Page 42 of The Forsaken (Echoes from the Past #4)

THIRTY-FOUR

London, England

“What’s your plan for the day?” Gabe asked Quinn as he buttoned his shirt.

She was still in bed, having slept badly again. Her conversation with Sylvia played over and over in her mind, making her wish she could just archive it somehow. She wasn’t sorry about confronting Sylvia, but the whole episode had left her rattled.

“I have an antenatal yoga class this morning, and then I’ll stop by the BBC. I never did sign that contract.”

“When is our next antenatal appointment?” Gabe asked as he ran a hand through his damp hair. Their gazes met in the mirror, and he turned to face Quinn. “Why do you look so worried? What are you not telling me?”

“Nothing. I just have a bit of a headache and my ankles are swollen.”

Gabe didn’t reply. Instead, he disappeared into the bathroom and returned with the blood pressure monitor. “Give me your arm, then.”

Quinn reluctantly held out her arm. If it were up to Gabe, he’d take her blood pressure several times a day, but worrying about it all the time actually led to a spike. Quinn felt her best when not focusing on the preeclampsia and behaving as any other pregnant woman would.

“One twenty-eight over eighty,” Gabe announced as he removed the cuff. “Your blood pressure is elevated. ”

“Only just. And what do you expect after the past few days? Anyone’s blood pressure would be elevated,” Quinn replied defensively. “I’ll call the clinic and move up my appointment.”

“To tomorrow,” he said, watching her with a steely gaze.

“To tomorrow.”

“I’m ready, Daddy,” Emma called from the other room.

“So am I. Let’s go, love.”

Quinn lay back and closed her eyes but knew she wouldn’t be able to sleep. So she took a long shower and made herself a healthy breakfast before heading out to the yoga class.

She normally didn’t like yoga, but the antenatal class was different and made her feel more centered and relaxed.

She’d met several other pregnant women there who were always happy to go out for a cup of tea and a chat after class.

It was nice to talk to other expectant moms, since Quinn didn’t have any friends who had small children.

Quinn gladly accepted the invitation to tea after the class, especially since Alison would be coming along.

Alison was suffering from preeclampsia and had been diagnosed with it during her first pregnancy as well.

She was happy to answer any questions Quinn had, and assured her that as soon as the baby was born, the symptoms would disappear.

Alison was a week away from her due date and seemed to be feeling well, but her obstetrician had scheduled her for a cesarean.

“I would, of course, prefer a natural birth, but I’m not one for heroics,” Alison said as she sipped her Chamomile. “The only thing I care about is having a healthy baby. Everything else is secondary.”

“I admire your attitude,” Quinn said. “I think I would be really upset if I wasn’t given a choice.”

“Quinn, you of all people know how many women and children used to die in childbirth. I’m grateful there are ways to reduce the risk. I will take longer to heal after the birth and have a permanent scar, but I will walk out of that maternity ward alive, my baby in my arms. Nothing else matters.”

Quinn nodded and placed her hand over Alison’s. “Thank you, Alison. You are right. I didn’t think of it that way. I felt as if I failed somehow by allowing this condition to get the better of me.”

“Never think that. The only way you can fail is by not taking proper care of yourself. Promise you’ll come and see me once I’m back home from the hospital. I’d like us to keep in touch, Quinn.”

“I absolutely will, and I’m sure the little ones will enjoy their play dates as much as we will.”

By the time she left the tearoom and headed to Rhys’s office, she felt completely restored and was sure her blood pressure had levelled off.

Rhys was expecting her when she arrived. “Quinn, have a seat,” he said solicitously. “Would you like a cup of tea or some mineral water?”

“I’m all right, thanks,” Quinn replied as she looked over the contract.

“I need you to sign a release form as well,” Rhys announced. “Since the series finale deals with your own family, we need to have it on record that we have your permission.”

“Of course.”

“Quinn, I really am sorry,” Rhys said as he glanced over the forms and replaced them in a file folder. “I had no way of knowing…”

“I mean to find my sister, Rhys.”

“So is it true, then? Have you confronted Sylvia?”

“Yes, yesterday. Her reaction was all the answer I needed,” Quinn replied bitterly .

“Why? Why did she split you two up?”

“Sylvia said my sister had difficulty breathing, so she left her at the hospital, and took me to the cathedral.”

“Not the most sound decision, but given that she was only seventeen and had just given birth to twins, I don’t suppose she was feeling very pragmatic,” Rhys remarked.

“Rhys, I don’t blame her for that, but I do blame her for not telling me. We’ve known each other for almost a year now and she never thought to mention that I have a twin sister. Had I never run into Reverend Seaton, I would have gone through my entire life never knowing I have a twin.”

“Yes, that was unfair of her. What will you do?”

“I’ve decided I need to take a step back. I’ve asked Sylvia not to call me.”

“And the boys?”

“I don’t see why I can’t maintain a relationship with them. They are my brothers, after all, and they are grown men.”

Rhys nodded. Quinn could see there was something on his mind, and he appeared to be debating whether to share his thoughts with her. “Have you eaten?” he asked.

“Not since breakfast. I had a cup of tea after my yoga class, but I’m getting peckish.”

“Can I take you to lunch? I’m hungry, and I hate eating alone.”

“Don’t I know it.” Quinn chuckled. “Sure. I’d love to have lunch with you.”

“Any particular cravings?”

“Don’t laugh. ”

“Never.”

“Fish and chips,” Quinn confessed. “Gabe would have a coronary. He’s making sure I stay away from fried, salty foods.”

“Dictator,” Rhys said with a laugh.

“He’s worried about me,” she replied, suddenly feeling defensive on Gabe’s behalf. He was driving her mad, truth be told, but she understood his reasons and tried not to row with him about his overprotectiveness. He was motivated by love.

“You’re very lucky to have a man like Gabe. He’s one in a million.”

“That’s quite a compliment coming from you.”

“It’s the truth.”

Rhys waited until they were settled in the George with plates of food in front of them before broaching the subject he’d clearly been waiting to bring up since Quinn had walked into his office.

She knew him well enough at this point to be able to tell when something was weighing on his mind.

Rhys sprinkled some salt over his chips and bit one, chewing thoughtfully.

“Quinn, there’s something I’d like to discuss with you. ”

“I would never have guessed,” Quinn joked as she bravely moved the salt pot to the other side of the table to avoid temptation.

“It’s about Sylvia.”

“I’m shocked.”

“You’re laughing at me,” Rhys replied with a smile.

“Sorry. Please go on,” Quinn replied, contrite. At times, Rhys took himself too seriously, and she couldn’t help teasing him .

“As you know, Sylvia and I have been seeing each other for the past few months,” Rhys began.

“I…” His voice trailed off as he seemed to search for the right words to express his feelings.

Rhys was never at a loss, so this could only mean one of two things: Either he was in love and wanted to take things with Sylvia to the next level, or he wanted to break things off.

“I’m going to be a dad,” he suddenly finished, nearly making Quinn choke on her fish.

“Sylvia is pregnant?” Quinn gasped, stunned. She certainly hadn’t expected that. Sylvia was almost forty-eight. A natural pregnancy at her age was unlikely, though not unheard of.

“No, she isn’t,” Rhys replied. Quinn tried to hide her smile behind a napkin when she noticed Rhys’s girlish blush. “It’s not Sylvia. We actually never took things that far.”

“Ah. Being chaste, were you?”

“I wasn’t in any rush to jump in the sack. Given our history, I wanted to be sure a relationship with Sylvia was what I really wanted before going to the next step. I didn’t want to hurt her,” Rhys explained.

“I’m not judging you. Only you know how you feel.”

“When I first contacted Sylvia, I had unresolved feelings about what happened the night you were conceived. I wanted, in some small way, to atone for what she’d been through, and to get to know her as a human being. I like her; I genuinely do.”

“But you don’t love her,” Quinn supplied.

“No. It could never work between us. We are just two very different people who find ourselves at different stages in our lives. I enjoy Sylvia’s company. I like her boys, and I certainly like you, but I can’t see a future for us, not a romantic one.”

“So, who is the lucky lady?”

“Haley Madden. ”

“The Haley Madden who played Elise in the first episode of Echoes ?” Quinn asked, smiling. She recalled Rhys’s face when Haley had come into the room to audition. He’d sat up straighter, and his eyes had lit up as he watched her read. Quinn had known at that moment that Haley got the part.

“Haley and I didn’t get together until after the shooting finished.

It would have been unprofessional, and I had no wish to put her in an uncomfortable situation if she had no interest in going out with me.

She was seeing someone at the time of the shoot, but they’d broken up by the time the episode was completed,” Rhys explained.

“And now she’s pregnant.”

“I was shocked at first but, truthfully, I’m thrilled. I didn’t think I’d ever have children, but the thought of being a father makes me deliriously happy,” Rhys admitted.

“Is she as giddy as you are?” Quinn asked gently. She didn’t know Haley and couldn’t presume to know how she felt, but for a woman in her twenties at the start of her acting career, a baby might not fit into her plans.

“She’s really happy. She said that was one of the reasons her previous relationship broke up. She wanted to start a family while she was still young, but her boyfriend didn’t. I’m over the moon, Quinn. I really am.”

“Well, in that case, I’m really happy for you. Congratulations to you both.”

“I’ve asked Haley to move in with me, and she’s agreed.”

“Big step.”

“I know, but it just feels so right. I’ve always been a bit commitment shy. I like my space, and my freedom, but at this moment, I want nothing more than to have a family of my own. ”

“Well, I have a very important piece of advice for you, Rhys Morgan.”

“What’s that?”

“Don’t bake for her. Haley won’t thank you if she gains several stone.”

“I know. She already warned me about that. All baked goods are prohibited. I’ll have to find a new hobby.”

“I hear knitting is gaining popularity among the male population,” Quinn quipped.

“I was thinking of joining a gym, actually. I’ll need energy to run after a little one.”

“You certainly will,” Quinn agreed. “Have you told Sylvia?”

“Not yet. I haven’t thought of a way to break it to her gently.”

“Just be truthful with her. Nothing hurts more than someone trying to deceive you and playing you for a fool. Sylvia is a big girl; she’ll understand.”

“Do you really think so?” Rhys asked, looking hopeful.

“Like you said, you want different things. Sylvia’s already had her children, more children than either of us knew, and you are just starting out.”

“I hope it’s a girl,” Rhys said. His eyes were glowing with excitement and Quinn felt a wave of affection for him.

“But a boy would be grand too. My mum will be thrilled.” Rhys glanced at his watch.

“We’d better finish up. I have a meeting at two.

This has been lovely, Quinn.” He paid the bill and got up to leave. “Keep me in the loop, will you?”

“About? ”

“About your search for your sister. I’ll help in any way I can. Do you have any leads?”

“I have the name of the social worker.”

“That’s a start.”

“It is.”

Quinn said goodbye to Rhys and turned for home. She’d had her doubts before the conversation with Rhys, but now she was sure. She had to call Seth. He had a right to know that he had another daughter out there somewhere, and he had to hear it from Quinn.