“Tina Seabrook, will you marry me?”

Tina looked up from her meal in the restaurant, her eyes full of shock and surprise. She moved closer to Sean and felt the same smile that he was wearing, creep over her own face. She kissed him, deeply and passionately then pulled away, flooded with emotion.

“Yes.”

* * *

“Hey Charlie, you seen Tina?” Sean asked the senior nurse as he walked to the waiting area to pick up his next patient.

“Yeah, she’s in the staff room. It was quiet so I gave her a break.”

Sean smiled as he walked away. They had both considered calling in sick today but for some reason, which Sean was having a hard time remembering now, they hadn’t. Goodness knows why they would rather be stuck here than still be in bed together.

He stopped when he got to the door and opened it quietly so as not to wake her. She looked so beautiful curled up asleep and he couldn’t help smiling. He was happier now than he had ever been before. He stepped through the door and walked over to where she lay.

‘This is the woman I’m going to be spending the rest of my life with’ he thought and bent down and kissed her lightly on the cheek.

“Good morning, Mrs. Maddox” he said, smiling and she opened her eyes and regarded him. She sat up and kissed him tenderly on the lips then stood up and went over to the mirror to sort out her hair.

Sean followed her and slid his arms around her waist. It took all of Tina’s self control for her not to give in and say ‘to hell with work.’

“What, did I wear you out last night?” Sean asked his fiancé with a cheeky grin, responding to her yawn. “I wan to tell people” he continued, “now, I mean.”

Tina turned around and looked at him with a confused expression on her face. “Relax” she told him, “we have all the time in the world.”

“Yeah” he said, pulling her closer, “but I want to tell everyone now.”

He grabbed her hand and pulled her out the door towards reception, despite her protests and shut the door behind them.

* * *

“Hey everyone, excuse me.” Sean dragged Tina to the admin area where most of the staff were on a break while it was quiet. “Attention please.”

“Who put you in charge?” Patrick groaned and stalked off.

Sean rolled his eyes at his registrar but wasn’t put off from sharing their news with his colleagues.

“Anyway” he continued to the rest of the staff who were still listening intently, “We would like to make an announcement. Tina, would you?” He smiled at her encouragingly, sensing her discomfort but determined to do this now.

Tina flinched, noticing Max standing at the back of the crowd with a solemn look on his face. She shook herself out of her guilt trip and forced a smile. She was extremely happy but she wished she had a bit more time.

She looked at Sean then turned back to her co-workers.

“We’re engaged.”

* * *

“Max!” Tina called down the corridor to the doctor, who was doing his best to look occupied, to avoid talking to her. She caught up to him. “Max, I’m sorry. I wish I could’ve talked to you first. But Sean was so eager to tell everyone and I couldn’t say no...”

Max lifted his head up and placed both hands gently on her shoulders, interrupting her. “Tina, It’s fine. I’m happy for you, really.”

Tina could sense the doubt in his voice. She didn’t want to say anything though, for fear of making the situation worse.

“Congratulations” he told her and kissed her forehead. She just gave him a weak smile and watched him walk away.

* * *

Tina unlocked the door to her empty flat and hung her coat on the hook. She switched on the light, going into the kitchen and rummaging around in the freezer for something to eat. She bunged a ‘Marks & Spencer’s’ ready meal in the microwave and slumped onto the sofa in the living room.

This was her last week in this flat before she moved in with Sean, who was still at work. She was staying until the end of the month then she was going to be with the man she loved and they were starting a new life together. ‘And I’ve paid rent ‘till the end of the month’ she thought, ‘might as well live here until then.’

She picked up the TV remote off of the small stack of boxes beside her and half-heartedly flicked through the channels. The living room, along with most of the house, was almost empty now. There were just a few items here and there, which Sean was coming over tomorrow to pick up.

Sean. He mood dropped slightly at the thought of him, and she felt a pang of guilt that she was apprehensive about Friday. She wasn’t having second thoughts, far from it. She didn’t hesitate from accepting his proposal. Tina was head over heals in love with him and couldn’t imagine a future where they were not together.

There was just one thought at the back of her mind that was spoiling her otherwise overwhelming joy. The knowledge that their pending marriage would never be truly complete.

5 months she had known about this. How could she tell him now? How could she tell him after lying to him all this time?

The microwave beeped and she got up, shaking herself out of her self-pity. But the problem was still there. It would be the hardest thing she’d ever have to do.

She would have to look Sean in the eye and tell him that she wouldn’t be able to give him the one thing that she knew he wanted. A child.