Page 2 of The Mrs. Clause
"This is a request you can't grant over the phone."
He gave me a long look then opened the envelope, pulling free the papers.
I'd read them a hundred times on the plane ride over. It gave all the details, provided all the information about the process and what to expect.
Nick pulled the pamphlet free, opening it and reading. I said nothing. Just sat with my arms wrapped around my handbag, waiting for him to react.
He didn't hurry, instead thoroughly reading the material front to back then placed it in his lap. "And this is what you want help with?" He cocked an eyebrow in question.
"I can do it without you but considering we're married…" I trailed off, licking my dry lips.
He watched me for a long moment. "No."
My heart seized. "No?"
He tapped the papers. "I'm not going to jerk off into a cup so you can get pregnant."
"IVF is a perfectly reasonable way to get pregnant."
"No. That's final Collins."
Anger, hurt, disappointment all coursed through my veins in equal measure. "Okay." I pulled the second envelope free from my handbag, handing it over.
"You've left me no choice, Nick."
He took it, tearing the top free and scanning the document. I saw the exact moment when he found it, the highlighted section of our prenuptial agreement–page 42, Section M, subsections (R)-(S) of the contract.
The clause stated that should we be unable to get pregnant then either party had the right to either enter into a surrogacy arrangement or seek donor sperm.
Nick glared at me over the paper, "no."
"The clause states-"
"I can read the fucking clause, Collins," he snapped, vibrating with anger. "But I'm not allowing it."
I threw my hands up, exasperated. "I want a baby, Nick. I want a little person to love and raise and care for. If you won't donate sperm, then you've left me only two choices. Either seek a donor which is within our prenup to do, or seek a divorce."
His full lips pressed into a thin line, deep furrows cutting into his brow but he remained silent.
"Your choice," I crossed my arms, waiting.
Hold it together, Collins. You can do this.
He stood, pacing the room. After a long moment Nick returned to his seat, handing me back the paperwork. "We're not doing IVF and there will be no divorce."
I sighed, "there's no other-"
He held up a hand cutting me off. "I propose a third option."
It was my turn to raise an eyebrow. I had already looked at all my options back to front and hadn’t found a third.
He leaned forward, his hands resting on my knees. A shiver worked up my body, goosebumps breaking out across my skin at his touch. It amazed me that my body could still have such a visceral reaction to his touch when we'd been estranged for so long.
"You want a baby?" Nick's eyes bore into mine, searching for… something. "I'll give you one. But we do it the natural way. You, me and a bed."
I blinked, stuttering out a stunned, "ex-ex-excuse me?"
He nodded; his face deadly serious. "I'll give you a baby. But only if we try sex first."
