Page 59 of Strictly Business

‘Okay.’

‘I’ll get my things.’

Alice couldn’t believe how absolutely ecstatic she was as she hurried through to her bedroom. Quickly she checked the contents of her shoulder bag. Her purse, driver’s licence and hair comb were there, as well as the hundred and one things a girl needed on any given day.

Oh, and she’d better make a quick trip to the bathroom.

These days she needed to go more often.

But in the bathroom she stared in horror.

Oh, God, no.

There were dark spots on her underwear.

A surge of pure panic shot through her and her heart began to bang like a loose shutter in a storm.

‘Liam!’ she cried, rushing back to the kitchen.

‘You’ve gone so pale. What’s the matter?’

‘I’m spotting.’

‘You’re what?’ Another look at the wild terror in her eyes and he seemed to comprehend. ‘Not the baby?’

‘There’s blood.’

The shock on his face mirrored her own quaking fear. ‘Oh, hell, Alice, all of this has been too much of a shock for you.’

‘A shock?’ What was he talking about? ‘No, no it’s not that. A kiss can’t hurt me.’

But he didn’t look convinced. ‘How bad is it?’

‘I – I don’t know.’ She tried not to sound panicky, but it wasn’t possible to be brave about this. ‘Oh, Liam I don’t want to lose this baby.’ She felt suddenly sick, dizzy.

Liam’s face was contorted with anguish as he dragged a chair across the floor. ‘Here, quickly, sit down.’

‘I’m probably panicking about nothing.’ She looked up at him. ‘But I am a bit scared.’

‘You need to get to a hospital.’

She nodded. ‘Could you call for a taxi? I don’t think I’m up to driving.’

He scowled as he glanced towards the telephone. ‘A taxi on a wet Saturday in a place like this could take too long. We’ll use your car.’

‘Okay. I’m just a little giddy, but give me a few minutes and I should be all right to drive.’

‘Hell, no, Alice. Don’t even think about it.’

‘But –’

White-faced, Liam crossed the room to the little row of keys hanging near her pantry cupboard. ‘These are your car keys, aren’t they?’

‘Yes, and the silver one is the house key, but I don’t expect you to drive.’

‘I’m driving you to the hospital, Alice. Now let’s get going.’

He took her by the elbow to help her to her feet. ‘Liam, I know you don’t drive.’

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