‘How are you?’ Charlotte asked, her voice careful, reverent. She’d wanted to come to Tony’s funeral but he’d asked her not to. He hadn’t explained why but she’d respected his decision.

‘I’m . . . I’m all right,’ he said.

‘Listen,’ Charlotte said, ‘I know this is the last thing on your mind with everything that’s happened, but I have some news.’

‘Oh yeah?’ For a moment it didn’t click, but then he understood. He’d been so caught up with his own life he hadn’t even thought about the sperm donation. By the sound of her voice, he was about to be sucked back into her world. She sounded happy. Steph’s insemination must have worked.

‘The insemination didn’t take,’ she said.

Darren stopped short. ‘Oh,’ he said. ‘I’m really sorry.’

‘Don’t be,’ said Charlotte. ‘We’ve had a talk, and we’ve decided this is for the best. It turns out Steph was never comfortable with asking you to donate, but she didn’t speak up because she knew it was what I wanted. She finally came clean and we’re going to get the donation from someone else. She has a family friend who’s willing and it’s just going to be . . . less complicated. I hope you don’t mind?’

Darren couldn’t stop the smile from spreading across his face. ‘No, Char,’ he said. ‘I don’t mind at all.’

*

Jill

She was taken aback to see a stranger sitting by Andrea’s bed when she walked into the hospital room. He was tall, well-built, and he had hold of one of Andrea’s hands.

‘Hello?’ Jill said, making the man jump and drop Andrea’s hand. But when he turned she saw that he had kind eyes and a warm smile.

‘Oh, hi there.’ He stood and offered his hand. ‘My name’s Shaun. I’m sorry, I was hoping to be able to speak to Andrea, but I see she’s still . . .’

‘Yes. No change, is what I’ve been told. I’m Jill, her mother-in-law. How do you know Andrea? They’re only meant to allow family in here.’

He cringed. ‘I know, I know, I shouldn’t be in here but I talked my way in. I really wanted to see her for myself. We met at her building. We had . . . shared concerns about Violet.’

‘Oh. I see. Well . . . I’m sorry. I know Andrea did the wrong thing when she took Violet on Christmas Eve, but you have to understand, her heart would have been in the right place.’ Jill was becoming flustered, her hands dancing by her side, but Shaun gave her a small smile.