William asked if we would like some wine. We both answered with the affirmative.
“I must find the perfect bottle. It’s not often I see family.”
Trying to appear sophisticated, I questioned, “Do you have many to choose from?”
I immediately felt stupid at the comment. My nerves were on edge, like Seana’s, who continued to flip her locks back like a wild stallion.
“Several thousand.” He smiled and then exited the room.
Seana’s exterior of ease evaporated when he left. She put her head in her hands and began to rock back and forth.
I reached over and touched her shoulder. “Sweetheart, he might do it. We just don’t know.”
She looked up with tears welling in her eyes, her last flicker of hope dimming.
“Have you been listening to him? He won’t do it. Why should he? He’s perfect, and he has the perfect life. ” And with that she let out a long resolute sigh.
We both stared at the floor. There was nothing else to say. Tick tock.
Moments later, William appeared with a bottle of red and three crystal wine goblets. The cork was popped, and we all sipped silently.
“So, enough of the niceties.” He asked, “What are you two really here for?”
Unable to help herself, Seana burst into tears with a volume far exceeding the previous display.
“Take your time,” William coaxed.
Slowly, Seana composed herself. We told William what we wanted. Seana was eleven months away from turning thirty-eight, the last legal age for a woman to become pregnant. With the Zero Population Growth law, we needed a death to have a baby- his.
I had this urge to run from the room. What were we thinking? Were we so selfish that we could ask such a thing from him? I knew we were, but the hole in Seana’s soul was so deep, I had to press on. “So, will you do it or not?”
William stared at us. “I was wondering when you were going to ask.”
“You already knew?” When I’d spoken with him to arrange our trip to Dallas, I’d just told him we were taking a little vacation and wanted to see him while we were in town..
“It was either that or money.” I opened my mouth to protest, but he held up his hand. “I get it. You would’ve asked for money from me a long time ago if you were so inclined. Obviously, you’re not. So, I put two and two together. Your age. Seana’s age. It all added up to me about what you wanted from me.”
Seana’s body shook like a reed in the wind. “Will you help us, William?”
“I think we might be able to come to an arrangement.”
“What?” we said in unison.
He laughed, and his eyes were even brighter, if that were possible. I took a long drink from the heady liquid. It had a taste of smoke and was warm going down. Seana’s tremors ended, replaced by a stillness similar to that of Auguste Rodin’s Thinker, but her eyes sparkled with hope.
I choked out, “You said might. What do you mean?”
William pointed to the oil painting above the fireplace. “That’s my wife and your relative, Greg. You’re here because of her choice to provide a death to your mother.”
“You mean… I didn’t know.”
“Your mother told me at your high school graduation that she’d never shared it with you. I agreed to keep her secret.”
Seana leaned forward in the chair. “So, you want to make the same sacrifice for us that your wife did for Greg’s mom?”
He shrugged and kept gazing at the painting. “Did you know that we never had children of our own? We both always wanted them, but it didn’t work out.”
Realization began to dawn at what arrangement he had in mind. I curled my hands into fists. “We will name the baby after you, William.”
“It’s not good enough. Not even close. I want a child of my own.”
Seana stood up. “It’s too much to ask of Greg. Thank you, William, for your hospitality. It’s been a long day. I’m going to our room.” She turned to me. “You coming, honey?”
“I’ll be up in a minute, sweetheart.”
She smiled weakly then turned back to the man who had crushed her flat. “Goodnight, William.”
I watched as Seana’s perfect hips swayed as she walked up the stairs, When she was out of earshot, I turned back to William. “How dare you?”
“Me? You’re asking me to end my life, Greg. Don’t you think you’ve got it turned around a bit?”
I knew he was right, but what he’d asked was hard for me to swallow.
He stood up. “Let’s get some air.”
I followed him to his pool area. I could see the tennis courts off in the distance. The place was more like a resort than a home. The patio had an outdoor kitchen and several tables with chairs. He went to the refrigerator and brought out beers for us.
William was so self-assured. I guessed it came with age. Much age, I thought.
We sat down.
“So, if I agree to this, what’s to say you won’t back out?” I felt my stomach lurch into my throat.
William didn’t answer. He popped the top on one of his beers and drained half its contents. “You love Seana?”
“More than anything.”
He finished off the remainder of the beer and started on another one. “Then you’ll agree to do this for her, and I’ll give you what you came here for.” He meant it. The conviction of his tone told me so. A maid appeared, bringing us food, but William waved her away. His brow was furrowed with intent.
I opened my first beer. I brought the bottle to my lips and let the cold, gold liquid drain into my mouth and down my throat.
We didn’t say another word until we’d both finished three beers. The buzz felt good and eased my frustration back into a small corner of my mind. “Any other surprise requests you want to drop on me?”
“Just one more. Greg.” His hand trembled, which surprised me.
I wasn’t sure that I would ever consent to him being the DNA provider for our baby, but I also wasn’t sure I couldn’t. Seana needed to be a mother more than anything. If I failed to agree, I’d lose her to another man who might have some willing relative, or to remorse and misery.