Their silence lasted for several long seconds. He couldn’t believe her tenacity. Landon’s sister had been down for days before she finally had her second baby. “She’s something else.”
“Yes, she is. Just don’t tell her. She’ll get a big head.”
Landon scanned Robert’s face, looking for any worry. When Landon didn’t see any, he went back to the task at hand, entering his security code to open his laptop. Maybe he and Robert could sneak in a quickie or two before the world required they leave the house.
Robert’s bird chirping ringtone drew Landon’s gaze to the phone again.
When Robert said, “It’s grand central station around here,” Landon definitely agreed. Their morning had certainly gotten busy. “It’s Sophia.” He picked up his phone and pushed a button. “Hello.”
Landon tried to refocus on QuickBooks, getting as far as opening the program before Robert’s strong hand came to his thigh, squeezing.
“No kidding. That’s fast.” Robert started nodding happily at Landon, grinning broadly. “We have time right now. We’re just waiting for Autumn to go into labor. Right, Landon?”
“For what?” he asked, having no idea how he should respond.
“Sorry, Sophia’s found a potential egg donor for us. She’s a first-year medical student at University of Minneapolis but lives local in Centerville, Virginia. She fits all your requirements that aren’t necessarily mine.” Of course, Robert got his little dig in. Landon wanted a blond-haired little boy—their little guy had been predetermined by something bigger than them. After they got him, Robert could have his way on finding donors closer to each other’s looks. So, Landon gave a single nod to keep Robert talking. “Sophia’s talked to her and she’s available to meet. I say today since you’re off and Autumn’s holding her own.”
Landon nodded again, because it seemed his standard answer for anything Robert-related, but finding a possible egg donor who matched all their requirements had happened awfully fast. Since he and Robert had first started seriously talking about having children and setting their timeframes to accomplish each step, Landon had had two requests.
One, Robert refrained from speaking doctor-speak. He wanted all conversations explained to him in layman’s terms so he fully understood what they were doing.
Second, he didn’t want to rush any part of this. He wanted to explore all their options before any decisions were made.
Landon had been surprised to learn that Sophia Richardson owned a fertility company in Minneapolis. She’d apparently spent her career helping couples achieve their family goals. His and Robert’s initial conversation with her had only happened six days ago via video chat for him. How were they already meeting potential egg donors?
“He doesn’t look well, but since this is all his idea, I’m going to wave that look off as nerves. Can you message me her information and I’ll give her a call?”
His and Robert’s gazes held. How had the tables turned so quickly, now Landon was filled with anxiety while Robert seemed cool, calm, and collected.
“Thanks, Sophia. I’ll call you when I hear from Autumn.” Robert ended the call while staring at Landon.
He used his super calm voice usually reserved for when Landon was ready to blow his stack about something Robert had purchased for him.
“Don’t freak out. Just like you told me, we got this.”
“I’m not freaked.” Landon said that lie and rolled his eyes for good measure.
“Good. Go change. I’m starving. I’ll see if she has time for lunch.”
Landon nodded again, and shut the lid of the laptop, feeling very much like the wuss he was becoming.
Chapter 41
Landon sat back in the booth-style seating, trying to make more room for his bulky frame. Robert sat next to him, finishing off his plate of Pad Thai like a man who hadn’t eaten in days. Maybe if they couldn’t fit comfortably in a normal-size booth, Landon had hit the gym too hard. His clothes didn’t fit him anymore either. He’d had to go a size bigger from all the lifting he’d been doing to kill time during Robert’s absence.
Forgoing his meal, Landon lifted an arm to lay on the edge of the booth and across Robert’s back. His mister looked over at him, those clear, blue eyes shining with love, and he moved in closer, flush against his side. The gesture of wanting to be nearer to him was sweet, and he tucked his arm around Robert’s shoulder, keeping him right there. It helped ease his fear.
Before they ever got inside the building, while sitting in the vehicle, looking through the front windows of Ocha Thai Café, Landon saw that Stephanie met all his physical requirements of being their egg donor. She was tall, lean, blonde, and pretty in a classic kind of way, or maybe better said, in that Robert kind of way. Stephanie held herself with a poised grace that seemed natural, not forced, making her very comfortable to be around. After meeting her and going through his first round of questions—the basics like who are you, why are you doing this, what’s your nicotine usage, and what’s your political affiliation—because that mattered in the Adams family—Landon had known they’d found their donor.