Zac stared at the phone monitor. A moment ago he had been talking to Zoe, he had asked a simple question, and she had hung up on him. Hung up on him! Gee, all he wanted to know was if she and Chris were planning on having any kids yet.
He shook his head slowly, in confusion. Well, whatever her problem was he –
The phone rang then, and he answered.
“Yo?”
“Hey Zac, I’m sorry I hung up on you like that,” Zoe replied.
“Umm, well, that’s okay -”
“It’s just that… well…”
“Well, what?”
“Chris and I have been trying. We’ve been trying for ages now.”
“Oh.”
“We’ve already seen doctors and stuff… it, I, well…”
Zac waited patiently for her to say, whatever it was she was trying to say. Zoe took a breath.
“I can’t.”
“You can’t what?”
“Have children,” she paused then laughed, a little hysterically, “who would have thought that any Hanson would be unable to have kids? Isaac must have gotten my share of fertility.”
Zac couldn’t help but laugh at that, but he soon sobered.
“Oh, Zoe, I’m so sorry.”
“It’s not your fault.”
“Yeah, I know, it’s Isaac’s. No, I’m sorry. This isn’t exactly a jokes-cracking moment.”
“It’s okay. I’d rather laugh than cry.”
Zac nodded.
“Look, if there’s ever anything I can do…”
“I’ll ask. Actually, we’re been talking about adopting…”
“Really? Cool.”
“I just… I don’t know if I’ll be able to do it. Y’know, look at that child and just remember that I can’t have one of my own.”
“Okay,” she said quietly. “Anyway, I have to go now. I’ll talk to you later, okay?”
“Sure.”
“And please, don’t tell anyone just yet okay?”
“My lips are sealed.”
“Thanks.”