Page 67 of Prognosis Incompatible

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Madeline was aboutto finish for the day when Veronica buzzed her. ‘There’s a Tabitha here to see you.’

Madeline paused. What the hell?

She had a headache which the two tablets she had taken at lunch were only just managing to hold in check. Did she really want to confront the woman who’d been the catalyst for the damn thing in the first place?

‘Send her in,’ she said, too weary to think. How much more emotionally draining could this day get?

Tabitha entered and, despite Marcus’s assurances that Tabitha and he were over, Madeline felt a streak of jealousy.

‘Sit down.’ She indicated the chair to the other woman.

‘I owe you an apology,’ Tabitha said, sitting. ‘Last night was unforgivable.’

Madeline looked at her hands, not saying anything. Last night had replayed in her head so much she was giddy with it.

‘I didn’t expect to see Marcus with a woman. I had this plan to carry out and your presence threw a spanner in the works.’

‘Oh?’ Madeline’s curiosity was piqued despite the pounding of her head. She listened as Tabitha told her everything and, by the end of it, she even felt sorry for Marcus. ‘So what are you going to do now?’ Madeline asked.

‘Marcus phoned Tony and spoke to him. I owe him big time for that, which is why I’m here. He didn’t have to help me after the stunt I pulled and he probably wouldn’t thank me for being here either but I’m flying out soon - ’

She stopped, suddenly looking worried. ‘That’s all right, isn’t it? You said the baby’s okay? Everything looked good, right?’

‘Yes. The foetus looked very healthy. Any more spotting?’

‘No.’

‘Good. Just rest for the next couple of days. If the spotting starts again or you experience any cramping, go and see your GP,’ Madeline advised.

It felt surreal to be calmly advising Tabitha like she was just any patient.

‘I will.’ The other woman nodded. ‘I’m keen to get back and see Tony and start sorting out our problems.’

‘Good for you.’ Madeline’s smile felt tight on her face. Chit-chat after all that had happened seemed bizarre.

‘Marcus is in love with you.’

‘Apparently, yes.’

Tabitha waited for a few seconds for Madeline to elaborate. ‘You don’t understand. Marcus had never been in love with anyone. Not even me, really.’

‘And yet he slept with you.’

Tabitha regarded Madeline closely. ‘Marcus told me you were having problems with that. Please, let me assure you, that wasn’t about love. That was part of my grand plan to get Tony back. And, as far as Marcus was concerned, it was just a pleasant way to say goodbye. Don’t punish him for something that happened before he even met you.’

‘Except it had huge consequences for Marcus and I, didn’t it?’ Madeline said testily. ‘I don’t mean to be rude but to quote a famous person, there are three people in this relationship. And that’s just not going to work for me.’

‘I get that but I promise I want no place in your relationship. I’m sorry I’ve stuffed everything up, I really am and I hope you guys work it out. I like you. You’re good for him.’

‘You don’t even know me,’ Madeline said, not really warmed by Tabitha’s faith.

‘I know you did that ultrasound when you must have felt like bitch slapping me. I know I left a broken-hearted man just now. I know he wants a baby with you that he never wanted with me.’

Madeline said nothing, her head pounding with the migraine and the heaviness of her thoughts.

Tabitha stood. ‘I’m on my way to the airport. Please, please, give Marcus another chance. And maybe one day you and I can become friends.’

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