Twins On Her Doorstep. Alison Roberts
opinion of how unreasonable this was.
Her father cleared his throat. ‘Well…biologically, they are your daughters, Soph. Which makes them…our grandchildren…doesn’t it?’
‘No…’ Sophie was cradling her forehead in both her hands now. ‘For heaven’s sake, Dad. I donated eggs. It doesn’t make me suddenly responsible for what happens to them, does it? What if I’d donated a kidney to someone? And…and they turned up on the doorstep and said they were homeless now? Would I have to invite them to live with me for the rest of my life?’
Dropping her hands, she looked up, and the look on her parents’ faces was enough to break her heart. It took her back instantly to that moment when their excitement at the prospect of becoming grandparents had morphed into yet another grief when faced with the reality of her miscarriage. When all their lives had changed for ever.
That had been her child. Hers and Matthew’s. The egg she’d chosen to have implanted that first time. The baby she’d fallen in love with the instant she’d seen that tiny heart beating on the ultrasound screen.
‘They’re not my children,’ Sophie whispered into the silence. ‘Can’t you understand? I’m finally at the point where I’m not missing Matthew and our baby every single day. I love my life just the way it is. I don’t want to be a mother. I’m not ready…and…and I don’t know if I’ll ever be ready again.’
‘You don’t have to be.’
It wasn’t either of her parents who had spoken. Oh, help… How long had Finn been standing in the kitchen doorway? How much had he heard?
Enough, obviously.
‘I’ll sort it out,’ he said. His face twisted with what looked like regret as he spoke to Judy. ‘I’m so sorry,’ he added. ‘I didn’t think. I’ve created a problem for everybody.’
Judy’s shoes tapped on the flagstones as she crossed the room. ‘You did what you thought was the right thing,’ she said softly. ‘We all need some time to think about this so…’ She was smiling at him now—that gentle smile that advertised the warmest heart in the world. ‘Who knows? Maybe it’s a good thing that you’re not well enough to go anywhere else right now.’
‘I can’t stay here…’ Finn might look as if he was about to topple over at any moment but he was fighting hard. ‘Can you please tell me where that guest house is?’
‘You’re not going to win this one, lad.’ Jack’s smile for his wife conveyed an understanding born of a great many years. And a great deal of love. ‘Come with me. I’ll show you where our guest room is. It’s got its own bathroom so you’ll be quite private.’
‘Find him a pair of your pyjamas, Jack. I’ll bring him a cup of tea in a minute. And maybe some soup.’ Judy caught Sophie’s gaze as she headed back to the teapot. ‘You going to stay for some soup, too, love?’
Sophie shook her head. ‘I need to get those blood samples to the lab.’
She had to get out of here. Control of her life was being torn out of her hands and she couldn’t deal with this. She needed some time to herself. A lot of time. At least her father would be here if Finn’s condition deteriorated so she wouldn’t have to add any worry about a new patient to the mess already in her head.
She couldn’t help another glance in his direction, however. A glance that was intended to reassure herself that she could, at least, put worrying about the potential complications of malaria to one side.
Finn had one hand on the frame of the door, as if he needed the support to stay upright. He had been watching her, she realised, as her gaze connected with his. For what seemed like a very long moment, they held the eye contact.
She didn’t want to feel sorry for this man. Or have to repress the instinctive urge to offer assistance and reassurance but…that look in his eyes was a plea that was impossible to ignore.
He was lost, wasn’t he?
Torn.
Wanting to do the right thing but, for whatever reason, feeling incapable of taking the step that they both knew would be the right thing to do here. The only thing to do, in fact.
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