The Contingency Plan (The Lonely Heart Series) by Latrivia Nelson Page B

narrowing her eyes on him as she picked up the coffee and put the cup to her mouth.
    “Ouch.  That hurt,” Sully said, frowning. “No. Like I said, I came to see how you guys were doing.  I sent over flowers.  Did you get them?”
    “Yes,” Charlie said, letting down her guard.  “Thank you. That was very thoughtful.”  She wiped her tired eyes and smirked.  “Sorry for being bitchy.  That was rude of me. I just haven’t really slept or taken a hot bath or anything and I think I’m just stressed out.”
    “You have every right to be,” Sully consoled.  “This has to be a very difficult time for both of you.” He noted the dark circles under her eyes.  “Is there anything that I can do for you, Charlie?  Anything to make this a little easier?”
    “I wish you could ,” she said, sipping the coffee slowly. “But unless you have a magic wand to make Alex better…” her eyes watered.  “He’s just been through so much, and now this.”  She wiped her tears quickly.
    “Keep praying for him,” Sully said, reaching out to touch her hand.  “Just keep praying and asking God for what you need.  He listens and He delivers.”
    Charlie was taken aback by his comment.  She had never really heard him mention God before.  It was comforting.  Those simple words spoke volumes to her heart.  Smiling, she clenched his hand tight.  “Thank you, Sully. Really.”
    Her eyes were warm and languid, like a sunset on a black sand beach, and Sully felt the need to hug her and make her feel safe again, but he could not.  She belonged to someone else…someone good.  Even he had to admit that, but it didn’t stop the rush of em o tions that had come over him since he had seen her at the gala.  It definitely didn’t stop his dream of having a child with her, but it did stop his actions.  She needed him right now to be a neutral zone, not pushing and prodding for his own self-interests. 
    Charlie slowly pulled her hands back and placed them in her lap.  “You know, Alex lost one testicle in the accident.”
    Sully bucked his eyes.  He wasn’t expecting that as a comeback.  “Well, I’m sorry to hear that,” he said, squinting his eyes.  “Is he going to be able to function okay?”
    “The doctor seems to think so.  We can still have children.  But it got me to thinking about something,” she said, looking around to make sure that no one could hear them.
    She continued.  “When I thought that he couldn’t have children, I just felt like a major part of our lives was snatched away from us.  The thought was agoni z ing.  So, it got me to thinking about you and your request.”  She leaned closer to him.  “I had a glimpse of what it would be like for you to lose your dream, Sully.”
    Sully couldn’t respond.  If she still turned him down, he would be crushed, but he could not let on too early how prematurely excited he was about the fact that she might be sitting in this noisy cafeteria agreeing to be the mother of his child. 
    Charlie realized Sully was type lipped for the m o ment and continued. “So, I’m going to do it.  I’m gonna…give you my eggs.  We just have to keep this between us, no matter what. If Alex ever found out…” She shook her head forebodingly at him but didn’t finish her statement.  He knew what she was saying. 
                  “He won’t.  No one will.” He reached over and touched her hand.  “Words cannot adequately e x press…”
    “I can’t say that I’m not concerned about a few things: you being a single father, you raising an interracial child, you having to tell her or him about how she or he came about,” she heaved a heavy sigh.  “These things really bother me, Sully.  But I trust that you will handle this situation with the utmost care.  You will in your own way strive for rights for interr a cial children and adequately support the IVF initiative of Sophie’s Choice.” 
    “I will do any and everything