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his funeral was a simple gathering of family and friends. There were a few words to say he was a good bloke and then a rather boozy wake. But Keith was a family man, always talking about his wife and three kids. And at the funeral his son spoke.’
    Will sighed and rubbed at his forehead. ‘He was such a courageous little guy. He couldn’t have been more than ten years old. And he stood up there in front of us, with these big brown eyes, shiny with tears. His voice was all squeaky and threatening to break, but he told us all how proud he was of his father and how he wanted to live his life in a way that would go on making his dad proud.’
    Lucy’s throat ached at the thought of that little boy. She could picture his mother, too. The poor woman would have been so proud, despite her grief.
    ‘I can’t stop thinking about that kid,’ Will said. ‘He was like this fantastic gift to the world that Keith had left behind.’
    Lucy reached for the handkerchief she’d tucked into the bodice of her dress and dabbed at her eyes.
    ‘I’m sorry,’ Will said. ‘I’m being maudlin, talking about funerals when we’ve just been to a wedding.’
    ‘No, it’s OK.’ She sniffed and sent him a watery smile. ‘It’s just happened to you, so of course it’s on your mind. Anyway, that’s what life’s all about, isn’t it? Births, deaths and marriages.’
    He smiled sadly. ‘I guess I’m a slow learner. It wasn’t till I was sitting in that church that I suddenly got it. I could finally understand why Gina went to so much trouble to have a family, and why Mattie was prepared to undergo something so amazingly challenging as a surrogate pregnancy.’
    ‘Yes,’ Lucy said, but the single word came out too loud and sounded more like a sob.
    The dogs lifted their heads and made soft whining noises in her direction. With a cry of dismay, Will lurched to his feet.
    ‘I’m so sorry,’ he said. ‘I should be more sensitive. I shouldn’t be burdening you with this.’
    He was referring to her miscarriage. Would he be shocked to hear that she still longed for a baby, that her need was bordering on obsession?
    With an angry shake of his head, he went to the window, thrust his hands into his trouser pockets and looked out into the night.
    Despite her tension, Lucy was mesmerised by the sight of him limned by moonlight. Her eyes feasted on his profile, on his intelligent forehead, on the decisive jut of his nose, his strong chin with its appealing cleft.
    Without looking at her, he said, ‘I’m surprised you haven’t found someone else and settled down to start a family.’
    Oh, help. Lucy stiffened. Again, Will had gone too far. Again, her chin lifted in defence and she hit back. ‘I could say the same about you.’
    ‘Ah.’ He turned back from the window. His eyes shimmered and he said in a dry tone, ‘But I’m the vagabond and you’re the homebody.’
    Too true.
    However, Lucy couldn’t help remembering how he’d come rushing back to Australia when she and Josh had announced their engagement.
    She’d always wondered why.
    But there was no way she could open up that discussion now. Not tonight.
    She felt too vulnerable tonight and she was scared she might blurt out something she’d regret later. It would be too embarrassing and shameful to confess that she’d finally gone out with Will’s brother, hoping that word would reach Will and spark a reaction.
    If she told him that, she’d also have to confess that the plan had backfired when she’d become pregnant.
    It was more than likely she would never be able to talk to Will about this.
    Nevertheless, tonight’s conversation felt like an important step. It was almost as if she and Will had picked up their friendship where they’d left off. He’d told her about the funeral, something he hadn’t been able to share with his family.
    It suddenly felt OK to say, ‘I’ve actually become quite desperate to have a baby.’
    Will spun around from the window and his