Page 10 of A Merry Little Christmas

‘Darling, whatever the results are,’ he said gently, ‘we can get through this together, you know.’

‘I know, and I love you.’ She felt her throat tighten with emotion as she returned to the waiting room, still with Olek on the line. She knew he meant what he said, but if the issue was on her side, as she predicted, she was going to be crushed with guilt. She didn’t think she’d be able to get past that, however much he tried to support her.

‘Mrs Dowmunt? Would you like to go through to the consulting room, please.’

‘Too late to cancel now, I’m being called through,’ said Nell. ‘I’ll only be able to get my results, but it’s better than nothing.’

There were advantages of being alone, she reasoned. At least this way, he wouldn’t see her crumble when the doctor delivered the news; she wouldn’t have to put on a brave face and pretend that she was coping.

‘Just an idea, but how about if I’m on the phone to you during the appointment?’ Olek offered. ‘I’m sure Dr Bajek won’t mind; it’s not as if she doesn’t know us.’

Nell smiled. ‘Good thinking, Batman. I knew I loved you for a reason. I’ll suggest it and call you back.’

The doctor stood to shake Nell’s hand and gestured for her to take one of the two velvet chairs on the other side of her white glossy desk.

‘I’m afraid my husband has been held up,’ said Nell, aware of the quaver in her voice.

This was it, the moment she’d been both desperate for and dreading in equal measure.

But at least you’ll know for sure, said a little voice inside her head. And then you can take action.

‘So it’s just me today.’

‘Ah,’ said the doctor, looking down at the folder in front of her. ‘That is regrettable.’

‘I thought you could give me my results first,’ Nell began, before outlining Olek’s suggestion to get him on a call so he could listen in.

‘You don’t want him to hear your results?’ the doctor queried.

Nell felt her face heat. ‘No. I mean, not no, I will tell him, obviously, but … It might be easier if I hear that by myself.’

Dr Bajek frowned and Nell worried that she was going to object.

‘Please put me out of my misery, doctor. It’s me, isn’t it? I’m the one with the fertility problem.’

Dr Bajek picked up a sheet of paper, scanned it and put it down again. Nell was so on edge that she thought her heart might burst out of her chest.

‘Your results show nothing abnormal. In fact, quite the contrary, you are in excellent health and there is absolutely nothing to indicate any fertility issues at all.’

Nell stared at the doctor, processing the words. She had not expected that. ‘Wow.’ She sat back in the chair. Nothing abnormal, nothing to indicate any fertility issues … So it wasn’t her. She was fine. Thank goodness. Thank goodness. She let out a shuddering sigh and covered her mouth, feeling light-headed with relief. ‘Really? Are you sure?’

The doctor nodded.

‘But, in that case, why am I not already pregnant?’

Dr Bajek looked at the notes. ‘It says here that you’ve only been trying since Easter. That’s not long at all. Why did you think that any issue would lie with you?’

Nell squirmed in her chair. ‘Confidentially, I’ve been trying for a year, and I assumed the problem must be with me because, as you know, Olek already has a sixteen-year-old son, Max.’

The doctor’s expression grew earnest, she looked down at her notes. For a split second, a look of something akin to anguish crossed the doctor’s face before she regained her mask of professionalism. ‘Hmm.’

So if the problem wasn’t her, then it had to be Olek. Nell’s chest tightened. ‘Shall I call him?’

The doctor sucked in a breath. ‘It’s highly irregular, but if he consents to me delivering his results by telephone in front of you, I suppose I can make an exception.’

Nell called his number on speakerphone, and he answered immediately. There was a lot of shouting and crying in the background.

‘Nell, it’s chaos here, let me move away from the others.’