“That sounds like you’re ready to move on,” Tessa remarked.
We clicked through the others—an artist, a nurse, a law student who listedThe West Wingas her personality trait, and one woman named Martha who worked as a prison warden but performed stand-up comedy on the side.
“We always throw in a wild card,” Tessa said. “You never know.”
“I think we know,” I said, hitting delete on her profile.
“I’ll upload the four other profiles to your portal,” Tessa said. “You don’t have to decide right away. Take your time.”
Cal nodded. “Thanks, we will.”
“One more thing,” she added. “Leilani’s ready to move forward with screening. We’re proposing next week at our partner clinic in Honolulu. She’s flexible on timing, and travel is covered as part of your package. I’ll coordinate directly with her. She’s excited. And very committed.” Tessa paused and added, “Have the two of you thought about when you’d like to organize a visit for your sperm samples?”
Cal glanced at me, then back at the screen. “Actually, would it be… weird if we went at the same time as Leilani? I mean, if she’s heading to the clinic next week, maybe we just… coordinate? Make it a one-stop fertility drop.”
I blinked. “You want to gowithher?”
“I mean, not in the same room,” he said quickly. “Obviously. But if we’re all doing medical stuff, maybe it makes sense to just—get it done. Knock out the samples, check in with the clinic team, answer any awkward questions about our dietary habits and caffeine intake, that sort of thing.”
I turned back to the screen. “Tessa, is that allowed?”
Tessa smiled. “It’s more than allowed. Honestly, it’s a smart move. It saves time, travel, and coordination. As long as Leilani’s comfortable with it, there’s no reason not to sync up.”
Cal nodded. “Great. We’ll ask her. See what she thinks.”
“I doubt she’ll mind,” I said, already reaching for my phone. “She’s pretty unflappable. If she can handle Mrs. Mulroney drinking too much Hawaiian punch at the luau, I’m pretty sure she can roll with anything.”
Tessa gave a professional smile, waving off any mention of Hawaiian punch. “Then it’s settled—tentatively. Let me knowafter you speak to her. If she’s on board, I’ll schedule all three of you for the same day.”
“Done,” Cal said. “Thanks, Tessa. Really.”
“Of course,” she replied. “We’re moving fast now. Just keep breathing. It’s happening.”
The Zoom call ended.
I turned to Cal, heart thudding in that strange, hopeful way it had been thudding more and more lately.
“We’re going to a fertility clinic,” I said. “In Honolulu. Do you think we have to take our own cup?”
“I think they’ll have one or two they can spare.”
“Just so long as it’s not Karen from admin’s favorite coffee mug, I think I’ll be fine.”
“All you have to do is think sexy thoughts.”
That wouldn’t be difficult. All I’d have to do was picture my husband naked in the shower.
So long ashedidn’t pictureHalnaked in the shower.
CHAPTER 21
It’s notevery day you hear your husband casually say to someone we only just met, “If it’s okay with you, let’s schedule our sperm samples to match your medical screening,” like we were trying to sync lunch reservations.
It’s not every day you hear the other person down the phonesqueeeeand excitedly respond, “Oh my God, it’ll be our first family trip to Honolulu. I came second place in a hula-hoop competition at the Royal Hawaiian in Waikiki once. My hips are so flexible those doctors at the clinic will assume I’ve already given birth to triplets while doing Pilates. Which, for the record, I have not.”
The world had officially tilted on its axis. Permanently. And somehow—I was okay with it.
By that evening, everything was in motion. Tessa had confirmed the travel dates, the clinic had booked us in, and Rashida had added three separate checklists to our shared calendar, one of which was simply titled“Things Not to Leave in the Specimen Cup Room.”
