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‘Loads. And if you want London I have a very mobile job...’ He took back the cup from her hand, and although he wanted to know, there were more important things than facts. ‘If you are pregnant, willyoufeel trapped?’
‘Galen...’
She flashed him a smile. He wasn’t sure which one—her guest services manager smile, her fake PA smile, her new Roula smile? Anyway it died on her lips. How did she feel?
‘Roula? How do you feel?’
‘Better than I did a few days ago,’ she said. ‘What about you?’
‘We’re talking about howyoufeel.’
‘If I am pregnant, then I want to be—with or without you. Because I want honesty more than I want you, Galen. I mean that. I would rather you kept your catch-up list and we did this apart than be in a relationship the other didn’t want.’
‘You want my truth?’
‘Yes.’
‘In my old ideal world,’ Galen said, ‘we would have had sex for two selfish years and then perhaps talked about babies. But I am surprisingly open to persuasion here. I don’t know when I fell in love, but I think it’s been the case for quite some time. I know you won’t believe this, but even before Costa asked me to employ you I was considering staying on the island. It grew from there. And you can call me arrogant again, but I think you might love me.’
‘I do.’
‘Since when?’ Galen asked, pleased at her honesty.
‘Always,’ Roula said. ‘Not like this, of course, but I cried when you left, and you know I had a crush on you, but...’ She looked at him. ‘I wondered if you ever thought of me,’ she admitted. ‘Not all the time, just now and then. I would look back on times when I’d been happy, and most of those times included you.’
And then for Galen it all slotted into place—her anger, her hurt, all aimed towards him.
‘I did let you down, then.’
‘How could you when you didn’t know?’
‘No,’ Galen said, ‘but I’m finding out that love is very illogical.’ He meant what he said next. ‘I’m so sorry I wasn’t there for you.’
‘It wasn’t even the real you I had a crush on, Galen.’ Although it felt as if she had loved him all her life.
‘Go and get your bag,’ he said. When she didn’t move, Galen got it for her. He took out her Dictaphone and fiddled with it for a moment. ‘Press “Play”.’
‘Why?’
‘I recorded a message last night. You were meant to hear it today, when you typed up the notes. Press “Play”.’
‘Roula...’
His voice was low and there was music playing in the background. She knew the very moment, because she’d been standing in the loo, reading his message.
‘I don’t come with a ring, but there is a present in a handbag which I think should tell you how much you mean to me. Can we talk before you go? Because I think I am falling in love with you.’
‘You are romantic after all!’
‘See?’ He gave her a nice smile. ‘I had it all planned. And then I saw your amazing bust and...’ He looked down at her stomach and then up to her eyes. ‘We can decide now that we’ll always be together. Whatever that pregnancy test says.’
It was time to find out.
She walked into the bathroom and did what she must, and then came back to the bedroom, where he’d opened the drapes. And there was the very best view.
‘Where’s the test?’ she asked.
‘I’ll do it,’ Galen said. ‘Drink your tea.’
