She realized then that he was handling it the way he always handled everything. Deflecting away from him, and helping her.
“Stop trying to help me. For once be honest, and say you’re freaking out! Swear, lose control! A child, Newman. Not a dog. This will change our lives, and you can’t fix that.”
“I don’t want to fix it.” She was pleased to see he didn’t look as calm now. “I’m just saying that I’m there for you.”
“What about you? Will I be there to help you through this too, or don’t you need my help?”
He looked shocked at her words, as if no one had ever asked him something like that before.
“We don’t need to discuss this now.” She couldn’t handle this conversation any longer. Swimming to the bank, she hurried out and pulled on her still wet clothes. She didn’t look at him again.
“You will tell me.” He grabbed her arm, his fingers biting into her flesh. It was the only indication that he was as unsettled as she was. Strangely, she liked his anger. It was better than the calm surety.
“I will.”
She started back to where the others now stood, as a silver sedan pulled up. The man who got out, she recognized instantly. John Finch was in town.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
Hope was working the lunch shift in the Howler three days after Macy’s photo shoot, and trying not to think about what Newman had told her. It had pretty much occupied her thoughts continuously. That was when they weren’t occupied by John Finch.
Hope realized just one day in of working with him, that he was a true professional. Each photo took time to set up. He demanded excellence, and that showed in his work. Not as tall as his cousin, he had the easy charm, but was quieter like Brad. What surprised Hope was that he was actually interested in her view point. There was very little arrogance in the man.
She’d remained focused when she was with him, and tried to push aside the worry of whether she was carrying a child or not. But it wasn’t easy. The uncertainty stretched her nerves to breaking point.
Could there even now be a life forming inside her? She had never factored on having children, at least not at this stage in her life. She had no money or security, and was living with her mother. The thought of a child should terrify her. Strangely, all she could think about was what it would look like.
“Can you pick up some supplies for me, Hope? The order didn’t come yet, and we need a few things.”
“No problem.” Taking the list from Noah, Hope headed out the door. The day was as it usually was in Howling this time of year, beautiful. She lifted a hand to Cubby, who was in uniform and talking to a group of teenagers with skateboards in their hands. She wondered if they’d been skating down the street.
Looking around, she could see no sign of Jay, which was a relief. He’d approached her yesterday, as she and John came out of the trails. How he’d known where they were, she had no idea. He’d then set about charming John, offering his help. Throwing about that easy smile Hope now loathed. John had said he didn’t need another photographer, but had taken Jay’s card anyway.
She didn’t know what to do about him or Wildlife, but was coming around to the idea of taking the legal action route when John Finch had once again left Howling.
“I couldn’t believe it when Jay told me you were here. That you’d have the cheek to work with a legend like John Finch.”
Hope looked at the woman who’d stepped out of a shop to stand in her way.
Casey Rae Linear was the spoilt youngest daughter of an investment banker. She worked very hard at looking like the rest of the conservationists who worked for Wildlife, but everyone knew she’d got the position because Daddy threw a great deal of money about.
Her hair was always styled to look messy, but Hope knew she paid a huge amount of money to look that way, because she’d once seen a diary entry with the name of an expensive salon on it. She wore cutoffs and a shirt tied under her breasts, exposing a vast amount of evenly tanned smooth stomach. The clothes, like the rest of her, were expensive, as were the boots on her feet that had been made to look worn.
“I was born here, Casey. So I have more rights to the place than you or Jay. John Finch respects my work, unlike you, so there’s nothing you can do or say to change that. Leave or stay, I don’t care. But don’t get in my face again.”
Hope saw the surprise. She’d always been polite around this woman, because she’d been her boss. Now she didn’t have to be.
“I’ll be speaking to him, or have my father do so. There is no way John Finch should ever have to work with someone like you, and I’ll make sure of it. You have no integrity, and you’re an alcoholic and a drug user. I never trusted you.”
Hope made herself smile. It was a stretch, but she managed it.
“Funny, I never liked you either. Spoilt rich bitch, what the hell do you know about conservation, when your father’s Learjet costs more than the entire fund raised for the whooping crane. You’re the fake, Casey, not me.”
Casey’s mouth opened and shut, but no sound came out.
“For the record, I didn’t lie, Jay did. Maybe you should watch your back. He may have you in his sights next.”
“Hope, how you doing today?”
