Page 189 of Take My Hand

“No, sweetheart, she’s not pregnant.” Although, I wouldn’t be averse to it if she was. And that thought took me by surprise. I’d never thought I’d have any more kids, mainly because I’d never imagined meeting anyone I’d want them with. Now there was Maya.

“What then?” Maddy’s smile disappeared into an expression of disappointment.

“I was wondering how you felt about her moving in with us.” I had no idea why, but I grimaced, scared of her reaction.

Maddy’s eyes widened. “Really?” I nodded and braced ready for rejection, but had no need to worry. “That’s the best news ever, Dad.” She launched herself at me, finally letting go of Zak’s hand, and wrapped her arms around me. “I’m so happy for you.”

Hugging her back, my body sagged with relief and then pumped back up with the joy and love. This girl, the one squeezing the air from my lungs, was my world. My greatest achievement, my greatest love and whatever she did with her life, wherever she went I would support her and be proud of her. Whichever man was lucky enough to spend the rest of his life with her had better take care of her because I would always be waiting in the wings, ready to take over and kick the shit out of him if necessary. As I looked over her shoulder at Zak and saw the way he looked at her, I had a feeling he might well be that man. If meeting Maya had taught me anything, it was that when you fell in love with someone you never wanted to be without, you don’t stand a chance. You can’t stop it, just because you’re deemed to be too young, or too old, too poor, or not suitable. When you find a deep, soul embedding love it hits you with forceand sends you reeling. Maybe that was what Zak and Maddy had, and who was I to tell her he wouldn’t be her last, most important love, because maybe he would be.

“I can tell her yes then?” I asked when Maddy finally let me go.

“Of course you can. The sooner the better.” She edged back on the sofa bringing her legs up and grabbing Zak’s hand again. “Go and tell her now.” She bounced up and down, and I was happy to see her excitement at having Maya move in.

“She’s sleeping, besides which I think we have other things that we need to talk about.”

“We do.” She frowned at me, then at Zak, and finally back to me. “What?”

“What went on with the ex-girlfriend, Zak?”

“Dad, it’s all sorted,” Maddy protested.

“You sure?” I raised an eyebrow at Zak. “She didn’t just decide to forgive you? You didn’t spin her some tale?” I was pretty sure he was being honest. I’d thought it odd that he’d do anything to hurt Maddy anyway. I’d just done the Dad thing; assumed that he was guilty and threatened the existence of his balls. Now I just needed to check that he really was a good kid after all.

“I swear, Will, I didn’t do anything. I wouldn’t do anything to hurt Maddy.”

“He’s telling the truth. We’re pretty sure itwasthe ex-girlfriend who did it.”

Zak explained everything about his passwords and passcodes and how he though she got into his phone somehow and made the post.

“Any idea when she got hold of your phone seeing as you’re here as she’s in London?”

Zak. “No idea.”

“When was the last time she had her hands on it?”

“His phone or something else?” Maddy asked dryly.

“His phone.” I shook my head in disbelief. “You need to take this seriously, Maddy. If it is this girl, then she’ll do it again, and next timehemight not have any proof it wasn’t him. Or she’ll do something that hurts you even more than this did.”

“Your dad has a point, Mads.”

“Yes, but what do we do?”

I wasn’t sure how, but Zak did need to get her to admit it. It was true what I’d told Maddy, if he didn’t, and it happened again, she’d always be wondering.

“Maybe just ask her,” I suggested.

“She’s too sneaky for that.” Zak sighed and lifted his gaze to the ceiling, clearly frustrated. “I’ll think of something.”

I clapped my hands together. “Good. Now, who wants a drink?”

“Yes please.” Maddy reached for the remote. “Beer?”

“Okay, Zak, the same?” When he nodded, I heaved myself up from the chair. “Right, and then this shit gets turned off.”

“Dad.”

“No Mads, I’m not watching this crap for the rest of the night. Maya will be up soon, and she gets seasick.”

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