Page 39 of The Venetian One-Night Baby

Holly patted Sabrina’s tote bag, which was hanging from Holly’s shoulder. ‘I found his number on your phone. I didn’t feel comfortable calling him on your phone so I called him on mine. I know you didn’t want to worry him but if something had happened, imagine how he’d feel?’

Sabrina got off the bed, testing her legs to see if they were as shaky as they had been earlier when panic had flooded her system. ‘He would probably feel relieved.’

‘What? Do you really think so?’

‘I know so.’ Sabrina cast her friend a weary glance. ‘The only reason we’re together is because of the baby.’

Holly frowned. ‘But he cares about you. I could hear it in his voice. He was so worried about you and—’

‘Worrying about someone doesn’t mean you love them,’ Sabrina said. ‘It means you feel responsible for them.’

‘You’re splitting hairs. That poor man almost had a heart attack when I told him you were in hospital.’

‘I wish I had what you have with Zack,’ Sabrina said. ‘I wish Max loved me the way Zack loves you. But wishing doesn’t make it happen.’

‘Oh, honey, I’m sure you’re mistaken about Max. You’re feeling emotional just now and this has been a huge scare. You might feel better once he’s back home with you.’

But what if she didn’t?

* * *

Max risked speeding tickets and any number of traffic violations on the way back to London. He’d called Sabrina several times but she must have turned her phone off. He called Holly and she told him Sabrina was back at his house, resting.

‘Can you stay with her until I get back?’ Max glanced at the dashboard clock. ‘I’m about an hour away.’

‘Sure.’

‘Thanks. You’re a gem.’ He clicked off the call and tried to get his breathing under control. But every time he thought of what could have happened to Sabrina he felt sick to his guts. Miscarriages were dangerous if help wasn’t at hand. It might be the twenty-first century but women could still haemorrhage to death. He couldn’t get the picture of a coffin out of his mind. Two coffins. One for Sabrina and another for the baby. How could he have let this happen? How could he have put his work before his responsibilities towards her and their child?

It felt like an entire millennium later by the time Max opened his front door. Holly had obviously been waiting for him as she had her bag over her shoulder and her jacket over her arm.

‘She’s upstairs,’ Holly said.

‘Thanks for staying with her.’

‘No problem.’ She slipped out and Max was halfway up the stairs before the door closed.

Sabrina was standing in front of the windows with her back to him, her arms across her middle. She turned when she heard his footfalls but he couldn’t read her expression.

Max wanted to rush over to her and enfold her in his arms but instead it was like concrete had filled his blood and deadened his limbs. He opened and closed his mouth, trying to find his voice, but even that had deserted him. His throat was raw and tight, blocked with emotions he couldn’t express.

‘You’re back.’ Her voice was as cold as the cruel icy hand gripping his throat.

‘I came as fast as I could. Are you all right?’

She was holding herself almost as stiffly as he was but he couldn’t take a step towards her. His legs felt bolted to the floor, his guts still twisting and turning at what might have been.

‘I’m fine.’

‘And the baby?’ He swallowed convulsively. ‘It’s still—?’

‘I’m still pregnant.’

Relief swept through him but still he kept his distance. He didn’t trust his legs to work. He didn’t trust his spiralling emotions. They were messing with his head, blocking his ability to do and say the things he should be saying. Things he wasn’t even able to express to himself, let alone to her. ‘Why aren’t you in bed? You need to rest.’

A shuttered look came over her eyes. ‘Max, we need to talk.’

He went to swallow again but his throat was too dry. Something was squeezing his chest until he could barely breathe. ‘You scared the hell out of me. When I got that call from Holly...’ His chest tightened another notch. ‘I thought... I thought...’ In his mind he could see that tiny white coffin again and another bigger one next to it. Flowers everywhere. People crying. He could feel the hammering of his heartbeat in time with the pulse of his guilt.

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