Chapter 26

She walked across the living room to the goldfish bowl and smiled at Rhett and Scarlet who were responding eagerly to her presence. She didn't have to hide anything from them. They gave her pleasure and made no demands...except for food. It cost her very little to supply that.

A baby would cost a great deal more, on many levels. But whatever the price she would pay it...somehow. She would never, never ask Collins for anything. She'd taken the gift of a child from him. He owed her nothing. But the child was not all hers. The big question was...how would he react to it?

Her phone rang, drawing her away from her thoughts. Any distraction from her thoughts was welcome. She didn't speculate on who might be calling. She simply reached for her bag and withdrew her phone. She paused when she looked at the caller ID and saw Collins name.

She waited two more rings before she could bring herself to pick the call. When he said her name, she held her breath. There was a mome