The Chocolatier's Secret (Magnolia Creek, Book 2) by Helen J. Rolfe Page B

age, I was saving for my first car.’
    Andrew grinned. ‘Me too.’
    Bella finished her hot chocolate and went on her way, and by the time Andrew returned downstairs to supervise the cleaning up of the party room, Gemma was back.
    ‘How’s Dad?’
    ‘He’s asleep again. I tried to get him to eat some crackers or some dry toast, but he’s off his food.’
    They stood aside as hyper kids left with their creations, party bags and huge smiles.
    ‘Do the parents realise how manic these kids’ll be this afternoon?’ He smiled.
    Gemma stood next to her husband and watched a little girl leave. ‘This is what I want.’
    Andrew looked at her. ‘Six rowdy kids buzzing on sugar and chocolate?’
    ‘I’m serious, Andrew. I keep telling myself it’ll be okay, if it never happens for us, it doesn’t matter.’ Tears filled her eyes. ‘But it does.’
    He could see the pain she was in and it killed him to know he’d soon be adding to it. But for now he wanted to give her what she wanted, to give her the world. ‘Why don’t we go and see the doctor, talk about IVF?’
    Gemma looked at him. ‘I wasn’t sure you’d want to go down that route.’
    ‘I think we should try.’ He smiled and pulled her hand into his, but the moment was broken when someone dropped their giant chocolate button and it smashed all over the floor. Gemma was straight to the little boy’s side. She hugged him and took out a packet of chocolate dinosaurs to give to him. He gasped with glee, the tears dried and he left the shop all smiles.
    If only Gemma’s heart could be mended as easily.
    *
    When Andrew arrived home after work, Louis was already in the kitchen.
    ‘How are you feeling?’ He rested his hand on his dad’s shoulder.
    ‘I slept for too long, son. But I’m hungry now.’
    ‘It’s a good sign.’ Andrew nodded over to Gemma, who was spooning out beef and barley stew from the pan on the stove.
    She put a bowl of stew in front of Louis. ‘While you’re up I’ll wash your sheets and whip the vacuum around,’ she told him.
    ‘She’s too good for you,’ Louis teased Andrew, tucking heartily into his stew. It was the most Andrew had seen him eat in ages. It was like watching a child, making sure they got their five a day, calcium to make them strong, enough water.
    Gemma left them to it.
    ‘Dad, this can’t go on,’ said Andrew as the back door shut behind his wife and she followed the path down to the annexe.
    Louis ignored him.
    ‘Dad.’
    ‘No, Andrew. I won’t let you do it. I won’t let them cut you open when you’re perfectly healthy. It’s asking for trouble. You’re young, you’re fit, you have a wife and a business. It’s too much.’
    Andrew went over to the stove and spooned out a bowl of stew for himself. He’d only had a small sandwich for lunch, and for this emotional battle he needed a lot more fuel.
    Sitting back at the table, he said simply, ‘You’ll die.’
    Louis slurped another spoonful. ‘We’ll all die, son.’
    ‘And you’ll leave me behind knowing I could’ve had another ten good years with you. More if we’re lucky.’
    Louis sighed. ‘It’s not an easy operation. You won’t be back at work for some time.’
    ‘Emilio and Stephanie are both capable, and Bella has said she’d help out. Secretly I think she’d love to, with the café still not up and running. And Gemma will put in the time when she can.’
    ‘Of course she will, but she shouldn’t have to.’ His eating slowed as he filled up quicker than Andrew. ‘Gemma needs you and you need her, and your marriage should be your focus, not me.’
    Andrew put down his spoon. ‘And we both need you. One day, we want to start a family and when we do, I want our lives to involve you, Grandpa Louis.’
    It was the first time he’d seen Louis’ eyes fill with tears since he’d been diagnosed with kidney disease. Up until now he’d taken everything in his stride.
    ‘Let me do this, Dad. Let me give you one of my kidneys.’