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“I'm merely going to ask the question, Mom,” I said. “In the meantime, I'll be looking for other ways to give Dad his wish.”
Mom nodded her head just as Alba came into the room, carrying two mugs for us. She sat a mug of coffee down in front of me, and another one of tea for my mother. We stayed quiet with someone else in the room, even though Alba had known all our secrets over the years. This one though, seemed too personal. It was something I didn't want to share with anybody or have accidentally get out into the world. Alba flashed me a very maternal smile.
“You look stressed, Malcolm,” she said. “You really shouldn't stress so much. It's bad for you. Bad for your heart.”
“I wish it was that easy, Alba,” I said quietly.
“I know you, Malcolm,” she said. “There's no challenge you can't overcome. Not when your heart is in it. You're much like your father that way.”
“This might be out of my league even,” I said.
“Listen, I know what your father has asked you to do,” she said.
I looked up, shocked, but she smiled gently, patting my cheek like she'd done countless times when I was a little boy. She knew? I couldn't believe it. This didn't seem like something that should have been discussed outside the walls of dad's office.
But, Alba knew. And for that, in a way, I was glad. She'd always been good to
me, acting as a second mother at times, and I hated keeping things from her.
“Women would be lining up to have your child, Malcolm,” Alba said. “Look what you could offer a child – wealth beyond most people's wildest dreams. Who wouldn't want that for their child?”
“And not be involved with the parenting themselves?” I asked, arching an eyebrow. “That seems less likely.”
“For the right price, anything is possible,” she said. “Just look around you, you have options. You just need to think of this as a business arrangement. You may need to think, as they say, outside the box a little bit.”
Alba and my mother exchanged a glance and then both of them turn and look at me, serious expressions on their faces. I could see the anticipation in both of their eyes.
“Alba is right, Malcolm. Take love out of the equation,” mom said. “Offer them money. However much it takes. And get Terrance to write up a binding contract that gives them no rights to the child once it's born. You really need to take the emotion out of it. This is a business deal and nothing more.”
Yeah, a business deal that consisted of bringing a brand-new life into this world. That's a pretty big fucking deal. But, I was willing to play this out with them and see where it goes.
“Okay, suppose that all works out and I find someone willing – then what?” I ask. “The clinic requires a six-week waiting period, remember?”
“Who said anything about using a clinic?” Mom shot me an almost sinister smile. “Son, I know it's awkward to talk about with your mother, but I know you understand how babies are made.”
Ah, great. Talking about sex with my mom and Alba. Yeah, that's not completely uncomfortable already. As if my day could get any worse.
“Even if I did – sleep with a woman under this arrangement,” I said. “there are no guarantee she'd get pregnant. Not for a while at least, and we don't have time.”
“There are ways to push the process along, Malcolm,” Mom said, her smile widening.
When it was clear I wasn't getting it, she added, “Crane Enterprises is a pharmaceutical company, and I have connections,” she said, looking at me like I was dense. “I'm sure we could get ahold of fertility drugs. You find a willing woman, I'll handle getting the drugs. Under the table, of course.”
“Is that safe?” I asked.
Mom shrugged. “More than likely, yes,” she said. “Make sure you pick a healthy woman to bear your children, Malcolm, and everything else will be just fine. You'll see, it will all just start falling into place.”
Alba smiled and nodded. She seemed to be in on this. Both my mother and the housekeeper who was like a second mom to me were okay with me finding a random woman and paying to have sex with her. What the hell was happening to my life?
“If I'm being honest, I'm not sure I can do this,” I said.
“What choice do you have, Malcolm?” Mom said. “You know your brother and how conniving he is. If we don't think of something – he will.”
Alba nodded her head in agreement enthusiastically. “This company belongs to you, Malcolm. Not Adam. Not anyone else. You,” she said. “You are the one who's put in all the hard work ever since you were a child. Do not let this man come in and steal it from you.”
They had a point. It gave me a lot to think about, that was for sure. I stared down at my hands and thought it over. Neither woman moved or spoke as I tried to think my way through it all. I mean, it wasn't much different than what I'd considered the other night – with Casey – but I backed out because it felt dirty and because I doubted she'd find the idea very enticing.
Both my mom and Alba seemed to think I was wrong, and well, they certainly knew women better than I did.
