One in the 55 Portobello Road Series - Through the seasons of a year the residents of one block of London flats come to terms with the obstacles that have kept each of them from finding what makes life most precious— true love.
Pregnant without a boyfriend and possibly without a roof over her head, if her miserable landlord has anything to say about it. She only has herself to blame. After all, hadn't she sent the father of her unborn child packing?
Excerpt
A marmalade sun streamed through the curtains. Melanie rolled onto her side, one hand supporting the weight of her distended abdomen. She counted the days. Eight. Due dates were only a guesstimate, but she knew exactly when he was conceived.
Pushing to a sit, she swung her legs to the floor. For the first time in what seemed weeks, the frost framing her window had vanished. Like a whale, she rolled her way upright. That's what she felt like these days...a whale. And not the small variety. Waddling to the curtains, she drew them open with a yank on the cord. The street below was vacant. Sundays at 55 Portobello were about as lively as a morgue.
A twinge of pain radiated through her. Braxton Hicks? She'd had so many of them these last two weeks she doubted she’d the real thing when it finally did come. Labor had been described to her as anything from 'a day in the park' to 'hell on earth'.
She peered down the street to the commerce end of Portobello. Even the famed market was quiet.
"Ow," She pressed fingers tightly against her belly. "That was a good one." Turning to head for the bath, a further twinge and… warmth gushed down her legs splashing to the floor. "And now I know why."
She shot a glance to her mobile resting on the nightstand. Walking gingerly, she picked it up and pressed '1'. Two rings and pick up.
"It's time."
When Sophie Bayles inadvertently ruins a young man’s chance for employment, she sets out to find him a new position. Even though he doesn’t want her to.
