Chosen Child Read Online Free Page B

fallen asleep where he’d had lunch. Feeding him
in front of the TV meant she could sneak some vegetables into him while he was
engrossed. Satisfied he wouldn’t roll off, she took her phone through to the
kitchen. Time to call James and warn him that business, not sex was on the menu
tomorrow. They were meeting here; she hadn’t been able to find a sitter.
    His voice was upbeat. ‘Hi, sweetie, are we still on at your
place tomorrow?’
    It didn’t sound as if he was planning to run off and leave
her, and Amanda choked back a sob. The hormones were playing havoc with her
already. She didn’t usually burst into tears at every little thing.
    ‘Yes. James. I – I want us to have a proper talk about the
baby.’
    ‘I know. I’ve been feeling bad about that. You know I’ll
stand by whatever you want to do. Will we have time for a long chat tomorrow?’
    Relief washed through Amanda like a cool wave on a hot day.
It was going to be okay. ‘Yes. It’s Gareth’s last day in his old job and
they’re having a do for him, so heaven knows when he’ll be back.’
    ‘I thought the new job didn’t start till June?’
    ‘It doesn’t, but he’s got so much bloody overtime he leaves
tomorrow. He’s going on a solo-walking trip next week and then we’re all going
to Scotland on holiday.’
    Now she really was crying as the relief that James was
sticking around gave way to resentment that he was asking about Gareth and not
about her and the baby.
    ‘Right. So we’ll have time to plan while he’s away, too.’
His voice was upbeat; he hadn’t realised she was upset. ‘We’ll manage
something, okay? I have to go, Amanda, but I’ll see you soon.’
    He broke the connection, and Amanda went back through and
flopped down beside Jaden. From a purely practical point of view it would have
been easier if James had said, ‘Hell, no, I’m out of here.’ But she’d known he
wasn’t that kind of person. She’d never have become involved with someone like
that. She and James were both decent people who’d simply wanted some extra fun
in life – although the fun was in a grey zone, she knew that. Did he have other girlfriends? But even if he did, she was
the one with the baby. Could they make a go of it? Did she want to?
     She was having coffee and mulling over her options when
Gareth arrived home, early for once. He sat playing with Jaden while Amanda
phoned for pizza, then they all ate together on the living room floor, Jaden
straddling one of Gareth’s thighs and Thomas the Tank Engine tooting around on the DVD player. Guilt washed through Amanda as she watched
her husband cut pizza into bite-sized chunks for Jaden. This was the kind of
thing she loved – family fun, a little picnic with them all enjoying
themselves. But their days as a family were almost certainly numbered. Gareth
must have noticed her silence because he reached out and hugged her, Jaden
squealing in protest as his ‘horse’ slid to one side.
    ‘Steady, cowboy. Mands, I’m sorry I’ve been so busy lately.
The new job’ll give us more family time, you’ll see. And the holiday will do us
good. I’ll come back from my walk a new man and we’ll all have a great time in
Scotland.’ He kissed her head.
    For a moment Amanda leaned on him. She had loved him so
passionately when they first got together – would it be possible to get that
back? How very much easier it would be just to forget James and carry on in
their own little family, her and Gareth. Of course, that could still happen.
James might be happy to forget about her, too. Was he really the kind to settle
down and start a family? Although – he had such a knack with Jaden. He did like
kids. What a mess she was in.
     
     
    She was still half-asleep when Gareth put his head round the
bedroom door the following morning.
    ‘Last day, wish me luck,’ he said cheerfully. ‘I don’t know
when the leaving do’ll finish so expect me when you see me, okay? Love you.’
    Amanda listened as