I draw in a deep breath and drive away before I can change my mind—again.
This will have to wait for another day. I’m not sure I’m inany kind of emotional state to introduce himandhis girlfriend to our daughter.
The farther I get from the university, the more I relax.
And then we’re back on the motorway, making our way home to Hamilton where Gran and safety are.
“I thoughtyou’d be gone longer than this,” she says as I walk in the door, baby capsule in hand.
“I couldn’t do it. I think he’s moved on.”
Dropping onto the couch, I place Sophie’s car seat on the floor before unbuckling her and lifting her out. She smells of baby powder and zinc. It’s comforting and familiar.
“You saw him?”
“From a distance. He was with his girlfriend. At least, I assume she’s his girlfriend from the way they kissed each other.”
She frowns. “I’m so sorry, love.”
“I had to get out of there. What was I supposed to say in front of her?”
Gran sits beside me and slips an arm around my waist. “You’ll tell him in good time.”
I nod. “He needs to know. Just not today.”
She gives me a kiss on the cheek. “Whatever you need.”
12
PATRICK
Melissa throws herself at me, and I have no option but to catch her.
She plants a kiss on my lips, and I gently shake her off.
I stand back as she tells me about her day. She’s studying medicine too, and I made the mistake of going out with her a couple of times before telling her we can’t be anything more than friends.
I’m still too raw over what happened last summer.
I tried to speak to Cassie, but something happened at that party that made her blank me. She blocked me on her mobile, and eventually calling the house stopped working, like the line had been disconnected or something.
So I went back after the first semester, and no one was home—the only person I saw was Dave Pratt, but he didn’t know anything. I couldn’t afford to stick around, so I headed back to Auckland a couple of days later.
She didn’t want anything more to do with me.
I’m not really listening to Melissa, and I run my gaze down the road.
Is that Cassie’s car?
No. I must be imagining things.
Melissa runs her hand up my arm, and I shoot a glare at her.
Turning back, I try and focus on the car—I’m sure I’d recognise Cassie’s car anywhere. I thought for sure I’d be able to catch up with her when she started university, but she never did.
I start to walk toward it, but it backs into the street.
My heart sinks and I pick up my pace until I break into a run, but it’s gone and I reach where it was parked and look in the direction it went.
