His voice came reflectively. ‘In any case, I dare say Robin is too young to know anything about girlfriends.’
Judy laughed. ‘Don’t you believe it. At the ripe old age of six Robin has his own special girlfriend. Her name is Sally and she lives nearby. She’s in his class at school, and on most days she feeds him cookies at playtime, having taken one for Robin as well as for herself. It proves that the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach.’
Her words lightened the atmosphere between them, but did not remove the thoughtful expression from Ryan’s face. Regarding her intently, he said, ‘Tell me about Uncle Alan—whoever he is. I take it he no longer exists in your world?’
‘Correct.’ The word was snapped out.
He lifted her left hand, then held it nearer for clearer scrutiny. ‘Do I-detect a pale mark on your third finger—as though a ring has been removed?’
She snatched her hand away. ‘Yes. It’s been returned to Alan—’ She broke off, biting back further words and feeling infuriated with herself. Why couldn’t she keep her stupid mouth shut?
His eyes held a spark of interest. ‘Does this mean you’re footloose and fancy-free?’
‘Yes, it does—and I intend to stay that way,’ she declared firmly. ‘As for Alan Draper, I’m trying to forget him—therefore I have no intention of discussing what proved to be a most painful experience.’
He grinned. ‘Excuse me—are you the same person who recently said that sometimes it’s good to talk?’
‘It depends upon the subject,’ she reasoned, and at the same time she warned herself against revealing any more—because to speak of finding her fiancé locked in the arms of another woman would be too embarrassing for words.
Thinking of it now, she wondered if she’d ever get the memory of that night out of her mind. They had been at a birthday party, but had been there for only an hour when Alan had appeared to be missing from the crowded room. Judy had felt concerned for him, because she’d known he’d been drinking. However, she had not made a fuss. Instead, she’d checked through the house, and had just completed the task when the host had handed her a torch and told her to look in the cars parked along the drive.
In the back seat of one of them she’d found Alan with a redhead named Carol Reed. Judy had shone the torch in their startled faces. She had taken one glance at the dishevelled state of their clothes, then, snatching the car door open, she’d slipped the engagement ring from her finger and had thrown it at Alan. After that she’d run home, gasping and sobbing through the dimly lit streets.
Within a short time everyone who had been at the party knew what had happened, and soon the news of it had filtered through to the rest of her friends. But when these people had rung to offer sympathy they’d merely filled her with a desire to get away and hide. And then, out of the blue, had come the request to take Robin to Napier.
Judy had discussed the matter with her parents, who considered it had come as a godsend. It would give her something else to think about, and if she decided to find herself a job in that North Island city they would quite understand. In fact, it might give her a new lease of life.
Dragging her mind back to the present, she became aware that Ryan was observing her face through narrowed lids. She feared he was reading her expression, and this became evident by his next words.
“This painful experience—I have a suspicion you’re living it all over again?’ he suggested, with a hint of unexpected sympathy. ‘I also suspect that whatever happened still hurts.’
She nodded, finding it impossible to speak as the memories continued to jab at her.
‘This man—do you think he’ll follow you to Napier if he happens to learn where you ace?’
‘I hope not. I don’t want to see him again—ever.’ The last word was spat with vehemence.
Ryan regarded her with concern. ‘In that case you’ll have to take care you’re not caught on the rebound,’ he warned. ‘If a handsome stranger comes along and is particularly nice to you—you might fall flat at his feet. Metaphorically speaking, of course,’ he added with a twinkle in his eye.
‘That’s most unlikely,’ she retorted coldly. ‘Just as you appear to be allergic to women, I’m in a similar frame of mind concerning men. At the moment I look upon them as being anything but trustworthy.’
‘Thank you very much,’ he growled. ‘Not even present company excepted, I notice.’
She decided to be frank. ‘I just feared you might be referring to yourself as the handsome stranger,’ she said, while giving a light laugh to soften her words. At the same time she hoped he’d feel assured she had no intention of setting her sights on himself.
His face remained inscrutable as he said, ‘I can see your hurt has gone very deeply indeed. It puts you into the dangerous state of being thoroughly vulnerable—so I’m warning you again to watch your step.’
‘I’ll do that,’ she informed him gravely. ‘Thank you for your concern, even if it is only your imagination that tells you so much about me.’
‘It’s not imagination,’ he told her quietly. ‘I’ve watched you with the boy, not only in the airport lounge, when you were unaware of it, but also since you’ve been here. It’s been revealing. It’s easy to see you’re an affectionate and caring person, but you’re also one who needs to be loved in return. That’s what will make you easy prey, or—as I said—vulnerable.’
She looked at him thoughtfully, then dared to ask, ‘What about you, Ryan? Are you so emotionally under control that you prefer to live entirely without female company?’
He gave a faint snort. ‘Who says I live entirely without female company?’
‘It’s the impression you’ve given me.’
‘Then allow me to correct it. When I need a woman I can always call on Cynthia.’ The statement came out casually.
Her eyes widened. ‘Cynthia...?’ Hearing him mention the name of a woman had given her a shock.
‘Cynthia Birch. She’s a friend who lives at Te Pohue on the road to Lake Taupo. When I go fishing at Taupo, or skiing on Mount Ruapehu, I usually call in and have coffee with her. She’s inclined to rely on me for advice concerning her financial affairs.’
‘She’s fortunate in having someone such as yourself to guide her.’
‘Well—it’s only been since her divorce.’
‘I see.’ She stared down at her empty plate.
‘Are you sure about that? Is there anything else you’d like to know?’ he drawled, while watching her from behind hooded lids.
‘Not particularly,’ she returned in an offhand manner, at the same time knowing this to be a lie. In fact there were several points now jumping about to arouse her curiosity, but they were not questions she felt could be asked—at least not on such short acquaintance. They’d be sure to bring forth a snub strong enough to ruin the delicate amicability that had sprung up between them.
Exactly how deep was his friendship with this woman? she wondered. And then there was the question of Vema. Did he still have any depth of feeling left for her? ‘One doesn’t forget old friends’, he’d said, and Judy wished she knew what had come between them to end their romance.
And then another question that had often simmered in Judy’s mind returned to niggle at her. It concerned the identity of Robin’s father. Did Ryan know of his whereabouts? She had never set eyes on the elusive Mr Bryant, nor was his name ever mentioned. Not that it was any business of hers, of course, although she had often wondered if Verna, as a single parent, was using a fictitious name for the sake of appearances. But now that Robin was going to school he’d soon be asking questions for himself, especially on