He's the One by Katie Price

her head. ‘Cory is only just nineteen, whatever he might have told you. In many ways he is old for his years. He is very loving and in touch with his emotions, but he’s also very naïve. He doesn’t, for instance, know what it is like to be a parent. He’s far too young to take on board the responsibility of being a father to someone else’s child.’
    And so here it came – bad cop.
    ‘He might say that he’s not too young, but he is, he really is. And he needs space and time to develop as an artist. It would be a tragedy for him not to reach his full potential, don’t you think?’
    ‘I don’t expect him to be a father to Brooke,’ Liberty said defensively. ‘And I know it’s early days, but we love each other.’
    Melissa gave her a patronising smile. ‘I know you feel like that, but it’s only been two months. Cory has always been one to fall in love quickly. It’s exactly what happened with his last girlfriend in the States. He was with her for nearly two years, and was heartbroken when she ended things with him. It’s why he needed to get away. But he’s over her now and it’s time for him to come home. You and he have had a magical summer. Please accept, for his sake, Liberty, that it has to end now.’
    The revelation that Cory was getting over a broken heart hit Liberty hard, but she wasn’t yet ready to admit defeat, still clinging on to her belief in Cory. ‘I really don’t think it’s for you to say what’s right for your son any more. He’s an adult.’
    ‘Of course he is, but do you really want him to squander his talent by having to work and being unable to go to art college and fulfil his dream? At the moment everything seems golden to him because he’s never had to struggle. Do you think he could do what you do, for instance? Work in a restaurant and put his dream on hold? Because I don’t. He needs to be free to be an artist, and I’m afraid to say we’ve always rather spoiled him.’
    Liberty had a feeling of walls closing in on her, of all hope being squeezed out. ‘But why won’t you let him study in London?’ She already knew the answer – because Melissa wanted her out of Cory’s life. A cleanbreak, a fresh slate. Brooke and Liberty wiped away as if they had never been there. They weren’t good enough for him.
    ‘There are better colleges in the States and Cory needs the support of his family,’ Melissa said evasively.
    Every word from her was like another puncture to Liberty’s dream, but she wasn’t ready to give up yet. ‘What about if I came over to New York with him?’ she said defiantly. ‘I’ve had some modelling success, I could get work out there too.’ She wanted to add that a major TV director was interested in her, but she still hadn’t heard anything from Zac, so maybe his interest had just been a whim.
    Melissa looked at her as if she was unbelievably stupid. ‘Cory will have enough money to pay for a room in a student dorm, which he’ll most likely have to share. They don’t provide space for families. And, honey, a word of advice: the streets of New York are lined with beautiful girls who want to make it as a model, actress or whatever. Beautiful girls who don’t come with a small daughter in tow.’
    Brooke chose that moment to approach them.
    ‘Mummy, I’m hungry.’ The little girl had taken off her shoes and socks and her legs were covered in sand.
    ‘Oh, aren’t you beautiful?’ Melissa exclaimed over her as Liberty rifled through her bag to find Brooke some rice cakes. She was still reeling from the onslaught, and trying to work out what to say, when the other woman got up from the bench.
    ‘Well, I’m glad we’ve had this conversation, Liberty. I’ll be telling Cory of our decision this afternoon. We fly back tonight. Goodbye.’ And without waiting for a response, she turned on her designer heel and walked briskly out of the playground.

Chapter 9
    Liberty’s first thought after Melissa left was that she had to see