The Mother's Promise(80)

“Is there anything I can do for you?” Kate asked.

Alice choked back a small sob that leapt out of nowhere. “Actually yes … I wanted to ask you a favor.”

“Anything.”

Alice swallowed. What on earth was wrong with her? “Could I … could I come over tomorrow?”

Kate didn’t hesitate, not even for a second. “What time?”

Alice got Kate’s address and made a plan to go over there the next day. After she hung up, she pulled herself together. It was just insurance, after all. Nothing more. Yet for some reason she cried until the world became as blurred as she felt inside.





61

The next afternoon Kate squinted at the figure standing in front of her house. She was bundled in a navy blue coat with a red scarf flapping in the breeze. Her hands were ungloved and clasped together, wringing. Kate raced down the stairs. The house was empty again, for now. David was back from Mexico, but their issues, unfortunately, had returned with him. They’d had a few talks, made a few inroads, but the baby dilemma hovered between them, threatening to ruin every pleasant dinner, every nice conversation. Now, it felt like he was gone more than he was home. And the kids were at Hilary’s this week, which made the house eerily quiet. There was only so much aloneness one person could take.

She opened the front door. “Alice?”

“Hello,” she said, but remained where she was. She looked thin, small. Her face was gaunt, and her head was covered in a red knitted hat.

“Would you like to come in?”

“Yes. Thank you.”

“Have a seat,” Kate said, once they were inside. Alice seemed strangely stiff and formal. Kate wondered what was going on. “Shall I make coffee? Or tea?”

“I’m fine.” Alice sat in the armchair.

Kate sat opposite. “How are you feeling?”

“Better for not having the chemo,” Alice said. “And worse, for not having chemo.”

“And how is Zoe?”

“She’s involved in her own life. She has a boyfriend, some friends. She’s probably doing better than she ever has.”

“That’s fantastic,” Kate said.

“But I’ve been thinking,” Alice continued. “About what would happen to Zoe … I mean, I have no intention of dying. But it seems the … prudent thing to plan.”

“I see,” Kate said slowly. “Well, yes, that makes sense.”

“Problem is, I don’t have a lot of options.”

“Zoe’s father definitely isn’t a possibility?” Kate asked.

“No.” Alice’s voice was firmer than Kate had ever heard it. At first Kate thought she was going to leave it at that, but then she sighed. “The truth is … how can I put this?… Zoe wasn’t conceived consensually.”

“Oh, Alice, wow.”

“It was the best thing to ever happen to me,” Alice continued quickly. “It gave me Zoe. But, no, Zoe’s father is definitely not an option.”

“Of course not,” Kate said.

They descended into silence again. And Kate had a sudden feeling that she and Alice had become a team. A team responsible for looking out for Zoe. Surprisingly, it was a team she very much wanted to be on.

“Well, how about your brother?” Kate said.

“Paul’s been pretty good these last few weeks. He’s come nearly every time I’ve needed him. But he’s not a potential parent for Zoe.” Alice dropped her gaze. “Kate … Zoe really likes you.”

Kate edged forward, trying to catch Alice’s eye. “I really like her too. She’s a wonderful girl.”

Alice’s face suddenly seemed to spasm. It took Kate a moment to realize she was trying not to cry. “Well, then I hope you’ll humor me when I ask if you’d consider … becoming her guardian. If something happens to me.”

For a moment, silence engulfed them. Kate felt something shift in the room.

“It’s just insurance,” Alice continued, lifting her head now. “I have no plans to die. But … Zoe feels comfortable with you. You understand her. Maybe even better than I do.”

“That’s not true,” Kate said.

“Maybe it is, maybe it isn’t. The fact remains, I think…” Alice swallowed. “I think she’d be happy with you.”

Kate hadn’t seen this coming. And still, somehow, the idea wasn’t shocking. But it wasn’t as simple as that. She imagined bringing this up with David. You know how you don’t want a baby, how about the teenager of one of my dying patients? Just what every troubled marriage needed.

“Oh, Alice, I … I am so touched that you asked me. And you know I adore Zoe. It would be a privilege but … honestly, I don’t know. I have to talk to David and—”

“I understand,” Alice said too quickly.

“I want to be clear,” Kate said. “I care about Zoe. I want Zoe to be all right more than anyone.”

“Not more than anyone,” Alice corrected. “But you’re a close second, and that’s why I hope you’ll take her.”





62

“David,” Kate said. “I have to talk to you about something.”