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.You’re way too tense.’Perhaps Will was right.Jake knew he’d never been like this before.It was beyond crazy to be so uptight over a woman.He was usually trying to shake them off.Ironically, as soon as he stopped expecting to hear from Mattie, an e-mail from her arrived in his in-box.To: jakerdevlin@miningmail.comFrom: mattiecarey@mymail.comHi Jake,Greetings from sunny Sydney to deepest Mongolia.I wanted to let you know that I brought Roy over here for morning tea today.We didn’t make billy tea, but we had damper and lamingtons and I sent him home with a big bouquet of gum leaves and a vase so he can keep them in his room.As you can imagine, he was as happy as a possum in a hollow log.Oh, and I found a book in a second-hand shop about old drovers and stockmen.It’s full of photographs of the Outback and Roy loved it.He said to tell you he’s well.Actually, he said he was fighting fit, but I think that’s an exaggeration.And he sends his love.I don’t have much other news.I’m slowly knocking over the illustrations for the book and I’m afraid the coffee table never gets used as a coffee table any more.I hope that French Canadian cook is feeding you well.Are you still helping him out in the kitchen? Perhaps you should show him our recipe for pasta sauce?Love from Brutus and Pavarotti,Mattie xxJake was so relieved to hear from her that he swallowed his pride and wrote back straight away, but he kept the content deliberately light, just as she had.He told her about the party they’d had in the canteen for one of the team’s birthday.And how they’d tried to play Scrabble last night in three different languages—English, French and Russian.He thanked her for taking care of Roy.He didn’t mention a word about missing her.Mattie replied the very next day and when he read her message he grinned.It was a single question:What does the R in your name stand for? Robert? Roy? Rudolph? Rambo?He wrote back that his middle name was Richard, named after his grandfather.And he asked about her middle name.Mattie replied:Middle name, Francesca, after my grandmother.Aren’t we predictable?After that, they exchanged e-mails almost every day.They kept their messages short, light and amusing, never hinting at anything like deeper emotions, and Jake was happy.Mattie was pleased, too.After much deliberation, she’d decided finally to reply to Jake’s e-mail.After all, maybe they could remain friends, just keep in touch? She wouldn’t expect anything more.It was best this way, Mattie decided, best that neither of them referred to that blissful night they’d spent in each other’s arms again.It made it easier for her to avoid telling Jake the truth.Problem was, she still felt horribly guilty about that.And she was left with a helpless longing she didn’t how to handle.CHAPTER SIXMATTIE was grinning as she dialled Gina’s number.‘Guess what, girlfriend? It worked.’‘You mean—’‘I mean the tests came back positive.’‘Oh, my God! You mean we’re pregnant?’‘Yep.We’re pregnant.Very pregnant.’Gina screamed in Mattie’s ear.Then she began to gabble.‘I can’t believe it’s actually happening.Oh, God, you’re so clever, Mattie.I’m crying.I don’t know how to thank you.’‘I’m excited too.I’m so glad it’s really on the way.There’s going to be a baby.’‘How do you feel?’‘OK.Relieved.I’ve been fairly sure for the last few days, but the doctor didn’t want me to say anything to you until he was certain.’‘So do you have symptoms? Can you tell me all about it?’Patiently, Mattie told her best friend everything, how her breasts had become increasingly tender and she’d been feeling dreadfully tired.At first she’d been worried she was coming down with something, but then she’d started losing her breakfast and she knew.‘Oh, Mattie, I still can’t take it in.I’m just so excited, but you poor thing.Is it too awful?’‘It’s only yuck for about an hour a day.Most of the time, I feel pretty good.And I have the perfect excuse to take a daytime nap.The really good news is, the doctor’s very happy.He said the hormone levels are really strong.Like really strong.’‘I see.’ Gina’s voice grew cautious.‘That sounds like it means something.’‘Well, yes.It’s nothing to panic about…but…um…there might be more than one baby.’Gina screamed again.‘Oh, my gosh—two! Do you mind if I hang up? I’ve got to go and find Tom.’Mattie laughed.‘Off you go.Give Tom my love.’When she hung up the phone, she sank onto the sofa.Brutus jumped up beside her and she let him snuggle close.‘Two babies, Brutus,’ she whispered.‘I’m going to end up the size of a house.’With her hand resting on her still flat tummy, she tried to imagine it filled with two lively full-term babies.Twins were a risk, the doctor had warned her when he’d transferred two embryos, but at the time she’d been happy to take the chance.One way or another, she’d wanted Gina and Tom to have a family.But yikes.How would her figure ever recover? She couldn’t help wondering what Jake would think if he saw her, swollen and huge, but then she quickly dismissed that question.Jake had only entered her life for a few short days and this was something that had been decided months ago.It was a private matter between herself and her oldest and dearest friends.Jake had no part in this.If only that realisation didn’t make her feel so desperately lonely and sad.I’m being selfish…She tried to remind herself that she’d been perfectly happy before she’d met Jake.And now her focus had to be positive.She had to concentrate on the wonderful gift she was carrying.It was an amazing privilege to be able to do this for Gina and Tom.They were going to be fabulous parents and she was going to help them have the perfect little family they so thoroughly deserved.Gina and Tom’s babies would have a happy and idyllic childhood on the farm, going to school in Willowbank, making friends with the local children
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