“You believe in angels?”
“Not the Biblical kind. But I do believe that something in us—what some people might term a soul, perhaps—will cry out for help, for a friend. For a sperm donor.” She lifted her head and cupped my jaw while she stared into the soul that cried out for her. “You showed up when I needed you, Jason Isner. Not just with this genetic contribution but with your generous heart and protective nature. I don’t think you get how special you are. But I do. And our child is going to be so blessed because of it.”
She snuggled into me, claiming the last word, as usual. And as her soft snores vibrated against my chest, I considered that I was the one who was truly blessed.
And more than a little fucked.
Chapter Forty-One
To: Franky St. James
From: Marcus Bilson, Chair
Subject: Adjustment in laboratory funding
* * *
Dear Dr. St. James,
* * *
A recent audit of your laboratory’s funding has uncovered a processing error which resulted in an overpayment to your staffing budget. These funds were used to hire an additional assistant in the Malacology Lab, a hiring decision that will need to be reversed at the end of the fiscal year unless you can obtain renewed funds to cover the shortfall. With the current research funding climate, I expect this will be difficult, but I am happy to discuss your lab’s options when you return to Chicago. My door is always open.
* * *
Marcus Bilson, PhD
Chair, Department of Biology
Lakeshore University
Franky
* * *
“So show us,” Violet said.
Standing, I positioned the phone to take in my very round, six and a half months in, belly. I patted my bump and whispered, “Let’s cook for a little longer, Super Kid.”
Cat went “aw,” and when I took a closer look at my laptop screen, Violet’s eyes were suspiciously shiny.
“If anyone should be emotional, it’s me.”
“This Boricua can get emotional for both of us. Your father will be annoyed he missed you.”
I chuckled. “He probably won’t mind missing my frequent visits to the bathroom or my whining about my back pain.”
Vi grinned. “Oh, he remembers it all when I was pregnant with Rosie and Devon.”
“Where’s my little brother today? On a hockey rink, I suppose.”
“Yes, but he’s doing much better in algebra after you gave him online tutoring. Got a B+ on the last quiz.”
I so wished I could be there. I hadn’t realized how much I would miss my family. I longed for my own space, my cats, and time to nest before the baby was born.
Though I imagined my pregnancy hormones were contributing to my homesickness and mood swings. Also contributing, the various micro-aggressions I was suffering from my department chair, even when I was over a thousand miles away and in a different time zone. I bitched about him to Cat and Rosie, but kept mum around Violet, as she would probably slash Dr. Bilious’s tires or chuck a brick through the window of the office she thought should have been mine.
Instead, we chatted about the anniversary trip my dad and Violet were taking to Scotland this summer for the first time in over twenty years.
