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

some mad attempt to keep things normal or to consider her feelings at this stressful time, had gone ahead and made an appointment with a specialist today to discuss IVF. She’d questioned why it couldn’t wait. It was a crazy time for them right now, but he’d been insistent. So here they were, apparently eager to get things moving along. Fourteen months ago they’d gone through initial tests, the results of which had revealed no specific reason for their inability to have a baby. But Andrew’s determination to move forwards, today of all days, with everything they had coming to them over the next few months, was making Gemma feel pressured, fearful of whether they were in the right headspace for this.
    ‘Andrew, can we afford this?’ Gemma clutched a pile of leaflets to her chest – everything from fertility and egg collection to ovulation cycles and embryo transfers – as they left Doctor Baxter’s office. Money was always a worry and would continue to be if the business slowed over the next few months with most of their time assigned to a hospital schedule until Andrew was back to himself again. The doctor had given them estimates of the costs involved with IVF, so they weren’t surprised, but although Medicare would cover some of it, Gemma already knew the out-of-pocket costs were going to be astronomical.
    Andrew hugged his wife close as they reached the little school at the top of the hill. ‘We want a family, of course we can afford it.’
    ‘But we’ve spent so much money setting up the shop. And I’ll have to turn down any more workshop bookings while you’re in hospital.’
    ‘Try not to worry,’ Andrew assured her. ‘Everything will work out, you’ll see.’ He kissed her goodbye before she disappeared into the school and he set off down the hill to the chocolaterie.
    *
    At lunchtime, after her stint on playground duty, Gemma went to the staffroom. She ate her sandwich and fruit and then put the kettle on to boil for a well-earned cup of tea.
    ‘How’s Ellie?’ It was Bridget, principal of Magnolia Creek Primary and someone who was already becoming a friend.
    ‘She’s doing well. She’s a lovely girl and I think with some dedicated time she’ll soon settle in.’ She dropped a teabag into her cup.
    Ellie was an eight-year-old with a heart of gold but with learning difficulties, which meant she’d fallen further and further behind her peers. She had mild autism, which hadn’t been picked up until she’d started school, and Gemma was determined her light would shine as brightly as any other child’s in the class. Kids weren’t moulded like the chocolates at the shop, they weren’t labelled with standard ingredients. Kids came in all different shapes and sizes, so did their minds and their personalities, their quirks.
    Bridget found a cup and a teabag, and Gemma poured the water for both of them.
    ‘I can see she’s blossoming with you,’ said Bridget.
    Ellie hadn’t had the easiest of times. She’d been in and out of foster care for the first couple of years of her life and was eventually adopted when she was four years old. The child needed stability, and Gemma would do her utmost to at least give it to her in the school environment.
    ‘Your qualifications jumped out at me the first time I saw your résumé, Gemma.’ Bridget sat down on the sofa beside her. ‘We’ve needed someone like you on the team for a while.’
    Gemma beamed. ‘I’m so happy to be here.’ She’d always wanted to be a teacher, and her high school work experience at a primary school had eventually led to studying a Bachelor of Education (Special Education).
    ‘So tell me, how’s the chocolaterie going?’ Bridget sipped her tea. ‘You and your husband are like angels sent from heaven … you with your teaching skills, him with the heavenly chocolate.’
    ‘You’ll start drooling in a minute.’
    ‘I can’t help it. Bella’s café was bad enough, and those scones she makes are to die for, but a