‘Then what’s stopping you—?’ Anna breathed in sharply and put a hand on her stomach, her eyes wide.
Kate jumped to her feet in alarm. ‘What’s wrong?’
‘Nothing at all.’ A beatific smile spread over Anna’s face. ‘I think my baby just said hello for the first time.’
Kate hugged her. ‘How lovely! Isn’t it the most wonderful feeling—?’ She bit her lip and stood back, colour rushing into her face as Anna stared at her in silent, wide-eyed question. Kate sat down abruptly and took in a deep breath. ‘It’s all going to come out tomorrow, anyway, so I’ll tell you first, Anna. I remember exactly how it feels to be pregnant because, although she doesn’t know it yet, Joanna is my daughter, not my niece.’
Anna gave a screech and pulled Kate into her arms, tears pouring down her face as she held her close for a long, emotional interval. ‘Sorry, sorry!’ she said at last. ‘It’s hormones. But you must know about that. For heaven’s sake don’t leave me in suspense, love—’ She stopped dead and moved back to peer into Kate’s face, swallowing hard. ‘Oh, my God, it’s Jack, isn’t it? He’s her father.’
Kate sat with her on the sofa and told her story with as little drama as possible, but by the end of it both of them were in tears again. ‘So tomorrow, after Easter Sunday lunch at Mill House,’ Kate finished thickly, ‘Jack and I are going to make a clean breast of it and throw ourselves on our daughter’s mercy. Funny, really,’ she added, sniffing, ‘I’ve kept my secret all these years, and now I’ve told my story three times in one week.’
‘Three times?’
‘Jack’s father.’
‘Oh,of course.’ Anna blew out her cheeks. ‘Poor man. He must have thought he was seeing a ghost if Jo looks that much like his wife.’
‘She does. Margaret Logan had dark curling hair like Jack’s, but otherwise it could have been Jo in the photograph. When I saw it the hairs stood up on the back of my neck.’
‘I bet they did.’ Anna let out a deep breath. ‘It’s a pity you’re driving Jo home. You could do with a stiff drink. I know I could. But, since neither of us can indulge, let’s have some coffee.’
In the end Kate made the coffee because Anna was in such a daze after the revelations that she couldn’t concentrate enough to operate the machine. She was still talking about Jo when Kate’s phone interrupted the flow.
‘Joanna!’ Kate spilt some coffee as she grabbed the phone, then blew out her cheeks in relief. ‘Oh, Jack, thank God. I thought something was wrong with Jo.’
‘Why?’ he demanded. ‘Didn’t she want to go to the party?’
‘She wanted to so much I just hope she isn’t disappointed.’
‘She won’t be. She’s probably having the time of her life. How did she look?’
‘To quote you, Jack, she looked absolutely gorgeous.’
‘In that case she’s probably beating off dance partners with a stick. If they have dance partners these days. Tell her I want chapter and verse tomorrow.’ Jack took in an audible breath. ‘How the hell are we supposed to get any sleep tonight, Katie?’
‘Beats me.’ Kate glanced at her watch. ‘Only half an hour to go and I pick her up.’
‘Next time I’ll do that—I hope.’
‘I hope so too, Jack.’
‘That was Daddy, worrying about his daughter, I assume,’ said Anna, handing Kate a fresh cup of coffee.
‘About tomorrow too, like me!’
‘Try not to worry, love. Knowing Jo as I do, I’m sure she’ll take it well.’
‘I just keep thinking she’ll hate me for giving her away.’
Anna put her arm round her. ‘Jo loves you far too much to do that. She’s also mature enough to understand why you felt you had to.’
When Kate arrived back at the Carey house the party had transferred to the kitchen where all the flushed, excited guests were consuming mugs of hot chocolate while they waited to be picked up. Jo was in the middle of an animated group in loud discussion over some pop band, totally unaware she was being watched, and Megan Carey laughed softly as she showed Kate into the room.
‘Someone had a really great time, by the sound of it.’
Kate grinned. ‘Not only Jo. Everyone else too.’
‘Kate!’ Jo’s eyes lit up as she turned round.