Susan shut down her computer and gathered her things to leave.
Ms. Atkinson, theres a young lady here to see you. Says its a personal matter.
Let her in, its all right.
A petite, curly-haired young woman in a short skirt stepped into the office.
Good afternoon. Im Sophie. Ive come to offer you a proposition.
Hello, Sophie. I can’t imagine what sort of business you might have with me. We dont know each other, do we?
Not you, but I do know your husband, Colin.
She walked up to the desk and tossed a piece of paper onto it. Susan picked it up and read:
Sophie Bennett, Pregnancy 5-6 weeks
What is this supposed to mean? Why show this to me?
Simple. Im carrying your husbands child.
Susan stared at her, startled, not believing what she heard.
And what exactly do you expect me to do? Offer my congratulations?
No, Im after money. If you care for your husband, that is
Money for what, precisely?
Ill have an abortion and disappear from Colins life. He doesn’t know Im pregnantI came to you first. If you refuse, hell choose me. I know all about your infertility. You cant have children, not even with a surrogate. Well?
Susan tried to process what shed heard, feeling dizzy.
And how much is your secret worth?
Only thirty thousand pounds. Pennies for you, I expect. In return, your husband stays, and you both grow old together.
Such selflessness! Thank you for this delightful opportunity. Leave your number, Ill think about it and get in touch.
Dont take too longthe clocks ticking. Wouldnt want to miss my window.
Sophie scribbled her phone number, took her time, and left.
Ms. Atkinson, shall I send the cleaning staff in now?
Susan folded up the scrap of paper, tucking it in her handbag.
Yes, Im leaving. See you tomorrow, Angela.
Out in the car, Susan shook as she started the engine. What on earth had just happened? Who was Sophie? Had Colin truly gotten her pregnant?
At home, Susan carefully examined the note one more time. She needed a plan before Colin returned.
Love, Im home! Something smells amazing in here.
Come in to find out
Colin, rubbing his hands, walked into the kitchen. Susan sat in an armchair, legs crossed, staring at him hard.
Whats with that look, Susan? Youre scaring me
Colin, who is Sophie Bennett?
That? She works at a partner firm. Whats this about?
She claims to be pregnant with your child. Here, see for yourself.
Colin scanned the paper, eyes wide.
Thats impossible Ive never been with her. How is this even a question?
According to her, you owe her thirty thousand pounds to take care of the problem. Otherwise, youd leave me and settle down with her.
I have no idea whats gotten into her! Susan, I swear on my old cricket cap, I havent done anything. Its madness.
Thats what I thought too. Not that youre a saint, but I read people well, and shes clearly scheming for your money.
Put me through any testlies or otherwiseI can prove Ive got nothing to fear! Shes just making it up. Youre the only one for me, love.
I believe you. Lets have dinner.
The following day, Susan called Sophie and asked her to come back in. Sophie arrived half an hour later.
Heres the thing, Sophie. Colin isnt the father. I trust him. Enough with your gamesyou can do as you see fit.
You’re odd, you know that? Why would you so blindly trust him? Take a proper look at yourself in the mirror next timeits not as though youre getting any younger. Youre forty now, and therell always be younger, prettier women.
Anything else?
Yes. Ill make you a new offer: buy the child. Run whatever tests you likeColins the father. Im absolutely sure.
But you just said nothing happened with you and him. How does that work?
Ill be honest. About a month ago, we had a company do in the city. I found out, through mutual friends, that Colin was married to a rich woman who wanted kids desperately, but couldn’t have themnot naturally or with a surrogate. I saw an opportunity.
I tried to seduce him, but he wouldn’t even look at me. Im not used to thatmen usually flock to me. Young, fit, attractive. So I took another approach. My sister, a chemist, gave me something that dulls memories and awareness. I slipped the powder into Colins drink.
He was totally out of itI took him home and, well, made sure I was ovulating. Thats how I know hes the father. He remembers nothing. Ive got video, too.
Sophie handed her phone to Susan and pressed play. Colin, naked, lay on a bed, eyes glazed, totally oblivious to being filmed.
Getting an abortions no big deal for mesturdy as a horse. I do love money, especially easy money. I doubt youd run to the police with your reputation at stake. I expected you to accept my terms, but since you haventIll carry the baby to term and give it to you. Ill eat well, go to my appointments, do things right. Thirty thousand pounds, and hes yours.
Susan felt sick.
You belong in prison for this, youre a scammer!
We all do what we must. I owe a fortune. The sugar daddy died suddenly, and here we are.
Dont rush, Susan. Ill call you in three days.
Sophie left. Susan gulped a glass of water, head throbbing. What a nightmare.
That evening, she told Colin everything. He was furious.
I was set up Ill sue her!
Colin, things like this happen nowadays. Lets think it through. I read that after seven weeks doctors can test DNA from the mother while shes still pregnant. First, lets make sure he really is your child.
The truth is, we both dreamed of having our own. We ruled out adoption. Now lookmaybe, just maybe, fate has given us a strange route to happiness. Did you ever think of that?
Dont go singing her praisesshes a con! Let her get her abortion and leave us in peace. Pay her? Over my dead body!
Colin stormed out, fuming.
Susan drifted back to a decade ago
She and Colin had met at universitylove at first sight. They married and rented a tiny flat, striving together. After graduation, Susans uncle helped her start a business, loaning her the capital. Her career flourished; she repaid her uncle and then some, Colin opened a small shop, and life seemed perfectexcept for their inability to have children.
Once, walking home from dinner, they were attacked by drunken louts, one came at Colin with a knife. Susan shielded her husband and was stabbed. Days in hospital, emergency surgeryand the devastating news: shed lost her womb and ovaries. She could never become a mum.
Colin never left her side, shared every sorrow, wishing hed taken the wound himself.
Sometimes Susan would drop into church, light a candle, pray for loved ones, often quietly helping the poor. One time, she gave a coin to an old lady at the church door.
Thank you, sweetheart, I see grief eats away at you. Dont lose heart.
My lifes fine, Nan, its just that Ill never have children. Thats hard.
Ah, I understand too well. But a child will come your way, in the most unexpected way
Susan had just shrugged it off. What could an old woman know?
She threw herself into work, her marriage stronger than ever. Until now
Susan convinced Colin to do the DNA test, as did Sophie at nine weeks along. The result was conclusive. Colin was the father.
So, believe me now? Ready to pay up for your child? Sophie sneered.
Listen. We could hire a woman to carry Colins child for far less, not that we ever planned to. But since things have turned out this way, well take the child and pay you fifteen thousand pounds. Well do it by the book, legal and proper.
I said thirty thousand! Why haggle?
Were in charge now. Take our offeror walk away with nothing. Be glad were not calling the police.
***
Colin, its arranged. Were finally going to have a baby.
Susan, I wish it hadnt come to this and were paying her, too.
Maybe fate handed us a gift in disguise. We should accept it.
Throughout the pregnancy, Sophie went to every checkup, followed every instruction. In due time, a strong, healthy boy was born.
Sophie waived her rights, and Colin, as the birth father, took his son home. The paperwork was finished. Sophie vanished with the money. Friends were told a surrogate mother had carried the child for them.
Thank you for giving birth to my husbands child said Susan quietly.
Baby Alexander moved into their home.
Colin, look how much he looks like you
Really? I dont know much about babies But yes, seems another handsome chap like his dad.
Remember that old lady by the church? She told me a child would come in a surprising wayand she was right.
Colin and Susan gazed at their son in awe. Whatever the future held, this moment was golden.
Life often grants our wishes in the strangest of ways
***
A few months later, Susan saw on the news that Sophie had been found dead in her flat, the circumstances under investigation. Shed gone too far, that girlAs the months passed, baby Alexanders laughter filled the house, echoing in the once-silent rooms. Susan and Colin learnedawkwardly at firsthow to change nappies, prepare bottles, and trade sleepless nights for sleepy, joyful mornings. They marveled at his tiny fingers, his big dark eyes, the way his lips curled into a smile that seemed to carry echoes of both their spirits.
One quiet afternoon, Susan sat beside Alexanders cot, watching him drift into peaceful slumber. She reached for her bag, found the old scrap of paper with Sophies name and numberfaded writing, time worn away. She hesitated, remembering every twist of fate that had brought them here. Carefully, she struck a match, and let the paper burn to ash in an empty teacup. The past, she decided, had done its work.
That Sunday, Susan returned to the church where shed once confided in the old woman. Carrying Alexander bundled in a blue blanket, she knelt and lit a candle with trembling hands. All around, sunlight streamed through stained glass, painting the pews in gentle color.
Thank you, she whispered, her voice tremblinggrateful, in spite of everything, for the strange, winding road that led her to this moment. No gift ever comes easily. But hes ours now.
A gentle hand touched her shoulder. She turnedand for a split second, thought she glimpsed the old woman in the shadows, smiling knowingly. Then, just as quickly, she was gone.
On the way home, Susan glanced at Colin, who drove in silence, Alexander gurgling in the back seat. She took his hand, squeezed it tight. Through tears and betrayal, hope and unexpected mercy, they had forged a new beginninga family, at last, born of pain but alive with love.
And as dusk settled over their home, Susan leaned over the sleeping baby, pressing her lips to his forehead. Welcome home, my heart, she whispered, and in the stillness that followed, joy found its place.
