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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

‘No, but I have to speak to you about the Moller Clinic.’

The colour drained from her face.

‘It won’t take long,’ he added. ‘I have some questions.’

‘What about?’ She kept one hand on the door.

‘You know the Moller Clinic and the work they do there?’

‘I’ve heard of it.’

‘I’ve found out recently that both Emma’s parents and mine used the clinic, and they were given the same donor sperm. Emma and I share the same biological father. It could be the reason we can’t have healthy babies.’ Ian would have preferred to say all this inside, but it was clear Anne wasn’t going to invite him in.

‘How do you know this?’ Anne asked, turning slightly to meet his gaze.

‘Carstan Moller told me, eventually.’

‘Did he?’ she asked, surprised. ‘Did he tell you who the donor was?’

‘No. He said it was confidential.’ Ian couldn’t tell her he’d accessed the clinic’s files.

‘I am sorry, Ian. That should never have happened. It must have come as a huge shock for you and Emma, but I don’t see how I can help you.’

‘I’d like you to tell me what you know about the clinic.’

‘Nothing. I was just aware of its existence.’

‘Have you ever had any dealings with Carstan or Edie Moller as a midwife?’

‘No. There’s no reason for me to.’

‘So you’ve never come into contact with them?’

‘No. Sorry, Ian, I’m afraid I can’t help you. Now, I’ve just returned from work. I must have something to eat before I take the dogs out. Would you like me to visit you and Emma tomorrow?’ She turned the key and opened her front door.

‘I’ll ask her and let you know,’ Ian said.

He returned down the path to his car as Anne let herself in.

She was lying. Her name was all over Moller’s files and her car had been at his clinic. The expression on her face when he’d first mentioned Moller had been one of shock and possibly guilt. Anne wasn’t a good liar – but what was she hiding? She’d been so warm and friendly when she’d been their midwife, but now she was guarded and hadn’t been able to get rid of him quickly enough. Yes, she’d just come home from work and wanted dinner before she took the dogs out, but Ian hadn’t seen or heard any dogs eager to be let out. He supposed they could be caged out the back, but wouldn’t they have barked when they heard her voice?