“I’m sorry I didn’t tell you sooner. I didn’t want you so far away driving all that way worrying about me and thinking about a baby and in the end that’s just what’s happened.”

Sean studied her a moment. She could see he was full of questions and he had every right to be.

“I’m sorry, Sean.”

“Don’t be sorry.” He took her hands in his steady, comforting grip. “I know we didn’t plan to be parents. We said no to intervention but nature has made it possible…I won’t pretend I’m not excited at the news of a baby but what about you?”

“I still can’t believe it and if I’m honest I’m not sure how I feel about being a mother but they’ve been helpful here at the hospital.”

He leaned closer and locked his gaze on hers. “So apart from wishing you weren’t pregnant you hadn’t thought about… termination?”

Tears pricked at her eyes. “No.” The guilt she felt when she thought she could lose the baby had been all-consuming. “I’ve talked that through with a counsellor already. She said she’d come back once you were here.”

“We’ll get all the help we can, Katie-Q,” he murmured and wrapped her in his reassuring embrace.

Kate closed her eyes and let the tears roll down her cheeks, not with sadness but with hope that things might just work out.

It was dark when Natalie knocked on the apartment door.

“I’m sorry, I forgot to give you a key,” Veronica said as soon as she opened it. “I should get one out now for you before I forget.”

She went off to the kitchen and Natalie followed, her stomach responding to the delicious aroma wafting out to greet her.

“Here you are.” Veronica held out a key.

“It really is good of you to let us stay here.”

“Our pleasure. How is Kate?”

“Looking much brighter when I left. Sean was interstate when it all happened but he’s there now.” Natalie hoped Kate was being honest and open about her feelings with Sean. Her own experience made her worried about her daughter’s mental ability to cope but at least there were doctors and counsellors who could help her if she needed.

“That’s good.”

Natalie glanced at the casserole she could see in the oven. “That smells inviting.”

“It’s lemon chicken. Something simple but just what I felt like. I hope you’ll like it.”

“It’s one of my favourites too.”

“Great.” Veronica nodded for extra emphasis.

They were facing each other over the small table setting, being painfully polite.