BooksBarbecue
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

‘The Moller Clinic, the same as you and Dad.’ As Ian said this a new fear suddenly gripped him. ‘Oh my God, Mum, you don’t think Emma and I could share the same donor? If we did, it would mean we were related, half brother and sister.’ Bile rose in his throat and he flung open his car door just in time to throw up in the gutter.

‘Ian? Are you OK?’ his mother asked on the other end of the phone.

‘No,’ he said, wiping his mouth. He took another swig of water. ‘Mum, if Emma and I do have the same biological father it might explain why we look similar and can’t have healthy children. Some defects in DNA only appear if there is inbreeding.’

‘But Carstan and Edie Moller are professionals,’ Helen said. ‘They know what they’re doing. They wouldn’t have let that happen, I’m certain.’

‘Think about it, Mum. Sperm donors donate many times and can father hundreds of children. The Mollers couldn’t have predicted that Emma and I would ever get together. If I’d had any idea that Emma and I were the product of donated sperm and from the same clinic I would have checked with them before we married to make sure we weren’t related. Otherwise it’s incest, Mum!’ His stomach churned and he swallowed back fresh bile.

‘No! It’s not possible. I’m sure you’re wrong, Ian.’

‘How can you be so sure, Mum? You should have told me.’

‘I’m so sorry. I kept quiet for your father’s sake. I never thought it would come to this.’ Her voice broke.

Ian was silent for a moment and then said, ‘I’m going back into the clinic now to confront Carstan Moller. I need to know the truth.’

TWENTY-FIVE

Ian drew himself to his full height as he returned up the front path to the Moller Clinic and pressed the bell. No one answered. They were in all right but would be able to see him on the CCTV. He pressed the bell again, long and hard, then opened the letterbox and shouted, ‘I know you’re in there. I need to speak to you. I’m not leaving until I do.’

Straightening, he pressed the bell again and kept his finger on it until the door opened.

‘Yes, what is it, Mr Jennings?’ Carstan Moller demanded. ‘You’re making a hell of a noise.’ Ian could see Edie Moller standing a little way behind him down the hall, her mobile in her hand, probably ready to call the police if necessary.

‘Could Emma and I have the same sperm donor?’ Ian asked.

‘No, of course not!’

‘How can you be so certain?’

‘I keep meticulous records. I always have done. We’re professional. That sort of thing can’t happen here.’

‘Have you checked your records for Emma and me?’