A Walk in the Park by Jill Mansell Page A

you’re dead on your feet. You need to go to bed.”
    â€œBut… I don’t want to.” Gigi looked like a five-year-old hell-bent on waiting up for Father Christmas. “I want to keep going. I don’t want this night to be over.”
    â€œI know, but Flynn has to go to work. And you have to sleep. Come along.” She reached out with her free hand to help Gigi to her feet. “He’ll still be here when you wake up.” OK, that hadn’t come out right. “I mean, he isn’t going to disappear. You can see him again.”
    â€œPromise?” Gigi looked to Flynn for confirmation. “Is that a definite promise?”
    â€œAbsolutely. You get some sleep now. Give me a call when you wake up.”
    â€œCan I see you tonight?”
    He nodded. “Whenever you want.”
    Gigi smiled; this was the answer she’d wanted to hear. “OK, I’ll go. Night, Mum. Night, Dad. See you later.”
    Lara got a quick kiss on the cheek. Then she watched and waited while Gigi and Flynn exchanged a hug. The formal handshakes had gone the way of the time limit. OK, it was actually quite emotional witnessing the embrace. Without thinking, she took a gulp of hot tea and almost gagged; pleurgh , when was Gigi going to give up on her three sugars habit?
    The next moment it hit her; somehow she’d never made the connection before. As a teenager Flynn had always taken three sugars too.
    Gigi left them and climbed the stairs to bed. Lara, about to head out to the kitchen to make a sugarless tea, was stopped in her tracks by Flynn closing the living-room door. She waited for him to turn, to break into a smile and tell her what she already knew, that the daughter they had created was amazing, incredible, and unique, not to mention a complete credit to her. Unable to contain his amazement and delight at how perfectly she’d turned out, he would thank her for doing such a great job with raising Gigi and—
    â€œI can’t believe it.” He was shaking his head.
    â€œI know.” Lara was already basking in pleasure. “Told you she was fantastic.”
    Then Flynn turned and she saw the expression on his face. Instead of joy and gratitude, his dark eyes narrowed with anger. “I can’t believe you’ve done this to me. How dare you?” His voice was low and vehement, vibrating with controlled fury. “What gives you the right to mess with people’s lives like this? My God, I don’t know if I’ll ever be able to forgive you for this.”
    It was like a slap in the face when you were expecting a kiss. Not that she’d expected a kiss, but still. Adrenaline surged through Lara and the hairs prickled at the back of her neck. “Excuse me? If you’re doubting she’s yours, we’ll take a DNA test and prove it.”
    â€œDon’t be ridiculous, of course she’s mine.”
    â€œAnd now I’m messing up your life, am I? Oh dear, you poor thing, being a father wasn’t part of your plan? Fine then, walk away, I’ll tell Gigi you’re not interested. You’ve met her once, it’s out of your system, that’s enough. No problem at all.” Lara rattled on, the words spraying out like bullets. “You’re not indispensable. We managed without you before, we’ll do it again. If that’s what you want, it’s your loss. Trust me, we’ll survive.”
    â€œWhat are you saying now? For God’s sake,” Flynn flashed back. “Are you doing this deliberately? I’m not going to walk away. I’m talking about what you did. She’s eighteen years old now, she’s an adult. I’ve missed out on eighteen years . Thanks to you, I’ve missed out on everything .” He was shaking his head, angrier than she’d ever seen him before. “That’s what I can’t get over, that’s what I don’t know if I can forgive. You should have told me.