Anna stared through the windshield. "Thank you," I nodded. Then she said, "I wish things were different. " "So do I," she turned toward me. "If I could go back, I would tell you. " I looked at her. "Would you still do it? " She didn't answer.
That was enough. A week later, I received documents from Robert. Among them was a copy of the original surrogacy agreement. I read through it carefully. Then I saw the date.
Anna had signed the agreement nearly 6 weeks before she ever told me about the idea. 6 weeks. She had looked me in the eyes and told me she was still deciding. She had already signed. I called Robert immediately.
Does this change anything? It strengthens the timeline, he said. It shows this was planned long before she admitted it. I nodded. Use it.
That night, Anna found me in my office. Robert sent you something, didn't he? Yes. She closed her eyes. You know when I signed it?
Yes. I was scared. You still lied. I thought you'd stop me. I would have.
She looked at me. That's why I didn't tell you. There it was. The truth. Not confusion, not uncertainty.
She knew exactly what I would say. She simply decided my answer didn't matter. I stood up. Anna, I'm not going to punish you. She looked surprised.
But I'm not going to protect you from the consequences either. Her voice broke. Is there really nothing I can do? I shook my head. You already did it.
The divorce continued. And for the first time since this began, Anna understood that I wasn't trying to scare her into changing her mind. I had already changed mine. By the seventh month of Anna's pregnancy, the divorce was no longer a secret. Clare knew, Gregory knew, Margaret knew, and none of them could understand why I refused to stop it.
Clare called me one Sunday morning. You can't do this to Anna. I was standing in my kitchen. I'm not doing anything to her. You're divorcing her while she's carrying my baby.
That was her decision. She made a sacrifice for me. Then appreciate it. There was silence. Then Clare said, "You could still forgive her. " I could.
Hope entered her voice. But I won't. She hung up. A few days later, something happened that I hadn't expected. Anna called me from the hospital.
Her voice was shaking. Larry, I need you. I drove there immediately. She had experienced complications and the doctors wanted to monitor her overnight. When I arrived, Clare and Gregory were already there.
Clare was sitting beside Anna's bed. Gregory stood near the window. I walked inside. Anna looked relieved. You came?