CAROL MARINELLI - One Passionate Night's Miracle - One-Night Baby / The Surgeon's Miracle Baby / Outback Baby Miracle

But however hard she tried to convince herself that everything was working out for the best, Kate could never forget what she stood to lose. As Santino glanced up she moved back from the window. It was as if he knew she was standing there, watching him.

Then Francesca came tearing out of the bedroom with Meredith hot on her heels.

‘Can we go down and see the pony?’

‘Why not?’ Kate gave Meredith a reassuring glance. Her aunt hadn’t been so upbeat recently and Kate didn’t want to spoil the day for Meredith either. They were here and she would smile and make the best of it. This was the beginning of a new chapter for all of them.

When they reached the stable yard it wasn’t as easy as Kate had imagined to maintain a calm front, but she made it, standing quietly to one side while Francesca gazed in awe at the adorable shaggy white pony.

‘Is he mine, Daddy?’

She was losing her. Kate felt as if she were holding onto sanity by her fingertips. She was not losing Francesca, Kate told herself firmly. They were looking at a pony in a stable yard, and that was all.

‘The pony’s name is Beppo,’ Santino revealed.

When Santino smiled her heart thundered on cue, and she had to remind herself that his smile was not for her, but Francesca. And when she had done that it was her turn to smile and exclaim with pleasure and do all the things that Francesca expected of her, because that was the right thing to do. And the right thing was never easy.

‘I’d like a pony,’ Francesca hinted, glancing up at her father.

‘A pony like Beppo?’ Santino grew thoughtful.

‘Yes.’ Francesca was thrilled that her hint appeared to be reaping dividends. Unable to hide her triumph she glanced at Kate and then locked eyes with her father. ‘Does Beppo live here?’

‘He’s considering it,’ Santino admitted.

Kate could tell Francesca was having difficulty holding her excitement in check, and knew it was only moments before Santino closed the deal of his life.

‘You say you’d like a pony like Beppo, Francesca,’ he said, ‘but could you take care of him?’

‘I could learn,’ Francesca said, growing serious as she looked up at her father.

‘A pony takes a lot of looking after. He must have fresh food and clean water every day, and his stable needs cleaning out. He also needs a lot of grooming.’

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