The Baby Issue. Jennifer Taylor

      ‘Jo always wanted a family, you see. She used to say that she’d been born into the wrong era because she wasn’t interested in having a career. All she ever longed for was a child to love and care for.’

      ‘Did she have problems conceiving because of her cancer?’ Ben asked quietly when she paused.

      Anna nodded. ‘Yes. She couldn’t understand it at first. She and Mike decided to try for a baby as soon as they got married but it just didn’t happen. In the end, Jo went for tests and that was when they discovered that she had endometrial cancer.’ Her hands clenched around the cup as she recalled that painful time.

      ‘So what happened?’ he prompted, still in that same quiet tone that somehow seemed to make it easier to continue.

      ‘She was told that she would need a total hysterectomy, and have her Fallopian tubes and ovaries removed as well. At that point the doctors weren’t sure how far the cancer had spread but they were hopeful that they would be able to contain it.

      ‘Jo was devastated when she found out. I think she was more upset because she would no longer be able to have children than because she had cancer. That was when I decided that I had to help her.’ She faltered as she reached the really difficult bit in the story.

      ‘What exactly are you saying, Anna?’ He laid his hand on the table, palm up, and it seemed to her that she had never heard such gentleness in anyone’s voice before. ‘Tell me.’

      She took a deep breath then slowly unclenched her hand and placed it in his, feeling the ripple that ran through her when she felt his fingers closing around hers. ‘That I offered to have a baby for her.’