It seemed to take her an age to order, her head stretched forward across the counter towards the server and he was surprised when she came away holding only a mug. Without looking in his direction, she crossed the café to a table by the window. Victor stood staring until the ‘can I help you?’ registered and he stepped up to the counter. He ordered a pot of tea and a scone and paid what seemed an exorbitant amount for such simple fare.

It was with a strange sense of inevitability that he picked up his tray and crossed to Jodie’s table. She didn’t look up so he unloaded his tray without fuss and took the chair opposite. It was the scrape of the chair legs on the floor as he pulled it closer to the table that caused her to raise her head.

She didn’t appear surprised or angry, as if his arrival were something she’d always predicted would happen. ‘You kept following me,’ she said, her voice dull.

Victor leaned closer. ‘I have to make you understand… to believe.’

Jodie’s expression didn’t alter. She picked up her drink, sipped it and stared out the window.

Victor sat back with a grunt of annoyance when a young woman appeared with a plate in her hand. ‘Here you go,’ she said, putting it on the table in front of Jodie. ‘I hope toast helps. Morning sickness is the pits.’

Morning sickness? Victor stared at Jodie, his mouth slightly open, eyes wide. ‘You’re pregnant?’

Jodie didn’t answer him and turned back to look out the window again.

‘This is why Flynn walked out on you.’ Victor’s lips curled in a sneer. ‘I knew he wasn’t the man for you. But you don’t need to worry, I’ll stand by you, the way I would have stood by you with the first baby if I’d been let. We’ll simply pick up where we left off.’

Jodie looked at him then. He expected relief, maybe even pleasure, but her face was squeezed into lines of hatred.

‘Where we left off? You’re a rapist. A monster. I wouldn’t let you near my child.’ The chair tipped backwards and almost fell as she got to her feet. Without another word she hurried from the café.

Victor watched her go. She’d change her mind. She had to. They were meant to be together. And now they’d have a child to rear.

He’d sat back with his mug before he noticed Jodie’s handbag hanging from the back of the chair. With a glance around, he leaned forward, caught it with his long fingers and brought it close. A discreet look inside made him smile. Her house keys.

He knew she’d need him. Here was the proof.

44