Paige glared at her mum and dad, who were nonchalantly discussing Christmas preparations as they ate lunch with her on the covered deck of Curtis’s parents’ country home in Bowral.

She’d been stuck here for a week and she hadn’t heard anything about Tristan. She didn’t even have any idea if he’d already been arrested since she’d spoken to him that morning after she’d disappeared.

It would have been better if she hadn’t taken her mother’s call that day. At least Tristan wouldn’t have had to hear the words Curtis had pushed her to say. Seriously, if it weren’t her parents behind all this hiding away and distancing herself from Tristan, she’d think she’d been kidnapped with the way Curtis had ordered her to say hurtful things to her husband.

She still hoped and prayed that the authorities were totally wrong about Tristan. The way Curtis had painted him as a hardened criminal bore little resemblance to the man she’d married and promised to respect, cherish and love for as long as she lived.

Tears pooled in her eyes as she rubbed the bulge in her tummy. If it wasn’t for her baby, she wouldn’t have agreed to hide out here. She’d have stayed with Tristan until she had absolute proof of the accusations being thrown at him.

But she had to think of their baby. She owed it to her child to protect herself from the possibility of incarceration, and she’d like to think Tristan would understand that, considering how much he loved Tanner.

Besides, the people telling her about Tristan’s secret life weren’t strangers. They were her own parents who she trusted unconditionally. They understandably wanted to save her from getting entangled in the web of a criminal organisation.

Still, she couldn’t help but feel resentful towards her folks and Curtis. She wanted to do something productive relating to this issue—like talk to Tristan in private and get his side of the story—but they were virtually tying her hands behind her back. It was so frustrating!

“Hello, everyone!”

“Curtis,” her father said delightedly. “Glad you could join us.”

“Have you had lunch?” Debbie asked. “I made extra omelette in anticipation of you having lunch with us.”

“Thanks, Debbie! I am starving.”

Debbie got out of her chair. “I’ll grab you a plate. Sit down and relax.”

Paige wanted to roll her eyes. Her mother was being hospitable to Curtis in Curtis’s parents place. Nothing wrong with that, she guessed. It was just that she couldn’t stand them acting like everything was hunky-dory when she was getting more and more depressed by the minute. “What’s new, Curtis?” she asked.

“Nothing new, I’m afraid.”

“I have the right to know what’s going on,” she snapped. He’d been feeding her that line for a week and she was getting sick of it.

“You do have the right to know what’s going on,” Curtis said gently, “but there’s nothing for me to share at this point.”

“You said last week an operation was imminent, that was why I couldn’t go home. I took that as meaning people were going to get arrested in a matter of hours. But the morning after, Tristan was still free as a bird—and looking for me at my parents’ house. Does that mean they didn’t have enough against him to arrest him? If so, that’s probably because Tristan is not who they say he is,” she said hopefully.

“No, it means the operation hasn’t happened yet. The team is holding off for some reason, but I don’t know why. I’m not privy to all the details, as some of them are classified for the likes of me. All I know is they’re back to a holding pattern for the meantime.”

“Up to when?” she asked in dismay.

“I don’t know.”

She huffed. “I’d really like to go back to Sydney.”

“Please be patient, Paige.”

Debbie patted Paige’s hand. “If you’re still here next week, then we’ll hold our Christmas celebrations here. It’ll be fun.”

Paige pushed her plate away. She didn’t even want to think about Christmas. It was too depressing.

“You should finish your food,” Debbie said with a frown. “Make sure you get enough nutrition in your body.”

Paige repressed a sigh. Her baby was the only reason why she was trying to keep it together.

She missed Tristan so much—the Tristan she’d gotten to know and love—the upstanding, caring man whose love for her and her baby she’d felt in her bones.

But her folks and Curtis insisted it was all an act—a way for Tristan to get back into Larry and Debbie’s good books so he could eventually add Shipton clubs for the nefarious activities of his syndicate.

Just the possibility of that accusation being true hurt more than anything.

“Curtis,” Debbie said, “can Paige and I go shopping in the town centre? It should be okay, shouldn’t it?”

Curtis hesitated.

“I’m starting to go crazy being cooped up here,” Paige said dispassionately. She really didn’t care anymore. All she wanted was to hear news about Tristan. She hadn’t given up hope that they’d simply gotten it wrong when it came to him, even though a big part of her was angry at herself for being so foolish as not to believe her folks, who’d had her best interest at heart since she was born.

“Let me call someone,” Curtis said, sighing deeply and pulling his phone out.

“Hey, how about we invite a few more people here for Christmas,” Debbie said, trying to sound excited. “We can even have a pool party. The weather should be good on Christmas day, apparently.”

“Don’t make too many plans, Deb,” Larry warned. “It’s not our house and we don’t know what’s gonna happen.”

“Oh, I know. But it doesn’t hurt to be prepared. Last thing we want is to have a boring Christmas.”

“Okay,” Curtis said, replacing his phone in his pocket. “You can go in a couple of hours when Tony arrives. Unfortunately, I can’t go with you because Larry and I are meeting someone in half an hour.”

“That won’t give us much time to shop,” Paige said flatly. “We might as well not go.”

Debbie frowned at her tone. “Can’t we head off earlier, Curtis? I don’t think anyone knows we’re here. And we’ll be in a public place. No one would dare to do anything stupid with lots of witnesses around, right? Paige needs to leave the house and do something fun.”

Curtis raked his hair, lips pressed together. “Okay, fine. But please keep your phones with you. I’ll get Tony to meet you in town when he gets here. And don’t do anything that would attract attention.”

Paige snickered. “Like what? Dance on the streets because I was allowed to go shopping with my mother?”

Curtis gave her a small smile. “I know how hard this is for you, Paige. But hold on for a little bit longer. The operation will happen soon.”

Well, she didn’t want that, either. It would be a hope-killer.

* * *

Paige held up a brown leather sling bag for inspection. Maybe she should get it for her dad for Christmas. He was always carrying too many things in his pockets, and a stylish man-bag would be useful for him.

She looked around for other options, finding herself enjoying this shopping spree. She was now realising how she’d always taken her freedom for granted.

“This is interesting,” her mum said handing her a flyer for a one-and-a-half-hour massage and body wrap package from the nearby spa. “I’m tempted to do it.”

“Why don’t you?”

Debbie made a face, but she was clearly considering it. Her mother was semi-addicted to massages.

“Go on, Mum. I’m happy to wait for you.”

“I shouldn’t leave you by yourself,” Debbie said, waving her hand dismissively.

“Why not? Curtis thinks we’re okay to shop without a bodyguard. What difference does it make if you go get pampered while I continue shopping? In fact, it’s a good idea because I’m yet to buy your and Dad’s presents.”

“Do it with me, then. Let’s both have a massage.”

“With this?” she said with a laugh, rubbing her belly.

“Yeah, why not?”

“Nah. I’d rather continue shopping. I really want to find something for you and Dad, at the very least. I might not be allowed to leave the house again before Christmas.”

Debbie sighed. “I guess it should be okay…”

“Of course it is.” She linked arms with her mother and walked her to the shop’s exit. “Call me when you’re done. If they’re currently busy, can you give me at least an hour to browse on my own? I don’t want you to know what I’m getting you.”

“Okay,” Debbie said with a grin, waving and walking towards the direction of the spa.

Paige let out a sigh of relief. It was nice to go shopping without anyone watching over her. She continued to look around, but didn’t find anything that truly grabbed her.

She stepped out of the store and did a double take. A woman with her arms full of shopping walked in front of her. But the thing that had caught Paige’s attention was the blue balloon tied to one of the bags. Printed in big bold letters on the extra-large blue balloon was the name Tanner.

Paige smiled. Where did she get that from?

The lady dropped one of her bags and Paige’s mouth formed an O. She rushed to help. With the amount of stuff she was carrying, the woman was having a hard time picking up her items from the ground.

“Here you go,” Paige said, handing back a boxed baby rattle that had fallen out.

“Thank you,” the woman said with a laugh. “Next time, I’ll know not to volunteer to go shopping for my sister. It’s crazy what she got me to buy.”

“These are all for your sister?”

“Yes. For her baby. She’s already bought lots of stuff, but she got a fifteen percent discount that expires today from the store down the road. She couldn’t go, so she gave me a long list.”

“And her baby’s name is Tanner?”

“Yes. You can tell from the balloon, huh? The baby won’t get to see it, though, ’coz my sister’s not due till the end of February. But knowing her, I bet she’ll keep the balloon long after it deflates.”

“I’m due in April and my baby’s name’s Tanner too!” Paige said gleefully.

The stranger laughed. “Wow, what a coincidence!”

“Do you mind if I ask where you got the balloon from?”

“There’s a pop-up store at the promenade selling them. You pay by the letter and they’ll paint any name you want on it. Or you can ask them to draw something. That costs more.”

“Oh, right. I like personalised things for the baby.”

“I know! They’re so cute, aren’t they? I have a couple of things in here personalised for my nephew that my brother-in-law got me to pick up. They’re surprises for my sister. She’ll go bananas over them, I’m sure.” The woman lifted one hand carrying four bags. “Wanna see?”

“I’d love to, but it looks like too much trouble for you.”

The lady shrugged. “I’m heading for the café. I can show them to you there.”

“Okay. I’m Paige, by the way.”

“Elizabeth,” the lady said with a smile.

They stopped at the first coffee shop they passed and took an indoor table.

Elizabeth rummaged through her bags. “Check this out.”

Paige laughed. A light green pillow in the shape of an elephant had a big Tanner embroidered on it. “This is so cute!”

“What about this train set?” Elizabeth asked, pulling out wooden train cars shaped like letters. She hooked them together and they spelled Tanner.

“Aw.” Paige wanted those for her son too.

“And these ones.” Elizabeth handed her two adult-sized shirts. One said I’m Tanner’s Gorgeous Mum and the other, I’m Tanner’s Handsome Dad.

“These are great. Where did you get them from?”

“From the baby shop at the end of this block. They sell lots of stuff that you can personalise.”

“They deliver to Sydney, don’t they?”

Elizabeth cocked her head. “You’re from Sydney?”

“Yes.”

“Visiting someone here or playing tourist?”

“Just playing tourist,” she said with a smile.

“Oh, good! Where are you staying?”

“At the home of a friend of ours. Do you want to order?” She picked up the menu to try and change the subject.

“Sure.”

A waitress was instantly by their side.

“I’ll have a blueberry muffin and an orange juice, please,” Paige said.

“And I’ll have a black forest cake,” Elizabeth said to the server before turning back to her. “So you’re here with your husband?”

Paige flushed. “No. I’m with my parents. We’re doing some… bonding.”

Elizabeth must have noticed her discomfort. “Sorry. I didn’t mean to pry. I tend to ask too many questions. Don’t mind me.”

“It’s okay. I’m just going through a rough patch.”

Elizabeth looked dismayed.

“Anyway, I think I’ll check that baby shop you’re talking about after we have our coffees,” she said brightly.

“You’ll love it,” Elizabeth said as she put her bought items back in the bags.

Paige helped by folding the adults’ shirts neatly, and her gaze lingered on the one for the dad. She could see Tristan in it.

Her heart felt a pinch and she let out a sigh.

“You okay?” Elizabeth asked sympathetically.

“Yes. I—”

Paige’s phone rang. Her relief at being interrupted was short-lived when she saw who the caller was. She reluctantly answered. “Hi,” she greeted Curtis.

“Hi, Paige. Tony’s already there to accompany you guys. He’ll ring you when he’s found parking.”

Resentment instantly rose up Paige’s throat. “We’re having fun shopping on our own, Curtis. We don’t need Tony.”

“He’s there to keep you safe, Paige.”

Paige glanced at Elizabeth, who was fiddling with her purchases and clearly trying not to listen in. “I find it hard to go shopping when someone’s with me,” she said to Curtis, feeling confident that Elizabeth had no way of understanding her conversation.

“Come on, Paige. Don’t be like that. I’m just looking out for you.”

She sighed. “I appreciate that. But seriously, Mum and I can get back there by ourselves.”

“Can I talk to your mum?”

“No.”

“Why not?”

“She’s having a massage.”

“So you’re alone? Where?”

“At a coffee shop.”

“Paige…” Curtis said with frustration. “I’m sorry you feel so cooped up, but we need to be very careful. You just never know.”

She didn’t answer. What was the use?

“Can you please meet Tony? He doesn’t need to walk around right next to you, but he does need to know where you are.”

“Okay. I’ll wait for his call.”

“Thank you. See you when you get back.”

Paige hung up and smiled at Elizabeth. “Sorry about that. It’s the son of my parents’ friends, who owns the house we’re staying at. He thinks my mum and I need a tour guide while shopping.”

“Really?”

Paige’s phone rang again. “Will you excuse me for a minute? I need to tell this guy I’m here having coffee with you and that he can go shopping himself if he wants to wait around.”

“Is he supposed to be your tour guide?” Elizabeth asked with a chuckle.

“Yeah,” she said, rolling her eyes. “I’ll be back soon.”

Paige answered Tony’s call and met him around the corner.

“This is not on, Paige,” Tony said, glaring at her. “Curtis just called and said your mother’s not with you.”

“She’s having a massage. And last time I looked, we’re not prisoners, are we?” she asked dryly. Seriously, this was ridiculous.

Tony exhaled impatiently. “Well, I’ll be right behind you while you go shopping, and I’m not taking no for an answer. Otherwise, you won’t be allowed out of the house again until the police operation has happened and is successful. I’m not as soft as Curtis.”

Paige took a deep breath to calm herself even though she wanted to scream. Tony was indeed inflexible. She’d gathered that this past week from observing him. “Fine. I’m going back to the café around the corner, though. I’m having a snack with a friend.”

“A friend?”

“Well, I just met her. We’re discussing baby stuff.”

Tony gripped her arm. “Point her to me.”

She frowned at him. “Why? She’s just a woman I offered to help with her bags.”

“I’m sure she is. I won’t talk to her if I don’t recognise her.”

Argh!

She led Tony to the café, bloody annoyed but trying to be cooperative so as not to antagonise Tony too much.

To her utter surprise, Elizabeth was nowhere to be found.