Chapter 50
Tobias had thoroughly enjoyed his time in Brittany. Having a couple of days to chill out was just the tonic he needed whilst all the work at Treweham Hall was in progress. It was good to spend time with Anna and Mark and see how well they had adapted to their life in France. He was so pleased they were now grandparents. Their happiness endorsed his. Any misgivings he may have had were well and truly gone. Now all he wanted to do was to get back home – home to Megan. He deliberately chose not to contact her whilst away. It didn’t seem right whilst he was staying with Carrie’s parents. Not only that, he didn’t want to have to explain himself over the phone. He had to make her understand face to face. The weather had turned. The red-hot sun had vanished, to be replaced by a black, thunderous sky. The rain started to lash down on his drive to the airport. His impatience to get home grew as, entering the terminal, he learnt his flight had been delayed.
*
Megan woke with a queasy sensation in her stomach. She hadn’t been feeling her best over the past few days. Little wonder, she thought, seeing as how Tobias had basically abandoned her. The seeds of resentment had taken root and had gradually started to grow. It was one thing being so cloak-and-dagger and disappearing without an explanation, but to not even get in touch? How dare he treat her like that? One minute he was all over her like a rash, the next he’d done a runner! The more she thought about it, the angrier she became. She momentarily retched, then calmed herself down. It couldn’t be doing her any good to get so worked up. Butwherethe hell was he? A sinister, menacing thought crept into her overactive mind:whowas he with? Megan wasn’t due to start work at The Templar until late morning, which was just as well, considering how long it took her to compose herself and get ready. The nausea kept hitting her in small waves, slowing her down. When she eventually trundled into The Templar Finula took one look at her and commented on how terrible she looked. ‘Thanks,’ was all Megan could muster in response.
Mid-afternoon, they both settled at the bar for a coffee break. Megan once more gagged over the cappuccino steaming her face. ‘You OK? You’ve gone awfully pale, Megan?’ Finula noticed the bags under her eyes.
‘No. I’ve been feeling sick all morning.’
‘I think there’s a virus flying round the village. It’s probably that.’
‘Probably.’
Finula hesitated, then went for it. ‘Heard from Tobias yet?’
Megan heaved a sigh and slammed her coffee down. Ignoring the spillage on the bar she rasped, ‘Not a damn word. What’s he playing at, Fin?’ Her eyes sought Finula’s face for an answer.
‘Oh, Megan, don’t worry. I’m sure he’s got a perfectly good explanation,’ she tried to sooth.
‘But not to even contact me?’ Megan’s voice cracked and tears swelled her eyes. Finula tilted her head to one side. Wasn’t this a little out of character for Megan? Was her friend overreacting just a touch? After all, Tobias had only been gone three days ago.
‘He’ll be back soon.’ She patted her shoulder in an attempt to comfort her. ‘And the last thing he’ll want to come home to is a cry baby,’ she softly joked.
Cry baby.Megan froze. It suddenly hit her like a thunderbolt: her period was late. Frantically racking her brain, she calculated it was by about a week. That wasn’t something to cause concern, was it? Anyone could be a little late at times. But never her. She’d always been as regular as clockwork.
‘What’s the matter?’ Finula stared at her panic-stricken face.
‘Fin, I’m a week late,’ she whispered hoarsely.
‘Sorry?’
‘My period. I’m a week late.’ There was an awkward pause.
‘But surely you’ve used precaution?’
‘Yes, of course! Well, most of the time,’ cried Megan, beginning to feel hysteria rising inside her. ‘The sickness… oh my God…’ She put her head in her hands. The tears started to fall freely now. Finula jumped off the bar stool and hugged her.
‘Shush, Megan, it’ll all be all right, I promise. Listen, if it helps, take the rest of the day off.’
‘Thanks,’ Megan said in a strangled voice, taking deep breaths. She intended to drive into town and buy a pregnancy testing kit.
*
Tobias’ plane finally landed at ten o’clock that evening. He was tired, but still desperately anxious to see Megan. The weather was even worse in England with the heavy rain pelting down and the rumble of thunder echoing in the distance. Tobias drove at full speed to get back, whilst the relentless downpour whipped against his windscreen. The car ate up the miles and by twelve thirty he was entering Treweham village. Not even bothering to go home first, he drove straight to Megan’s. He leapt out of the car and ran to the front door, hammering on it impatiently. Megan was wide awake. Sleep was impossible. She knew it was Tobias at the door, having spotted him though the bedroom window. Well, tough, he could wait in the rain and all night, for all she cared. The knocking got louder. She delved under her duvet, wanting to shut out the world. Then she heard his voice, it was now coming from outside the back door.
‘Open the door, Megan!’ He knew she was in. The light in her bedroom had been on. ‘Megan!’ he blasted.
Cursing under her breath she threw back the covers and marched downstairs into the kitchen.
‘Open this door, Megan, or I’ll break the bloody thing down.’ He could see her through the kitchen window. She could just make out his silhouette in the darkness and pouring rain. Megan believed him. He would break her door down, so reluctantly she opened it. He stood in the doorway, rain dripping off him. He took her breath away; his hair was wet through and his green eyes blazed. Despite her anger, there was no denying how her heart had jumped at the sight of him.
He barged into the kitchen and turned on her. ‘Why weren’t you answering the door?’
‘It’s late,’ she feebly answered, avoiding his intense stare.
‘What’s wrong?’ His face looked genuinely confused. Megan lost it.
