‘After the last two miscarriages I wanted to make sure I got through the first three months OK. And yes, Karen, the baby’s fine. It’s growing at a healthy rate and everything looks good.’
‘And what does Richard think? Are we finally going to meet the father-to-be?’
‘Where is he?’ Paula turned her head to peer into the kitchen and dining room.
‘I think you need to sit down again,’ began Mandy calmly.
‘Don’t tell me the little shit’s done a runner? Kaz, didn’t I say that’s why we haven’t met him? He’s dumped her. How’s that even possible? I didn’t think you could get binned by your Match?’
‘No no, he hasn’t dumped me. Richard doesn’t know about the baby because … because Richard is no longer with us.’
Mandy’s sisters frowned and looked at each other, unsure if they understood her correctly.
‘So hehasleft you?’ said Paula.
‘No, I mean he has left us in another way.’
‘What other way is there, other than he’s dead?’ asked Karen.
Mandy said nothing.
‘Oh.’ Karen’s face fell.
‘Your boyfriend died and you didn’t say anything?’ Paula said quietly. ‘That doesn’t make sense.’
Mandy took a deep breath before she explained. ‘Richard was never my boyfriend …’ she spoke slowly and deliberately ‘… because he and I never met. Soon after I found out I had a Match, I learned he’d been killed in a hit and run.’
Karen stared at her with a concerned expression, then reached for her hand. ‘Then how are you pregnant, hon?’
‘I’m not mad, Kaz, and this isn’t a figment of my imagination. Richard had cancer when he was a teenager so he stored his sperm in a fertility clinic bank. I’ve been getting to know his family over the last few months and his mum asked me if I’d consider having his child using his sperm.’ As she spoke, Mandy realised how ridiculous it sounded.If only they could understand, she thought.
Karen quickly withdrew her hand. The mood in the room dramatically shifted.
‘You what? She just gave away her son’s spunk to a complete stranger? And you said yes?’
‘No, it’s not like that.’
‘Then what is it like? You’re carrying a dead man’s baby! It’s … it’swrong.’
Mandy shook her head and ran her fingers through her hair. She wanted to convey to her sisters what it was like to feel love for somebody who was not there in person, what it was like to have a deep sense of connection, no matter the obstacles, but she could tell by their disapproving glares that they would remain unconvinced by the choice she’d made.
‘I’m sorry, Mandy, you know I love you, but I think this is so, so inappropriate,’ began Paula, while Karennodded her support. ‘Having a baby by a dead bloke you’ve never met with the permission of a woman you barely know? It’s bloody ridiculous.’
‘How is it any different from women who go it alone with an anonymous sperm donor?’
‘Of course it’s different! Your donor’s dead, isn’t he?’
‘But he’s my Match and I love him.’ Immediately Mandy wanted to take her last comment back.
‘You can’t be in love with a man you’ve never met, Mandy. You’re in love with the idea of being in love and his family have put these silly ideas into your head. You’re not and you never will be part of their family. You’re just their incubator … a rent-a-womb … a surrogate.’
Mandy’s temper rose and she struggled to keep it in check.
‘How dare you say that! You don’t know the first thing about them or what I’ve been through in the last few months. Just because it’s not a conventional relationship like yours, it doesn’t mean it’s wrong. Not everyone can be like you … not everyone can find their Match and live happily ever after.’
‘I haven’t found my Match,’ said Karen quietly, and Mandy and Paula looked at her in surprise. ‘Gary and I did the test and we weren’t Matched, but we told everybody we were.’
‘Why?’ Mandy asked.
