Olivia looked through the office window to the garden outside, wondering what his next move would be, and was surprised when he turned away from the filing cabinet, a clutch of papers in his hand. He beckoned her to join him at the desk. Olivia walked unsteadily towards him. Surely he wasn’t foolish enough to show her two different signatures? She knew he was determined, but that would be ludicrous. She placed the letter on the desk next to the lease. Olivia stared. The signatures weren’t just similar, they were identical. She shook her head slowly. ‘You’ve forged it.’

He scratched the back of his head. ‘How on earth did I manage that?’ he asked reasonably. ‘I didn’t know about any of this until an hour or so ago, yet this lease was signed years back.’

Olivia’s heart was breaking. She reread the letter.

Mr Campbell,

Due to rumours which Ted strongly denies, I hereby give you our immediate notice as employees and tenants.

Regards,

Craig Hewitt

Olivia stared open-mouthed at her father. ‘Why would he leave?’

‘Only one reason that I can think of, and like I said, bad news travels fast, because they were gone before I got there,’ her father said patiently.

Olivia’s eyes sparkled with tears. She’d trusted Ted; he’d said he’d look after her and she’d believed him. She said as much to her father who snorted his contempt.

‘I daresay he told you that before he got you pregnant?’

‘Yes,’ she whispered as the first tear fell.

He nodded. ‘Typical.’ He heaved a sigh. ‘I know you always thought it unfair that I didn’t want you associating with people like Ted, but can you see why now?’

Olivia nodded miserably.

He glanced in the direction of the stairs. ‘We need to make a plan, but I don’t want to involve your mother as I fear it may be too much for her.’

Olivia eyed him sceptically. He normally tried to make out that her mother was being theatrical and that she wasn’t as bad as she made herself out to be, so why was he choosing to believe her illness now? Could it really be that William couldn’t cope with the thought that he might lose his wife?

William held his hands up in a placating fashion. ‘I’m not the enemy, Olivia. I’m not the one who got you pregnant then ran for the hills. I’m the one who tried to stop you getting into trouble in the first place.’

Olivia nodded apologetically. ‘Sorry, Dad.’

He eyed her stomach with disapproval. ‘If you stay here it won’t be long before everyone knows our business.’

‘So?’ said Olivia. ‘I’ve got nothing to hide.’

He looked at her in astonishment. ‘You really want everyone knowing you got pregnant out of wedlock and that your boyfriend legged it as soon as he found out? Not to mention your age!’

Olivia’s cheeks bloomed with embarrassment. ‘No,’ she said, her voice barely above a whisper.