

“I know.”

“Are you ready to drop all this other stuff and come back to Tenerife?”

“You know I can’t, not while she’s still missing.”

“Thought not. There’s nothing to discuss then, is there?”

“I guess not.” Baz sounds weary, defeated. “Thanks for taking my call, though. And thank you, Janey.”

“You’re welcome,” I chirp. “Bye, Baz.”

As soon as the call drops, I turn on him. “You know, you’re in the wrong here?”

“How so?” He gets out of bed and pads over to the coffee maker. “He knows the score. They all do.”

“Kids trump everything,” I insist. “Kids come first.”

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