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Back The Cottage Save as PDF
Chapters (82)
  1. Cover
  2. Dedication
  3. ONE
  4. TWO
  5. THREE
  6. FOUR
  7. FIVE
  8. SIX
  9. SEVEN
  10. EIGHT
  11. NINE
  12. TEN
  13. ELEVEN
  14. TWELVE
  15. THIRTEEN
  16. FOURTEEN
  17. FIFTEEN
  18. SIXTEEN
  19. SEVENTEEN
  20. EIGHTEEN
  21. NINETEEN
  22. TWENTY
  23. TWENTY-ONE
  24. TWENTY-TWO
  25. TWENTY-THREE
  26. TWENTY-FOUR
  27. TWENTY-FIVE
  28. TWENTY-SIX
  29. TWENTY-SEVEN
  30. TWENTY-EIGHT
  31. TWENTY-NINE
  32. THIRTY
  33. THIRTY-ONE
  34. THIRTY-TWO
  35. THIRTY-THREE
  36. THIRTY-FOUR
  37. THIRTY-FIVE
  38. THIRTY-SIX
  39. THIRTY-SEVEN
  40. THIRTY-EIGHT
  41. THIRTY-NINE
  42. FORTY
  43. FORTY-ONE
  44. FORTY-TWO
  45. FORTY-THREE
  46. FORTY-FOUR
  47. FORTY-FIVE
  48. FORTY-SIX
  49. FORTY-SEVEN
  50. FORTY-EIGHT
  51. FORTY-NINE
  52. FIFTY
  53. FIFTY-ONE
  54. FIFTY-TWO
  55. FIFTY-THREE
  56. FIFTY-FOUR
  57. FIFTY-FIVE
  58. FIFTY-SIX
  59. FIFTY-SEVEN
  60. FIFTY-EIGHT
  61. FIFTY-NINE
  62. SIXTY
  63. SIXTY-ONE
  64. SIXTY-TWO
  65. SIXTY-THREE
  66. SIXTY-FOUR
  67. SIXTY-FIVE
  68. SIXTY-SIX
  69. SIXTY-SEVEN
  70. SIXTY-EIGHT
  71. SIXTY-NINE
  72. SEVENTY
  73. SEVENTY-ONE
  74. SEVENTY-TWO
  75. SEVENTY-THREE
  76. SEVENTY-FOUR
  77. Suggested topics for reading-group discussion
  78. Keep Reading …
  79. Lisa Stone also writes under the name of Cathy Glass.Don’t miss her latest book …
  80. About the Author
  81. Books by Lisa Stone
  82. About the Publisher

‘I can only apologize,’ Moller continued. ‘I am assuming this is an isolated incident, but I will cross-check all my patients and donors right back to when I first opened the clinic. I will also implement a better system of record-keeping for the future.’

‘How many others share the same donor?’ Ian asked.

‘I work within the current guidelines, which is that one donor can be used by ten separate patients.’

‘So the odds are this should never have happened?’

‘The chances of the two of you ending up together were incredibly slim. But I am sorry.’

‘Is it the reason Emma and I can’t have healthy children?’

‘It’s possible,’ Moller said. ‘But it’s more likely due to a genetic defect passed down by one of your mothers that didn’t show on your DNA tests. They are never a hundred per cent accurate. I don’t know what else I can do but offer my sincere apologies and compensate you and your wife. I hope we can come to an agreement so the reputation of my clinic isn’t irreparably damaged. What do you think is a reasonable sum?’

‘I’ve no idea,’ Ian said. ‘This has all come as such a shock. I wanted answers, not compensation.’

‘And I trust I have given you those. Discuss the matter with Emma and then come back to me. If you and your wife would like counselling, Edie is very good and of course there will be no charge.’

Ian sighed.

‘I understand you need time,’ Moller said. ‘Call me when you’re ready.’ Winding up the conversation, he said goodbye.

Ian returned his phone to the table and dropped his head into his hands. He supposed he should be grateful for Moller’s honesty, but he wasn’t. He was gutted. Compensation, when his and Emma’s lives were in ruins. Nothing could compensate them for that.

The hum of conversation continued around him and in the background, the hiss of the coffee machine as the barista brewed more coffee. It felt surreal – sitting here in the midst of normality while trying to process something that was anything but normal. He and his wife were half brother and sister.

Ian raised his head. How the hell was he going to tell Emma? He still had no idea. He supposed Emma’s parents and his mother would have to know too at some point. But he couldn’t think about that now. What a fucking awful mess! He stared distractedly around him and his resentment grew.