Page 44 of Finding Love in Micklewick Bay

‘Yes, of course.’ Stella didn’t know whether to feel annoyed by their exchange or sad for her mum. Johan de Groote had clearly unsettled her.

TWENTY-SIX

Apprehension was building in Stella’s chest as she turned onto Endeavour Road, her heart pumping hard. The grey sky overhead was doing a good job of reflecting her mood.

As soon as she arrived on the doorstep of The Cellar, Pim rushed to open the door for her.

‘Morning, Stella,’ he said, his face a picture of concern. ‘Are you okay?’

‘Hi, Pim.’ She smiled up at him. ‘Yes, I’m fine, thanks. How about you?’

‘Yeah, I’m okay.’

Inside, she glanced around to see the bar was empty but for Bill polishing the beer pumps in readiness for the lunchtime opening. She wondered if Johan de Groote was already there or if he’d keep them waiting. Part of her wouldn’t be surprised if he didn’t turn up at all, something about him told her he wouldn’t be too eager to be confronted by his past.

‘Hi, Stella.’ Bill looked up and gave her a sympathetic smile.

‘Hi, Bill. I’m really sorry to disturb your morning.’

‘Hey, no need to apologise. I just hope it all goes well for you.’ He lay the polishing cloth on the bar. ‘Can I get you a coffee?’

‘Mm. That would be good, thanks.’ Though she’d made a coffee at her apartment, she’d been too preoccupied to drink it. As for breakfast, she hadn’t been able to face anything; her stomach had been in knots.

‘No problem. I’ll bring it through to the back for you.’ Bill’s smile widened. ‘Flat white? Cappuccino? Macchiato?’

‘Flat white would be perfect, thanks.’ She returned his smile.

‘Johan’s already here,’ Pim said, turning and making his way across the bar to the back room.

‘Oh, right.’ Stella followed, their shoes tapping over the wooden floor.

A tidal wave of anxiety flooded her body at the mention of his name. She braced herself as she stepped into the room. The feelings he triggered were worse than any she’d experienced facing even the most high-profile of her cases with the fiercest of opponents.

Johan was standing looking out of the window, his tall, broad-shouldered stature filling the frame. He turned when they walked in, a mug of coffee in his hand. ‘Good morning, Stella,’ he said softly, his eyes the same striking light blue as Pim’s – and her own.

‘Good morning,’ she said coolly, her jaw tightening.

‘Shall we sit down?’ Pim gestured to the wooden table set with four matching chairs. It didn’t escape Stella’s notice how nervous he looked.

‘Sounds like a good idea.’ Johan gave a condescending smile which sent a spike of irritation through her.

‘Here’s your flat white, Stella.’ Bill arrived in the room, handing her a rustic mug, the aroma of freshly ground coffee filling the air. ‘I’ll leave you to it,’ he said, giving her shoulder a reassuring squeeze.

‘Thanks, Bill,’ she said, throwing him an appreciative smile.

‘So, who’d like to start?’ Johan asked as he looked between Pim and Stella, what appeared to be a mocking smile on his face.

Ughh!He clearly felt he was in charge of proceedings, which instantly made her bristle. Doing all she could to suppress the negative emotions stampeding around her body, Stella said, ‘If it’s okay with Pim, I think it should be you.’

Pim nodded. ‘I agree.’

‘I’d like to know everything, right back to when you were at university with my mother – who you may be relieved to know, won’t be joining us here today.’ Stella’s assertive gaze didn’t waver.

‘Okay. Everything, eh? Very well.’ Johan drew in a slow breath. ‘So, as you know, I met your mother at university. We fell head-over-heels in love and the relationship moved super-fast. Before I knew what was happening, Alice was telling me she was pregnant.’ His expression turned to one of disbelief. ‘It was a huge,hugeshock for both of us. We were so young;tooyoung. I was honest with her right from the start, told her I wasn’t ready to be a father, but she was a headstrong young woman; wouldn’t listen to reason – she never did, always had to do things her way. Despite my opinion, she insisted she wanted to keep the baby. I felt I had no choice in the matter, felt I was being forced into fatherhood.’

Forced into fatherhood?Despicable man!Stella shook her head, his cold, detached words felt like a knife to her heart.

‘I think you need to be very careful how you deal with this, Johan. After all, the baby Alice was pregnant with is right here with us.’ Pim sent him a warning look.

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