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?I'm sorry to hear that,” she said.
The way her face softened, I believed she meant it too. She seemed kind and compassionate.
“Yes, it's been hard for my family. It's benign, and doctors anticipate her has about two years to live. About a year before he loses some of his – ” I choked on the next words that came from my mouth, “mental awareness.”
Her smile faltered, and her eyes looked sad. “That must be really tough on you and your family, Malcolm,” she said. “Are you sure that a baby, right now, is a good idea? With all that stress and uncertainty in your life?”
“My father's last wish was to see his grandchildren before he passes away,” I said.
I left out the part about the inheritance being tied to having a baby of my own since I doubt that would help my case. I needed to convince her that this was my idea, and something I wanted to do.
“I want to give him that,” I said. “I want to give him grandkids to for him to spoil and enjoy while he still has time.”
“I see,” Lisa murmured. “But tell me, Malcolm, is this what you want?”
I thought on her words for a moment. Yes, I would have loved to have a child, but not like this. I wanted a family of my own and had no real desire to be a single father. The doubts rose in my mind like a thick fog. But I couldn’t let my face show it. I needed to do this. Ready or not, I needed to do this. For my mother. My father. For my company's future, and for myself.
“Yes,” I said. “I've always wanted to be a father myself.”
That wasn't a lie. It just wasn't total honesty, either. “As long as you're sure, I can't turn you away,” she said. “I just want to make sure that this is the best thing for you and your family. I hope you understand.”
“I do,” I said and gave her a smile I hoped looked reassuring. “And, I appreciate that.”
Lisa pulled a folder out from one of her desk drawers and slipped it over to me. I picked it up and looked at it as she began to speak.
“This explains the process,” he said. “Once you've decided to go forward with this, we will begin the search for the right surrogate for you. You'll have the option of choosing your surrogate, and you'll meet with them, to make sure everything goes smoothly.”
“How long do you expect that to take?”
“It usually takes a few months to find the perfect fit.”
“A few months? I don't have a few months,” I said. “My dad – well – he has about nine months to a year before he starts declining in health. And, I need to have a child as soon as possible. I want him to be able to see his grandchildren before – well – you know.”
Her eyes narrowed a bit as she studied my face. “Malcolm, we can do our very best to hurry the process along, but I make no guarantees,” she said. “We have to find a surrogate that fits both of our needs – ours and yours. There's usually a waiting list.”
“What if I brought in my own?” I asked. “Somebody who'd volunteered to be a surrogate.”
Lisa pondered the question, then answered, “Yes, that's an option. You may bring in your own surrogate, if you know someone who's willing and able,” she said. “There's a list of requirements for potential surrogates in your folder. However, when we work with new women, we have to run a few tests first, just to make sure everything is on the up and up. There's also a six-week period where we freeze your sperm before implantation to test both you and her for HIV and other diseases.”
My heart dropped into my gut. First, I'd have to find someone willing, and once I had that, then, I had the tests. Six weeks was a long time to wait, I thought. I licked my lips and stared down at my hands, opening the folder to the page outlining the requirements.
Must have had a successful pregnancy already.
Must be under the age of 35, ideally under the age of 30.
No medical issues from a long list of common ailments.
I sighed and stopped reading.
“Malcolm, is everything okay?”
I shook my head. “I don't think this is going to work,” I said. “Is there any way – any way at all – to rush the process along? I have money and I’m willing to pay.”
“Malcolm,” her voice sounded stern, “everyone who walks into my office has money. You're not the first millionaire to set foot in here, nor will you be the last. Unfortunately, the process is the same for everyone. It is designed to keep everyone safe – baby and mother. We wouldn't be able to continue operating if we cut corners. Surely, we'd get sued.”
I understood. It wasn't like anything she'd said was out-of-line. We were talking about creating life here, and I couldn't blame them for having these restrictions and procedures, it just wasn't going to work for me.
