Chapters (82)
- Cover
- Dedication
- ONE
- TWO
- THREE
- FOUR
- FIVE
- SIX
- SEVEN
- EIGHT
- NINE
- TEN
- ELEVEN
- TWELVE
- THIRTEEN
- FOURTEEN
- FIFTEEN
- SIXTEEN
- SEVENTEEN
- EIGHTEEN
- NINETEEN
- TWENTY
- TWENTY-ONE
- TWENTY-TWO
- TWENTY-THREE
- TWENTY-FOUR
- TWENTY-FIVE
- TWENTY-SIX
- TWENTY-SEVEN
- TWENTY-EIGHT
- TWENTY-NINE
- THIRTY
- THIRTY-ONE
- THIRTY-TWO
- THIRTY-THREE
- THIRTY-FOUR
- THIRTY-FIVE
- THIRTY-SIX
- THIRTY-SEVEN
- THIRTY-EIGHT
- THIRTY-NINE
- FORTY
- FORTY-ONE
- FORTY-TWO
- FORTY-THREE
- FORTY-FOUR
- FORTY-FIVE
- FORTY-SIX
- FORTY-SEVEN
- FORTY-EIGHT
- FORTY-NINE
- FIFTY
- FIFTY-ONE
- FIFTY-TWO
- FIFTY-THREE
- FIFTY-FOUR
- FIFTY-FIVE
- FIFTY-SIX
- FIFTY-SEVEN
- FIFTY-EIGHT
- FIFTY-NINE
- SIXTY
- SIXTY-ONE
- SIXTY-TWO
- SIXTY-THREE
- SIXTY-FOUR
- SIXTY-FIVE
- SIXTY-SIX
- SIXTY-SEVEN
- SIXTY-EIGHT
- SIXTY-NINE
- SEVENTY
- SEVENTY-ONE
- SEVENTY-TWO
- SEVENTY-THREE
- SEVENTY-FOUR
- Suggested topics for reading-group discussion
- Keep Reading …
- Lisa Stone also writes under the name of Cathy Glass.Don’t miss her latest book …
- About the Author
- Books by Lisa Stone
- About the Publisher
‘And neither must he, ever. No one knows apart from the three of us, and the clinic where we were treated, of course. When I told you we agreed it would remain our secret. Your father is a proud man and was mortified he couldn’t father a child. He’s been good to you, a proper father. He couldn’t have loved you any more.’
‘I know that, Mum. That’s not the point.’
‘What is it then?’ Mary asked, worried. ‘You haven’t told anyone, have you?’
‘No, but I think I should tell Ian.’
‘Why? Whatever for?’ Mary exclaimed, the colour draining from her face.
‘Because obviously there’s no point in him researching Dad’s family as I don’t have his genes,’ she said, slightly frustrated.
‘I realize that, but don’t tell Ian, please. It would destroy your father if it got back to him. He’s your real father, always has been. All that other man gave was his sperm. Let Ian do his research, but please don’t tell him.’
‘But supposing there is something in the genes of the donor – my biological father – that’s causing our problem. We won’t know so it can’t be corrected. Ian and I have decided we won’t try again for another child unless we know for certain the same thing can’t happen. I was thinking I could trace the donor myself and then tell Ian.’
‘There’s no chance there could be anything wrong with the donor’s genes,’ Mary said. ‘All donors are thoroughly screened. The clinic explained to us how thorough their screening was. The donor has a detailed medical and lots of tests. They examine their DNA too. I remember the doctor saying only the healthiest sperm donors are selected, so it can’t be him.’
Emma looked at her mother and felt sorry for her. She was so immersed in protecting her father she couldn’t see the logic in what Emma was saying. But this was too important to let go.
‘Ian wonders if it’s something in our genes that lies dormant and only appears if two people with the same defective gene have a child.’
‘It can’t be. The clinic tests for that too. They test for everything, love, trust me. If there is something wrong, it certainly isn’t with the donor. I suppose it could be me, but I’ve never heard of anything like this happening in my family. My guess is that Ian will find something in his family. If indeed there is anything to be found. Sometimes nature gets it wrong and it’s no one’s fault.’
‘Ian’s checked your family,’ Emma said. ‘What details were you given of the donor?’
‘Everything except his name and address. The donor’s identity was kept secret to protect everyone involved.’
‘The law has changed since then, so I could trace him now if I wanted to.’