Cam was finding it difficult to look her in the eye. ‘Because I couldn’t. You’re pregnant and all I think about is the worst-case scenario. Letting you down, leaving you with two young small children. It’s been eating me upside. What if—’
‘Woah! Stop right there. You aren’t letting anyone down or leaving me with two small children. We aren’t thinking like that; we are thinking positive. Let’s not second-guess anything. We take one step at a time … together,’ she said, bolder than she felt, squeezing out a wobbly smile.
Cam nodded. ‘I’m so sorry.’
‘There is nothing to apologise for. We are in a little bit of shock but this will be okay because we will make it okay.’
Cam still couldn’t look at her. ‘I feel like I’ve let you down.’
‘We aren’t talking like that, do you hear me?’
Cam was crying as he pulled Molly in close again. They held each other like their lives depended on it.
‘This is going to work out okay,’ she reassured him, her body relaxing for a moment. Feeling guilt-ridden, she added, ‘I’m sorry, I’ve put you through the mill. I understand now why you wouldn’t want someone else in our home and I’m guessing this is the reason for your reluctance to enter the baking competition?’
Cam nodded. ‘I’m sorry, I know I should have told you the truth but I just find it so hard to talk about this stuff.’
‘I think men in general find it difficult to talk about personal stuff like this – but this is me.’
‘I know.’ Cam took a breath. ‘I was going to talk to you last night when you arrived home. I was actually on edge all night wondering what the hell Martha would come up with.’ He gave a small chuckle. ‘And it seems possible that womanhasgot some sort of psychic power after all.’
‘We just need to sit back and wait for this scandal to unfold,’ Molly said with a smile. ‘She was adamant something is brewing and said the same to Dixie.’
‘Interesting.’ Cam raised his eyebrow. ‘At least that might give us something else to think about until this appointment.’ He looked at the letter.
‘In other news, Martha predicted the baby is going to be a girl!’ she said with a forced uplift to her voice. Molly knew it was best to try to steer the conversation away from the worry of the appointment.
‘Really?’ Cam placed his hand on Molly’s stomach. ‘I suppose Martha does have a—’
‘Fifty-fifty chance,’ they chorused, then laughed.
They were quiet for a second and Molly knew exactly what Cam was thinking.
‘Don’t slip into those thoughts. You will be here. We will be a family. We carry on as normal.’
‘It’s just hard.’ He breathed in and smiled at Molly’s stomach. ‘A girl. . . We best get thinking of some names.’
‘That shouldn’t be too difficult because according to Martha the baby’s name begins with “L”.’
‘“L”?’ repeated Cam. ‘We best get out the baby name book.’
‘Let’s do that tonight?’
Cam nodded. ‘I am sorry about Stan, I know you liked him.’
‘I did. It’s so sad that anyone’s life can end in such a tragedy, and it still leaves the question of where Bree stayed last night and when – and if – she will reappear.’
‘I really am sorry for yesterday,’ said Cam.
Molly nodded. ‘I know.’ She paused. ‘We always talk about anything and everything. I can remember when we first moved in together, we’d still be chatting away, wrapped up in each other’s arms, when the dawn chorus could be heard.’ She smiled. ‘This is important.’ She pointed to the letter. ‘And we are in this together. Look how far we’ve come in the past five years. We’re no strangers to coping with pressure and life.’
George, their son, was conceived during what they’d both thought would be a one-night stand and Molly had prepared herself to be a single mother, until Cam crossed her path unexpectedly three months later walking his dog in Primrose Park. Cam was going through a divorce when Molly revealed she was carrying his child but they pulled together, creating a solid family unit.
‘It was just difficult to wrap my head around. I’ve tried to put it to the back of my mind until I know exactly what I was dealing with.’
‘You were trying to shield me from worrying, I do understand that, but knowing something is bothering you, I’ve had many things spiralling in my thoughts, the main one being that you weren’t happy and were on the verge of leaving me.’
‘Believe me, I am the happiest I have ever been, but that’s exactly what I’m scared of – leaving you,’
