Page 35 of Tormented Dreams

He’d tried his best to put things right, to tell her that he was willing to explore their relationship and see just where it might take them. But since she’d cut him dead, there was no suitable outlet for all the uncomfortable feelings swirling around in his head. If he dwelled on them too much, he thought they might just drive him crazy, because what he was left with was a whole lot of unwanted emotions he had nowhere to channel. Even the club was lost to him, because he couldn't bear the thought of being there without her.

They might not have had the longest of times together, but it had made a lasting impact on his life. And there was nothing more he could do with all of the pent-up affections he was harbouring, except hope that one day they might become bearable.

Or was there?

Xavier considered the forms in front of him for a little longer.

The idea of another man, even a faceless donor, being the father to Grace's children was abhorrent to him. So much so that Xavier realised, despite the current state of their relationship—or lack of one—he wanted those children to be his own.

It was a stunning revelation and not one he’d expected. But the more he thought about the idea, the more it took root in his mind.

Telephoning the contact number on the paperwork in front of him, Xavier made a life changing decision. It might have been considered spur of the moment, and it might never even come to fruition, but to him, it made complete sense.

Placing the phone back in its cradle once the call had been made, Xavier felt more at peace with himself than he had since Grace had walked out of his life.

CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

Grace hung up the phone with a visibly shaking hand and tried to make sense of all the information she had just been given. Her heart was hammering at a hundred miles an hour and felt like it was going to burst completely out of her chest.

But what did all of this mean exactly?

Well, she knew, in theory, what it meant. But what about the intention behind it? How was she supposed to read the wholly unexpected offer that had come her way? Perhaps the only way to know for sure was to go directly to the source.

She wasn't quite sure how she felt about seeing Xavier again. In truth, Grace had forgotten she’d changed her GP details over to his practice. Now, that meant he would obviously be involved in the medical evaluation of her suitability as a candidate for the sperm donor programme.

He could have made things horribly awkward for her, she realised. But instead, he’d extended…what? Was this an olive branch, perhaps? If it was, then it was one heck of a loaded one!

And it seemed the only way she was going to get any answers was if she bit the bullet and got them straight from the horse's mouth.

There were so many times she had wanted to get in touch with him. But the dreadful way in which she’d behaved always held her back. Instead, she’d convinced herself he wouldn't want to see her… And she wouldn't have blamed him.

She had treated him appallingly, in a purely defensive bid to stop herself from getting hurt. And in the process, all she had ended up doing was hurting herself even more.

And him as well.

But now? It was almost looking like there might be a resolution after all. The question was, was she brave enough to take it?

CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

Xavier hadn't been back very long. Having had the idea and spoken to the sperm bank Grace was using, he had acted immediately on something that might very well turn out to be a completely crazy idea.

In truth, he was well aware that the only reason they had even entertained his hare-brained notion was because of his own impeccable medical credentials and the fact that he had a cursory, but solid relationship with the director of the facility.

That hadn’t given him free access by any means. He’d still had to argue, long and hard, in order for them to facilitate his proposal, and in turn, he’d agreed that the only steps they would take would be to provide the raw information to Grace, as they would with any potential candidate… but also to provide his name, which was against normal protocol.

Most sperm donors obviously didn't want their identity to be revealed, for obvious reasons. But then Xavier wasn't most donors. He was providing a single sample—potentially—for a single candidate.

Grace would be provided with the information, along with all the other potential donors' she received for evaluation. The rest was up to her.

Now that he was back in his office, Xavier wished he hadn't cancelled all of his appointments, because suddenly, he had far too much time to think!

A commotion coming from the reception area caught his attention. He could hear someone shouting and banging on the security door that prevented people from just barging into his office and the consulting rooms.

An irate patient, no doubt, upset that his appointment had been cancelled on short notice. Sick people weren't always the most tolerant. Xavier was well aware of that. Pain made people rash and irritable and provoked them into acting in ways they wouldn't normally consider.

As he stood and rounded his desk to find out what was going on, his receptionist came hurrying through the door. "Dr. Diaz, I'm so sorry," she flustered. "The woman just wouldn't take no for an answer. It never occurred to me that she would barge her way?—"

The words were cut off by the familiar, dulcet tones of a voice he knew all too well. "Hello, Xavier. I'm sorry I appear to be causing a problem, but I needed to see you and your receptionist refused, even though there isn't anyone else in the waiting room."

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