Total pages in book: 109
Estimated words: 104532 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 523(@200wpm)___ 418(@250wpm)___ 348(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 104532 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 523(@200wpm)___ 418(@250wpm)___ 348(@300wpm)
“What about adoption? Have you considered other alternatives?”
“Sam doesn’t want to adopt.” Her voice falters. “He said he wanted a child because the baby would’ve been a part of me.”
“What about a sperm donor?” I ask, offering her another tissue.
She takes the tissue and blows her nose. “I can’t even raise the subject with him. It’s too soon.”
“You’re right. You both need time to deal with the news and come to terms with it.” I squeeze her shoulder. “Come on. Let me make you a cup of tea. Have you eaten?”
She shakes her head.
“Then it’s a good thing I brought cinnamon buns,” I say with a smile, trying to lighten the mood.
Zelda sinks into a chair in her bright yellow kitchen while I put on the kettle. She’s playing with the crumpled tissues, her gaze fixed on her hands as she shreds them to pieces.
“Here you go,” I say, putting a mug of tea in front of her. “I know it’s tough, but you and Sam love each other. You’ll get through this.”
She blows out a shaky breath before meeting my gaze. “What about you?”
I sit down opposite her. “What about me?”
“Have you and Leon discussed babies?”
The question catches me off guard. For a couple of beats, I can only stare at her. No, we haven’t talked about children, but I saw the way Leon looked at me when Josh made that comment about me having a baby. I’ve never thought about having children because I wanted to escape, not get caught in marriage. The idea of falling pregnant terrifies me, which is why I’m religiously taking my contraceptive pill. But I can’t tell her that. I can’t tell her that my husband forced me into marriage and that I don’t want to bring children into a life where men who steal from you are carved into pieces and shot in the head.
I can’t tell her that Leon is a dangerous man and that clandestine programmers don’t make good parents, so I only say, “We’ve barely been married for two weeks.”
She nods. “Sorry. I didn’t mean to pry.”
“You didn’t.” I reach over and cup her hand. Choosing my words carefully, I say, “It’s just not such a passionate subject for us.”
“Right.” She pulls away. “Why is it always the people who want to have children that can’t have them, and the ones who can don’t care?” Pulling her hands through her hair, she says, “Fuck. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean it like that. I’m just…”
“I know,” I say softly.
A meow sounds from the door. Tiger comes strolling into the kitchen. When he spots me, he makes a beeline for my legs and rubs against my calves.
“Leon seems to be from good stock,” she says.
I tear my gaze from Tiger to look at her. I know precious little about Leon’s background, but if she means that he’s good-looking, strong, and healthy, I have to agree.
She chews her lip before saying, “If Sam ever warms to the idea of a sperm donor, do you think—”
“No,” I say as her meaning sinks in. Clearing my throat, I soften my tone. “Leon… He’s just not that type of guy.”
She gives me a knowing smile. “Yeah. I didn’t really take him for the type.”
Busying myself with arranging the buns on a plate, I hide my expression from her. I don’t want her to see the selfish truth on my face, that I can’t stomach the idea of sharing Leon in any way.
CHAPTER 16
Leon
When I get Violet’s message to say she left work early and took an Uber home, I grab my jacket and make my way to the door. Gus and Elliot are out for lunch with clients. They won’t come back to the office before late tonight, if at all. No one is going to miss me.
Outside, I stop in my tracks. Gia leans on the door of her 4x4, which is parked next to my car.
“Gia,” I say with surprise, making my way over. “If you’re waiting for Gus—”
She straightens. “I was waiting for you.”
I pause in front of her. “You were?”
She tilts her head toward her Landcruiser. “Take a ride with me.”
Not waiting for my answer, she opens the door and gets inside.
Here comes the speech about treating her daughter right, the one I expected from Gus. At least Gia is looking out for Violet.
Going around the vehicle, I get into the passenger side. Gia starts the engine and switches on the radio, selecting some nostalgic radio station. The music is a little too loud to make conversation. I take the hint and keep my mouth shut, waiting to see what Gia has planned.
She drives to Auckland Park and parks on a dead-end road on the hill. The road runs past the office buildings into an undeveloped plot of land. A field with tall polls of Highveld grass surrounds us. The city stretches below. From up here, we have a view of the skyscrapers in the south and the residential suburbs in the north.