My sperm donor.
Did y'all hear me?!
Walker Kingston will be my sperm donor. Gah!
He gives me a single nod. “All right. Give me the time and place, and I’m there with my plastic cup.”
I smack him. "No more talk about specimen collection tonight." With my hands on his big, broad back, I push him out the door.
At the threshold, I pause.
“Wait. Do you have any twins in your family history?”
9
Penny
What about this one?" I run my fingers along the fringes of the colorful, hand-woven rug hanging against the wall. "I think it's totally rustic but a little bit edgy, unexpected. That's the look we're going for." I grin and wiggle my shoulders playfully.
Today, I'm helping my cousin pick out furniture for her flower shop. We're at this quiet little thrift store on Promenade Street down by the water. I have no doubt we'll be able to score some unique pieces to help Iris achieve the shabby chic look she's going for.
The store owner sits by the cash register, crochet pin moving at lightning speed. Every now and then, she glances up over the frames of her glasses to stab us with her suspicious glare and remind us that if we break something, we'd better be ready to pay for it. But Shirley's grouchy attitude doesn't faze me. My mood is ten-on-ten today.
Iris peers at me from halfway across the room, uncertainty in her eyes. "Really? It seems a little...loud to me." She points at a gray mosaic-patterned rug. "How about that one?"
I scrunch up my nose. "Way too 'obvious'," I argue, still defending my selection. "We want something dramatic, something kapow!" I press my fingers together them pop them apart with flair. "Even if we have to sacrifice practicality a tiny little bit." I grin. I'm trying hard to sell her my vision but my cousin isn't buying it. She squints and shakes her head. "Oh, come on. Look at it. The craftsmanship is exceptional and the Moroccan influences totally add a wow factor. What do you think, Lex? Back me up."
Nope—I'm totally not above dragging our mutual friend into this argument just to get my way.
When I don't hear a response out of Lexi, I turn and find her balled up in a rattan bucket chair with a second-hand quilt draped over her body. She's merrily snoring her little pregnant heart out.
Iris and I snicker.
"Poor thing," my cousin says as she tugs down the end of the blanket to cover Lexi's swollen ankles. "She's been dead on her feet the past few days. Third trimester is kicking her butt."
Lexi's having a baby. The mere reminder makes my own uterus leap with joy. Because soon, I'll be having a kid, too.
I barely slept after Walker left last night. All I could do was stare up at the ceiling imagining what our baby would look like.
My baby. Yeah, my baby.
Walker made it clear that he's not interested in being a father. He's perfectly comfortable with signing over all legal rights to me.
That's good. That's what I wanted, right? A simple, no strings attached sperm donation. So I don't understand the pang I feel every time I remind myself that Walker won't be involved in this child's life. I brush it off, chalk it up to the lingering remnants of my lifelong crush on my best friend. A crush I'm more than ready to move on from so I can begin the next chapter of my life.
"Hey. Earth to Penny?" Iris waves a hand around in my face.
"Sorry, just considering other flooring options." I smile sheepishly. My cousin doesn't seem to detect my boldface lie. "It looks like we'll just have to agree to disagree on the rug for now." I loop my arm through hers, lowering my voice so I don't disturb Lexi. "Come. I saw a chandelier over there that's to die for."
Iris and I rummage through the store's decorative offerings. Along with the pre-owned chandelier, we manage to pick out a few crystal vases and brass candleholders as well. This project has been so fun. It’s like digging up an old dream that died and breathing life into it again.
When Jessa bursts through the front door, Lexi leaps from her slumber with a yip.
"Sorry, sorry, sorry," Jessa chirps happily, slipping her purse strap back up her arm and tucking her windblown hair behind her ear. "I know I'm late. I just had to stop by the post office."
Lexi rolls her eyes as she swings her legs out of her bucket chair and stands. "My gosh! What is it with you and the post office these days?" she grumbles. "Save a tree, send an email. Haven't you heard?"
Iris grins conspiratorially. "Jessa? Is there something you're not telling us? Are you having an affair with the mailman?"
Jessa turns an off-the-color-spectrum shade of red as she stuffs a thick stack of envelopes into her purse. "Can you guys stop giving me a hard time? I'm just s-searching for a j-job. Mailing applications. It's hard out here, man."
Although Jessa is gainfully-employed as nanny to Walker's adorable niece, teaching kindergarteners was always her dream. However, landing the ideal position hear in Crescent Harbor has been a struggle for her. Regardless, from her expression, it's clear—our little Jessa has a secret. But as a woman with secrets of my own, I'm not one to pry. Instead, I save her from our friends' interrogation.
"Ladies. Focus." I snap my fingers in the air. "Are we liking these velvet throw pillows or not?"
My friends all agree—the pillows are a ‘yes’. I cheerfully shift my attention to the next item on my shopping list, practically dancing my way across the store.
"What's got you so upbeat today?" Lexi questions as she waddles through the cluttered furniture displays after me.
"Me? Upbeat?" My favorite teal stilettos hammer the scratched hardwood floors. I'm wearing a collared floral blouse tucked into perfectly tailored slim denim together with playful accessories. I think I look classy and professional without coming across as too stiff and serious.
"Yes, you." Jessa bumps her shoulder into mine, a smile in her tone.
"Come on, Penn. Don't hold out on us." Iris perches on
