Jeffrey quietly wondered if he could hack into their Cloud and find it.
‘Can’t Noah go in there with you and give you a hand, so to speak?’ asked Beccy.
‘He’ll just try and make me laugh. So no, I’ll just have to put on my big boy pants and get on with it myself.’
‘Don’t forget to take the big boy pants off first,’ said Noah. ‘You don’t want to be wringing them out into a Petri dish. Anyway, enough talk about my husband’s sperm; who wants another coffee?’
‘You’ve put me off a latte, so I’ll have a tea, no milk,’ said Beccy.
‘Espresso, please,’ said Jeffrey.
Noah and Luca rose from the table, hovering midway when they realized they’d be leaving Beccy alone with their Relationship Responder.
‘It’s okay.’ Jeffrey smiled. ‘I’m sure Beccy’s not going to tell me anything I’ve not already learned.’
They smiled nervously as they made their way to queue at the counter.
Jeffrey waited until they were out of earshot before he spoke again. ‘I did want to say what an incredible thing you’re doing. They’re very lucky.’
‘Thank you,’ Beccy replied.
‘What was it about their profile that made you pick them?’
‘It was their photo to begin with, which sounds really shallow, doesn’t it?’
‘No, not at all,’ said Jeffrey. It was the same reason he had volunteered to work with them.
‘They looked really happy together,’ Beccy continued. ‘You could see it in their eyes that they were made for each another.’
‘So were you surprised when they told you they’d been put on Level Two?’
‘They didn’t say anything at first because they didn’t want to worry me, but I knew something was off. They were talking to each other differently . . . like they were choosing their words more carefully. I thought they’d had an argument.’
‘Do they argue much?’
‘Oh no, that’s not what I meant. It’s just their way, taking the piss out of each other. Then I thought perhaps they’d changed their minds about the surrogacy thing or about wanting to team up with me and didn’t know how to tell me.’
‘I assume it doesn’t worry you that you might be getting pregnant for a couple whose marriage is at risk?’
‘No,’ Beccy said confidently. ‘Once you get to know the guys like I know them, you’ll realize it’s a big misunderstanding.’
‘That’s good to hear. I don’t like to judge couples solely on what I’ve heard in recordings.’
‘Why, what did you hear . . . ?’
‘I’m sure they will make great dads. Luca seems particularly keen, doesn’t he? A little more than Noah perhaps?’
‘No, they’re both really up for it.’
‘I’m sure Noah will be on board more once they’re taken off Level Two. However, Beccy, I wouldn’t be doing my job if I didn’t ask if you’ve considered what might happen if they are placed on Level Three?’
‘But they won’t be,’ she said. ‘Noah promised that he’ll make you see that.’
He’llmake me,will he?thought Jeffrey. He remained quiet to unnerve her.
‘What . . . what will happen if they are Levelled up?’ she asked eventually.
‘A court may decide to divorce them and they’ll be encouraged to find more suitable partners.’
