to do was wait for
clearance and for someone to choose her. Allison had told her that
her file would need to be updated every six months and that it could
be some time if at all before she was chosen. The hardest part was
over. Allison also suggested that she improve her diet, adding folic
acid and iron, basically making her womb a welcoming environment. The
doctor also prescribed Ettie prenatal vitamins which she thought was
premature, but decided to take anyway.
Three weeks later, Ettie was given the all clear. She had only seven
months to be chosen. Lily’s school started in September. It was
already February and the balance was due by September 1st. She
couldn’t worry about that right now.
*****
Melissa was nervous as they looked over the files. Should they really
be doing this? Renting an egg for an instant family? And what made
these women okay to do this? Roy seemed generally interested in the
thick manila folders before them but all Melissa saw were smiling
faces that all melded together into one. They had decided to try and
find someone who had the same characteristics as Melissa so that
raising the baby would be easier. Less questions. But of course there
would be questions. That was just the world they lived in. Endless
questions by family and friends.
“ When are you having a baby?” the most
popular these days.
Roy was ecstatic. Melissa had agreed to finding a surrogate and here
they were in Dr. Klein’s office, one of the top fertility
specialists in Texas. They were led to a small but comfortable room
with cushy chairs, coffee and cookies and two computers side by side.
They had decided that to get through all of the files they would
peruse them separately and then save the ones they were interested
in. The friendly receptionist had given them instructions and assured
them that she would be able to answer any questions.
There were several questions asked before they had access to the
files. Education level, height, race, eye color. Roy noticed that
Melissa had selected several filters while he had kept all options
open. Whatever it took, he would make sure that they found some
candidates they could agree on.
Two hours later and Melissa was tired. She couldn’t find a
single woman that she wanted carrying her child. Roy had chosen six,
all of which she vetoed for some reason or another. Roy wanted to
have lunch and then come back with a fresh pair of eyes. Dr. Klein
said the process of choosing could take weeks but Roy was insistent
they find the right woman sooner than later.
They had a light lunch. Roy tried his best to make Melissa feel at
ease. He wasn’t sure she was completely on board and that
worried him.
“ Can’t we just do this another day?”
Melissa asked toying with the straw in her drink.
“ We took the day off. I was hoping we could
look at more files,” Roy said.
“ It’s just so tiring. They all start
looking the same after a while.”
“ You know Mel, when we find her we will just
know,” he said thoughtfully.
“ I don’t even know what criteria we
should be looking at,” Melissa shot back.
“ Well, we want her to be healthy obviously.
I was thinking African American so the baby looks more like us,”
Roy said.
“ Maybe we should look for someone biracial,”
Melissa said sarcastically.
“ You know what I meant Mel. You know this is
our baby right? The surrogate is just that. A surrogate. I want us
completely involved.”
“ That’s just it Roy. This is not our
baby. This is your baby, with another woman.”
Roy didn’t know how to respond at first so he just remained
quiet.
“ Mel, we don't have to do this,” he
said finally. “Do you want this? We have to be sure.”
It was on the tip of her tongue to say that she didn’t but when
she looked up and saw the hurt written all over his face she couldn’t
bring herself to say it.
“ Roy,” she said instead. “Can we
just come back on Saturday? I’m just so drained. I can’t
do this