Authors: Diana Persaud
Ma shook her head and clucked her tongue.
“A hospital full of single Indian doctors and you don’t wear any makeup. At least put your hair up in a neat bun,” Ma suggested.
She nodded respectfully.
“Your father is downstairs with your niece and nephew. I should go and check on them,” Ma said as she stood. “Because you are here and it’s getting late, we will take the children home.” Ma returned the baby to Nandini and gave her a kiss. Before Ma left, she said, “Beti, before you know it, you will be too old to have children. Stop being lazy and find a husband.”
It took all her willpower not to roll her eyes or respond with a rude comment. Once the doors swooshed closed behind Ma, she let out a deep sigh.
“I’ll just take out an ad then, shall I?”
“Anjali, you’re not trying hard enough. Would it hurt to wear some makeup? Style your hair? Lose a few pounds?”
To refrain from sharing her snarky response, she busied herself at the sink, washing her hands while Jiji nursed her newborn.
“I’m sure Dinesh could find a good Indian man for you,” Jiji continued.
“Where is Dinesh, anyway?”
“He was at work when I called earlier.”
You are having his third child and he can’t be bothered to show up? Where do I sign up for that?
She bit the inside of her cheek to keep from sharing her thoughts. Jiji burped the baby then switched sides.
“Did you pick out a name yet?”
“Basmati.”
“Like the rice? Oh, Jiji, please don’t name her that. She’ll be teased to no end.”
“I think it’s a lovely name. Dinesh chose it,” Jiji replied.
“I see,” she replied.
Whatever Dinesh wants….
“She’s asleep. Can you put her in the bassinet?”
She reached for her niece, breathing in a mixture of baby powder and sweet milk.
“I’m your favorite aunt,” she whispered before setting her in the clear plastic bassinet.
A nurse brought dinner and she watched TV while Jiji ate. Some time after dinner, Dinesh waltzed in. He kissed his wife on the forehead then stood in front of the bassinet, staring at his newborn daughter. His nose wrinkled in disgust.
“She needs to be changed,” he announced before walking around the bed and taking a seat as if he were royalty.
Surely he doesn’t expect the woman who just gave birth to his child to get up and change a diaper?
Jiji pulled back her blanket. Her face showed strain as she tried to hide her pain.
“I’ll do it,” she offered, not bothering to hide her disgust. She glared at Dinesh who seemed surprised by her response.
What a useless piece of…diaper filler.
She changed her niece then secured the new diaper. After two unsuccessful tries, she wrapped her niece securely in her blanket and rocked her gently.
I’m so glad I’m single. I don’t need a big baby to take care of. Though I wouldn’t mind a little one.
Chapter Two
“Mr. Everett’s asking for a hundred grand, Andy,” Tom said.
He slid the dipstick into the engine then pulled it out. He wiped the dipstick with a paper towel. The oil was clean. He shoved the paper towel into his dark blue jumper.
“Mikey is willing to lend me twenty grand. I can get fifty grand with a home equity loan.”
Andrew Fuller rubbed one of his chins. He glanced around the dark workshop.
“Thirty grand is a lot of money to invest in this…place, Tom.”
The concrete floor was chipped and cracked. The paint was faded and peeling off the walls. The large roller door squeaked loudly when they raised or lowered it. The equipment was old but still in working condition. He would have to be frugal and set money aside for replacing broken equipment. Cosmetic fixes would have to wait until he was making a decent profit.
“This business isn’t worth a hundred grand. Why don’t you let me negotiate the price?” Andy offered.
He shook his head.
“Mr. Everett doesn’t have time to negotiate.”
Andy put his hand on Tom’s shoulder.
“Tom, I understand your loyalty to him, but don’t let your emotions blind you.”
“He taught me everything I know about fixing cars, Andy. He gave me a chance when no one else would.”
Andy shook his head disapprovingly.
“Your loyalty is commendable, but financially unwise.”
“I can do this,” he insisted. “It’s a great location. Plus it’s the only Shop on this side of town.”
Andy nodded, his double chin jiggling with the motion of his head.
“Mr. Everett has a reputation for honesty. I’m going to build on that to expand our customer base.”
Andy still seemed unconvinced.
“What’s your plan, Tom?”
“First I need to hire another mechanic. For simple oil changes, I can get some high school kids who are interested in learning the trade to volunteer.” Excitement crept into his voice. “There are three tow truck companies in the city. I’m going to offer them a cut if they bring business my way.”
Andy grinned.
“That’s brilliant. Doesn’t cost anything up front and they get paid a percentage when you do.”
“We’ll be partners, Andy. We’ll split the profits fifty-fifty.”
“I don’t know anything about running this shop, Tom. Hell, I can’t even change my oil.”
“I’ll handle everything, Andy. Inventory, payroll, taxes. All of it.”
After screwing the top back on, he closed the hood, slamming it down harder than necessary.
“We’ve been friends for a long time, Andy. Have I ever steered you wrong?”
Andy raised his brow and crossed his arms.
“You told me to dump Janice.”
Tom shrugged.
“I was trying to save you from the big ‘M’.”
Andy laughed.
“Marriage isn’t a death sentence, Tom.”
“The fuck it isn’t. The rest of your life. Fucking only
one
woman. Sounds
worse
than a death sentence to me.”
“That reminds me, Janice wanted to know if you’re bringing anyone to the wedding.”
“Your impending marriage has fried your brain,” Tom said, shaking his head.
“What do you mean?”
“Taking a woman to a wedding? You seriously think I want that kind of trouble?”
Tom walked into the office and opened the small refrigerator. He withdrew two beers and offered one to Andy.
“You really think bringing one of your girlfriends to our wedding is going to make her consider marriage?”
“Of course. Weddings are all women ever think about. I don’t need a woman pressuring me into getting hitched.” He took a swig and looked around the garage. “Especially not now.”
Andy’s phone rang.
“See, always checking up on you.”
“She’s
not
always checking on me,” Andy denied.
“Hi, Sweetheart….At the shop with Tom.”
He turned away, avoiding the smirk on Tom’s face.
Tom set his beer down and flipped through the book on the desk. He found some statements and gathered them together.
Andy returned to the office, shoving his phone into his pants pocket.
“Janice is fine with you not bringing someone.”
He refrained from responding. He was planning on hooking up with a lonely bridesmaid. Nothing made women hornier than a wedding. One night stands were not his preference, but he didn’t need any unnecessary distractions right now. Once he secured funding, he would buy Everett’s Auto Body Shop. He wouldn’t have time for a short term relationship.
“Here are recent statements. As you can see, Mr. Everett is making a profit. In this location, we are guaranteed business and there’s plenty of opportunity for growth.”
“Let me look at the statements,” Andy said.
He left Andy in the office while he returned to the workshop. He had to change a water pump before he went home.
He popped the hood of the Honda Civic and drained out the antifreeze. Then he loosened the tensioner and unhooked the serpentine belt. He hunted through the large red toolbox, pulling out each drawer, searching for a 3/8 inch drive ratchet and socket.
I really need to organize this drawer. I’ve got standard mixed with metric.
Finding the right size tools, he returned to the Civic. He removed the bolts from the water pump and lifted it out. With a spare rag, he cleaned the surface then inserted the new water pump. Using his 3/8 inch drive ratchet and socket, he secured the bolts. He checked the serpentine belt for any signs of wear. Finding none, he reattached the belt. He returned his tools to the toolbox and retrieved a bottle of antifreeze. He filled the water pump, holding his breath to avoid the distinct pungent-floral scent. He recapped the bottle and returned it to a nearby workbench. He started the Civic and let it run for a few minutes. He checked for leaks. Finding none, he shut off the Civic and closed the hood.
He cleaned up before returning to the small office.
“I did a cursory analysis of Everett’s books. It looks like he made a nice profit, mainly because he never reinvested anything in his business,” Andy said, leaning back in the chair.
Tom waited patiently for his final answer.
“With your work ethic and commitment, I think you have a pretty good chance of making this work.”
“So you’ll give me the money?”
His heart seemed to skip a beat.
“You got it, Partner.”
***
Anjali plopped down on the couch and slipped on her glasses. She opened the folder and sorted through several brochures and Fact Sheets.
Family Tree. Helping childless couples fulfill their secret wishes for more than ten years.
She skimmed over the brief explanation of In Vitro Fertilization procedures.
Ovulation and egg retrieval. I have to take…gonado-what?
She frowned.
Oh great. I get to take a hormone ‘agonist’ or ‘antagonist’. That sounds like…fun.
She continued reading.
A transvag ultrasound?
Her thighs pulled together.
Needle aspiration? They’re going to put a needle where?
She read the passage again.
“You’re really going to go through with this?”
A deep voice broke her concentration. Sanjay leaned casually against the door frame, studying her.
“Well I’m not getting any younger, Sanjay. As much as I hate to admit it, Ma is right about one thing. I want a baby and if I want to minimize health risks, I need to do it before I turn thirty-five.”
“You’re only twenty-eight. You’ve got plenty of time.”
She closed the folder.
“Time for what? To find ‘Mr. Right’?”
He nodded.
“He’s not out there, Sanjay. I’m not going to let my life pass by waiting for the mythical ‘Mr. Right.’”
He looked at the thick white folder on his coffee table.
“You’re going to read all those profiles to find a…daddy?”
“Sperm donor. Yes. It’s not like I have a choice.”
He gave her an odd look then sat next to her.
“I bet half those guys lied when filling out their profile.”
She shrugged.
“It’s possible.”
“You should choose someone you know.”
“Who?”
“Me.”
She swallowed.
“Although I’d want to do it the old fashioned way.”
“Sanjay—”
“Why pay fifteen grand when you can get it free?”
His sexy smirk eased her discomfort and she chuckled.
“I appreciate it, Sanjay. But it would mess up our friendship. What about…uh…Ginny?”
“That was last week. I’m seeing someone new. Surita.” He leaned back. “She might decide to join us.”
She shifted uncomfortably.
“Okaaay. That was…information I did
not
need to know.”
“Think about it, Anjali. The offer still stands.”
He rose from the couch.
“You need anything else before I turn in? A blanket?”
“I’m fine with just a throw. Thanks for letting me spend the night.”
Everything in her apartment was boxed and ready for the moving company coming in the morning.
“That’s what friends are for. Good night, Anjali.”
Sanjay went to bed and she remained on his couch thinking about his offer.
I could certainly do worse than Sanjay. He’s handsome and smart. Fit.
She set the Family Tree folder on top of the manila folder and placed her pillow on the couch.
Knowing my luck, I’ll end up falling in love with him if we had sex.
She turned off the lamp and lay on the couch.
But he’s not interested in marriage. And I want more than just sex.
She turned to her side.
Am I being greedy in wanting a faithful husband and children?
She sighed and closed her eyes.
The only thing I can control is whether or not I have children. So what’s it going to be? Donor X or Sanjay?
She turned, this time lying flat on her back. She stared at shadows on his ceiling.
Stop thinking about Sanjay and go to sleep. Tomorrow is moving day.
Her heartbeat increased slightly with excitement. She planned the next day and eventually fell asleep.
The movers spent part of the morning emptying her apartment and loading the moving truck. After a quick walk-through with her landlord, she followed the truck to her new house.
She had selected this suburban town because it seemed like a nice place to raise a family.
I can’t believe it. I am finally moving into my own house!
She parked her car in her driveway and strolled to the front of her Victorian. She found it impossible not to smile at the cheerful color of her new home.
Robin’s egg blue.
Freshly painted white decorative trim reminded her of a gingerbread house. One corner of the house featured a spire, rising to a sharp point.
Just like a castle.
The room beneath the spire was shaped like a hexagon and featured four large windows.
That’s the perfect place to set up my office. And the room beneath will be the perfect reading spot. All that light!