Though God knew none of those struck by it considered it a curse at all. His cousin Lochlan, the last man he’d ever expected to succumb to marriage, called it a blessing.
“So you’re considering a sperm bank, but you’d rather get the,” he finger-quoted, “‘gift sperm’ from a guy you know, someone you choose.”
She nodded. “I’ve been working on a list, but it’s pretty damn skimpy.”
“Oh yeah? Who’s on it?”
She shook her head. “None of your business.”
“We know a lot of the same people, Kell. Maybe I can help you narrow down your options. Am I on it?”
“Fuck no!”
“What? That’s a mistake.” He flexed his muscles for her. “You gotta want these genes.”
“Pass. Hard pass.”
Colm shrugged in a your loss way, then he had an unsettling thought. “Is Paddy on the list?”
“He was originally, but no. I marked his name out.”
“Why?”
“You know why. He’s not like that orthodontist in Iowa. He’d never walk away. Never. Besides, he’s not moving on, and I’m scared he’ll never get over Mia’s death. If I asked him to do this, my fear is he would say yes, and then he’d give his whole life to the kid as another way to avoid getting out there and taking a chance on finding love and happiness again.”
Colm nodded. “You’re right. He would. So who’s on the list?”
“Robbie Pullman.”
“Why is that name familiar?”
“You’ve probably heard me mention him before. The two of us went to college together. Dated for a hot minute. We run into each other occasionally and we’re friendly.”
“What makes this guy a contender?” Colm asked.
“He teaches high school science here at one of the local magnet schools. He’s a super-nice guy, extremely intelligent, good-looking. I haven’t managed to dig too deep into his family medical history yet, but—”
“Wait. You’ve already talked to him about this?”
Kelli nodded. “Yeah.”
“And what did he say?”
“He was flattered. Said he needed to think about it, but he didn’t say no. Actually, the more we talked, the more I started to think he was leaning toward yes.”
Colm rubbed his beard, trying to wrap his head around Kelli getting pregnant, becoming a mother. There was actually a tiny part of him that was almost jealous. Not of Robbie, but of her. He hadn’t really considered becoming a dad yet, as he was still trying to find the woman he’d like to be the mother, but now…she’d planted a seed. “Are you really sure about this, Kelli? Have you thought it all through?”
She nodded. “I’ve spent the last year thinking of very little else. I don’t have any problem doing this or doing it alone. I really don’t. I have enough love to be both parents—the mom and the dad. I want a child so bad, Colm, and at this point, well, when you factor in the whole meet someone, fall in love, get married timeline…”
“It could be a whirlwind romance.”
She blew out a hard breath. “Yeah. Because I haven’t been looking for one of those the last fifteen years. They’re not as easy to come by as you might think. Unless you’re a Collins, of course.”
“Well, of course,” he joked, then he studied her face. “Never really thought of you as a mom, but…I can see it,” he said, grinning widely. “Though you’re going to have to cut back on your wine consumption and use of the word fuck. Hmmm…talk about entering uncharted territory.”
“I’ll be just fine,” she said sarcastically. “And please don’t overwhelm me with your confidence.”
“Tell you what. Why don’t you invite Robbie to the Halloween party so I can check him out? See if he meets our high level of standards.”
“Our standards?” Kelli asked. “Oh no, Colm Collins. You get no say in this.”
“Invite him anyway. Call it curiosity.”
Kelli started to shake her head, and he realized she probably thought he was up to something.
He raised his right hand. “I swear I just want to meet the guy. See what’s so hot about his sperm.”
Kelli laughed. “Is this a jealousy thing? Are you pissed off that I don’t want yours?”
Was he?
No. Absolutely not. While Kelli didn’t say it—maybe she didn’t even think it—he was concerned he might be a lot like Padraig in this situation. He wasn’t sure he’d be able to walk away from any child that was his. Gift sperm or not.
“I’m not pissed off about that. I just want to meet him. Is that such a big deal? Besides, you should want him to meet my family.”
“Why?” she asked.
“Because I noticed when you listed his attributes, you didn’t mention his sense of humor or ability to have fun. I think those things should rank pretty high on your genetics list.”
“So you’re a nature-over-nurture guy? You don’t think I can raise a fun-loving kid? Seriously?”
Colm knew without a doubt any child reared by Kelli would have an awesome sense of humor.
“Although,” she said, tapping her finger on her lips, “that actually isn’t a bad test to run. Besides, when he sees me win the costume contest, he’ll realize how incredibly awesome I am, and I bet he agrees then and there to be my sperm donor.”
“You’re not winning the contest this year. I’m going balls to the wall.”
Kelli shrugged as if unconcerned. “I think you forget who you’re talking to. I’m currently the record holder in terms of wins.”
“Bullshit. We’re tied at three each, and you know it.”
“Fuck off,” Kelli said. “I’m not having the Baron Samedi debate with you again. You cheated that year.”
Colm shook his head, fighting like the devil to hide his smile. “Kelli, Kelli, Kelli, there is such a thing as a sore loser.”
“Nope. Not a sore loser. You found out what my costume was going to be—something I’ll never forgive Paddy for—and—”
“In his defense, he just asked me who Baron Samedi was. I figured out why he was asking on my own.”
“And then came as the same thing. Your whole family thought we’d planned it.”
“And crowned us both the winners.
