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“Dad,” Maya said loudly.

Yvonne’s eyes widened. “Maya, are you okay?”

“Yes! Yes, I’m fine, I—”

“So you see why I’m worried,” Omar said. “Now she’ll feel tied to this place and this relationship when an offer from Perry and Pearson comes through the door.”

Yvonne frowned. “Do you want to work at Perry and Pearson?”

“No,” Maya said. “I—”

“No?” Omar replied. “I went to all the trouble of calling James, and this is how you repay me?”

“I don’t want to be an accountant, Dad,” Maya said, aware her voice was rising but unable to stop it. “I want to be a ski instructor.”

“I knew it,” Omar said, pointing at her. “You’ve had your path muddied by this man, and this pregnancy.”

“Stop it!” Hana shouted from the table, her head buried in her hands. It was clear it’d taken all her reserve to even speak, never mind shout, after that last bout of vomiting. “Stop,” she whispered. “Maya isn’t pregnant. I am.”

There was a moment’s silence, and then Yvonne threw her hands in the air, grinning widely and letting out a shriek as she quickly crossed the room to hug Hana, and then Maya, who was still standing by Hana’s side. “Oh my goodness! I’m going to be a grandmother. Omar! We’re going to be grandparents.”

Omar’s mouth was open as he darted his gaze from one of them to another.

Yvonne stroked Hana’s head. “Oh, no wonder you’ve been so ill, my poor love. Shall I make you some ginger tea?”

Hana smiled weakly. “Yes please.” She grasped Maya’s hand. “I just need to take one of the anti-sickness tablets that Maya took me to get.”

Omar closed his mouth again. “You were asking for advice for your sister. And you took her to see the GP?”

“Yes,” Maya said, not meeting his gaze. Hana squeezed her hand.

Omar cleared his throat. “Congratulations, Hana. That’s wonderful news for you and Rosie.”

The fact that he didn’t apologize for all the crap he’d just said, plus the clear difference in reaction to Hana’s pregnancy compared to Maya’s suspected one, wasn’t lost on her. She gritted her teeth, trying to keep a lid on her anger. Like I always do. Give them what they want, don’t complain.

Omar crossed over to kiss Hana’s cheek, then moved back to the potatoes. “Take your medicine, Hana. We’ll get you on the mend. We need to make sure you get some fluids into you. I thought you looked dehydrated.” He glanced at Maya. “And this is good news for you too, Maya. I’m pleased that you’ll soon be on your way into a big accountancy firm, without this sort of tie holding you back.”

Holding me back? Being on the slopes and with Sam had made her the freest she’d been in years.

“Is Rosie coming soon?” Omar continued.

Something snapped inside Maya. Her anger at her father for his accusations toward her was one thing, but her protective streak over Hana was the final straw. “Rosie might have been here already if it wasn’t for the pressure you’ve put poor Hana under.”

Omar’s eyes widened. “What do you mean?”

Maya glanced at her sister, who nodded in silent permission as she took her medicine, clearly still struggling with the emotionally charged atmosphere when she felt so terrible. “Hana had a crisis of confidence about taking time off work and loosening the reins on her career in order to become a mother,” Maya said, her heart racing at saying it, but the need to support her sister driving her on. “Because she has this constant and intolerable pressure to be the best and maintain a high-flying professional lifestyle.”

Yvonne took a seat next to Hana, cuddling her.

Omar glanced between his daughters. “And you think that’s because of me?”

Maya rolled her eyes before she could stop herself. “Of course it is.”

“Oh, sweetheart,” Yvonne said quietly, stroking Hana’s hair. “Everything’s going to be okay.”

Omar was silent. Maya watched her mum comfort her sister, her temper simmering down. It was replaced by a sickening churning in her gut. A wave of dizziness washed over as she took in the look of shock on her dad’s face, and her head began to throb.

She squeezed Hana’s shoulder. “I’ll leave you guys to discuss it before dinner.” Exiting the room, she headed upstairs for a lie down. Conflict gave her a headache.