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‘Me?’ Jay looked genuinely shocked. ‘Why on earth do you think that?’

Frankie became aware of someone running along the corridor toward them, trainers squeaking on the linoleum – a man that Frankie thought looked familiar as he got nearer.

‘She’s asking for you,’ Jay said to the man who was out of breath.

Rocco turned to the new arrival. ‘Who the hell are you?’

‘I appear to be the father.’

CHAPTER 55

VALENTINA

Valentina sat on the edge of the hospital bed sucking deeply on the plastic tube as her contraction started to build. She liked the gas and air; it made everything fuzzy around the edges. She couldn’t believe this was it; she was going to meet bubba soon. And she was doing okay and coping with the pain. There had been one moment though, before Valentina had been given the gas and air; at the peak of a contraction she’d stupidly blurted out that she wanted the father here.

As if. No way was that going to happen. But then the midwife came in and said the father had arrived and he and Rocco were getting ready before coming in.

The contraction subsided.

She took another suck on the tube. Although she didn’t need the gas and air at that moment, she wanted it. As well as making things fuzzy, the drugs gave Valentina a feeling of euphoria, just like when she was in London and she fell head over heels in love. In fact, she still was in love. Valentina wondered if there was another gas and air tube that would turn off feelings instead of blocking out pain. Now, that would be handy.

But… She looked at the door. What if… what if the father was about to walk into the room?

What would he say? What would she say? Valentina sucked on the tube, feeling her body and mind float, which would hopefully negate the need for anyone to say anything.

Valentina then

Valentina and Arlo wandered along the impressive Ancient Egyptian artefacts of Room 4 of the British Museum. It was just the two of them as something urgent involving Astrid had called Jay away first thing that morning, but Valentina didn’t mind. Arlo was great company.

They stopped in front of the glass case containing the Rosetta Stone.

‘I thought it would be bigger,’ Valentina said after studying it for a few moments.

Arlo gave a snort of a laugh, the sound amplified in the capacious room and an elderly couple turned to scowl in their direction.

‘I just mean,’ Valentina said in a stage whisper, ‘for something that unlocked the hieroglyphs, it’s not that big.’

‘So size does matter?’ Arlo teased.

Valentina rolled her eyes at him.

‘It was part of a bigger structure that’s been lost,’ Arlo said. ‘There is a lot of information crammed into the space though.’ He crouched down to peer at the bottom of the stone. ‘It’s teeny tiny writing.’

They walked around the room, stopping to read the little plaques beside the antiquities.

Valentina looked up at the bust of Ramesses the Great and let out a little sigh of contentment.

‘Happy?’ Arlo asked.

‘Very. I love museums and art galleries.’

‘I know. And I know you nearly took a history of art degree instead of doing maths and accountancy.’

Valentina turned and looked at him quizzically.

Arlo looked sheepish. ‘I feel I’m at a slight advantage. You know nothing about me and I know a hell of a lot about you and your family.’

‘You do?’