LITMIR.BIZ

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her head. ‘That’s unfair. Since when have I ever—’ she stressed the ‘ever’ ‘—tried to influence your choice of friends?’

      ‘I know what you’re thinking, Mum!’ Annie’s voice rose.

      Marco paused outside the room. Unwilling to interrupt when he was obviously not wanted but unable to avoid the conversation.

      ‘I know how you looked at Rodney. As if he’s not good enough for me.’

      Emily’s voice. Quieter. Calm. ‘That’s unfair.’

      ‘He’s tainted by a family that doesn’t live in the best part of Sydney. Doesn’t work all day.’ A bitter pause then a little softer and Marco tried not to strain his ears. ‘Or all night, like you.’ Ouch.

      Annie went on, ‘I know it’s going to be because his brother’s done time.’ Marco straightened as if stung.

      ‘Jail?’ The horror in Emily’s voice said it all. Did it all. Sealed it all. Marco sighed. Pictured that boy’s face. Empathised. Felt the whoosh of time, of scornful villagers, of police questioning. He winced and walked away. And to think he had considered telling Emily about his past. About his reasons for choosing not to settle. Why? Did he hope she would not care? Fool.

      He knew exactly what she was thinking. Of course. And he didn’t blame her. Marco kept walking. Each step to the lift more final with his decision. He would stay away. Not seek out Emily. He had done enough damage. He would just do his work and then leave.

      He pressed the lift button. Stepped inside, saw little, had trouble deciding on the floor he wanted and totally oblivious to the other occupant.

      ‘What are you doing here today?’ A gruff masculine voice.

      He looked up. Hard blue eyes scrutinised him. Finn Kennedy. He was rubbing his shoulder.

      ‘Just checking on my patients. You?’ Ball back in Finn’s court because his mind wasn’t working real well at the moment. He’d been delusional to think he could just have fun with Emily.

      ‘Same.’ Finn nodded. ‘Want a drink?’

      Emily was trying to make sense of it all. Of this woman who was and yet wasn’t her daughter. ‘What do you mean done time? Rodney?’

      ‘See. I knew it. It’s not Rodney’s fault his brother made mistakes. Rodney’s had a difficult life but he is still a good man.’

      ‘Annie.’ She sat on the edge of the bed. ‘I don’t care what Rodney’s family have done. What Rodney’s background is. It’s what he himself is doing with his life now and that he makes you happy that I care about. That he loves you and your baby. Treats you both right. Every woman and every child deserves that.’

      Annie’s lip quivered. ‘I thought you’d look down on him because of his brother’s past; you think I’d be tied for ever to a family of trouble.’

      ‘Why? How could I do that?’ She shook her head. ‘Your father was from a very well-to-do family. An upstanding future citizen. Once a year his parents send money, sure—but he dropped me, and you, like a hot potato.’

      She patted Annie’s hand. ‘Your father never visited me in hospital like Rodney has visited you. Why would you think I’d look down on that?’ Her voice firmed. ‘But if Rodney ever treated you badly then he’d have me after him.’

      Annie shrugged. ‘If he treated me badly, I wouldn’t be there.’

      ‘That’s my girl.’

      They looked at each other and then Annie held out her arms for a hug. ‘I’m sorry, Mum. I should have told you.’

      Emily hugged her and Annie squeezed back. ‘Is this why we’ve been fighting the last few months?’

      Annie nodded. ‘I hated having a secret and I should have known you’d understand.’

      Emily swallowed the thickness in her throat. Maybe she’d have her normal daughter back now. She glanced down at the plastic bag on the table. ‘Now I have two melted ice creams we were going to share because I got lonely and needed my baby’s company.’

      She pulled out a droopy ice cream and gave it to Annie. Annie looked at it, took it gingerly and stripped it of its wrapper. She grinned. It didn’t quite fall off the stick. ‘I’m sorry.’

      ‘That’s fine.’ Emily pulled hers out and it looked worse. They both giggled.

      Emily pulled the towel off the end of the bed and spread it between them as a safety net for dripping ice cream. ‘I guess I have to realise you won’t be there for ever. You have your own life. But when you’re ready I need you to tell me about Rodney and what your plans are.’

      ‘There’s not much to tell. I love him.’

      Emily’s brows went up. ‘Really. Where did you meet him? How long have you known him? Though I’m guessing more than twenty-six weeks?’

      ‘Mum!’

      Emily raised her brows and glanced at Annie’s belly. ‘Well?’

      ‘I met him in a chat room. Just after Gran died. And before you go, “Oh, Annie”, it’s okay. We’d been chatting for about three months before I met him, and we can talk all night. He understands me, likes the same things—music, books, movies. We laugh. A lot. And when I met him …’ Annie rolled her eyes ‘… it was just right.’

      ‘Okay. I can understand that.’ Boy, could she understand that. ‘But did you mean to have a baby with Rodney? I mean, how old is he?’

      ‘Eighteen. And no. We only did it once. And we weren’t going to do it again until I went on the Pill. But when I finally went to the doctor he told me I was pregnant.’

      Oh, my poor baby. ‘We must be very fertile women.’ That thought came with a shudder of relief that she’d started the Pill after Annie’s birth and never missed it. So she could banish the horrible vision of the two of them eating ice creams with pregnant bellies. And Marco had been careful too.

      Emily accepted how it had happened. ‘Though for the record, if you like a boy enough to want to have sex, it would be good to let me into the secret so I could at least meet him. When all this is over, we’re going to discuss contraception again.’

      Annie blushed. ‘It’s a bit late now.’

      ‘Not for the next one it’s not.’ And if she could cover herself for the last sixteen years and not use it, her daughter would be doubly covered. ‘And condoms.’

      ‘Mu-u-um.’ Annie rolled her eyes again.

      She grinned. ‘Sorry. Having a belated stress attack. This has all happened pretty fast, you know.’

      Annie’s fingers crept across and squeezed her mother’s hand. ‘I know. And I’m sorry. I’ve been crabby because I was hiding Rodney and it felt rotten to be sneaky.’

      ‘You didn’t need to do that. You can always tell me anything. I may not like it but I’ll always love you.’

      Annie sighed. ‘Rodney wanted to. He wanted to drive around to home and be with me when I told you. But I didn’t want you to meet him for the first time then.’

      Emily felt her heart squeeze. Wished for a different scenario, but it was all too late now. ‘You’ll have to grow up too fast. But we’ll talk more about that later.’ She glanced at her watch. ‘Visiting hours are over. I’d better go.’

      Annie reached out her hand. ‘Mum?’

      Emily stopped. ‘Yes?’ She caught her daughter’s hand and held it.

      ‘Can we put your birthday decorations up when I come home?’

      Emily squeezed Annie’s hand. ‘Sure. I’d like that.’

      Annie hung on for another second. ‘And thanks

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