Page 36 of Staking His Claim
“You’re mad,” she said.
Yet instead of flaring up in anger as she’d half expected at her accusation, he laughed, showing off dazzling white teeth. His mood had changed again.
“It’s day five today. Do you really think you’re going to allow yourself to find a family before Christmas if you carry on being this picky?”
It had nothing to do with “allowing” herself. He had that all wrong. When she saw the right couple...she would know deep in her heart that they were the ones. Ella was utterly certain of that.
“I’m not being unreasonably picky,” she argued. “I want the right family. I’m not going to rush this.”
Even as she spoke Ella could feel the tension starting to rewind tightly in her stomach. Time was of essence. No one understood that better than she did.
She had to find Holly a family.
A week from today would be day twelve, the day she could finally sign the consent to adoption. The sooner Holly could start to bond with her family, the better. Yevgeny was right—if she carried on picking apart every family she would only delay letting Holly go to a family who would love and cherish her.
But on the other hand...it was almost Christmas.
How could she push the baby away before Christmas? She paused.
Why not...
Before she could stop herself her mind traveled down the forbidden path. The anguish she’d expected didn’t come.
Yes, why not?
Ella came to a decision.
“I don’t have to find a family before Christmas. I’m going to wait until after Christmas. That way Holly can spend her first Christmas here.” Fearing the blaze of triumph she was certain Yevgeny’s face would reflect, her gaze flicked to the corner dominated by the giant tree with its merry flashing lights.
The red-and-silver balls gleamed warmly.
The right family would emerge after Christmas.
Once she’d taken down the Christmas tree that Yevgeny had helped her put up this evening...and finally said goodbye to the baby...she would have plenty of time to reflect—and come to terms with how her life had been unexpectedly changed. And perhaps she would even follow Jo’s advice and attend grief counseling.
For now she would take it one day at a time.
In the meantime, she’d take photos—make an album for the baby to take with her to her new life. That way Holly would one day be able to look back and see where her life had started.
And Ella would be satisfied that she’d done everything she could for the baby.
Because Yevgeny was right: she wasn’t the kind of woman who wanted to be a mother. She was enough like his own mother to terrify him.
She was determined to choose someone better for Holly.
Seven
Seated behind the desk in her office, a legal pad open in front of her, Ella gazed sympathetically at the young, heavily pregnant woman on the other side of the desk. When Peggy had arrived to start work early this morning, she’d discovered a pregnant, tearful Pauline Patterson waiting in the lobby for the law offices to open. Taking in Pauline’s red-rimmed eyes, Ella could see why her paralegal had been worried about the young woman and why Peggy had wasted no time in summoning Ella back to work.
“You’re certain divorce is the course of action you want to take?” she asked Pauline.
“I can’t afford a lawyer, but my sister said if I didn’t retain one my husband would take me to the cleaners.”
A few more questions elicited the fact that Pauline Patterson’s sister seemed to have a lot of opinions about the marriage—yet some of the problems that were plaguing the couple didn’t sound insurmountable to Ella. Especially given the sadness in Pauline’s eyes when she spoke of leaving her husband.
Carefully Ella asked, “Have you tried couples counseling?”
Pauline shook her head. “No. My sister said I needed a lawyer—to show Ian I meant business.”
Ella ignored the sister’s views and explained, “Through the courts you’re entitled to six free sessions. I strongly recommend that you try counseling first.” Ella couldn’t stop herself from glancing down at Pauline’s swollen stomach. “It’s a good idea to exhaust all alternatives first. Divorce is stressful for everyone...and it can be very final. Sometimes there is no going back.”
Fear flared in Pauline’s eyes. “I still love Ian. I don’t really want to get a divorce—I want to sort this out. My sister says this is the best way to get his attention.”
“He’s not listening to you?”
“His friends are more important to him than me or the baby.” There was a doleful note in the young woman’s voice. “I miss my mother—she’s back in England. Now that I’m pregnant, I need help.” Tears rolled down Pauline’s cheeks.