‘Well how many other women do you see wandering around the supermarket in an eveningdress?’
Annabel had to admit that did seem a bit bizarre. Trying to picture the scene, she certainly couldn’t imagine her own mother dressed to the nines while tottering up and down the freezeraisle.
‘Don’t get me wrong, she’s not mentally ill or anything,’ said Dan, as if reading her mind. ‘Even if she does do the most random things going. She just doesn’t believe in saving anything for best. It doesn’t matter what it is, we could be talking about a silver coffee pot or a hat for all Mum cares. She says most of the stuff she owns wouldn’t get used if it only came out for special occasions. She’s the same about herwardrobe.’
Annabel thought about the rank and file of long forgotten clothes hanging in her own closet, she could see his mum had apoint.
‘Plus, she insists that looking nice makes a woman feel nice,’ Danadded.
Annabel looked down at her own attire. Throwing on a pair of jeans, a t-shirt, and a pair of pumps every morning had become more of a routine than a fashion choice, and again, she could understand the woman’sreasoning.
‘Although she doesn’t always make life easy,’ he continued. ‘Even now she’s creating unnecessary challenges, can youbelieve?’
‘Really,’ said Annabel, intrigued. ‘Likewhat?’
Dan nervously chuckled and shook his head. He seemed to be wondering if he should really be telling her this. ‘Before she told me she was sick she made me make a promise.’ He shifted in his seat. ‘Oh, don’t worry about it. It’s justsilly.’
‘No, go on. Tell me,’ said Annabel. Urging him to continue, this was the most relaxed he’d been since his arrival and not only did she think it important to keep his spirits up, he was right, his mum did seem fun and she wanted toknowmore.
‘She conned me into giving my word that I’d find myself a wife beforeshedies.’
Annabel’s jaw dropped. ‘You’re kidding me?’shesaid.
Dan shook his head. ‘I wish I was.’ He stared into his cup. ‘It’s only ever been the two of us, you see. I don’t have any brothers or sisters and there’s no other family to speak of. She probably thinks she’s looking out for me. Of course, when I agreed, I didn’t realise I’d be working to a timescale.’
Annabel could appreciate where his mum was coming from. Even with a family behind her, she knew first-hand what it was like to be left behind. Something she wouldn’t wish on her worst enemy, let alone someone in Dan’s shoes. She guessed his mother knew that too, being a widow herself. Dan was going to need all the support he could get. And if the support wasn’t there, then where would thatleavehim?
‘Oh, I don’t know,’ said Dan. ‘I’ve been wondering if this is her way of keeping me busy so I don’t have to think about what’s really going on here. About what reallymatters.’
‘That’s one way of looking at it. Or she’s just being a mum to the very end,’ suggested Annabel. ‘She’s thinking about what’s going to happen inyourfuture rather than dwelling onherown.’
‘Maybe,’ said Dan. ‘I hadn’t quite thought about itlikethat.’
‘So what now? Are you going to keep yourpromise?’
He shrugged. ‘It’s abigask.’
Annabel had to agree. It took most people years before they foundThe Oneand this poor chap only had months. ‘And I thought looking for a baby daddy was a challenge,’shesaid.
‘About that,’saidDan.
Annabel felt herself redden. She hadn’t meant to thinkoutloud.
‘Don’t worry about it,’ she quickly replied. Knowing what he was about to say, she understood why he’d want to back out. ‘I’m sure I can find someone else. You need to concentrate on yourself and your mumrightnow.’
‘But I want to do it,’hesaid.
Annabel looked at him surprised. With everything he had going on at the moment, she would’ve thought sperm donation to be the last thing on his mind. ‘Sorry?’ she said. Surely she must havemisheard.
‘Look, we both know the odds are against me. I’m never going to find someone I want to spend the rest of my life with in such ashorttime.’
Yet again, Annabel found herself wondering where all this wasgoing.
‘So to be able to tell mum she’s going to be a grandma instead, at least that would besomething.’
Annabel bit her lip. As sorry as she was for Dan, this was not part of the plan. She felt terrible. Having been the one to ask him for help in the first place, every fibre of her being screamed no, she couldn’t return the favour. It was one thing giving him a listening ear, but to actually get involved in his mum’s dying … after what happened to Tom, his request felt a bit too close forcomfort.
‘I know you said this arrangement was no strings attached,’ he carried on. ‘That I’m out of the picture once you’re pregnant. I’ll even admit to not being one hundred per cent sure about what I was doing when I agreed to become a donor. But things have changed now. If Mum knows I have a child on the way, she’ll know I have a focus, a reason to keep going, just like she did with me when Dad died. You can see that,can’tyou?’
