enough to get you started. You can’t expect Jake to take care of you and a baby that’s not his. It’s unfair.”
“No, Ana, I can’t do that. I know how hard you have been saving and I could never do that to you. I can find a way. I always do. I promise I will speak to the father and take it from there. I swear. I’m not taking your money, Ana, no way. I’ve done enough damage to you as it is and I regret that. What I said to you on your birthday was shameful and I’m sorry, I truly mean that.”
As much as I hate her for everything she has done, I’m glad I came here and told her how I have been feeling all these years. I’m pleased that she has finally seen sense and told me the truth. I feel I have some closure now and it’s time I moved on from this and stopped dwelling in the past.
“I have to get back to work. You have my number so I want you to be able to let me know how you get on please.” I look on imploring her to make the right decisions. Not just for her, but for the innocent life she now carries. She nods her head.
“I want you to promise me something. Something really important.” She takes my hand and this time I let her.
“What is it?”
I take a deep breath. “I want you to promise to give this baby the best mother it could possibly have. I want you to love and cherish him or her and put them first no matter what.” The tears flow from her now and she quickly nods again.
“When did you grow up and become such a wise , beautiful young woman, Ana? I know I did wrong with you but I’m proud of the way you turned out, I really am. I promise I will try my hardest to be the best mum I can be. I’ve grown quite a bit in the last few years. I hope I can do right by this child and remedy all the bad things I have done in the past. I do so want to be a good mum.”
Satisfied that she’s telling the truth I get up , and she rises with me. She takes me in for a hug and I accept it.
I feel at peace with what has been said and I’m glad it is all out in the open. I don’t know whether I will see Stella again , but I certainly won’t abandon her when she needs it the most. At the end of the day she is my aunt and she now carries my cousin.
I pull out of her embrace and we look at each other for a few moments. She squeezes my hand , before I let go and walk away.
Chapter 9
My head is spinning by the time I get back to work. I check my phone as I left it in the car in my haste to speak with my mum. It suddenly feels weird calling her that now after everything, but it is all I’ve ever known up until an hour ago.
There seems to have been a panic as both Jessie and Jak e have been calling me on a regular basis. My stomach is in knots at the thought of seeing Jake now after the news I have been faced with.
I take a few calming breaths and I head back to the office.
It is coming towards the end of lunchtime now, so it’s relatively quiet. Jessie spots me straight away and drags me to the coffee room.
“ Ana, shit where have you been? I’ve been worried sick about you. Are you okay? I know what’s going on.”
I look at her in shock. How could she possibly know what’s happening? She sees the questioning in my eyes so continues.
“When you just ran off like that, Jake came over to see if I knew anything, which of course I didn’t. He saw your computer screen and had a look at what it said. It was only when I saw the look of horror on his face that I turned to see what he was looking at. He stormed off at that point and I suspect you have a million missed calls both from him and from me.”
Well, thinking about it now that’s one less thing I need to tell Jake.
“It’s true, what you saw. Listen, I’ll tell you everything, but right now I need to see Jake. I must speak with him about this.” I take her arm and she nods letting me
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