AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“None of them are perfect.” Perfect would be if one of them was madly in love with me.
Maddy moved on to the next profile. “This feels like one of those dating shows where you have to pick a winner without ever seeing the guys…but with way higher stakes.”
“Funny you mention that because I requested their pictures yesterday.”
Her eyes flicked up to mine.
“It costs extra, and you only get a photo of them when they were a kid, but I thought it might help me whittle it down.”
“You only get a baby picture?”
I shrugged. “Seemed better than nothing.”
“I suppose.”
“Keep going,” I said, urging her on. “I think Travis is next.”
“He is indeed.”
“I like that he runs marathons,” I explained as her eyes fell down the page. “Implies a level of discipline and resilience, don’t you think?”
“I’m more impressed that he speaks Chinese.” She leaned back in her chair but kept reading. “The birdwatching thing is a bit geeky, but it beats someone who doesn’t like animals. That would be a dealbreaker for me.”
Otis’s furry face popped into my mind. “Me too.”
“Have you considered that?” she asked, lifting her gaze. “Getting a pet instead?”
“I have, and the counselor suggested that, too. Apparently, over half the people who come in for a consult end up getting a dog and living happily ever after.”
“Seems like a logical stepping stone.”
“If all you want is unconditional love, I think it’s a perfect solution. But I want to be a mom so bad, Maddy. Believe me, if I could shake the feeling, I would, but I can’t. It’s like a pebble in my shoe that won’t go away.”
Her eyes searched mine like she wanted to understand.
“Sorry if I sound like a crazy person,” I said. “Baby fever is hard to explain.”
“You don’t sound crazy,” she said. “I just pictured a newborn with Quinn’s thick head of black hair and freaked myself out.”
I smiled at the thought. “You could call him Baby Elvis.”
Her expression flatlined.
“Look at the last guy,” I said, pointing towards the profiles. “I’m curious who you think makes the best first impression.”
She dropped her eyes and read aloud. “John from Boston. Web designer. Enjoys hiking and scuba diving. Played lacrosse in college. Knows three different computer languages…whatever the heck that means.”
“Who would you go with?” I asked. “If you had to pick right now?”
She shook her head. “I can’t make this decision for you.”
“Please, Maddy. I need a second opinion. Give me something.”
“Travis is my least favorite,” she said finally. “He seems too intense. Running a marathon or two so you can say you’ve done it is one thing, but doing it regularly is mental.”
“I don’t want a kid with no competitive spirit.”
“There are more important things,” she said. “Besides, trophies don’t mean what they used to. Kids these days get medals just for participating.”
