He knew what his response must be.

‘Yes,’ he said, nodding slowly for emphasis. ‘I will support you and our child. But in return I want you to marry me.’

* * *

The comb holding Alessandra’s hair in place had been digging into her scalp all day, a minor irritation that suddenly felt magnified enough for her to yank it out. She got to her feet, swiping fallen hair off her face.

For a moment she couldn’t speak, her brain struggling to find the English she’d spoken like a native since early childhood. ‘I know this is a shock for you. I know, okay? But marriage?’

‘Yes, marriage.’

She shook her head, trying her hardest not to let panic set in. ‘Please, don’t say anything you’ll regret in the morning when you look at the situation with fresh eyes.’

change the situation.

still won’t be

back his rising voice. ‘Alessandra, think about it. This is the obvious

no stigma to children

understand. ‘Children need and deserve two parents.

Yes, her father was still alive, but he’d never been a real father to her. He’d abandoned her almost from her first breath. By the time of her

she’d hoped for was public support for her and their child, and even that had felt like a pipe dream considering

her ‘please don’t introduce our child to a succession of aunties’ speech. In her head she’d prepared for

be

finished for her, meeting

on their night out together, the night their baby had been conceived. Fools had been just one of the many words they’d used to describe people who willingly

Something neither

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