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Tom held up his hands. ‘Please don’t freak out. I’m reallysorry, but I’ve got a girl pregnant and I need it for an abortion.’

Gabriel cursed under his breath. Leaning right across the table, he hissed, ‘Are you sureit’s yours?’

‘Yes, absolutely. God, of course. Lucy is my girlfriend. We’ve been together five months. She’s amazing, you’d love her. She came first in our class last year. She’s very smart and really nice too.’

‘Well, she can’t be that intelligent if she got herself pregnant, now can she?’

‘It was my fault, really.’

Gabriel inhaled deeply. ‘You stupid fool.’

‘I know. I’m sorry.’ Tom felthis voice shaking. He had to keep it together – his father hated when he got emotional.

‘I can’t believe you’ve got yourself into this mess. Did I not tell you after your embarrassing exam results last year to focus on books and not skirts?’

‘Yes. I’m sorry.’

‘Who is this girl? A St Jude’s girl? Do I know her father?’

Tom shook his head. ‘You don’t know her family or anything. Her dad ownsa shop on Violet Road.’

‘Christ, Tom.’ Gabriel looked disgusted. ‘Where is she going for the termination?’

‘Liverpool. Lucy set it all up. It’s cheaper than London.’

‘So the shopkeeper’s daughter is having a cheap abortion in Liverpool.’

‘Yes.’

‘I don’t think so,’ Gabriel hissed. ‘Are you really that stupid? If anything goes wrong with this termination, it will come back to you and then me.If it’s not properly performed she could die, get an infection or be barren for life. I’m not having some slut calling to my door demanding compensation for a botched abortion. Christ, Tom, use that bloodybrain of yours. This has to be done properly. There is no way in hell she’s having it done cheaply in some back-alley clinic. I’ll find one with reputable doctors and organize it properly. Youwill not be going with her. From now on you will have no further contact with her. Do you understand?’

‘What? I can’t do that! I have to go with her! It’s my fault, too. And I promised I’d be there for her.’

Gabriel grabbed Tom’s arm. He held it in a vice-like grip. Tom wanted to pull away, but knew he couldn’t. He’d never seen his father so angry. ‘Listen to me, you idiot. This girl will belooked after by the best medical people, at my expense. Because of me, she won’t have any complications or problems. She will have the termination, come back, get on with her life and keep her mouth shut. You will step away and get on with yours. I do not want anyone to know that my son had any involvement in a termination. When you’re looking for a job in a top law firm in a crowded market, competingagainst graduates who are a lot smarter than you, you do not want your employers to know that you’re the moron who got some tramp pregnant and was involved in an abortion.’

Tom was able to pull his hand back as Gabriel released his grip. ‘Please don’t call her a tramp,’ he said, his voice shaking. ‘Her name is Lucy Murphy. I understand what you’re saying and I really appreciate your help, butI can’t let Lucy go through this alone. It wouldn’t be right. No one needs to know. She’ll never tell anyone. She’s a lovely person, honestly. You’d like her.’

Gabriel slammed his fist on the table, making the glasses jump. ‘Like her? Have you lost your mind? I never want to set eyes on the little tramp. If she’d kept her legs shut, we wouldn’t be in this mess.’

‘Jesus, Dad, it’s my fault too.’

‘I am well aware of that, Tom, and you will pay for yourmistake. Your time living on campus is over. You are going to move back home immediately and I will be keeping a very close eye on you for the next year and a half until you graduate with honours.’ Gabriel pushed his plate away. ‘I’ve lost my appetite.’

Tom had to try once more to make him see sense. He couldn’t abandon Lucy. She’d be terrifiedgoing to England on her own.

‘Please, I’ll do everything you ask, but I have to insist that I go with Lucy. I won’t leave her on her own.’

Gabriel threw two hundred pounds onto the table and stood up. ‘Listen to me very carefully, Tom. You will not be going anywhere with this girl. I will arrange for her to have the best care. If you attempt to go with her, I will cut you off financially andnever speak to you again. I am trying to protect you and do what’s best for the girl. Do not cross me on this, Tom. You’ve got yourself into an unholy mess and you’re lucky to have me to get you out of it. One day you might even have the grace to thank me. Now, be back home with all of your things within the hour.’ Gabriel strode out of the restaurant, leaving Tom open-mouthed.

Tom collectedhis coat and headed back to his rooms to pack. He’d have to call Lucy and tell her the new plan. He’d try to make it sound like a good thing – the best clinic, proper medical care and all that. He’d leave the part where he had to tell her she was going alone until the end.