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Lucy glanced at her watch. It was ten past four. Where was Tom? From her seat in the window of the Little Spoon she could see people rushing up and down the road, dodging the winter rain.

A shadow fell across the table. She looked up. It was Damien, her classmate from law. ‘Hi,’ she said.

‘Hi.’ He took off his coat and sat down beside her at the small table. ‘Can I get you another coffee?’

‘Uhm, well, I’m actually meeting Tom now so …’ Lucy didn’t want to be rude, but she needed him to leave so she and Tom were free to talk. Besides, Tom didn’t like Damien. He thought he was a boring geek, as did most of the class. Damien was super-bright: he’d come second in the class, just behind Lucy, last year. He’d always been really nice to her. Tom said it was because he had a crush on herand she kind of knew that was true, but she didn’t find him attractive. He wasn’t good-looking but neither was he bad-looking, he just wasn’t her type. He was too intense.

Damien shook his head. ‘Tom can’t make it. He asked me to give you this.’

Lucy frowned. What was he talking about? ‘What?’

‘I’m as surprised as you. Tom barely speaks to me. But I found it pushed under the door of my roomswhen I woke up this morning and figured it was important to you. Look.’ Damien handed her a note in Tom’s handwriting:

Damien, I’m due to meet Lucy at 4 p.m. in the Little Spoon. Can you please go and give her this note? It’s REALLY important. I can’t make it because of my dad. Long story. But can you please make sure she gets this note? She’ll be waiting for me. Thanks, Tom.

Lucy took theenvelope from Damien’s outstretched hand. She opened it and pulled out a note.

Don’t hate me, Dad has locked me up. I can’t go with you, he won’t let me. He promised me it’s all organized – a driver will pick you up in London and drive you to the clinic. You’ll be staying overnight in a hotel and then a car will pick you up and drive you back to the airport. I’m so sorry, Lucy. I’ve spent twodays fighting with him but he won’t let me go. I’ll be waiting for you at the airport when you get back and I’ll be by your side after, I promise. I just can’t go to London. I’m so sorry. I love you. Tom

A sob escaped her. Damien reached over. ‘Hey, are you okay? Is it bad news? What did he say?’

Lucy bit down hard on her lip. How could she explain to Damien that her boyfriend had just lefther to abort their baby alone? How could he do that? How could he let his father walk all over him?

‘Lucy, talk to me. Please.’

Lucy found her voice. She needed to take control of the situation. It wouldn’t help for Damien to find out. ‘It’s just a little issue Tom and I are having. It’ll sort itself out.’

Damien looked worried. ‘Lucy, you’ve gone green. You’re the colour of an unripe banana.It’s clearly not a small issue. What’s going on? Maybe I can help. Is he treating you badly? You deserve to be with someone who appreciates you, not upsets you.’

Lucy put the envelope into her handbag. ‘It’s fine, Damien.Please just forget about it. Thanks for bringing me the note. It was important.’

‘Let me take you home at least. You really don’t look well.’

Lucy fought back tears. ‘I reallyappreciate it, but honestly, I’m fine. I have to go.’ She pulled on her coat and turned to leave, then turned back to him and said, ‘Please don’t tell anyone about this. It’s kind of private. Tom shouldn’t have got you involved.’

Damien shrugged. ‘You’re the only person in the class I really talk to, so your secret is safe with me.’

Lucy smiled, then bent down and kissed his cheek. ‘Thanks,Damien. You’re a great friend.’

Gabriel stood outside the grotty little coffee shop and peered in. He saw a young girl who fitted Tom’s description of Lucy. She was kissing another boy – clearly a girl who got about the place.

Sighing, he threw open the door and strode over to the table. She was pretty enough, long brown hair, petite, but nothing special. Tom was an idiot. Evidently she sawhis son as her ticket to the good life. Over my dead body, thought Gabriel.

‘Are you Lucy Murphy?’

Lucy and Damien looked around. A tall, imposing man with grey hair and an expensive navy coat stood before them.

‘Yes, I’m Lucy.’

She had rather striking brown eyes. They made her jump from average-looking to very pretty. That was what Tom must have fallen for, Gabriel thought.

‘I’m Tom’s father.’

‘You’re Gabriel Harrington-Black.’ Damien flushed. ‘It’s an honour to meet you, sir. I’m a fellow law student of Tom and Lucy’s. Damien, Damien O’Neill. Delighted to meet you. I’m a huge fan, the sentencing of –’

Gabriel held up his hand. ‘Could you leave us, please? I have a matter I need to discuss with Miss Murphy.’