'You're going to Italy?'

Lyssa Belperio grinned as she nodded at her friend Chloe. 'So, do you mind keeping an eye on the apartment as usual?'

'Of course not. But I'm so jealous. Come inside and tell me about it. I'll make a coffee.'

'No.' Lyssa waved her palms at Chloe as she stepped into the neighbouring apartment. 'No coffee for me, remember?'

'Oh, that's right. I nearly forgot you were pregnant because you don't show. I have herbal tea. Peppermint, rosehip or chamomile?'

'Peppermint, please. You know the new travel magazine I told you about? The ultra-glossy one that I wrote that small piece for?'

'About shopping in Hong Kong. Yes, I remember.'

'Well the editor emailed offering me a commission. She wants a feature article written with the same wit and humour as the last one.' She made air quotes around the key words. She'd written the article in her natural voice and couldn't imagine writing any other way.

'That sounds good. She must have liked your work.'

Lyssa gave a modest shrug. 'I guess so. Anyway, this feature is about touring the Amalfi Coast.'

Chloe squealed. 'You lucky duck. All expenses paid?'

'Uh-huh. It's being sponsored by a tour company. They're going to provide a private driver and tour guide, and everything.'

'Blimey. Do you need someone to take photos for you? I have a camera phone.'

Laughing, Lyssa shook her head. 'Matilda said they'll buy them directly from a local photographer. No amateur shots needed.'

'Can you squeeze me into your suitcase, then? I'll be good, I promise.'

'I wish I could, but I travel lightly, remember?'

'Cheeky. I'm not that heavy. Anyway, you'll soon be much heavier than me.' Chloe dropped the teabags into the bin, then adopted a more serious tone. 'Are you sure it's all right to travel in your condition? What if something happens while you're away?'

'Nothing's going to happen,' Lyssa said firmly. 'I've been all over Asia; I'm sure I can handle Italy. And anyway, I'm only a little bit pregnant.'

'As opposed to completely pregnant?' Chloe held out the mug of herbal tea.

Pulling a face at Chloe, she took the mug and settled on one of the comfortable sofas. 'There's no problem with travelling at this early stage and as I don't show yet, I figure there's no need for anyone to know.'

'Are you going to tell your parents before you go?'

'Oh, Chlo, they'll be so upset.' She took a moment to swallow the lump of tears that had jumped to her throat at the mere mention of breaking the news to her parents, then sipped her tea before going on. 'You know what they're like.'

'They're protective.'

'They're incredibly old-fashioned.'

'Even so,' Chloe said gently, 'They'll have to know.'

Lyssa took another sip. 'I know, but I'd sooner wait till I get back. If I leave straight after telling them, there's no knowing what Dominic and Tony might do.'

'Excuse me? What do your brothers have to do with it?'

'I wouldn't put it past them to hunt down Steve and force him to agree to marry me.'

Chloe snorted. 'I'd like to see that. I wonder what they'd do? Would they actually hit him?'

Lyssa flapped her free hand. 'Chlo, don't be ridiculous. You don't like violence and you can't stand the sight of blood.'

'No, but I'd make an exception in Steve's case. After what he did to you, he deserves it.'

Shrugging, Lyssa acknowledged the little voice that said Chloe was right. 'Maybe. But I don't want anything to do with him again and I certainly don't Dom and Tony involved.'

'So you wouldn't consider taking him back even if he came crawling with an apology and a proposal?'

'I think you know me better than that, Chlo.'

'I know that you've always dreamed of having the perfect family...husband, babies...'

'Yes, but...' After swallowing hard, Lyssa said, 'I wouldn't have chosen to be a single parent. I want my baby to have a father - one that is there to see him or her grow up - and I'm terrified of doing this on my own, but I have to. An absent father is better than a bad father.'

'Um, I hate to play devil's advocate here, but you don't know that Steve would be a bad father.'

'He hates children.' Lyssa's hand went to her stomach as if she could protect her baby from the truth. 'I can't believe I misjudged him so badly. I thought he only hated other people's children. I thought he'd want one of his own, but no, I was wrong.'

'Oh well, you're better off without him then.'

'Exactly.'

'It's just that...'

'What?'

'Well, it's going to be hard. I just want to be sure that you've thought this through, that you won't have any regrets later.'

'I won't. I'd rather be alone with my baby than married to a man who doesn't love us both completely.'

Chloe looked as if she wanted to say more, but she pressed her lips together. She was a great friend and Lyssa felt a sudden rush of emotion. Chloe would support her no matter what. Even if she thought she'd made the wrong decision, she'd be there for her and she really appreciated that.

But she'd made the right decision where Steve was concerned.

'Anyway,' Chloe said after a resigned sigh, 'You might meet someone in Italy. You always used to talk about your Italian fantasy man.'

'Uh-uh. No way.' Lyssa shook her head. 'That was before.'

It was true that she'd dreamed for years of visiting Italy. She'd had this crazy notion about finding her soulmate there. But she'd grown up since then. She'd learned that true love itself was the fantasy.

'Not this trip. That's the very last thing I intend to do. I'm going to be a mother and that's the only relationship I'm interested in from now on.'

'But you might-' Chloe saw her expression and mimed zipping her lips.

Lyssa was serious. Nothing would stop her taking this commission. It was her dream job. But meeting a man over there was the furthest thing from her mind. Besides, no one would want her now she was pregnant. She shook her head at Chloe.

'I'm going there to work and at the same time, hopefully, get in touch with my Italian roots. Nothing more.'