Chapter 9: Family Ties

Roxanne frowned. What could he want – from her? He’d been such a gentlemen in their previous meetings: shaking her hand, pulling out her chair, helping her to the door. She hoped he wasn’t gross like Baxter. The last time a man suggested an exchange with Roxanne, he had only wanted one thing – her body.
“What’s that?” she asked. She was tired of rolling through the options in her head.
“I need you to have my baby.”
Roxanne looked at him in shock. Her mouth hung open. So he did want her body. What did he mean ‘have his baby?’ She thought Baxter was forward. This was a whole other level.
She laughed and shook her head. “That’s some way to get in a girl’s pants. I know you’re a little odd, but maybe ask me on a date first?” she joked.
“It’s not like that.” He shook his head, starting to show signs of frustration. “Look, I told you I’m trying to break out on my own, without my parents. Well, I have this opportunity, but I found out the land owner will only sell the property to a family man.”
“So it’s not personal – a baby. It’s business?” She eyed him closely to gauge his reaction.
“Yes,” Tom nodded his head and then realized his mistake. “No. Not all business. Usually I’d take offense to someone calling me odd, but you’re right. I don’t always do well with women.” He broke her stare and looked down at the table.
“You don’t say?” Roxanne said and chuckled. “A baby, though, that’s a big deal. A real big deal. That just doesn’t go away once you get your land deal.”
“I know,” he looked up straight in Roxanne’s eyes to show he meant his words. “I’d love to be a dad. I want a child. You wouldn’t have to do anything. Just have the baby. I’ll take care of the rest.”
“You can’t just swoop in with your money. A child is serious. It needs love, warmth, hugs,” she said.
“I know.” Tom lowered his head in a sullen gesture. “I didn’t get a lot of that growing up.”
“You don’t say?” Roxanne quipped again.
“Hear me out.” He raised his eyes to her. “You’re young. You’re healthy. I know you’re close with your dad. That’s why I chose YOU. There are a lot of desperate women I could have propositioned.”
Roxanne sat up straighter, her mouth agape. “I’m not desperate.”
“Sure, but just think about it. I help you. You help me.”
“Would we raise the child together? What happens to the baby?” she asked. She couldn’t believe she was actually considering this idea.
“I’ll raise it. I’ll do it all. After you give birth, you can go back to your life as you know it. Think about it more like being a surrogate.”
“You could hire a surrogate then, why me?”
“But I still need someone to pretend to be my family so I can get the land.”
“So that’s it. I need to pretend to be a happy couple with you, have your baby and then walk away?”
Tom nodded. “Now you’ve got it.” He looked satisfied, as if he’d stolen a piece of candy and gotten away with it.
“Tom, a baby is serious. What makes you think I could just walk away?” She looked hurt.
In their exchanges so far, Tom had returned his answers fairly quickly. This time, he took a moment to think about how to answer Roxanne, his mind working while his body remained still. He looked like he was considering her argument.
“Don’t take this the wrong way, but I think you’d be great for this job. You have a good relationship with your father. I heard you were close, and then at the bar I saw your bond. That’s what I want. “
Roxanne looked at him skeptically. “Since you know so much, you know my mother walked away. I would never do that.”
“Okay then. I’ll amend the agreement. You don’t have to walk away. It’s up to you. We can both raise the child.” He scooched back in his chair a little, finally placing his long hands around his mug and taking a sip.
Roxanne pondered what Tom had said so far. She knew he’d be able to financially care for a child, and he had good manners, but would Tom be able to be flexible enough to be a father? Could she really do something so crazy?
“I’m not sure this is such a good idea,” she pointed to Tom and then to herself.
“Roxanne, you could use some help. Like I told you, I know what kind of trouble you’re in. I have connections. These people aren’t going to wait for their money.”
Roxanne remembered her days languishing on her father’s couch without a job. She thought about the loan shark and how he threatened to hurt her father if their deal didn’t go well. At the same time, she fought the notion that she needed a man to swoop in and rescue her. She was too proud for that.
“I’m independent,” Roxanne said, and Tom nodded. “I don’t need you to save me. If we’re going to do this then you can’t just pay off the debt.”
“What is it that you need?”
“I need to find out who stole that permit.”
“Deal,” said Tom and flashed Roxanne a huge grin. Seeing his smile made her believe she had made the right decision. Tom held out his hand over the table for a handshake, his hand looking like a rigid piece of wood. She hesitated, then brought her hand to meet Tom’s. Like the first time they shook hands, his hand enveloped hers, feeling soft and warm. Her heart fluttered from nervousness.
***
Roxanne floated through her work day, having trouble concentrating on her actual job, instead replaying her conversation with Tom. What had she done? Why had she agreed to such desperate measures? She considered calling up Tom and backing out. Somehow his smile had hypnotized her, she thought. And then she’d remember her predicament, how she was no closer to finding out how the permit disappeared.
After work she drove to her father’s place where he was watching the Grizzlies game on TV, eating leftover pizza. Roxanne grabbed a slice and a soda from the fridge and sat down next to him.
“How’s it going?” she asked.
“Just swell,” he said.
She laughed, thinking about how many phrases she used because her father said them too.
“I’m just so glad you’re working again,” he continued. “It makes me happy. Everything going okay at work?”
Roxanne looked over and saw her father’s usual jovial grin on his face. Then he groaned, getting up from the couch, walking back toward the refrigerator. She noticed how frail he was becoming, how hard it was for him to move.
“Yeah, why?”
“Oh, no reason. Just heard from the loan shark. A warning about staying on time. Getting the building done. You know, I got the message through Owen. Just wanted to make sure everything was alright with you.” She heard the air release once her father opened his beer can.
“It’s fine, Dad,” Roxanne said, panicking a little that others might know about the missing permit. She hoped Tom’s connections could work fast.
“I heard about this horse that Joey said was a sure thing,” her father said, walking back to his seat on the couch.
“No, dad,” she said cutting him off. “I’ve got it all handled.”
“I know, dear,” he said, struggling to sit down. “I just don’t want you working too hard. I can contribute. Otherwise it’s going to take forever to pay off my debt. My grandkids will be paying it.” He chuckled.
She turned to look him sternly in the face. “Dad, I’ve got it covered. No more bets. I have another way. It’s going to be fine.”
Her father smiled and patted her on the leg.
Roxanne leaned back and took a sip of her soda. She had to go through with Tom’s deal to protect her dad. It was the first time Roxanne had heard her father mention having grandkids. Little did he know, if things worked out with Tom, he’d become a grandpa soon enough. It was all about creating one life to save another.