Her Motherhood Wish (Parent Portal 3)

An hour wasn’t going to make a difference to her baby’s future. Unless she went crazy with stress waiting for that hour to pass. Woodrow Alexander was her only real possible strength in the event of worst-case scenario. She just needed to know that he was on board and then she’d be fine.

Five-oh-four. Her thumb was over the call command button. Just as she was passing the car wash. Pulling her blue Jaguar onto the lot, she put money into the machine and followed the instructions to join the queue being propelled through the automatic washing tunnel. Watched as the pink, blue and white spirals of soap filled the windshield. Baby colors. A sign. Smelled the bubblegum smell. Kids loved that scent. Watched as the powerful dryer forced bubbles of water off the newly waxed, shiny metallic-blue hood of her car. And then pulled into one of the many vacant vacuum slots.

Thursday evenings at dinnertime apparently weren’t big car wash times. She hadn’t known that, but she was thankful because it meant she got to use the vacuum from her slot and the one at the empty stall beside her, allowing her to clean the entire interior of her car twice as easily.

If six o’clock hadn’t rolled around, she’d probably have sucked up rocks from the parking lot next, but the time had ticked by. She had a call to make.

* * *

Retro—so named because in retrospect Wood probably should have checked with Elaina before buying a dog on their wedding day—trotted up to Wood, Frisbee in her mouth, and dropped it at his feet.

“Good girl,” he said. And then, as he bent to pick up the disc, “Stay.” The Lab stood there, her big brown eyes intent on him as Wood wound up and threw as hard as he could, sending the disc sailing through the trees to the far back of their property. Retro continued to stand there, on alert, until Wood smiled and said, “Fetch.” Retro took off, finding her prey. She’d succeed and bring it back again, too. For as long as Wood would throw it for her. Some nights they were out there for an hour or more. The dog needed exercise, and Wood, well, he liked working with the dog.

She’d brought youth, new life, into a grieving home the day he’d stood before a judge at the courthouse in jeans and a button down shirt while Elaina, also in jeans, cried a little beside him and took him as her husband in place of the man they’d both lost.

His phone rang before Retro made it to her target. Pulling the cell from his shirt pocket, he recognized the number and answered immediately.

“Mr. Alexander, I’m sorry to bother you—”

“My name’s Wood,” he i

nterrupted, for no good reason other than that she sounded tense and he needed to put her at ease.

“Okay, Wood, thank you for agreeing to speak with me—”

“Signed documents said I had to.” He broke in a second time, going for light conversation when he knew the phone call was anything but. He didn’t need her gratitude. And didn’t want to hear that his sperm was inadequate, that it had created an unhealthy baby. Didn’t want to know that he’d inadvertently caused her distress. Caused some kid even worse than that. Possibly.

But why else would she need to speak urgently? That meant there was a problem. He’d known it all day. And still didn’t want to hear how bad it was. He couldn’t take back his deposit.

She couldn’t sue him. That was in the contract, too—he’d reread every word as soon as he’d gotten home. But he’d help her financially if he was in any way responsible for her incurring extra expenses. He’d already made that decision. His savings had taken a hit during the three years Elaina had been finishing medical school, but he’d had several years before that to build them...

“Yes, well, thank you for agreeing to speak with me so quickly,” she amended after a short pause. “I won’t keep you. I’m just covering all bases and need to know if you’d be willing to donate bone marrow if it’s needed...”

“Of course,” he responded immediately. And then stood there, holding his phone, looking at the blue disc on the ground at his feet, at the dog looking up at him, not sure what donating bone marrow entailed. And was afraid that since he’d already given her what she needed, she’d just hang up. “Wait. What’s going on?” he asked.

“Probably nothing. But, just in case...”

He wasn’t getting it. “You’re calling just on the off shot that someday your child might get sick and need my bone marrow?” That was taking worrying to an extreme. Surely...

“No.” Her breath was all he heard on the line for a moment. Unsteady breaths. “I had an ultrasound yesterday. The doctor said that they found a darker, shadowed spot in the baby’s brain that indicates some kind of blood abnormality. They have no idea what it is yet. And, in fact, the doctor said that there are times when the dark spot is an anomaly. That it will just disappear. But it’s something they have to check out.”

“So...it’s possible there’s nothing wrong at all.” Damn, that was good news. Real good news. Could be nothing.

“Yes.”

“Okay, then, sure,” he said. “If you ever need my bone marrow, of course I’d donate,” he told her. “Who wouldn’t, to save a kid’s life?”

A kid. His kid. Not really. But biologically. He’d never taken that donation seriously. Not from the very beginning. He’d tried to tell Peter that adding Wood’s sample to sperm collection was a waste of time. All of Peter’s doctor friends had been donating.

He’d pretty much forgotten about it. Had certainly never considered that there could be a kid walking around town that looked like him. That had his DNA. That could need his bone marrow to save his life.

“Okay, well, thank you!” Her tone was completely different now. Lighter. “Just thank you. I hope I never need to call you again, but you have no idea how much it means to me to know that this base is covered...”

She really was going to hang up. “Wait,” he said for the second time in their brief conversation. He wasn’t ready just to be done. He was going to have a kid in the world. Felt like he had to do something about that. Be responsible somehow for the child, more than just an outside chance of becoming a bone-marrow donor. “I’d, uh... Can I know more, please?” he asked.

“About a bone marrow transplant? What it would require of you? I’m not a medical expert, but from what I read last night, it could be quite painful. I’m not going to lie to you about it. It’s not a pleasant procedure, from what I understand...”

“Not about bone marrow,” he said, uncomfortable with Retro standing there staring so intently. He picked up the disc, lobbed it sloppily and rolled his eyes when it landed in the pool. She’d get it as soon as he released her. And then he’d have to deal with a wet dog. “I’d like to know more.” About the baby. About her. “I’m assuming there will be more tests done?” Abnormalities always seemed to lead to them.