Even her father approved. After several visits, with him asking scathingly why her own home was no longer good enough for her, he had finally realised that neither sarcasm nor bullying would win her over.
She had decorated it herself, back-breaking work that had helped to take her mind off Kip. Ray had popped in once or twice to see her, scrupulously making no mention of either Kip or Neil. The film was due to be shown on television. He had slipped that bit of information in very carefully and, though she dreaded it, she knew she would watch. She wanted to see Kip again. Time had not eased things. Still, it was only a matter of weeks. One day the ache would go. It would have to.
She put all the furniture back in place and looked round in satisfaction. Everything looked good. Tomorrow she would really start to work but it would be a long time before she would dare to tackle her book on Madembi. She wouldn't even write an article about it.
Going into the bathroom to wash her hands, she suddenly found herself feeling faint, bending over the sink, everything swimming before her eyes. Nausea washed over her and for a few minutes she was very ill, only just hearing the doorbell ring. She had hardly managed to wipe her face and take a careful look at herself in the mirror before it rang again so insistently that she just knew it was her father. Patience was not his strong point and he never had liked to be kept waiting.
'Sorry.' She opened the door and found him glaring down at her. 'I—er—was in the bathroom.'
'No hurry,' he muttered, looking at her suspiciously. 'Just called to see how things were.'
She hid a little smile. He hadn't done anything of the sort. He was almost constantly here and she knew why. He was hoping to wheedle her back to Westwind. A man had taken her place and, according to Ray, her father was already thinking of strangling him. It was a boost to her ego but nothing would get her back. She had some healing to do and she could do it much better here.
'Place looks good. I miss you, of course.' He turned and glared at her affectionately. 'But I can see that you'd want a place of your own at your age.'
'In my dotage, you mean?' Natalie said, grinning at him, waiting for the next bit.
'You know what I mean. You're a woman.'
'Gosh!' Natalie laughed aloud.
'No reason why you have to live at home,' he conceded. 'Now that you've got this place set up you can come back to Westwind.'
'No deal!' Natalie said firmly. 'I've told you what I intend to do.'
He never had the chance to reply because the nausea washed over her again and she raced for the bathroom.
When she lifted her head, her father was there, wiping her face and then almost carrying her back to sit on the settee. She had never known him be so gentle and, glancing up, she had to admit she also had never seen him in quite such a rage.
'You're pregnant!' He looked just about ready to explode and she opened her mouth to correct him, utterly astonished at his conclusions. 'Don't bother to say anything,' he roared. 'I knew there was something; Since you came back from Madembi you've looked haunted, tormented. Is this why you've left and moved from home?'
'I am not pregnant!' Natalie retaliated hotly, knowing for sure that she wasn't. 'You know damned well I had a virus in Africa. This is just the same in many ways. I'll go to the doctor tomorrow.'
She might as well have kept silent. Nobody corrected Jonas West because he was never wrong.
'It's Bradshaw!' he pronounced, towering over her. 'The dog! Decided he likes you best after all, has he? I'll break his neck!'
He was already at the door when Natalie reached him, grabbing his arm.
'I'm not pregnant!' she shouted, the only way to get through to him when he was like this.
'The hell you are. I've seen your mother like this. I'm not an idiot.'
'Well, you could have fooled me. Just calm down and listen to me. This is a virus.'
'One that's going to last nine months. Bradshaw goes. If he's lucky I'll only slightly maim him.' He turned and thrust an angry finger at her. 'You're not marrying him, you hear me, girl?'
'I have no intention of marrying him,' Natalie raged. 'And I'm not pregnant-'
He slammed the door and she dived to the phone. Neil might be all sorts of a rat but she felt the need to warn him. The line was engaged. She tried for the next hour but still got no answer. It was all too late then.