The Pregnancy Promise. Barbara McMahon

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      Tray threw his pencil on the desk and rose, pacing around the office. He couldn’t concentrate. The normal appeal of the job was missing. Saturdays usually allowed him to catch up. He was too distracted to concentrate. This was going on too long. He wasn’t sleeping well and knew he had to get beyond the grief he held for a baby he’d never known. He went to the window. The rain slanted down, blurring his view. It looked cold. As cold as he felt every time he thought about Suzanne and her unconscionable act.

      Comparing her with Lianne came naturally these days. One woman casually and callously ended a baby’s life before it even had a chance. The other was doing all she could to be able to have a baby that she’d cherish all its life. Why hadn’t fate denied Suzanne a pregnancy and granted an easy time for his analyst?

      Talking with Lianne at the shore had reaffirmed his faith in women. His analyst wanted a baby desperately. He’d heard all his life how his mother had so longed for a child she’d risked her own life, and lost. Those were the kind of women that kept the species going. He wished he could do something for Lianne. He was in the business of providing solutions, why couldn’t he find one for her?

      He turned and looked at the stack of folders on his desk. Maps lined one wall, on sliding bars to move in and out of the forefront. He’d built up a good security business over the last eight years. The need continued unabated and the company was growing to meet demand.

      But Suzanne’s heinous act had knocked him off his original course. He’d thought he’d find a woman to admire, respect and want to build a life with. She’d provide him with children who could inherit the business, make his uncle a grandfather. Someone to spend holidays with, share celebrations and downturns.

      He wanted to offer more for any children he may have than he’d been given. Not that his uncle didn’t do his best. Part of the reason Tray pushed so hard to make a success was for a future generation.

      That had ended before it even had a chance. Anger at Suzanne flared all over again. How could she have had an abortion just to keep from stretch marks and morning sickness? They’d used protection every time. Only something had happened. There could have been choices, except she’d had the abortion before telling him she was pregnant.

      He’d spent as much time and anguish over her as he wanted. She was out of his life. He hadn’t dated anyone in the last ten months. He’d been gifted with keen insight in security measures. Why hadn’t that extended to Suzanne and her intentions? He fisted his hand again, wanting to hit out, assuage the thirst for revenge. There was nothing he could do to change the past, only mourn the outcome.

      He only wished the grief at the loss of the baby would fade as quickly as the feelings he once thought he had for Suzanne had vanished. Life was unfair, as his uncle often said. Lianne longed for a baby. He should have slept with her if there was to be a mistake, not coldhearted Suzanne.

      The phone rang. Glad for the distraction, Tray answered on the second ring.

      “Mark here. I made a hash of things,” his friend said.

      Tray leaned against the desk. “What are you talking about?” He had a good idea, but didn’t want his friend to know his part of connecting him with Lianne, or that he’d already spoken with Lianne.

      “I took Lianne out to dinner the other night and spent the entire time talking about Wendy. How СКАЧАТЬ