“I see. When did you decide it was wrong?”

She looked away, saying in an undertone, “When you first proposed it.” Then, more staunchly, she said, “I was against it from the beginning. I consented to it only because I love you and wanted to give you anything you asked of me. But I can’t do this. I won’t.”

“I thought you wanted a child as much as I do.”

“That hasn’t changed,” she exclaimed. “I do want a baby. I want that for us. Very much. But we have options. I can be artificially inseminated using an anonymous sperm donor.”

“You know how I feel about that.”

She hesitated, then said, “All right. I’ll make that concession. Since Griff Burkett is already in our confidence, we can use his semen. He suggested that at our first meeting with him, remember? That way he wouldn’t lose out on his money. We’d take his specimens to the doctor’s office and claim they were yours. No one would know the difference.”

“I’d rather not resort to that method.”

“I don’t see it as resorting.”

“I do. And, anyway, isn’t it too soon to go to plan B? It’s only been three cycles.”

“I know how many it’s been,” she said curtly. “But even if it was only one, I’m not doing it again.”

“Is it Burkett you find objectionable? Does he treat you badly?”

“No.”

“Rudely, roughly?”

“No.”

“Because if he does-”

“He doesn’t.”

“Okay.” He let that lie without further comment, giving her time to collect herself.

She took a deep breath and let it out slowly. “My decision has nothing to do with him. This is about me. And the whole idea of it.”

“We discussed the idea for months, Laura. We went over every aspect of it, time and again.”

“I’m aware of that.”

“And you agreed.”

“Yes. But talking about it in the abstract and actually…” Suddenly she drew herself up to her full height. “I shouldn’t have to justify the way I feel. Or try to explain it. I don’t want to do it,” she said with emphasis. “That should be the end of it.”

He let several moments elapse, then said, “This surprises me. It’s not like you to leave a job unfinished.”

“True.”

“You’ve never walked away from a commitment.”

“No, and I didn’t plan to break this one. I thought I could approach it like any other challenge. But I can’t.”

“I didn’t think it would cause you this much emotional distress.”

“Well, it does.”

“Perhaps you’re taking it too personally.”

She looked at him aghast. “I’m your wife. I’m having sexual intercourse with another man. How in God’s name can it not be personal?”

“You’re becoming hysterical, Laura.” He cast a cautious glance toward his office door.

She hugged her elbows and turned her back on him. He rolled forward and back three times, then wheeled his chair away from his desk and moved up behind her. He reached out and placed his hands on either side of her waist. She flinched and tried to move away, but he held her firmly. “I miscalculated. I didn’t think it would offend your sense of right and wrong.”

“I hate disappointing you, Foster. I know how much this means to you. But there’s a moral ambiguity that I cannot get past.”

“I honor your feelings, of course. As well as your decision.”

She expelled a soft breath. “Thank you.”

He applied enough pressure to turn her around to face him. “You’ve been morose for weeks. I haven’t remarked on it, but I’ve noticed.”

“I admit I haven’t been myself. This has been weighing heavily on my mind. It was distracting me from work. Worse, it was creating a barrier between us. Knowing it would be a disappointment, I put off telling you, but had to before it was time to meet Burkett again. The dread of telling you has been nerve-racking. I’m glad to have this conversation behind us.” She gave him a tremulous smile, then leaned down and kissed his lips.

When she pulled away, he said, “It’s been fifteen days since you were last with Burkett, correct?”

She nodded.

“Then this discussion may have been for nothing,” he said with a bright smile. “You may be pregnant already.”

What if she’s pregnant?

It was the big what-if in Griff’s life now. Each morning he woke up wondering if this would be the day he’d get the congratulatory call.

Of course, that was their goal, wasn’t it? A fertilized egg would be the answer to all their troubles. It would make the childless couple happy, and make him a millionaire for the rest of his life.

But if Laura had conceived, he would never see her again.

Which was no cause for celebration.

“Griff?”

He was startled to find Bolly standing elbow to elbow with him on the practice field sideline. The sportswriter was looking at him strangely.

“Sorry. I was-”

“A million miles away. I had to say your name three times. Were you asleep?”

Griff removed his sunglasses and blinked against the blistering sun. “In this heat? Hardly. I was concentrating on Jason. He’s showing some good hustle out there today.”

“Thanks to you.”

“No, he’s applying himself. Credit belongs to him.”

“The boy is obsessed with football. Worries his mom.”

“How come?”

“She’s afraid he’ll go whole hog and get hurt.”

“Moms are like that.” He supposed.

“She’d rather he play badminton.”

Griff winced and Bolly laughed. “My sentiments exactly. Say, listen, I just got a call. I’ve been granted an interview with that new goalie the Stars signed yesterday, but it’s a narrow window of opportunity before he flies home to Detroit. If I rush, I can catch him at DFW before his flight. I hate to pull Jason out of practice. Would you mind driving him home?”

“Of course not.”

“I wouldn’t ask, but my mother-in-law had to go to the podiatrist, and my wife volunteered to drive her, so-”

“Bolly, go. Should I stay with Jason till you get home?”

“No, just see him into the house, make sure he locks the door. He knows the rules of staying by himself.”

“Okay. No problem.”

Bolly looked toward the field and picked out his son, who barely had time to hand the ball off to a halfback before being slammed to the ground by a tackle. But he wasn’t down for long. He was back on his feet in time to see the halfback make a first down. He jumped straight up into the air, raised his fist, and whooped with joy.

Bolly, still watching, smiled, but then a worry line formed between his brows. “Griff, on second thought, maybe-”

“You can trust him with me, Bolly.”

Bolly turned back to him and held his gaze for several seconds while silently debating the advisability of asking for this favor. Then he nodded. “I appreciate it, Griff. Thanks.”

When practice was over, Jason jogged off the field toward Griff, who gave him a high five. “Great practice, QB. Especially that last offensive series.”

“Thanks.” The boy was red in the face, and sweat had plastered his hair to his head beneath his helmet, but he was basking in the praise.

Griff told him about Bolly’s unexpected errand. “Which leaves me your ride home today.”

“You mean it?”

“Don’t get excited. My car’s crap.”

On the way, Griff pulled into a Braum’s. “I could use a milk shake. How ’bout you?”

As long as they were there, they decided they might just as well have burgers and fries to go with their shakes. They were seated in a booth, talking amiably about Jason’s team and the strengths and weaknesses of various players, when Griff became aware of a trio of construction workers. He’d noticed them when they came in but had given them only a passing glance before returning his attention to Jason.

Now he realized that he’d been spotted and recognized. The workmen kept their voices low, but the looks they directed at him sizzled with hostility. Others began to notice. Griff could feel a dozen pairs of eyes fixed on him.

Jason, who’d been chatting nonstop, barely pausing long enough to fill his mouth with food, became aware of the charged atmosphere. His chatter slowed down and then stopped altogether. He looked toward the three men, then across at Griff, his eyes clouded with concern.