5 Bikers for Valentines

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.

I closed the folder and decided to hold onto it to show my mother. Maybe if she knew this wasn't going to work out, she'd talk some sense into my father. It was all I could do, honestly.

“Thank you for your time,” I said, standing up.

Lisa stood up in front of me, reaching out her hand. “My card is included in the paperwork,” she said. “Don't hesitate to call me if you have any questions, Malcolm. I'd be happy to help you, if only there was a way I could.”

“I understand.”

I left Lisa's office as another woman was bringing the younger couple to the back. There was so much hope in their eyes, and they held each other's hands tightly as the three of them walked by me in the hall.

If only my eyes held the same amount of hope.

~ooo000ooo~

“It's impossible,” I sighed, running a hand through my hair. I looked down at the dining room table, feeling utterly hopeless.

Mom was looking through the folder, reading everything she could. She was looking for any loophole or fine print that might help us find a way around our predicament. So far though, even my incredibly detail-oriented mother couldn't find anything that would help us. At least not with the surrogates. I could see the resignation and frustration in her eyes.

“You told them you were single?”

“I told the truth, yes.”

She pursed her lips together. “Maybe you could tell them that was a mistake.”

I raised an eyebrow. “And what good would that do?”

Mom pushed the folder over to me, her finger directing me to a section in the paperwork that dealt with couples.

“It says here, if you're already together, the testing period is waived,” she said. “Meaning, they wouldn't have to wait six weeks.”

“Great,” I said. “Except I don't have a partner.”

She cleared her throat and I saw a shadowed look in her eyes. I knew the next words coming out of her mouth were words I wasn't going to like.

“You could ask Danielle,” she said, her voice soft and gentle.