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The hair got gathered up and pulled back firmly as it would be in a ponytail. ‘Like this, all you see is your face.’

‘And my glasses.’ Laura grimaced. ‘I’ve never noticed how much like a car’s headlamps they look.’

The hold on her hair loosened and changed so that thick loops hung forward, covering the sides of her spectacles and framing her forehead. Amazingly, the glasses became far less noticeable and the whole appearance of Laura’s face softened.

‘Hmm. I rather like that.’

The hairdresser was still playing with her tresses. ‘What about the colour?’

Laura sighed. ‘Dead mouse, I’d call it.’

Her stylist grinned. ‘It’s not that bad. You’ve got a lot of blonde in there. A few highlights would bring it out. How much time have you got this morning?’

‘As long as I like.’

Laura’s sigh was much happier this time. Jason had insisted she have the morning to herself to do whatever she felt like doing. Right now, she felt like making a real effort to improve her appearance.

‘I’m sold,’ she told the hairdresser. ‘Go for it. Do whatever you like.’

‘Cool. Let’s get stuck into the highlights first, then. Shouldn’t take more than an hour and a half.’

Ninety minutes of sheer self-indulgence. Bliss. Laura browsed through magazines but couldn’t find an article that was more interesting than what was already going on in her head.

That magic wand that had apparently been waved over Inglewood station the morning Megan had arrived seemed to have been used for another small swish in the last couple of days – Laura suspected it had happened during Maxine’s visit to the station – and another fundamental change was occurring in her world.

It hadn’t happened quite yet but the building anticipation was undeniable and rather delicious. Yesterday had been a little shaky, admittedly. It had been their first day off after a night shift, and she and Jason had taken turns catching up on some sleep, but Jason emerged from his afternoon nap with a very uncharacteristically subdued manner.

‘You okay?’ Laura had queried. ‘You can get some more sleep if you want. Megan’s happy.’

‘Nah. If I do that I won’t sleep tonight and then I’ll still be tired tomorrow.’

‘Do you want to go out tonight? I’ll babysit.’

‘Who with?’ Jason had sounded resigned rather than heartbroken.

‘Stick,’ Laura had suggested promptly. ‘Or Mitch. You haven’t had a night out with your mates for ages.’

‘They’re not my mates any more,’ Jason had said darkly. ‘How am I supposed to keep the rent up on this place by myself?’

His face had brightened momentarily. ‘Hey, you don’t want to move in, do you, Laura? Even if Megan goes home, you’d make a great flatmate.’

If Megan went home? Maybe the comment to Maxine hadn’t just been an escape route for the moment. The thought of being a ‘flatmate’ for Jason was less than appealing, however.

‘Sorry, Jase. I already own a house. My best friend, Charlie, is living with me at the moment to help pay the mortgage. Anyway, I’m sure Stick and Mitch will come back once things are back to normal.’

‘They prefer Cliff’s sleep-out,’ Jason reminded her. ‘It’s cheaper. You must have heard them going on about their plans to save up and buy a house together. They’re going to live in it and do it up on their days off and then sell it for a huge profit and start again.’

Jason’s heavy sigh reminded Laura of more than just the conversations that had been ongoing at work. His mood was understandable. In fact, it was remarkable that he hadn’t been plunged into the depths of depression, really. Maxine’s exit from his life had probably underscored just how much had changed in a very short period of time. Jason had become a father, had had a bomb detonated under his lifestyle both at work and especially at home; his mates had not only defected from living with him, but they were now also planning an exciting project that he was excluded from; and his girlfriend had dumped him. He had a lot to think about.

As did Laura.

Jason had not only made more than one reference to the possibility that Shelley might not be riding in on a white charger to rescue him from the parental predicament he found himself in, he’d actually hinted that he wouldn’t be overly pleased if she did.

Laura had tentatively tested the waters last night by voicing the suggestion that it might be time to try tracking Megan’s mother down. Surprisingly, Jason had vetoed the idea with an almost disgusted shake of his head.

‘She knows where her baby is,’ he’d muttered. ‘And if she gave a damn she would have at least made contact by now to see if she’s okay.’ The clearing of his throat made it seem as though Jason had made a decision. ‘I reckon Megan’s better off where she is.’

‘Shelley won’t be able to stay in the country very long on a visitor’s permit,’ Laura pointed out. ‘It’s only a matter of months, isn’t it? And she won’t be able to leave the country without explaining what she’s done with her baby.’