Page 27 of The Duke Who Saved Christmas
Using the same donor meant their children would be biologically related, and carrying each other’s embryo meant they were equally involved.
“So… assuming I’m reading your reaction to Thomas right, then that’s Zara’s embryo, right?” I asked, pointed vaguely at her midsection.
Beth nodded. “It’s… not ideal. We moved here right after Michael’s cancer diagnosis. We decided Zara would keep her job in London as she earnt more than me, and she was able to move to a sixty-forty schedule where she mostly worked from home. I decided to take over the lease of the florists when the previous tenant retired, and it worked. Emily was thrilled to have Danny around and spend a lot more time with him, and it was nice for him to have some stable male influences in his life through Michael and Thomas.”
I nodded.
So, cancer was what had taken Thomas’ dad.
“It wasn’t supposed to be long term, hence Zara keeping her job. We all thought Michael would recover.”
“But he didn’t,” I said softly.
“No. He was diagnosed three Christmases ago. A year later, we found out it was terminal, then Thomas’s fiancée broke things off, and we didn’t feel like we could leave anymore. He died at the end of November last year, and ever since her compassionate leave was over, Zara has thrown herself into work.”
Thomas’s fiancée?
Wrong thing to focus on, Sylvie.
Sort yourself out.
God.
What a rough three years they’d had.
“She’s away more than she’s here. She’s been in London for about two months now, and she was supposed to come home two days ago for the rest of December, but I think it’s going to be at least another week.” Beth looked down. “I didn’t want to do this without her, but she insisted. Her dad’s illness already delayed our plans to have a second baby, and neither of us are angry about that of course. We wanted to have a second baby sooner rather than later, but his illness and death changed things. Honestly, I only agreed to this now because she said she was going to change her schedule back again.”
“You’ve been doing it all yourself?” I blinked at her. “Beth, that’s a lot for one person to be doing. Not to mention running a business and basically being a single parent.”
“I… It is a lot,” she said quietly. “It’s been a stressful four months, and now it’s happened, and she’s not even here like she was supposed to be. I only took the test when I did because she was meant to be coming home.”
No wonder Thomas reacted the way he did.
There was a very slim chance I owed him an apology.
All right.
I did.
I owed him an apology.
“When Thomas said that… I just panicked. I’m really not supposed to be working as much as I am, never mind lifting anything heavy. It’s not the first time he’s helped me with stock at busy times, so I didn’t think twice about asking him. I just didn’t expect his response.”
“It was a shitty response from him, to be honest. The status of your uterus is absolutely nobody’s business but your own until you decide otherwise.”
“Thank you.” Her lips twitched into a small smile. “I’m sorry for unloading this on you. You’re a practical stranger, and I’ve just poured all my issues out over a sandwich.”
“I wouldn’t consider us strangers, just friends who haven’t spent a lot of time together in person yet.” I grinned and shrugged. “Clearly you needed to let them out. It doesn’t seem like you have anyone you can talk to.”
Beth hesitated. “Not really. Without Zara, I’m pretty alone. I don’t know many people outside of the store, and without Zara here, I’ve been juggling parenthood and supporting everyone as they grieve.”
“What about your family? Can they not help you?”
“No.” She grimaced. “They… don’t speak to me anymore. Not since I told them about Zara.”
Ah.
I knew exactly what she meant by that.
