Midwives On-Call At Christmas. Tina Beckett

is. Tell me. Tell me what’s going on.’ She was shouting now and she could almost see all his barriers being built up all around him. She bit her lip in anger and tried one last time. ‘I thought we could share things. I told you about my past—and you told me about yours. At least I thought you had.’

      She glanced towards the door, worried that Freya would reappear.

      He sucked in a deep breath. It made him seem taller, his chest wider and more imposing. ‘Not everything can be shared. Not everything is your business.’ His words were clipped.

      ‘Then we have to go,’ she said quietly. ‘I can’t be around you, Jacob. I can’t watch my little girl forming a closer attachment to you day by day when I feel as if you can’t be honest with me.’ She picked up her green coat. ‘I’ve been down this road before.’ Her eyes swept down to the floor and she gave a little shake of her head. ‘I thought that this time I could trust my judgement.’ She lifted her head and met his gaze. ‘I guess I was wrong.’

      There was silence for a few seconds.

      ‘I hope you’ll be happy,’ he said quietly.

      Something inside her died. That was it. Nothing else.

      She’d been wrong. She’d been wrong about her and Jacob. There was nothing between them. A wave of humiliation washed over her.

      She’d never felt like such a fool—not even when she’d found Robert in bed with her friend. Everything about this was different. With Robert, there had been no emotional investment left. With Jacob?

      This hurt. This hurt so much it felt as if it could kill her.

      Freya appeared at the door and she took her hand. ‘Goodbye, Jacob.’ Her voice was trembling. She just hoped he didn’t notice.

      She held herself straight and lifted her head before she opened the door and walked outside.

      It was definitely time to go.