Page 64 of Devil's Dilemma

“Hmm. Big responsibility, isn’t it? Deciding how to do this right.”

My hands find their familiar position, protectively covering this new life in my womb. “I just want him to be happy, Ro. Whatever he turns out to be, however he wants to live his life. No pressure one way or another.”

Pyro’s large hand easily covers both of mine. “No wonder I love you, Mel.” His words slip out and he pulls his hand abruptly away.

It’s just something a friend would say, isn’t it? I shouldn’t read anything into it.

I respond in the same way, “Love you too, Ro. You’ve been amazing.”

He’s the first to break the silence that follows. “It’s you who’s the amazing one. You’re going to make an incredible mom.”

I wish I had his confidence. I can only try to do my best.

Monday dawns all too soon. I pull on the clothes I wear to work, realising I’m going to have to get maternity clothes soon. My own, even the ones with elastic waistbands are getting uncomfortable.

Dressed smartly, ready for the office, I go out to my car, then drive the short way to my job. I get a hot chocolate from the machine, eyeing people carrying coffee with envy, exchanging pleasantries with colleagues, and brief discussions about what kind of weekend we’ve all had.

Everything is exactly the same as a normal start to the week, until I enter my actual place of work.

Beth, Carter, Shayla and Sian have their heads together near Beth’s desk. Odd, we don’t all work in the same department, and by this time I’d have expected them to be in their own offices.

Ah. The penny drops. Beth came back from Vegas yesterday, I bet she’s telling them the fun she had. My suspicions, I reckon, are proved correct as they’re all staring intently at her phone. Showing off her pictures, I expect. I’ll wait until later to share my news about the baby and show my own treasured photograph.

I make my way across to her desk, still holding my paper cup of hot chocolate. I take a sip as I approach.

“Hey, you had a good time in Vegas, I take it? Did it live up to your dreams?”

As she turns to me, there’s a strange look on her face. She looks almost scared.

Carter’s reaction is odd. He moves around me and takes the paper cup out of my hand.

Shayla draws up a chair. “Sit, Mel.”

My brows knit together. “What is it?”

“Maybe nothing,” Beth says fast. “But you know I’ve been in Vegas the past few days. I could be wrong, but I saw someone I thought I recognised.” Her hand is shaking as she passes me her phone.

“I took a few pictures, so you could see from every angle.”

I look at the first. It looks familiar, but too far away. Next she’s zoomed in. And the next. I go back and look at them again. My vision starts to go blurry, my head feels faint, I drop the phone on her desk and lower my head into my hands. In every picture she’s shown me, I’d seen my old man. I’d seen Skull alive and well, and… his arm is around a pretty young woman, she’s pushing a stroller and he’s carrying bags in his free hand.

“It could be a sister, Mel…”

I shake my head, trying to push through the dizziness and fog which has descended into my brain. It’s not the woman that bothers me. It’s the fact I’ve just seen my man. Alive, when I’d given up all hope and thought he was dead.

He’s abandoned me.

Perhaps he had crashed, hurt his head, got amnesia… Perhaps the pope doesn’t wear a funny hat and bears don’t shit in the woods.

I hit the heel of my hand against my forehead.Of course, a man like Skull wouldn’t have stayed with a woman like me.

“Here, Mel. Take this.”

It’s only when Beth stuffs a tissue into my hand that I realise I’m crying.

They try to talk to me, but there’s only one person I want. Only one man who can help and understand. Another who was left behind, just like me.

I delve into the bag I’m still carrying over my shoulder and take out my phone. It takes a moment for my trembling fingers to unlock it.

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