‘A kiss?’ Mandy had to cover her mouth to stop from screaming. Then she threw her arms around Nicole. ‘I want to know everything.’

Nicole didn’t tell her everything, but enough to satisfy her curiosity. ‘And then we talked all morning. About absolutely everything.’

‘He told you about Caitlyn?’

‘Caitlyn?’

‘His ex.’

‘No. Is there something to tell?’

‘It isn’t really my place to say anything.’

Nicole gave her look.

‘Okay, well, I have put my foot in it, I suppose. He and Caitlyn had a pretty nasty break-up, about two years ago now, and he never really got over it. We all thought they were going to get married. But turns out she didn’t want kids. And he can’t wait to be a dad. They just couldn’t get past it.’

Nicole’s mind started spinning. He can’t wait to be a dad. She clutched her stomach.

‘It wasn’t long after that that he started going to Bangladesh regularly,’ Mandy continued. ‘He sure loves those kids.’

A shout went up from the other side of the pub and the jukebox started playing. Mandy and Trevor’s song started and in a flash Mandy was being whisked onto the dance floor.

Nicole left the pub quickly. Halfway home she stopped to catch her breath. No, this wasn’t fair. At all.

Inside the cottage she slumped into the couch and hung her head.

There was a light knock on the door.

‘Nicole? It’s Danny. Are you okay?’

Maybe if she stayed silent, he’d go away.

‘Nicole? What’s wrong?’

Nicole walked to the front door, opening it only slightly.

‘Hey.’ Danny frowned.

‘I’m just really tired,’ she lied.

‘Have I done something wrong?’

Oh, God. He was doubting himself. He’d done everything right. This was all on her.

‘No. Of course not.’

‘You know, Nicole, when you’re not being straight with me, your left eye crinkles ever so slightly.’

She drew in a deep breath. ‘It’s nothing. I just need to take things a bit slower.’ Like screeching to a sudden halt.

‘Okay. That’s fine. But if we’ve got any hope of turning this into something, and I think maybe this could be something, we have to be completely open with each other. Tell me if there’s something wrong.’

Nicole knew he was right. This was her chance to tell him about Mark, what had brought her here, about her inability to have children. Everything. But she just couldn’t bring herself to do it.

He’d broken up with Caitlyn because she didn’t want kids. How would he react if she told him she couldn’t have kids?

‘I’m just trying to work some things out. It’s fine. Really.’