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“To Gram, yes.” To me, also yes. Mostly because children have never been my interest to begin with. I clear my throat. “I’m striking womb from the record.” I scribble down some notes. “We’ll replace it with –“
“Uterine cavity,” Jude teases.
I grimace. “Much worse than womb.”
“Fecund vessel.”
“Ew, Jude.”
“I’m just giving you options to spice up the contract. It’s a very dry document, don’t you think?”
I ignore her. “Fertility. That’s what we’ll write.”
Jude’s turn to grimace. She falls back in her chair across from my desk. “Fertility is better than womb?”
“Yes, now –” I read through it again and then move on to the next section. “Party B will have –”
“What if we can’t do it?”
I stop. “Beg your pardon?”
“A baby. What if it… doesn’t happen?”
I shake my head. “Well, that can’t be helped then.”
“What about your inheritance?”
With a large sigh, I reach for my watered-down lowball of whisky. “I’ll go crying to Gram about how fruitless of an endeavor it’s been to conceive. She can’t withhold an inheritance because of biology.”Yes, she can and you know damn well she can.I’ll get Jude Parry pregnant if it’s the last thing I do and that’s a goal I never thought I’d have.
Jude nods. “Okay. Go on.”
Back to the contract: “Party B will have complete financial support from Party A for the duration of the marriage and, afterward, will receive monthly installments of alimony and child support in the amount of –”
“So, wait, to clarify –” Jude stops me.
“Jude, for God’s sake, I’m exhausted, can we just finish this thing and be done with it?” I groan.
She laughs apologetically. “I just want to make sure all our bases are covered.”
I lean on my fists.She’s doing you a favor. A big favor. In fact, she’s your fucking hero. Be grateful.“Yes, you’re right.” Better get used to saying that. It might be a fake marriage, but she will be my wife.
“We should add a bit about custody.”
“What kind of bit?” I ask, gritting my teeth.
She turns her head, studying me. “Like how are we raising this kid?”
“You’ll have primary custody for which I will compensate you handsomely.”
Jude winces. “Please don’t use the word ‘compensate’. Makes this feel like sex work.”
“It is, in a way, isn’t it? For both of us?”
She swallows.
“You need my money, I need your…” My mouth gets hot. “Your body. This is an exchange. A deal. We’re writing a contract.”
She tucks some hair behind her ear. “Can you just do your best? For me?”
