There was a pause.
“That’s actually kind of sweet,” Cal said.
Mr. Banks turned it over and frowned. “Although it does point mostly east. And sometimes toward magnets. Or ham.”
Angus leaned in. “Still. Strong symbolic energy.”
“I licked it clean this morning,” Mr. Banks added.
Angus recoiled. “Less strong now.”
Mrs. Mulroney dabbed her eyes with a tissue. “God, I love this family.”
I clutched the clipboard tighter. “If Rashida walks through that door, I’m going to need sedation.”
Which, naturally, was when the door down the corridor opened again.
With a satchel in one hand and a grande Starbucks in the other, Rashida stepped into the room and took one long, pursed-lipped look around. “Why does this feel less like a fertility consultation and more like a casting call for a very low-budget, misguided nativity play? I see the three wise men came bearing gifts already. Mrs. Mulroney with baked goods, Angus with balloons, Mr. Banks with… is that a compass?”
“It’s symbolic,” Mr. Banks said.
“He licked it,” Angus whispered.
“I’m not even going to address that,” Rashida replied.
She settled herself into the chair beside Mrs. Mulroney. “Don’t worry. I’m not going to intrude on your meeting. I’m here for moral support, particularly if either of you come out of this meeting crying.”
“That’ll be Matt,” said Mrs. Mulroney, Angus, and Mr. Banks all at once.
Rashida raised an eyebrow, her lips curling into a smile at one end. “I’m not so sure. I think that bet could go either way.”
At that moment, an office door opened.
“Hi there. I’m Tessa,” said a woman in a crisp white blazer, holding an iPad and exuding a calm confidence.
She paused in the doorway and looked at us all in one slow sweep. Not alarmed. Not judgmental. Just…processing.
“Matthew Darcy?” she said.
I stood, a little too fast. “Yes. Hi. Hello. That’s me.”
She smiled and shook my hand. “Tessa Burke, your surrogate case manager.”
All my nerves came flooding back. “Pleasure to meet you. And this is Cal Croft,” I said, gesturing beside me. “My husband.”
Tessa looked politely at the rest of the room. “And this must be your family.” She took it in stride. “It’s lovely to see so much enthusiasm from loved ones. Someone even brought balloons, I see.”
Angus sat up excitedly. “Would you like to hear what my voice sounds like when I suck—”
I slapped my hand over his mouth to shut him up, then overcompensated with a laugh so fake even Cal winced.
“Well, I’m thrilled to meet you all,” Tessa said. “Now, since the appointment is just for the two of you, would everyone else like some herbal tea while they wait?”
Mrs. Mulroney raised a hand. “Do you do foot baths? I have some calluses that need dealing with.”
“We do not,” Tessa replied pleasantly.
“What about psychic readings?”
