Page 67 of Playing For Keeps
“I already know that much. I’m wondering if she’s said anything about having a baby through other means. Do you think she would be able to handle that?”
Mel joins me at my side. “She mentioned surrogacy and said she was going to talk to her therapist about it.”
A wave of relief rolls through me. “Good to know.”
“She didn’t tell you that?”
I glance at Mel. “No, she did, but I wasn’t sure if she had thought about it recently or if it was something far removed from her mind.”
“Relax, muscle-head. She’s been thinking about it. Just give her time to do what she needs to in order to feel in control of the process.”
I croak at that thought. “She’ll never be in complete control of the process. Whatever is going to happen will happen.”
“Yeah, yeah, we know that. But she needs tofeellike she has the final say in how everything plays out.”
I take in a deep breath. “I know. Let’s just hope she gets there.”
“You sound like you don’t believe she’ll ever pull the trigger.”
“There’s no saying what she’ll do.”
Mel wraps her arms around her waist, studying me. “And if she doesn’t, then what?”
My soul goes cold. I can’t deny I want a child of my own, so what does that mean for Dori and me?
“Mel, I want to focus on her for the time being. She just went through a traumatic ordeal, and pushing her to talk about that right now is more than insensitive.” I trek to the couch.
She follows and sits next to me. “She briefly informed me about where she was going when she left this morning. Do you want to talk about it?”
“Dori and Hunter need to talk about her job. She has a right to decide what she wants to do.”
“But what if that means she doesn’t move to Miami?”
A piece of me dies, and I swallow hard. “Then she doesn’t move.”
“And you’ll be all right with that decision?”
“I have to be.” My chest concaves with that scenario.
The door to the suite closes, and I turn that way.
Dori strides in with an analytical expression. “Hi. It sounds like I’m interrupting something.”
I stand and meet her near the entrance of the room, kissing her on the cheek when I get to her. “No, we were just talking about you working at Efron Worldwide.”
She tips her head to the side, studying me. “What about it?”
“What did Hunter have to say?” I take her hand and lead us back to the couch.
I give her the seat next to Mel and lounge on the floor. She takes off her shoes and pushes into the corner.
Mel jumps up and starts retreating to her room. “I’ve got to call Mateo and tell him I’ll be back to work soon.”
She leaves, and Dori gazes down at me.
“Jami, we need to talk about this.”
“I’m ready when you are.” I cross my legs at my ankles, reclining back like I’m relaxed when in truth, I’m sitting on pins and needles.
