Before I could ask Ashton what pressing affairs he was attending to, he’d already gotten out of the car and shut the door behind him. I reclined in my seat, feeling the warmth of the radiator suffuse the car.
Memories of the baby and what had happened then crowded my mind, and Ashton’s business at the police department was set aside. After a while, I picked up my phone and dialed Cameron’s number.
She picked up almost immediately. “Scarlett, didn’t you say you were coming back soon? Why aren’t you back yet? Where are you? I’ll get your Dad to go over and pick you up,” she answered anxiously.
“There’s no need! I’m with Ashton. I don’t think I’ll be heading back tonight,” I replied.
Cameron grunted in acknowledgment, then asked, “Why did he suddenly come back? How are things going in Moranta? Zachary said that Boris was getting news about the Murphys and how difficult they were to handle. Why did Ashton come back at this crucial point in time?”
I sucked in a breath of warm air and felt it settle in my lungs before exhaling gently. I then said uneasily, “Hannah’s getting married. Ashton was worried that I wouldn’t be comfortable going alone and came along to accompany me. He was needlessly worried.”
“That’s good! I was thinking anyway that if you could come over a little later, I’d whip up a light supper for you. I can’t rest easy not knowing if you’ve been taking good care of yourself nowadays,” Cameron fretted.
There was no malice in Cameron’s tone, merely an infinite supply of concern and tenderness.
I knew what she was thinking and replied slowly, “Mom, did the doctor say whether I would still be able to conceive?”
Cameron was flabbergasted. She hesitated for a long while before saying, “My dear, Summer is doing fine now. She’ll recover with enough care. Mr. Fuller treats you well. When he’s back from Moranta, the three of you can be reunited as a family again and take care of each other…”
“Mom, did the doctor say I won’t be able to conceive ever again?” I repeated doggedly. I already knew what the answer was but had to hear it spoken out loud. My hope for a miracle had gradually faded along with each day that passed.
The other end of the line was dead silent for a long time. At last, Cameron said kindly, “Don’t worry too much about being able to have babies. Your womb was the only thing that was affected. With technology being so advanced these days, you can still opt for in vitro fertilization. Don’t let not being able to conceive get you down! Everything will be all right.”
In vitro fertilization?
A thought sprang to mind. I quickly said into the phone, “Mom, there’s something I have to do. I’ll be hanging up first!”
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