As the alarm buzzed, I peered at the ceiling and felt like somebody had blasted a hammer on my forehead. Yesterday’s bad news had once again spiced up our marriage, but not in the way it should’ve. It also depleted the energy from my body and made me want to stay in bed and never get up.
I looked at Margaret and saw that she was still asleep. That was the first time in years that she hadn’t woken up at five with me. I couldn’t blame her since she had grown weary of hearing the same answer from the doctor.
My head was craned up and my eyes closed as the water spurted onto my face from the showerhead. My forearm pressed against the tile as I hung my head and thought about how hard we tried to make our dream come true. Nothing worked, and I didn’t know what to do. It seemed that the universe didn’t want to help us or was punishing us because of something we had done.
I turned off the radio as the car started. The last thing I needed was to hear music since there was nothing for me to be excited about. I tried to think of a solution on my way to the office, and the only one I could come up with was an agency. That was our last resort, but it seemed like the only option.
I sighed at the traffic light turning red as I approached. My elbow was on the door, my hand pressed against my head, and my jaw clenched as I kept looking at the light.
I twitched as I heard a piercing, “Hey!” in my ear.
I looked left and saw a girl wearing a slight smile, a baggy, checkered shirt and a beanie. Her skin was so pale that she looked like she hadn’t eaten in weeks, and her brown hair looked dry and thin.
“Yes,” I said.
“Do you think you could spare a dollar?” I pulled out the ashtray, scooped a fist full of coins and handed it to her. “Oh, wow. Thanks.” I nodded. “You shouldn’t look so despondent. You’ve got a lot to be grateful for,” she added.
My forehead wrinkled as I thought about her having the audacity to tell me how I should feel. “You think so?” I asked in a stern voice.
“Yeah. Don’t worry. You’ll have children one day. You shouldn’t lose hope.”
My eyes widened, and my jaw loosened as my lip lowered. “What’d you say?” The car behind me honked. The girl looked at the light, and I saw that it had turned green. “Hey, wait. I want to talk to you,” I said as she walked in front of my car and onto the sidewalk.
I turned right, pulled over and opened the passenger window. “Excuse me.”
She smiled, walked to the car and leaned on the door. “How can I help you?”
“How did you know about that?”
She looked at the seats in my car. “Well, you’ve got a nice ride, so that tells me you’re doing well financially.” She looked at my body. “You’re fit and look healthy, so it can’t be that.” Then, she looked at Margaret’s picture hanging from the rear-view mirror. “I can tell you love your wife, so you’re happily married…for the most part. There aren’t any kids in that photo, and you look miserable. So, I figured that it must be that.”
“You’re smart for your age. How old are you?”
“Twenty-one.”
“I wasn’t as smart as you at that age. What’s your name?”
“Angelica.”
I leaned and extended my hand. “Hugh.”
“Nice to meet you.” She smiled. I couldn’t prevent jealousy from seeping into my heart as I looked at her smile. I had everything more than her, yet I couldn’t even bring myself to curl my lips. “Try to look on the bright side of things and don’t give up hope,” she said.
I kept staring at her brown eyes. Something about the sparkle in them made me feel bad for being negative and pessimistic. I had a lot to be thankful for, but not being able to have children bogged me down.
“Okay,” I said as I watched her walk away.
I thought about what she said on my way to work but forgot about her as soon as I entered the boardroom and started giving orders. The only thing that kept my mind off personal problems was work. That’s why I got home most nights after nine and worked most weekends.
At seven pm, I decided to call it a day since I knew that Margaret needed me to comfort her.
I walked into the kitchen and saw pots on the stove. I stuck my head into the corridor and saw that our bedroom door was closed.
As I opened it and saw Margaret lying in bed and facing the window, the energy depleted from my body again. I knew that she was devastated and had lost hope like me. If I could, I would’ve done anything to put a smile on her face, but nothing I said would work.
I closed the door. Food was the last thing on my mind, so I went to the lounge. I slumped onto the sofa and blew out a breath. What the hell am I going to do? I rubbed my forehead and stared at the coffee table while thinking about calling an adoption agency in the morning. It was the only way to make Margaret happy.
I lay in bed and stared at the ceiling for hours while thinking about how unfair it was that the universe had decided to pick on me by not allowing me to have a biological child. It’s not right. I closed my eyes as my jaw clenched. I wanted to shout, swear and punch somebody to rid myself of the fury.
In the morning, I grimaced as I woke up. The tension in my head made me want to close my eyes and never wake up again.
After the shower, I made a sandwich and took two bites, then put it back down on the plate.
The same traffic light turned red as I approached. I rolled my eyes and shook my head. “Unbelievable.”
Angelica walked in front of the car and leaned on my door. “Hey.”
“Morning,” I said.
“You look miserable again.”
I looked at the steering wheel and frowned. “That’s a nice way to start my morning.”
“You got a dollar?” I opened the ashtray and gave her a couple of bucks. “Thanks.”
“You’re welcome.”
“I see that you still haven’t amassed hope.”
“And you can tell that just by looking at me?”
“It’s written all over your face. You have to have faith, Hugh.”
“I guess. It’s not easy when the whole world is against me.”
She pursed her lips and shook her head. “It’s a pity that you think that way. How does your wife feel about your attitude?”
The light turned green. “Let me get out of the way.” I turned the corner and pulled over into a parking spot. “You were saying?”
“I wanted to know how your wife felt.”
“Actually, I haven’t been able to speak to her since the doctor’s appointment. She’s been in bed for the past few days.”
“That’s such a shame. It must be so hard for her not to be able to have children.”
“What makes you think that the problem is with her?”
“Just a hunch.”
“Right. I have to get going. Look after yourself.”
As I slipped the lever into reverse, Angelica said, “Wait.”
“What is it?”
“Have you tried an adoption agency?”
“I’m going to give them a call today since that’s my only option.”
“But you don’t want to.”
I lowered my gaze and frowned. “Like I said, it’s my only option.”
“Not true. You only think that way because you don’t have faith.”
“Look, I’m not in the mood for a lecture.” I pulled the handbrake down and looked at the mirror.
“I’ll help you.”
“With what?”
“To have a child.”
My head and eyes shot at her. “How?”
“I’ll give birth to your child.”
“What do you mean? As in, the two of us being intimate?”
“It’s obvious that you want a biological child. This is one way.”
“And you’re serious about this?”
“Yeah.”
My gaze lowered, and I frowned as I tried to arrange my jumbled thoughts. “I don’t know what to say.”
“Speak to your wife and see what she says.”
“Surely you must want something out of this. I can pay you.”
“You don’t have to pay me, but you have to donate as much money as you can to an orphanage, and your wife has to volunteer there a day or two every week for the rest of her life.”
“Uh, yeah… Sure, I can do that.”
“Let me know what your wife says,” said Angelica as she walked away.
I looked at the steering wheel and thought about how Margaret would react. There’s only one way to find out.
I walked through the door and shouted. “Margaret.” I scuttled into the corridor. “Margaret, where are you?” I asked as I dashed towards the bedroom.
“Hugh.” She popped her head out of the bedroom. “Did you forget something?”
I walked into the bedroom, clutched her shoulders and said, “Sweetie, I’ve got something to tell you.”
“What is it?”
“It’s a bit crazy, but hear me out.” My chest contracted, and my shoulders lowered as I exhaled. “I met someone who wants to help us have a child.”
“Who?”
“A young woman. She said she’ll have a child and give it to us.”
“What do you mean, have a child and give it to us?”
“She’s going to get pregnant and give us the child to raise.”
“How?” She frowned. “What?”
“I met her on my way to work?”
“Where exactly?”
“At a traffic light.”
Her eyebrows raised. “At a traffic light?”
“Yes, she wants to help.”
“I’m guessing she is some homeless girl who asked you for money.”
“Yes,” I said.
“And now, she wants to give us a child.”
“Yes.”
“How much money does she want?”
“Nothing. The only thing she expects is for me to donate money to an orphanage and for you to spend a few hours there every week.”
“You do know that this sounds crazy, right?”
“Margaret, you said that you didn’t want to adopt because you wanted a biological child. This is the best I can do. We’re approaching fifty, so time isn’t exactly on our side.”
She looked at my chest and shook her head. “This is just too much for me to deal with.”
“I’ll tell you what. Meet her, and we can decide. She’s nice and really smart.”
“I…Uh. I guess it won’t hurt to meet her.”
I smiled and threw my arms around Margaret. “Thank you, sweetie.”
The following morning, I jumped into the car and veered past every driver who got in the way. I got to the traffic light and looked around but couldn’t see Angelica.
I turned and parked, then got out of the car. She appeared from around the corner and smiled as she approached.
“You’re looking jolly this morning,” she said.
“My wife wants to meet you.”
“Okay, so you spoke to her.”
“Yes. Are you up for that?”
“Sure.”
I walked around the car, opened the passenger door and smiled at Angelica. “Thank you, ” she said.
We walked inside the house, and I checked the lounge but didn’t see Margaret. She must be in the bedroom.
I walked to the bedroom, and Angelica followed me. “Sweetie, I have somebody for you to meet.”
She put her make-up brush in front of the mirror and stood up. “Who?”
I grabbed Angelica’s arm and escorted her inside the room. “This is Angelica.”
Margaret’s lips curled. “Oh, my. She’s so beautiful.”
“Thank you,” said Angelica. “That’s nice of you.”
“I’m Margaret,” she said and extended her hand. “My husband tells me that you want to help us.”
“I do.”
“I’m so confused about this whole situation. I still don’t understand what you’re getting out of this.”
“It’ll bring a smile to my face to know that I’ve helped somebody.”
“Okay,” said Margaret.
“Isn’t she just wonderful?” I asked Margaret.
She stroked Angelica’s hair that brushed her shoulders underneath the beanie. “Yes, she is.”
“Then, um, we should go ahead,” said Angelica.
“I think so,” I said.
I pulled off Angelica’s shirt and stroked her face. “You’re so beautiful.”
She smiled and looked down. I unbuttoned my shirt and dropped it on the floor. Margaret pulled off Angelica’s beanie and put it on the couch. I scooped her into my arms and lay her on the bed. Margaret stood at the bedside as I pulled Angelica’s pants off. I pulled my pants down and stepped out of them.
“If this is going to be our child, then I want to be part of the baby-making process,” said Margaret.
I lay next to Angelica, and Margaret undressed and lay on the other side. She stroked Angelica’s hair, and I pulled her underwear off. Angelica opened her legs, and I shifted to the edge of the bed and licked her clitoris. She moaned, and I stuck two fingers into her pussy. She was so tight.
Margaret pressed her lips against Angelica’s and rubbed her stomach. I waggled my tongue on her pussy and rubbed her clitoris. She arched her back, clenched a fist of Margaret’s hair and shoved her tongue into her mouth.
Margaret lay on top of her, with her ass right above my face. I put three fingers into her pussy, two into Angelica’s and drilled both of them. They moaned while making out.
I ran my hand up Margaret’s back and squeezed her shoulders. She looked at me over her shoulder and got off Angelica. I lay on top of her and stuck my dick inside her. Angelica put her arms around my neck and closed her eyes. I penetrated as Margaret and I looked at each other.
Angelica sputtered screams as I thrust faster and felt her pussy moisten. I raked her hair, grabbed her head and then put my other arm under her neck. My cheek brushed against hers as I rapidly bobbed. Her mouth was wide open as she groaned. Margaret rubbed my back as I rode Angelica.
I stood in front of the bed, and Margaret got on her knees in front of me and shoved my balls into her mouth. Angelica joined her and stroked my dick, then shoved it into her mouth. There was no greater feeling than saliva on my dick and balls as I looked at two beautiful women.
After sucking me for about ten minutes, Angelica lay on her back at the edge of the bed. Margaret sat on her face and faced me. I stood in front of the bed, grabbed Angelica’s calves and put my dick into her pussy. She licked Margaret’s pussy as I thrust.
I watched Margaret avert her eyes and open her mouth wider, and she leaned forward and rubbed Angelica’s clitoris. I grabbed Angelica’s waist and sped up like an energised bunny.
As I neared the climax, I stopped, clenched my teeth and grimaced to prevent myself from cumming.
Margaret got off Angelica and rested her head on the pillow. Angelica got on her knees and her bum perked up at the edge of the bed as she licked my wife’s pussy.
I stuck my dick into Angelica, grabbed her shoulders and rode her. My aggressive thrusting and Margaret’s moans made me climax. I stopped, clenched my teeth, and the corners of my eyes wrinkled as my load shot into her.
Angelica lay on top of Margaret, and they kissed and stroked each other.
I took a shower, and when I came out, only Margaret was on the bed. “Where’s Angelica?”
“She left.”
“What? Why did you let her go?”
“Hugh, I can’t tell her what to do.”
“Did she say anything?”
“She told me that we should have faith.”
The following morning, I went to the same traffic light and waited half an hour, but Angelica didn’t arrive. I did that every day for the following three weeks, but she wasn’t around. What the hell was I thinking taking a shower after having sex with her? I should’ve cuddled with her so that she didn’t think I was just using her to have a kid.
On Christmas Eve, Margaret and I were decorating the tree in the lounge. The doorbell rang.
I opened the door and saw Angelica dressed in the same clothing and holding a baby. “Sweetie, who is it?” asked Margaret as she approached the door. She peeked over my shoulder and said, “Oh, my God. Angelica, come in.”
She stepped into the lounge and held up the baby to Margaret. “Merry Christmas.”
Tears formed in my eyes as I watched Margaret hold the baby, and tears streaming down her face. The two of us sat next to each other and admired the baby.
I looked up and saw that Angelica was gone. The door was wide open.
“Where you going?” asked Margaret as I snatched the keys off the table.
“I’ll be back.”
I got into the car and drove to the traffic light. The streets were quiet, only a few cars on the road and some homeless people meandering. I drove around the block three times but didn’t see Angelica. Let me go up the road.
As I turned into a one-way street and headed towards the dead end, I saw a girl in a white dress and sandals walking. Her brown hair flowed down to her shoulders.
I drove past her and looked over my shoulder. “Jesus,” I said and slammed the brakes.
I got out of the car. “Angelica.” She smiled. “What are you doing here? How come you’re dressed like that?”
“This is how I always dress.”
I frowned. “You left before we got a chance to thank you.”
“You don’t have to thank me. All you have to do is live up to our agreement.”
“I will. You have no idea how much what you did means to me.”
“Just remember to have faith and that God helps when you least expect it.”
My lips curled. “I never gave you my contact information. You can call me if you need anything.”
I opened the passenger door, then the glove box, grabbed a business card and turned around. “Here you -.”
I looked around, but Angelica was gone.