Free Written in the Stars by Dilys Xavier

responsibility, but it’s a bit late now; you should have thought carefully before jumping into bed with her.’
    ‘I know.’ Steve gazed into the older man’s eyes as he continued. ‘But I can understand why you did it, and I don’t hold it against either of you.’
    ‘Thanks, son, that means a lot to me. Don’t worry, it’ll work out all right.’
    At his parents’ suggestion, he agreed to discuss a date for the wedding. Then he reminded them that Kirsty wanted to honeymoon in America, for some seemingly illogical reason, and that meant being away for a least a couple of weeks. He was also concerned about the increasing pressure on Vince to cope without him. The third consideration was just as important—to Kirsty anyway—she wouldn’t get married unless he agreed to leave for the States straight after the ceremony.
    Over the next couple of days, Steve thought about his conversation with Vince several times. Had his encounter with Suzi Lysle Spencer altered his relationship with Kirsty? Why should it, he questioned? But deep down he knew it definitely had. Did he love the auburn-haired Welsh beauty? He was reluctant to use the word love, but she had touched something deep inside him, and it was a constant reminder of their rapport. He had considered phoning her a couple of times, but checked the urge when he reminded himself that he had no right to expect her to feel the same way about him.
    The pressing workload focused his mind to the exclusion of everything else for the next week, and he stayed late at the factory after Vince had left on several occasions. He had just come home one evening when he heard Kirsty answering the phone. He had no intention to eavesdrop, but it was hard to ignore the excited tone in her voice.
    ‘Iritana,’ she squealed. ‘Hey, you, when did you get out? Yesterday? Hey, we must get together real soon.’
    Steve peeked around the doorway and saw Kirsty nodding her head excitedly. So Iritana had been released from prison? It seemed only yesterday that she was arrested and sentenced. I wonder if her companion is still inside, he thought. What was her name? Then as if in answer to the unspoken question Kirsty squealed again.
    ‘And Hepora could be home before the end of the month? Oh, that’s great news.’ Her high-pitched laugh made him wince. ‘We’ll celebrate; have a party, eh?’
    Not wanting to hear more, Steve walked into the kitchen and poured himself a beer. What did it mean? Was she going to pick up where she left off with her wayward Maori girlfriends again? Would she go missing for whole weekends, as she had done in the past, when their boozy parties spilled over from a Friday night to encompass the next few days as well? This is what Vince and Norah feared would happen if they didn’t get married. But he reasoned that there was no guarantee that marriage would change her.
    Kirsty said nothing about the phone call, but Steve was convinced she was aware he had overheard the conversation. The wariness hung over them like a dark cloud, so that when a letter arrived from Mr Duncan a few days later, she eyed him suspiciously. It was as if she thought he was hiding something from her. To allay her fears he handed her the letter.
    ‘Who’s this Suzi Lysle Spencer he mentions?’ she demanded.
    ‘It seems she is the other claimant,’ Steve explained. ‘He wouldn’t tell me at the time; kept it a big secret, but it appears we have equal claim to the inheritance.’
    ‘What does that mean?’
    ‘We have to share it.’
    ‘You mean sell the house and split the proceeds?’
    ‘I don’t know; it has to be resolved,’ Steve replied. ‘When I saw Duncan, he casually suggested that maybe I should approach the other claimant about buying my share of the place. However, I doubt she could afford that.’ Even as he spoke, Steve knew it had been a big mistake to admit that he knew that much about Suzi’s financial situation.’
    ‘How do y’know she can’t afford it?