Take a Chance on Me Read Online Free PDF Page A

slowing behind a large vehicle. Charlie waited not wishing to interrupt her friend.
    â€˜So I went to my GP and she said it was completely viable for me to have children. We tried but nothing happened. Every month it’s the same old story: I hope I’m going to be pregnant and then my period starts up like clockwork and I’m horribly disappointed. Sorry, I know this is difficult for you, which is why I’ve not brought it up before, but it’s really getting to me, Charlie.’
    Mercedes lifted moist eyes towards her friend. She had not wanted to hurt her by evoking memories of Amy. Charlie shook her head.
    â€˜It’s typical of you to consider my feelings before your own. Listen, there isn’t anything you can’t talk to me about. I care about you more than anyone else in my life. And, for what it’s worth, I think you and Ryan would make amazing parents. Nothing would make me happier,’ Charlie said.
    Mercedes dabbed at a runaway tear before continuing. ‘I want to have Ryan’s baby so much it hurts. It tears me up, and some days I can’t think about anything else. It’s hard enough being in that bloody wheelchair all the time and making an effort every sodding day, trying to stay positive. It’s a drag sometimes. A real drag and I can be a complete bitch when I’m feeling low. And this has just made it worse. Ryan’s been copping it big time recently and it isn’t his fault. It’s not his fault I’m not able to behave like a normal woman, that I can’t do normal things. You’ve seen me struggling to haul myself off the damn thing just to go to the loo. It’s just too much some days. And now, I can’t even get pregnant. I can’t have the one thing I want more than anything else in the world: a baby. I’m such a failure.’
    Mercedes sniffed as angry tears threatened her vision.
    Charlie was lost for words.
    After a few more minutes of listening to sniffing, Charlie asked, ‘Do you want to pull in at the service station for a while and chat about it?’
    Mercedes nodded. They drove the remaining mile in silence. As they pulled into a space, Mercedes dropped her head in to her arms and cried. Charlie put her arm around her and stroked her hair, soothing her as she used to soothe Amy when she was upset. Eventually, a red-eyed Mercedes lifted her face.
    â€˜Sorry, Charlie.’
    â€˜Shh! You have nothing to be sorry for. You’ve carried this frustration around for too long and it’s built up inside you. You need to let it out. Let’s get one thing straight, though. You are not a failure. I don’t need to tell you how untrue that is. As for having a baby, well, lots of people struggle. We live in a society where it’s just assumed you try for a baby and you conceive. That isn’t the case. There are hundreds of thousands of ordinary women who find it difficult or impossible to fall pregnant. In your case, I doubt it’s to do with your disability. As you said, there’re examples on the internet of women like you who have had children. The consultant will help you understand what’s going on and give you the advice you need.’
    â€˜I’m so scared he’s going to say that there’s some complication and I can’t have children. Ryan deserves better. He loves children. He’d be such a great father and I feel like I’m such a flipping burden at the best of times. Christ! He’s got a wife who’s stuck in a wheelchair and now it looks like she can’t even give him a child. He shouldn’t have married me.’
    â€˜Now you’re being silly. Ryan adores you. He loved you from the moment he met you and he sees way beyond a wheelchair. He’ll stick by you whatever the outcome. And if it is bad news, there are other ways of having children. You could even consider adoption.’
    Mercedes blew her nose noisily into a tissue and nodded