What's Left of Us
Page 55
“I think it’s a good idea.”
I hate having to discuss difficult topics like this, but they’re necessary. Cancer or no cancer; cardiomyopathy or no cardiomyopathy. We need a will. We have assets to ensure and family to protect.
This is normal.
The end of August approaches and I have one week before I start my new job. I’m sad to leave For the Love of Paws, but excited for my next adventure.
Wendy’s almost fifteen weeks along, now, and we’re getting anxious for our eighteen-week ultrasound to find out the sex of the baby. Genna recommended a babymoon—something I’d never heard of before. It’s basically an excuse to take a little vacation before the diaper-changing, scheduled feedings, and lack of sleep starts.
Parker is up earlier than normal for work, and he’s moving quietly, trying not to wake me. Little does he know I’ve been awake almost all night thinking and enjoying a chance to watch him sleep peacefully.
I open my eyes as I hear him approach the bed.
“I’m sorry,” he whispers, leaning down to kiss the top of my head goodbye.
“It’s okay.” He sits on the edge of the bed, so I scoot over to make room for him. “You’re going to meet me at the lawyer’s office, correct?” We’re going to have our will drawn up by the same lawyer Jason and Genna used.
“Yes. At three?”
I nod.
He kisses my temple. My eyes drift closed again at the warm touch.
“Okay, I really have to get going before I ravish you right here and now. You’re too damned tempting,” he growls into my neck, playfully attacking me with nips and kisses.
I giggle. “Go, go!”
I’m grinning when he leaves.
I arrive early for our appointment, so I’m waiting for Parker when Jean calls.
“Hey, you!”
“Hi. Is this an okay time?”
“Yeah, I’m sitting outside the lawyer’s office waiting for Parker.”
“Oh, that’s right. Sorry, I forgot your appointment was this afternoon.”
“It’s okay. I’m early.”
We make small talk, then she asks, “When do we get to find out the sex of that baby?”
“Three weeks. I actually had a dream that the baby wouldn’t uncross its legs so we didn’t find out. I woke up telling Parker no matter what, we’re shaking Wendy’s stomach to make sure that baby cooperates.” She giggles. “So … are you moving here?” I know she’s not, but I like to keep pressing her. I have to listen to Kevin talk about it day in and day out at the clinic.
“No,” she says, predictably. I let out an exaggerated sigh. “Hey now!”
“What?” I say innocently.
“Don’t what me. Listen to me. My career is here and his is there. I love him, I do, but I’m not sure it’s meant to be. We’re both passionate about our work and neither of us wants to give up our career for the other. He’s certain of that and, honestly, I am too. If it’s meant to be, it’s meant to be.”
“You don’t have to give up your career.”
“No? We live two hours apart. Either he leaves the practice where he’s partner, or I leave the place that could possibly be the best job in the world. Don’t you see the problem there?”
“Not really. I mean, I see two stubborn people who love each other and are not together.”
“So one of us should give up our job to be together?”
“If it means being together, it wouldn’t even be a question for me.”
“If you needed to relocate for Parker, would you? Now that you’ve found what you proclaim to be your dream job.”
“In a second. There’s only one Parker and many other jobs.” She doesn’t speak. I know she’s contemplating my words. “You there?”
“Yeah. I hate it when you say shit like that.”
“Like what?”
“The truth.”
I laugh into the phone.
When Parker arrives I tell Jean I’ll call her later.
“Hey!” I smile at him.
“Hey back.”
He takes my hand and we walk into the office.
Michael, the lawyer, doesn’t waste any time getting into it. Once we’ve covered most things, he brings up the baby and our frozen embryos.
“What do you want to do with the embryos?” he asks.
“Excuse me?” Parker looks at him, bemused.
“Did you write them into your contract with the agency?”
We shake our heads.
“Maybe you should donate them?” he suggests before continuing. “You’ll want to make sure they’re secure so in the event something does happen, a family member won’t be able to go after the widower for the rights.”
Would our families really do that? “I don’t think my family would do that.” I look at Parker and correct myself. “I don’t think our families would.”
“With all due respect Aundrea, you’d be surprised. If something happened to you, you’d want to make sure Parker has full custody of them, or … donate them.”
Parker opens his mouth, but I cut in. “If something happens to either of us, I’d like them to be property of the widower. In the event of a divorce, or if we both die, then they should be donated to Circle of Life.”
“Parker?” Michael asks.
He looks at me with amazement. I can see he’s proud of me for taking control of the conversation. “I completely agree.”
I hate having to discuss difficult topics like this, but they’re necessary. Cancer or no cancer; cardiomyopathy or no cardiomyopathy. We need a will. We have assets to ensure and family to protect.
This is normal.
The end of August approaches and I have one week before I start my new job. I’m sad to leave For the Love of Paws, but excited for my next adventure.
Wendy’s almost fifteen weeks along, now, and we’re getting anxious for our eighteen-week ultrasound to find out the sex of the baby. Genna recommended a babymoon—something I’d never heard of before. It’s basically an excuse to take a little vacation before the diaper-changing, scheduled feedings, and lack of sleep starts.
Parker is up earlier than normal for work, and he’s moving quietly, trying not to wake me. Little does he know I’ve been awake almost all night thinking and enjoying a chance to watch him sleep peacefully.
I open my eyes as I hear him approach the bed.
“I’m sorry,” he whispers, leaning down to kiss the top of my head goodbye.
“It’s okay.” He sits on the edge of the bed, so I scoot over to make room for him. “You’re going to meet me at the lawyer’s office, correct?” We’re going to have our will drawn up by the same lawyer Jason and Genna used.
“Yes. At three?”
I nod.
He kisses my temple. My eyes drift closed again at the warm touch.
“Okay, I really have to get going before I ravish you right here and now. You’re too damned tempting,” he growls into my neck, playfully attacking me with nips and kisses.
I giggle. “Go, go!”
I’m grinning when he leaves.
I arrive early for our appointment, so I’m waiting for Parker when Jean calls.
“Hey, you!”
“Hi. Is this an okay time?”
“Yeah, I’m sitting outside the lawyer’s office waiting for Parker.”
“Oh, that’s right. Sorry, I forgot your appointment was this afternoon.”
“It’s okay. I’m early.”
We make small talk, then she asks, “When do we get to find out the sex of that baby?”
“Three weeks. I actually had a dream that the baby wouldn’t uncross its legs so we didn’t find out. I woke up telling Parker no matter what, we’re shaking Wendy’s stomach to make sure that baby cooperates.” She giggles. “So … are you moving here?” I know she’s not, but I like to keep pressing her. I have to listen to Kevin talk about it day in and day out at the clinic.
“No,” she says, predictably. I let out an exaggerated sigh. “Hey now!”
“What?” I say innocently.
“Don’t what me. Listen to me. My career is here and his is there. I love him, I do, but I’m not sure it’s meant to be. We’re both passionate about our work and neither of us wants to give up our career for the other. He’s certain of that and, honestly, I am too. If it’s meant to be, it’s meant to be.”
“You don’t have to give up your career.”
“No? We live two hours apart. Either he leaves the practice where he’s partner, or I leave the place that could possibly be the best job in the world. Don’t you see the problem there?”
“Not really. I mean, I see two stubborn people who love each other and are not together.”
“So one of us should give up our job to be together?”
“If it means being together, it wouldn’t even be a question for me.”
“If you needed to relocate for Parker, would you? Now that you’ve found what you proclaim to be your dream job.”
“In a second. There’s only one Parker and many other jobs.” She doesn’t speak. I know she’s contemplating my words. “You there?”
“Yeah. I hate it when you say shit like that.”
“Like what?”
“The truth.”
I laugh into the phone.
When Parker arrives I tell Jean I’ll call her later.
“Hey!” I smile at him.
“Hey back.”
He takes my hand and we walk into the office.
Michael, the lawyer, doesn’t waste any time getting into it. Once we’ve covered most things, he brings up the baby and our frozen embryos.
“What do you want to do with the embryos?” he asks.
“Excuse me?” Parker looks at him, bemused.
“Did you write them into your contract with the agency?”
We shake our heads.
“Maybe you should donate them?” he suggests before continuing. “You’ll want to make sure they’re secure so in the event something does happen, a family member won’t be able to go after the widower for the rights.”
Would our families really do that? “I don’t think my family would do that.” I look at Parker and correct myself. “I don’t think our families would.”
“With all due respect Aundrea, you’d be surprised. If something happened to you, you’d want to make sure Parker has full custody of them, or … donate them.”
Parker opens his mouth, but I cut in. “If something happens to either of us, I’d like them to be property of the widower. In the event of a divorce, or if we both die, then they should be donated to Circle of Life.”
“Parker?” Michael asks.
He looks at me with amazement. I can see he’s proud of me for taking control of the conversation. “I completely agree.”
