JOANNA WAS CROUCHED over the toilet in the bathroom when she heard someone knock at her bedroom door.
It could only be her mother, she thought unhappily, dragging herself to her feet. Glenys had been worried about her the night before when she’d thrown up after supper. Evidently the fact that Joanna hadn’t as yet come down for breakfast had added to her concern.
When she emerged from the bathroom, her mother was standing in the bedroom doorway, her blue eyes, not unlike Joanna’s, narrowed in dismay. ‘Oh, darling,’ she said. ‘Have you been sick again? Do you think it was that risotto we had for supper yesterday evening? Lionel swore those prawns were fresh that morning, but, I must admit, I had my doubts.’
Joanna blew out a breath and managed to straighten her shoulders. It was tempting to let her mother go on thinking that it was something she’d eaten that had caused her upset stomach.
But it wasn’t. She’d been fighting off the truth for over three weeks now. And it wasn’t going to go away.
‘I’m sure the risotto was fine,’ she said, putting off the moment. ‘You look nice,’ she added, in an effort to divert herself. And it was true, in a pink silk tee and short dungarees, her mother looked younger than she’d done for years.
‘Thank you, darling.’
Glenys smiled her pleasure and, moving to the mirror above the vanity, Joanna gave her own appearance a critical appraisal. The loose-fitting tank and khaki shorts hid the slightly enlarged shape of her breasts, which her mother might or might not notice. Pushing back her hair, she twisted it into a careless knot and then turned to face her mother again.
Glenys looked anxious. ‘Are you still planning on going back to London tomorrow?’
Joanna bit her lip. ‘I have to,’ she said, managing a smile. ‘And I have enjoyed this break. It was just what I needed.’
‘Well, I must admit I was delighted when you said you were coming down again. Two visits in less than a month. It must be a record.’ She paused. ‘Is it anything to do with Matt?’
‘Why should you think that?’
‘Oh, I don’t know.’ Her mother looked anxious. ‘Has he been to see you again?’
‘No.’ Joanna was defensive. ‘I told you, Matt and I are getting a divorce.’
‘Well, I know what you said...but ever since you got here a few days ago, I’ve felt you had something on your mind.’
And of course, she had.
‘David is expecting me back,’ Joanna said now, trying to change the subject. ‘August is a busy month, and he does pay my salary, you know.’
Glenys snorted. ‘Surely, you’re not going to pretend you need the money, Joanna. Despite what you say about Matt, I’m sure he gives you a generous allowance.
‘I don’t take money from Matt.’
‘Well, I’m sure your father left you comfortably off, then,’ exclaimed her mother impatiently. ‘I remember you telling me that Matt’s company paid him millions of dollars for Carlyle Construction.’
Joanna didn’t want to think about that, particularly after what Matt had said.
She couldn’t deny she’d been surprised when her father’s solicitor had told her Angus had been virtually bankrupt when he died. Even the house he’d lived in, and where Joanna had spent her childhood, was mortgaged to the hilt. There’d been a little cash, which had eventually cleared probate. But she couldn’t think where all the money might have gone.
‘I like my job,’ she said, avoiding her mother’s comment. ‘I like my independence.’
‘Nevertheless, Lionel and I worry about you living in London on your own.’
Joanna sighed, and then decided she couldn’t put it off any longer. ‘I won’t be on my own much longer,’ she said, and saw the way her mother’s eyes widened in surprise.
With a wry smile, she continued, ‘I think I’m pregnant, Mum. I need to go back to London to see my doctor. To prove that the two pregnancy tests I took were not—’
‘You’re pregnant!’ Her mother didn’t let her finish. ‘Oh, Joanna, am I going to be a grandmother at last?’ And then, with rather less enthusiasm, ‘I suppose David Bellamy is the father.’
‘No!’ Joanna was appalled that her mother should think such a thing. ‘David’s a friend, that’s all. Look, I didn’t want to tell you this, but he’s already got a partner. A male partner. But, please, keep that to yourself.’
‘Of course.’ But her mother looked only partially relieved. ‘Then who?’
‘It’s Matt’s, of course,’ said Joanna flatly. ‘We spent the night together when I was in Miami. Go figure!’
Glenys stared at her daughter. ‘But—I thought you said you went to ask him for a divorce.’
‘I did.’
‘I can’t believe it.’ Glenys struggled for words. ‘All those years you were trying for a baby...’ Her voice trailed away and she shook her head.
‘It just happened, that’s all. As you say, we’d tried so long to have a baby, I had no idea I’d get pregnant so easily.’
‘Still, there must be something between you two if you spent a night together,’ Glenys protested. ‘Have you told him yet?’
‘No. How could I?’ Joanna wished her mother weren’t so delighted by the news. ‘It—it was a mistake, Mum,’ she said flatly. ‘Now I’ve got to figure out what I’m going to do.’
‘But it’s good news, surely,’ exclaimed her mother. ‘You and Matt have always wanted a family.’
‘Yes, but it’s not me and Matt any more.’ Joanna expelled a shaky breath. ‘Is it?’
‘So, what does that mean?’ Glenys frowned. ‘You are going to tell him, aren’t you? You’ve got to, Joanna. It’s his baby, too, remember?’
As if she could forget.
* * *
By the time she got back to London, Joanna was still in two minds. She knew she ought to tell Matt, but the last thing she wanted was for him to think she was only getting in touch with him again because she needed his support.
Of course, unless she dipped into the money her father had left her, she probably wouldn’t be able to manage on her own. Childminders cost a small fortune these days. Her plans to use that money to accept David’s invitation and become a partner in the gallery might have to be shelved.
Her mother believed Joanna had no choice but to tell Matt. She also reminded her that in a few months she wouldn’t be able to work at all. Glenys suggested that when she left the gallery, she should move to Cornwall. She could stay with them until the baby was born.
‘It will give you a breathing space,’ she’d argued, when Joanna had demurred. ‘I’m not asking you to move in with us permanently. But I don’t like the idea of you having to cope with this alone.’
Joanna had left, assuring her that she’d do nothing without consulting her mother first, and realised how close she and Glenys had become since her father’s death. The bitterness Angus had always felt towards his ex-wife had certainly influenced Joanna’s teenage years.
David was glad to see her when she got back.
‘This place hasn’t been the same without you around,’ he said, putting an arm around her shoulders and giving her a kiss on the cheek. ‘I was half afraid you were having second thoughts about investing in the gallery. Are you sure Novak isn’t still in the picture?’
‘Hardly,’ Joanna corrected him drily. ‘As far as Matt is concerned, our marriage is over.’
‘Well, you know how jealous I am,’ said David good-humouredly. ‘Anyway, I haven’t forgotten he didn’t exactly follow you back to England, did he? It’s possible he’s seeing someone else.’
But, remembering what Matt had said, Joanna found his comments rather irritating. ‘You know it was nothing like that,’ she said shortly. ‘I told you his father had had another stroke. Matt’s been dealing with the company in his absence.’ She paused, and then added unwillingly, ‘In any case, he’s probably left the company by now. He’s moving to the Bahamas—to write a book.’
‘You’re kidding.’ David was incredulous, not realising he was treading on dangerous ground. ‘Perhaps he thinks if he tells you he’s leaving NovCo, you won’t fleece him for as much alimony, eh?’
Joanna resented his suggestion that Matt might cheat her. Yet wasn’t that exactly what her father had said? She sighed, bending her head. ‘I don’t want any alimony,’ she declared stiffly. ‘Matt knows I can support myself.’
A sudden awareness of the baby and the problems it might create came into her mind. It was stupid, she knew, but she was dreading telling David. He apparently already thought she was gullible. He had yet to discover how gullible she’d been.
‘You’re crazy!’ he said now, and for a moment Joanna was afraid she’d spoken her thoughts aloud. But when he continued, she soon realised she’d been mistaken. ‘If I was in your shoes. I’d take him for every penny I could get.’
* * *
Needing confirmation of her condition, Joanna made an appointment with her doctor. And came out of the surgery with a handful of leaflets in her hands.
Okay, it was definite. She was expecting a baby. In the spring, Dr Foulds had told her. He would make an appointment in a few weeks for her to have her first scan at the local hospital, and they would be able to give her a date for when the baby was actually due.
Despite all her misgivings, Joanna found the prospect exciting. How ironic it was that she’d become pregnant now after only one night of lovemaking, when in the past she’d begun to believe she couldn’t conceive.
She was having a baby. What was less certain was how Matt would feel about it. She’d finally decided that she had to tell him. Matt was the baby’s father. It wouldn’t be fair to keep it from him.
To that end, she waited until a time she could be reasonably sure he would be at the New York apartment. It was a little over a month since he’d visited London, but with Oliver still so ill, perhaps he might not have moved to the Bahamas quite yet.
She phoned in the early morning, New York time. Which meant she’d had to sneak out of the gallery so David didn’t hear the call. She chose the little café where she often shopped for cappuccinos in the middle of the morning. Finding an empty booth, she ordered a diet soda, and made the call.
The phone seemed to ring for an unconscionable amount of time before it was answered. Joanna had been on the point of giving up, having decided that Matt had either left early for the office or he’d already sold the apartment.
Then the receiver was lifted and a languid female voice said, ‘Do you know what time it is?’
Joanna swallowed convulsively, unable to think of anything to say. The woman’s voice was not familiar and it was easy for her to think the worst. That Matt had taken a mistress, as David had said.
She was tempted to end the call, but she forced herself to speak. Swallowing again, she said, ‘Is that you, Sophie? Is Matt there? I’d like to speak to him.’
The woman—girl, whoever she was—gave an impatient sigh. ‘I’m not Sophie,’ she said shortly. ‘And Matt’s not here. In any case, he wouldn’t appreciate you calling him at this hour of the morning. Whatever it is, call him on his mobile. We usually find that’s the safest thing to do.’
Joanna’s mouth was unpleasantly dry, but she had to go on. ‘I know the office number, but I don’t know his mobile,’ she admitted unwillingly.
The girl sighed again. ‘If you give me your name, I’ll tell him you called.’
‘No.’ All Joanna wanted to do now was end the call. ‘No, it’s not important. I—I’ll catch him later.’
‘Okay.’ The woman sounded as if she didn’t care one way or the other. Then, offhandedly, ‘I don’t know his mobile number either. But they might be willing to give it to you at the office.’
Joanna doubted it, but she said, ‘Thanks,’ and rang off. Annoyingly, she found she was shaking. She almost spilled the diet soda the girl brought for her, and, thrusting a five-pound note down on the table, she made her escape.
Outside, in the street, she couldn’t prevent the hot tears that filled her eyes at the knowledge that someone else was staying in Matt’s apartment. Someone who didn’t know his mobile number, which was odd.
Was she just some female escort he’d brought home with him? Surely he hadn’t had time to start a more permanent affair. But they were obviously sleeping together? Why else would a strange—sleepy—woman answer his phone at six o’clock in the morning?
She considered ringing again in the evening. But the thought of giving him her news, maybe in the presence of a new girlfriend, filled her with distaste. Remembering the angry way he’d left her apartment weeks ago, and now this morning’s phone call, she was no longer sure what his reaction would be.
She sighed. Well, for the present, she would keep the baby’s existence to herself. She would tell Matt, she assured herself. When she was ready. But he couldn’t blame her for being secretive if he was keeping secrets of his own.