ont door until she was sure she c

already looking for

and didn't stop until the house was hidden behind

d on the t

was

gripping the phone with both h

was a

asn't part

u have m

ping over her. She turned away, t

e you?" L

it m

e're going to

a cafe and told her to meet

early until a waiter opened the

r an empty chair. Two men occupied a table on the othe

yone?" she ask

ed the

convers

ested he didn't und

a menu. Isla glanced at the p

tea, p

ng to eat,"

not h

d you la

y answered him. He ordered a sandwich,

marri

ng explanations, but none of them s

on her. She couldn't bear the thought of him looking at her with

ing up being told their mot

ze sharpen

t you think

uel when they think ther

and she hurried t

ouldn't have to introduce me at events

would you be

through the pregnancy and for a lit

a and sandwich, giving her som

ver," she continued. "Enough to get

the c

tightened ar

o be able t

to all this f

he said, looking up. "Not t

ng her for so long that s

the sandwich, the

sl

et hi

I'm th

thing to do, and because the first mout

gan turned toward

the doc

approached wi

d. "You broug

d me to m

ht you'd

't said

t before she could reach

support afterward, and continued access to th

ared a

e agre

ing as though I'm about

erwork, quiet phone calls, and questions I

ing over the provisions concerning the bab

ed carrying a leather folder, and Isla real

ing this

lanced

prefer anot

I jus

in front of her, with his na

next council meeting, after the next pack ce

always bee

cked up

marriage certificate, the cafe staff we

r beneath her ne

mewhere safe,

it carefully

afe door while she struggled with a twisted bag st

her wrist, warm agai

said. "My assistant will collect you at

d up. "Yo

different husband in

a startled breath of

on her face before h

ng changes

rtly after seven

er sounded strained. "Your father

against the

wrong wi

it's hi

ne called

se fo

me to call

osed he

the back of her wardrobe, along with the documents she would need to

certificate and someo

me by,"

t with the address, explaining that she was c

certificate

arrived, a blanket over his knees and a

ok your

nced at

d the do

. We need

r what's wrong

ged from the

al of stress because of you

mained

d his untouch

ed with Coel, the least you ca

oing

ited you to spend t

as though this

erous, considering

rcumst

id. "You can't expect men to line up fo

ked at h

taken hi

s mouth

ne of your

ag and took out

l have to g

t the paper witho

is t

iage cer

d the blanket

s. What man would m

e table and turned it so he co

can explain your arrangement