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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

‘Emma’s mother, Mary Holmes, telephoned the clinic and asked if her daughter had been in touch. She said you were researching their genetic history and had put pressure on Emma to contact us. She asked for some advice. We updated our records at the time in case Emma contacted us. She hasn’t.’

‘She is finding it difficult,’ Ian admitted.

‘That’s understandable,’ Moller said in a conciliatory manner. ‘It’s quite a journey to search out a donor and not one to be taken lightly.’

‘So I’m not who I thought I was,’ Ian said, struggling. ‘And all my research has been a waste of time.’

‘Of course you are the same person you’ve always been. And as for your research, I can assure you that if there is any genetic fault it hasn’t come from this clinic. All sperm donors are thoroughly screened, so if there is a problem it’s not with your biological father.’

Ian let out a heartfelt sigh. ‘I understand,’ he said numbly.

‘I’m sorry you had to find out this way. I suggest you have a chat with your mother and Emma and then contact me again if you or your wife wish to trace your donors. My advice would be not to.’

‘Why?’ Ian asked.

‘Nothing will be achieved and it could make you both feel unsettled. Emma has the right idea – be guided by her. When we first started our clinic, no one traced their donors and everyone was happy. Then the law changed. Get on with your life and be grateful you are both healthy, intelligent and able to do well. You have me to thank for that for screening your donor. Now, if there’s nothing else, I really must be getting on. Thank you for coming to see me. I’ll let my wife know you are ready to leave.’

Without waiting for a reply, Moller pressed a buzzer beneath his desk and almost immediately Edie Moller came into the room. ‘I’ll see you out, Mr Jennings,’ she said with a tight smile.

Ian stood and left the room.

TWENTY-FOUR

Ian got into his car but didn’t start the engine. He was in no fit state to drive. While he accepted what Moller had told him, there was something about him and his wife Ian really didn’t like. They were smug, dogmatic, superior. Yes, that was it. The pair of them exuded a sense of elitism, as though they knew better than others … be grateful you are both healthy, intelligent and able to do well. You have me to thank for that, Moller had said arrogantly. Ian supposed that playing God for so long and giving infertile clients children had gone to his head. But Ian knew he had to speak to his mother, and it wouldn’t be easy.