“I don’t want to,” Colette replied quickly. “We’ve been through this. I want to carry my own baby and I know that seems selfish given there are so many children in this world who want and need good families. I know that. But it doesn’t change the fact that I want to experience life growing inside me. I want to feel the fluttering, the kicks, and everything else that comes with being pregnant.”

“Including swollen ankles and morning sickness?”

“Yes, even that.”

“I wish I could give you what you want, darling. I really wish I could.”

She smiled weakly. They ate dessert in relative silence as Colette watched the ducks on the lake. She was surprised at the number of people in the park at this time, midday (didn’t they have jobs to go to?), and then figured they were probably wondering the same thing themselves.

After the picnic was over, Colette and Ed ambled through Birdcage Walk. They were silent as they moved beneath the trees, only the sound of the passing traffic there to entertain them. They were about halfway down when Ed’s phone rang.

He looked at the display. “Sorry, darling, I need to take this.”

He handed her the basket and walked away, Colette watching him as he went. It seemed her husband spent more time leaving her than he did greeting her.

She lingered around the area as she waited for him to return, occupying herself by studying moss growing on the trees and the numerous knots in the barks, almost like knuckles on a hand. There was so much green around her. It was nice to see. Very different to her usual view of dull gray buildings from her office window. She wondered what was happening at work now.

“Colette, I’m so very sorry, but—”

“You have to go,” she finished dully. Of course it wouldn’t last.

His face fell. “I’m so sorry, truly. I’ll call the car. I had told him to pick us up later but... Anyway, it shouldn’t take him long. I’ll have him drop you straight back home.”

“Don’t bother,” Colette replied as she handed Ed the basket. “I don’t feel like going home just yet. I think I’ll stay here for a while; I was so enjoying it.”

“It’s an emergency,” he told her, somewhat defensively now. “I have no choice.”

“I understand,” she said softly. “Honestly, go. I’ll head back in to watch the pelicans. I love them.”

“I know,” Ed replied. “I’m sorry I can’t come and look at them with you.”

“Go—do what you do best,” Colette replied sadly. “But I think I need to try something different today.”

Saying goodbye, she turned and began the walk back to the lake. She sighed deeply as she strolled, willing the stress and pressure she felt to leave her.