Reunited By A Baby Bombshell. Barbara Hannay

      * * *

      It was a relief to lean into Griff’s massive shoulder and to have his strong arm firmly around her as they walked the short distance across the lawn to the beachfront motel where Eva was staying.

      She should have been terribly self-conscious about this sudden proximity to the man she’d avoided for so many years, but now her thoughts were filled to the brim with Laine. For so long, that beautiful girl had lived in Eva’s head and heart as a tiny newborn.

      Such a shock to see her baby now. Out of the blue. So astonishingly alive and grown-up and beautiful, and wanting to get to know her and Griff.

      And Griff. She still hadn’t come to terms with seeing him again. In one night, the love of her life and the daughter she had given up were both suddenly back in her life. It was too much. Too unreal. Too overwhelming.

      Eva couldn’t quite take it all in. She’d never felt such see-sawing emotions, teetering between joy and sorrow and guilt. Huge guilt.

      ‘There hasn’t been a day when I haven’t thought about her, haven’t wondered.’ She only realised she’d spoken this out loud when she felt Griff’s arm tighten around her.

      He didn’t say anything, however, and Eva couldn’t imagine what he must be thinking. He would be terribly angry with her of course.

      Keeping secrets was dangerous. They were usually exposed sooner or later, and the longer the secret was kept in the dark, the more likely it was that people would be hurt. Deeply hurt.

      Would Griff ever forgive her?

      * * *

      It wasn’t long before they reached the motel. Griff dropped his arm from Eva’s shoulders and she fished in her bag for the room key.

      ‘Would you like to come in?’ she asked him, knowing she couldn’t reasonably send him away like this, with so many unasked and unanswered questions.

      ‘Yes, of course. We need to talk.’

      Eva nodded, pushed the door open and slipped the key-card into the slot that turned on the lights. The motel room was large and comfortable, with a small sitting area comprising a couple of armchairs, a coffee table and a shaded table lamp.

      She quickly switched off the lamps by the king-sized bed. A silly reaction, no doubt, but she didn’t want to draw attention to the seductive banks of pillows, the soft throw rug arranged artistically across the grey silk quilt. She kicked off her shoes. Her hip was screaming and for a moment she had no choice but to stand there with her eyes closed, massaging the inflamed joint with her thumb.