Free From Single Mum to Lady by Judy Campbell

in the roof.
    ‘It looks really quaint—rather like a little gingerbread house!’ she exclaimed. ‘I’d love to look around it. Although,’ she added cautiously, ‘it all depends on the rent, to be truthful…’
    ‘It’s not been lived in for a while—it needs a clean and a bit of decoration, so the rent isn’t all that high. Frankly, you’d be doing the owner a favour if you decide to take it.’
    It sounded almost too good to be true. So many things had been a battle for her in recent years, from finding childcare for Abigail to getting a job she loved, that suddenly being offered what looked like a lovely little house was almost unbelievable. She felt a sudden lump of gratitude in her throat and said in a muffled voice, ‘It would be such a load off my mind to get somewhere soon—I have to admit I’m really getting desperate. My priority, of course, is Abigail and I just can’t sleep thinking we won’t have a roof over our heads…’
    Patrick looked at her perceptively, her lovely eyes bright with tears, aware of the emotion in her voice and the fact that Jandy had been hiding a lot of stress behind her bright manner.
    ‘If you want to look around it this weekend, I could arrange to get the key—if it suits you, it’s yours!’
    Jandy heaved a huge sigh. ‘I’m so grateful to you.’ She gave a shaky laugh. ‘I really thought I’d never get anywhere suitable so quickly—I imagined us camping out on the street!’
    Patrick smiled, lowering his glance to give her time to compose herself. ‘Let’s hope it fits the bill, then,’ he said.
    ‘Does it belong to a friend of yours?’ Jandy asked.
    Patrick hesitated briefly then said, ‘It’s owned by a relative and I know he’s very keen to have it occupied. I’ll give you the directions and meet you there at about ten-thirty on Saturday morning.’
    Jandy’s heart gave a leap of pleasure and relief that her worries about getting some accommodation might be solved, and also that in a few days she would be seeing Patrick outside the confines of the hospital…
    ‘That would be great, although I’ll probably have to bring Abigail with me, if that’s OK.’
    ‘Then I’ll bring Livy.’ He smiled. ‘They can give us their opinion of the place and they can meet each other!’ He pushed a large chocolate biscuit towards her. ‘Here—it’s not much, but it might keep you going till lunchtime.’
    ‘Thanks. I can’t resist it, I’m afraid, although I am trying to cut out chocolate,’ she remarked, unwrapping it and biting into it hungrily.
    Blue eyes flicked over her. ‘I don’t know why,’ he murmured. ‘I wouldn’t have thought you had any weight issues.’
    Jandy laughed. ‘You should see me with nothing on—I’m awfully…’ She stopped, suddenly realising what she’d said, and blushed, the thought of him seeing her stark naked a little too intimate to contemplate.
    Patrick raised his brows and his eyes twinkled. ‘I’m sure there’s nothing awful about you, but if you like I’ll give you a medical assessment…’
    ‘I don’t think so!’
    ‘Well, the offer’s there—only too pleased to give you my professional opinion!’ He grinned, leaning back in his chair looking at her with amusement, and their eyes locked, an unmistakeable spark of attraction and intimacy flickering between them: Jandy dropped her eyes and inspected a split nail rather thoroughly and tried to smother a giggle.
    There was a second’s silence, Patrick’s gaze roving over her, then he said hesitantly, ‘Perhaps I shouldn’t ask this, but you mentioned that you were a single parent but not a widow…does that mean you and your husband are divorced?’
    Jandy’s expression changed and he put up his hand in apology. ‘I’m sorry—please don’t answer that. It’s nothing to do with me.’
    She stared at the table and folded the biscuit wrapper into a precise square. Was she ready to reveal her sad little story to someone she’d only known