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"Hello?" June said breathlessly.

"June, are you okay?" came Gared's concerned voice.

"I am fine, Gared." She answered a bit shaken trying to balance her shopping bags and her phone. She manoeuvred her way to the nearest bench in the shopping centre and sat.

"I called your office and they said you had the day off." Gared continued.

"Yes, May dragged me to go baby shopping since she will be going to Paris next week for a few months and wanted to buy me the latest baby wear before she left." June looked across at her sister who was glaring at her.

"I can only imagine the look she is giving you at the moment." Gared said laughingly as June joined his joke. May was still glaring at her and signed for her to end the call.

"You know her too well Gared; she will probably give you her death treatment when you next meet." May almost pulled the phone from her at that moment. "Gared I must say bye or else I'm chopped liver!"

"Please we need to keep these babies away from May's stares! I'll email you the Bernado documents and make an appointment with your administrator to see you sometime next week then. Give May my love!" He rang off in good humour.

"Bye Gared." June ended the call and May was quick to interrupt

"That man is impossible; he is so inconsiderate and clueless. If you are not at work why is he calling you on your personal mobile?" May complained and plopped herself on the bench beside June.

Gared had been working with her on a new project. Her new client had assigned him as their representative and they had been in close contact for the last two months. May had taken an instant dislike to Gared when she had met him at her office the first time. The two of them had been hurling insults back and forth ever since. Gared was usually so laid back but when May was around he was prickly and hot tempered. May being the trouble maker that she is riled him up even more.

"Sis I'm tired, my feet are swollen and my back is starting to throb." June looked at her ankles. They had swelled over her plimsolls. She needed to end this shopping trip before she collapsed. May was like a military colonel once she starts shopping she grills every sales assistant on the floor about a purchase to ensure that the style was designed perfectly. June did not know why she had agreed to go. Her hormones had made her too compassionate.

"Okay I guess we have enough stuff for now." May commented looking at the collection of bags that surrounded them on the bench. May gave her hand to her sister to help her up. June gladly accepted pulling her six month belly to a standing position. She felt like a whale and walked like one too.

"I can't carry anything, you did not think this through." June complained wanting to sit back down.

"I've got this sis." May reassured her as she called someone on her phone. A few minutes later a tall chauffeur appeared and he carried most of their bags to the awaiting SUV with May.

"See I do think of everything." May boasted as June settled in the soft interior of the vehicle. She needed a good foot rub and a jar of peanut butter. She had the worst craving for anything peanut.

June sat on the sofa her feet soaking in her home spa in her living room. May was unpacking the stuff they had bought in her bedroom which was also her nursery. She wanted her son close to her. June rubbed her stomach; the scan had revealed that she was going to have a son. she remembered that day so clearly.

The doctor turned to her and said, "You have very healthy and active baby Ms. Stapleton."

June could see the baby moving and stretching his legs."Indeed Dr. Montgomery, he moves all the time especially when it's time for meals.' the doctor laughed and told her to look closely at the screen.

'What am I looking for?' June was lost as she stared at her child doing aerobics and felt it as well.

The doctor pointed to the baby's lower body and said, 'As you can clearly see, you are having a boy!'

June stared at the body part which visibly showed that she was carrying a son.

"A boy", she murmured, 'a boy who would be strong and virile like his father.' She said distractedly, covering her mouth once she had uttered the words. She had often thought of Dmitri but she knew this was for the best she would have a better life without him; she would have to explain to her son about his father later on but with so much support from family and friends she was not worried about that as yet. She did not want her son to miss out greatly and she would tell Dmitri she just had not decided on a specific date.

"You okay June?" the doctor as concerned.

She realised that she was crying, 'I don't know what came over me, I am so happy, a boy." she countered feeling very emotional.

'It's okay June emotions are uncontrollable at this time,' she continued, 'for now everything looks fine, a few more months and he will be in your arms."

June was crying heavily now as the tears rolled down her cheeks, her son; hers and Dmitri, she took a deep breath, and they were going to have a son. She had left the doctor's office drained from her emotional upheaval. She had to share the news with Dmitri but how was she to do it after the way he had left.

Her parents had been eagerly awaiting to know the sex of the baby and had called when she had exited the doctor's surgery.

"Hello" she answered.

"Boy or girl?" asked her curious mother sounding excited on the phone.

"A boy mom." she responded happily and could hear her father on speakerphone shouting. "Get in there! Yeah, football, here we come!"

"No dad he will choose whatever sport he wants."

Her father was not listening as her parents totally ignored her and started to rant about things they would do with their grandchild.

"Mom, dad, enough already." June tried to calm her parents down.

"Sorry dear just got carried away."

'I'll say," she added with good humour.

She did not want to think of Dmitri. He was the past. June did not want to regret letting him go but it was for the best for now. At least that was what she convinced herself to think every day. Her life had been very peaceful since he left. The project in Sicily was finished and Jay would be back next week. Jay had nothing but glowing reports about working with Dmitri and that made her a bit annoyed but at least he was nice to Jay. She knew that the project had been a success and Jay was sure to get a promotion because of this. He deserved it since he had worked so well on his own.

"Hey J, you ready to eat?" May asked interrupting her reverie.

"Always." June replied as she laid her head back on the sofa.

Her parents had not been happy when she had told them about Dmitri's departure.

They had not been aware of her duplicity until then.

"June I will not support you raising this baby alone." Her mother was saying angrily after a family dinner.

April interjected, "Maybe there was a good reason for Dmitri leaving."

"Was there June, did he abandon you or did you not tell him about the pregnancy?" her mother asked very annoyed.

"Well, it's a bit complicated," June started, "Dmitri believes the baby is not his."

"No way!" shouted May, "The bastard!"

"Language May, "her father reprimanded, "Why would he think that June? "

"Well there was this guy I dated for a while and Dmitri had me followed and this guy kissed me when I told him that there was no future for us and well Dmitri thinks the baby is not his!"

Everyone was staring at her in shock until her mother asked, "You led him to believe that didn't you June!"

June opened her mouth to object but she could not lie to her family. She nodded her head in agreement.

"June I am so disappointed in you, you need to correct this and tell Dmitri that he is going to be a father!" her mother was adamant.

"J I can't believe you did this! Dmitri must be in bits because he feels you betrayed him. The man was head over heels in love with you why would you sabotage that?" May came to her and held her hands. June felt like an egg. She was wrong, very very wrong.

"June you will call Dmitri and explain everything tonight."

"Mom, I can't." June was sobbing, "I can't." she said as she ran from the dining room to the bathroom.

She felt wretched inside knowing that she had made the wrong decision but she just wanted to hurt him but this had gone too far. She was in a dilemma. Her baby would grow up without a father and she could give it everything but not a father's love.

She could survive without Dmitri, she had for 25 years but her child should not.

She had convinced her family that she would tell Dmitri before the birth. May had threatened to call Dmitri if she did not. She knew that her family would definitely do so.

June stood in front of the mirror. Her breasts were full and ripe. Her stomach was huge and she felt like a whale most times. Her hair was longer and all her friends told her that pregnancy agreed with her. Indeed it was, she had practically bought everything for the baby. She wanted to work until the last minute and would take all her leave after the birth.

June had to go on with her life and decided retail therapy would be best to soothe her emotional state. It was Saturday and she decided to get a cab to visit an up scale baby store, in the Knightsbridge, Central London. There was an adorable navy blue jumper and shoes that she had seen there a few weeks ago. Now she new the baby's sex she would buy it if it was still for sale.

She got out of the cab and paid the driver. As she turned round she felt someone looking at her. Sure enough Dmitri stood across the street glaring at her rudely. The cab pulled away and his eyes widened as he took in her swollen belly. Franco also saw her and gave her a wry smile. They turned away sharply and entered the building behind him. June stood there on the pavement for a few moments trying to compose herself. The shock was too much.

'Lady are you alright?' a woman asked her nicely.

'Yes- yes' she stumbled; 'I'm fine now.' she smiled and continued on her way.

June would never forget the look in Dmitri's eyes as he assessed her. It was not pleasant or kind, far from it, it was filled with loath and hate. She numbly carried on with her shopping trying to forget the father of her unborn child.

That incident had been on her mind all week. Dmitri had been due in the office but luckily she had not seen him, just knowing that he was back made her uneasy.

"I am famished." June commented as she waited for the lift with Gared. They had just concluded a meeting and Gared had kindly invited her to have lunch with him.

"Ooh!" she said as her son turned around.

"Are you okay?" Gared asked concerned

"Yeah the little one is probably hungry as well he just moved." June responded smiling and holding her stomach as her son continued his acrobatics.

"Can I feel him?" Gared asked looking at her in awe.

"Sure." She agreed and took his hand to the spot where her son was practising some gymnastic move. Gared smiled as he felt his first kick.

"Awesome, he will definitely play football." Gared said after he felt another flutter.

"You are worse than my dad!" she chided him as the lift doors opened.

"June!" she looked up and saw Jay exiting the lift. He stood back and looked at her.

"You look amazing June!" he said before giving her a hug.

"Thanks, your tan is great!" she noticed that his skin had an olive glow to it now.

"Yeah, thanks." Jay was looking at Gared and June quizzically.

"Jay this is Gared Thompson, Jay is one of my colleagues who was away on assignment." the two men shook hands and greeted each other.

"We must catch up when I get back from lunch because I'm really hungry." She said stepping away from him.

"This little fella needs to be nourished." Gared said as he put his hand on her stomach again.

"See you later June." Jay said walking away.

"Bye." they said in unison.

The lift doors opened once again and June stilled. Dmitri stood in there his face turned to a stony mask as he looked at her. Gared's hand was still on her stomach.

"June! June?" Gared was looking at her.

"Oh!" she said stepping into the lift. Gared had a hand on her lower back as he guided her in.

"Ms Stapleton." Dmitri greeted as she stood in front of him.

June turned around slowly and greeted him firmly "Mr. Kanaredes, Franco." Franco was with him and he looked a bit uncomfortable shifting his feet and unable to meet her eyes.

Gared turned around and also greeted Dmitri.

"Ah Mr. Kanaredes, we met sometime earlier?" Gared prompted.

"Yes we did, remind me of your name again?" Dmitri was blunt as he acknowledged Gared.

"Gared Thompson." They shook hands. June closed her eyes and begged for freedom.

The ride was spent in silence and seemed to go on for an eternity. They got off the lift first and were walking toward the front entrance. June was aware of Dmitri following them. Gared's hand on the small of her back as well as holding her bag which really made them look like a couple.

Once outside Dmitri and Franco swiftly passed them walking towards a black Audi MPV.

Gared hailed a cab and got her in it and they left for lunch. June was an emotional wreck; seeing Dmitri again was hard. She felt like a fraud. She touched her stomach and closed her eyes trying to get Dmitri's glare out of her mind.