‘You’re not answering,’ said Jeb with a pout. His eyes were hard as they stared into hers. ‘You know what Rowan reckons? He reckons you’ve had your use of us and now you’ve just turned your back.’

‘That ain’t true,’ said Shauna, although it was.

A wail went up from the kitchen.

‘Look, I’ve got to . . .’ said Shauna and turned away from him.

She went into the kitchen where Connor was sitting in his blue romper suit in his high chair at the table, eating chunks of banana. He looked up as Shauna came in, and grinned.

‘Cute little fella,’ said Jeb, following behind her. He moved closer to Connor, reached out a grubby hand and touched the baby’s cheek with it. ‘Hey, boy, how are you?’

Shauna felt an electrifying jolt of protectiveness surge through her as Jeb stood beside Connor. She moved, placing herself between them. Jeb saw the alarm on her face, and smiled.

‘He Josh Flynn’s then is he?’ asked Jeb.

‘Well he sure as hell ain’t yours,’ she said.

Jeb’s smile broadened. Then he reached out and touched Shauna’s cheek. She flinched away. Suddenly his smile vanished. He grabbed her face and held her there, squeezing the flesh until she groaned with the pain.

‘I can understand that you like to better yourself, gal,’ he said softly, leaning so close that his breath brushed her face. ‘I got that. That’s fine. But you know the one thing you should never do?’

Shauna couldn’t speak. She half-shook her head.

‘You should never forget where you came from. You should never forget your roots,’ said Jeb.

But that was exactly what Shauna wanted to forget.

Jeb released her and she sagged against the kitchen table, her cheek throbbing. Connor was looking up at the two adults looming over him, curious, not frightened.

Now Jeb was smiling again. ‘We’re going to stay in touch, you and me,’ he said to Shauna. ‘We’re buddies, ain’t we. Lovers too. You carry on, gal, you climb just as high as you like, but don’t forget one thing – I’ll be right alongside you. ’Cos I got first dibs on you, no matter about Josh Flynn or fancy clothes or cars or whatever else takes your eye. Remember?’

Shauna nodded. All she wanted was for him to get out. All she wanted was him away from her baby, and from her.

‘Josh will be back any minute,’ she said, hating the tremble in her voice.

‘Yeah.’ Jeb’s eyes were on her face. ‘See you then.’

And he turned and walked off down the hall and out the door.

49

49

‘Oh my God. I mean, wow!’ said Shauna as they pulled into Dave Houghton’s drive in Josh’s old car.