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Dru blocked what she’d seen from her mind, hoping and praying that somehow she’d imagined it, but the ache rose from her stomach to her chest and her throat as she visualised Connor reaching for that woman’s hand.

Her anger had disappeared as she had fled, replaced by a feeling of total inadequacy. She was his wife and the mother of his child, soon to be the mother of their second child.

How could he do this to us?

This was not the man that she’d believed Connor Kirk to be. The man she’d known him to be. That Connor Kirk, the man she’d fallen in love with, was strong and true, and he had integrity and he wouldn’t leave her for another woman.

Even if he’d stopped loving her and had met someone else, the Connor she loved would have told her the truth. He would have been sorry, but he would have been honest. Her Connor would have told her. Not that the telling would have made it any easier.

Dru’s hands shook as she tried to open the door, but her fingers felt numb and her vision was blurred; she couldn’t see well enough to press the security code. She lowered herself into a crouch and put her hands over her face.

What was she going to do? There was nobody to talk to. Mum was in Africa, and Ellie was in Mexico. Emma was sure to be working at the hospital.

Dru wrapped her arms around herself, still crouched outside the door of their apartment. A harsh gasp escaped her lips as the stitch became a tearing pain on her right side.

It was her fault. She’d run too fast, and she hadn’t given one thought to the baby.

No, if she lost their baby, it would be Connor’s fault. She still had eight weeks to go.

How dare he lie and cheat?

How dare he act as though I don’t even exist anymore?

The pain seared through her and her belly spasmed. She breathed through it and knew she had to get inside the apartment. But there was nothing to hang on to, to pull herself up. She tried to stand, but her legs were too weak. As she slid back down, a gush of water ran from between her legs and her panic built. She would not have her baby on the floor outside their apartment. There was no one else around because their entry was on a private floor.

Dru had dropped her bag on the floor when she’d first crouched and now between pains, she unzipped it and tried to find her phone. As her fingers finally closed around it, another wave of pain hit and she realised how close the pains were. When that one passed, she focused on the buttons and hit #3 on speed dial to call Emma.

Closing her eyes as the pressure built again, she groaned as the call went straight to voicemail. She disconnected, in too much pain to listen and leave a message.

Who to call? Dru had been a loner since her teens, until she’d met Connor, and she still had very few acquaintances. She could call triple zero, but the building was secure and unless she could get into the apartment, she wouldn’t be able to let them into the foyer.

There was no other way. She would have to call Connor, and if he didn’t answer, she’d call Greg and get him to call Connor. He’d answer Greg’s call; his priorities had changed.

Dru unclenched her fingers from the phone and lifted it. Connor was speed dial #1. Her fingers hovered over the numbers as another contraction built.

Yes, she finally admitted to herself, I brought on premature labour by my stupid running.

Before she could press the button, she jumped as her phone first vibrated in her hand and then rang. Emma’s photo appeared on the screen and Dru pressed the connect button and held the phone to her ear.

‘Hey, Dru, sorry I missed your call. I was driving and you know how much I hate using Bluetooth. What are you up to? I’m in the city and I was going to give you a call. Have you got time for a coffee? Seeing it’s only the two of us in town now.’

Dru tried to speak but the words wouldn’t come.

‘Dru? Are you there? Blasted Bluetooth. I’ll get out of the car. Hang on.’

Dru groaned. ‘Em. Help me.’

Immediately her sister’s voice was professional. ‘Dru, where are you? Are you at home? Are you by yourself?’

‘Yes.’

‘Is it the baby?’

‘Yes. My fault.’ Dru started to cry.

‘How far apart are your pains? Do you need an ambulance?’

‘Probably. Can’t get inside. Outside my door. On the floor,’ she managed to get out between jagged breaths.