Samantha shut down her computer and began gathering her things to leave.
Mrs. Walsh, theres a young woman here asking to see you. She says its a private matter.
Let her in, Ill see her.
A petite, curly-haired woman entered the office, her short skirt making her look even younger.
Good afternoon. My names Summer. I want to offer you a deal.
Hello, Summer. That sounds intriguing. We dont know each other, though
Not personally, no. But I do know your husband, Colin. Here.
She tossed a piece of paper onto Samanthas desk. Samantha picked it up and started to read.
Summer Atkinson, pregnancy confirmed, 5-6 weeks.
What is this? I dont understand Why show me this?
Theres nothing to misunderstand. Im pregnant by your husband.
Samantha stared at her in disbelief. What on earth was this?
And what is it you expect from me? Congratulations?
Hardly. I want money. If your husband means anything to you…
Money? For what, exactly?
In exchange for three hundred thousand pounds, Ill have an abortion and vanish from Colins life. He doesnt know about the pregnancy yetI came to you first. If you refuse, hell leave you for me, since you cant have children. I know all about your situation. So, what do you say?
Samantha struggled to process it all, her mind racing.
And how much is your secret worth?
Just three hundred thousand pounds. A trifle for someone like you. In return, you get your husband and a peaceful old age together
How generous of you! Thanks ever so much for such an opportunity. Very well, Summer. Leave me your number, Ill think it over and get in touch.
Dont take too long. Times ticking, I need to have the procedure done before its too late
Summer scribbled her number onto a slip of paper and sauntered out of the office.
Mrs. Walsh, are you heading out? The cleaning lady is waiting
Samantha folded the paper twice and slotted it into her bag.
Yes, Im off. Goodnight, Angela!
Samantha left the office and slipped into her car. What was that? Who on earth is this Summer? Could Colin really have fathered her child?
At home, Samantha studied the slip again carefully. Shed have to think this throughthe moment of Colins return was approaching.
Darling, Im home! Whats that wonderful aroma?
Come through and find out
Colin entered the kitchen, rubbing his hands together. Samantha sat in an armchair, legs crossed, her gaze fixed directly on him.
What? Why are you looking at me like that? Youre scaring me
Colin, who is Summer Atkinson?
Shes a colleague from a partner company. Why?
She claims to be pregnant by you. Here, read this.
Colin took the paper, eyes wide, scanning its contents.
Thats impossible Theres never been anything between us. I honestly dont understand
So you say. Shes blackmailing methree hundred thousand pounds, or you leave me for her. Thats her threat.
I truly dont get it Why on earth would she claim that? Sam, I swear on my mothers grave, I know nothing about this Its utter madness.
So I decided. Its not as though I think youre a saint But I trust my instincts. She reeks of a liar out for easy cash.
Ill do whatever checks you want. Ive nothing to hide, I promise you. Silly girls delusions! Youre the only one for me, love
All right, I believe you. Lets have dinner.
The next day, Samantha dialled the number Summer had left and invited her to the office. Summer showed up within half an hour.
Heres how it is, Summer. Colin isnt the father, I trust him. You failed to make a quick buck. Go ahead and have your abortion.
Youre strange Why do you trust him so much? Dont you ever look in the mirror? Youre forty, you know, no matter how great you look, theres always someone younger and prettier.
Anything else?
Actually, yes. Ill offer you the chance to buy this child. Have any test you wishColins the father, no question.
Yet, nothing happened with him? How is that possible?
Fine, Ill tell you the truth. About six weeks ago, we had a corporate do, where I met Colin.
A mutual acquaintance told me Colins married to a wealthy woman who cant have children, even with a surrogate. Naturally, I figured hed want a child of his own. Perfect target for cash. I tried to seduce him, but he wasnt interested in me. That cut deepmen usually fall at my feet.
Young, stunning, with all the right curves. So, I went another route. My sisters a chemist. She gave me a special powder: it makes people lose their memory, puts them out of it.
I mixed it into Colins drinkI carry it everywhere, just in case. Then I led him home with me. He didnt resist, didnt even know what he was doing.
Luckily, I was ovulating, and now, here I am, pregnant. Colin remembers nothing. Yes, its all possible. Ive even got video.
Summer placed her phone in front of Samantha and played a clip. Colin, naked, vacant-eyed, lay on a bed, utterly unresponsive to the camera.
Getting an abortion is easy, Im fit as a fiddle. But I love money, especially easy money. I doubt youll call the police, really, not with your jobyou dont want the scandal.
I thought youd jump at my offer, but no. So fine, Ill carry this child to term and you can have him. Ill attend all my check-ups, eat properly, everything. Three hundred grand and the babys yours.
Samantha was dumbfounded at the horror of what she was hearing.
Summer, you belong in prison. Youre a fraudster!
Needs must! Ive massive debts, so I do what I have to. I had a rich sponsor, but he died. So, here I am.
Dont rush, Mrs. Walsh, think it through. Ill call you in three days.
Summer walked out. Samantha gulped water, her head pounding. What a mess…
That evening, she told Colin everything. He looked as shocked as she was.
She used me Ill have her prosecuted
Colin, stranger things happen every day. Lets look at it differently. I read online that after seven weeks, paternity DNA testing is possible from the mothers blood. Lets check if its your child. Also we both longed for our own baby, but it wasnt to be.
Adoption didnt feel right for us. And now, if its your childwell, hes already here. Perhaps conceived wrongly, yes, but maybe fates handed us a way to save ourselves and this baby from being unwanted. Did you ever think of that?
Oh, dont start praising that girl Its nonsense! Let her have an abortion and get lost! Were not paying for this!
Colin stormed out, furious.
Samantha drifted back in her mind to ten years before
She and Colin had studied at the same university. Love at first sightthey were inseparable.
They married, renting a flat together as they found their feet. After graduation, Samanthas career soared. Her uncle helped her launch her own company and lent her capital.
Business boomed; she repaid her uncle, and Colin soon opened his own shop. All seemed perfect, except for one thingno children.
One evening, after dinner at a restaurant, they strolled home through the balmy city night.
A gang of drunk young men attacked them. One lunged at Colin with a knife, and Samantha shielded him, taking the blow herself.
She spent days in hospital; the doctors saved her life, but she lost the ability to have childrenher womb and ovaries had to be removed.
It was a devastating blow. She would never become a mother.
Colin supported her through the ordeal, never letting her see his guilt. He wished he could have taken it on himself.
Sometimes she went to church, lighting candles for her loved ones, giving charity to strangers. Once, outside the church, she offered coins to an elderly lady.
Thank you, dear. Sadness fills you, I see, but dont despair, the old woman said.
My life is good, grandma, save for one thingIll never have a child…
I understand, I too never had children But you, you will have a childhell come to you in a most remarkable way
Samantha walked on, unsure how the woman could possibly know anything, but her words lingered.
Shed resigned herself to a childless fate, pouring herself into work. Her bond with Colin had only deepened.
And now, this…
Samantha convinced Colin to give a blood sample for a DNA test after nine weeks. Summer did as well. The test proved Colin was indeed the father.
So, you see I wasnt lying? Ready to pay up for your own child then? Summer said with a smirk.
Let me be clear. If we ever wanted a woman to have Colins child, we could easily find one for much less. We never planned to, but here we are. Well take the babyfor one hundred and fifty thousand pounds. Thats final. You get your moneywe get the child. Well put everything in writing.
I asked for three hundred, whats all this bargaining?
We hold the cards now. If you refuse, you get nothingnot a penny. Count yourself lucky were not pressing charges. We do have a conscience
Colin, Ive sorted it. Were going to have a child.
Sam, why? Were even paying her
Maybe fate just handed us a miracle, dont you see?
Throughout the pregnancy, Summer kept every appointment, followed instructions, and at term gave birth to a healthy baby boy.
She gave up her rights; Colin took his son home as his own, and all the paperwork was handled properly. Summer disappeared, her share of the money pocketed. The world was told the baby was born via surrogacy.
Thank you for giving birth to my husbands child, Samantha said, parting ways.
Little Archie settled into Samantha and Colins home.
Look, Colinhe already has your eyes
Do you think? I never know with babies, butmaybe he does, the little charmer…
Remember that old woman outside the church I told you about? She predicted this, you know This little boy arrived in a most unexpected way.
Colin and Samantha gazed at their son, hearts full. They had no idea what the future would bring, but for now, they were happy.
Sometimes, the universe answers our prayers in the strangest ways
***
Months later, Samantha saw on the news that Summer Atkinson had been found dead in her flat. The circumstances were mysterious. She had gone too far, that girlSamantha read the headline twice, her heart stuttering. Summers name, her photo, splashed across the screena life that had burned briefly, chaotically, and was now suddenly extinct. The news speculated: overdose? foul play? There were no answers, only questions trailing into silence.
She closed her laptop and stood, creeping down the hallway to Archies nursery. The hush in the room was broken only by the babys soft breaths. Samantha knelt and touched his tiny hand, marveling again at the miracle fortunehowever strange, however fraughtthat lay bundled before her.
She remembered Summers glittering, defiant eyes, the sharp edge of her desperation, andunderneath it alla flicker of hope that her life, too, could turn out differently. A sad tenderness bloomed inside Samantha. Peoples lives collided, chaos unfolded, and yet here she was: holding the future in her arms.
Colins arms slid around her shoulders. They watched Archie sleep. In that warmth and quiet, the bitterness and grief that had shadowed their years began to fade.
Outside the nursery window, the city shimmered, restless and infinite. Somewhere, church bells chimeda faint, distant promise. Samantha squeezed Colins hand and whispered, No matter how he arrived, hes ours. Well give him all the love in the world.
They stood together in the half-light, not looking backready, at last, to begin again.
