Part 13
Over lunch Tom and Cassy studied their new identities.
"Okay, Patrick,it says here that we have been married for five
years. Why have we waited so long to try adopting?"
Tom thought about it. "Well, according to this, I am a business man from
Tucson and you worked for a newspaper as a reporter. Let's say we
always thought we would have children one day until we found out we waited
too long."
"Now, wait just a minute. That sounds like you're saying I'm too old to
have kids, which we both know is completely untrue. I'll pick the story. I like the businessman and reporter part but how about we make you sterile?"
"Nope, sorry, no can do. Uh uh, Cass. These little swimmers are at top
form."
Cassy sighed. "It's just pretend."
"Then pretend something else."
"Fine. How about a vasectomy?"
"No way Cass."
"Tom, we both can't be the healthy one. One of us has to have a
problem."
"But what you're asking is hitting below the belt."
Cass couldn't hide her grin. "I'll tell you what. We'll flip for it.
Heads, you've got the problem, tails, it's me." Cassy pulled out quarter
and threw it in the air.
"Do you want low sperm count, sterile or vasectomy?" Cassy asked. She
and Tom were sitting at a picnic table near the beach.
"None of the above. Can I have that option?"
"No." She smiled at him.
"Fine. I'll take vasectomy," Tom grumbled.
"Great. In the spirit of keeping your ego in check, we'll say that you
were married right out of college, and you and your wife had a baby
boy. The marriage ended shortly after your son was born. She took
your son and moved far away. The pain was so great that you decided never to have children again. You went so far as to have a vasectomy. Then you met me and having a child was all we wanted but unfortunately, your little snip-snip couldn't
be undone. So we decided on adoption. We asked around and learned about
this place and here we are. How does that sound?"
Tom's face lit up. "Not bad. I love. I lost. I love again. The pain is
so strong that I take drastic actions ,but when I fall in love again,
my heart begins to heal and I want another child. I like it."
"Great. After this, go home and write a song about it." Cassy made some
markings in her notebook.
Tom sneered at her. "You are a real comedian, Cass."
Cassy looked hard at Tom. "You're doing it, aren't you?"
"Doing what?" Tom looked at her as thought she was crazy.
"You're writing song lyrics in your head, aren't you?"
Tom thought about denying it. But there was no point when Cassy could see
right through him.
"All right, so maybe I am. But this could be it. . .that one song.."
Cassy rubbed her temples. "That finally takes off. Yeah I know. But right
now we have to get to know Patrick and Georgia Birch. We have that interview with
Dr. Reed at 3:00."
"Then let's get busy. Georgia, tell Dr. Reed why you think Patrick would
make an exceptional father."
"Mr. and Mrs. Birch, I'm pleased to meet you." Dr. Brian Reed offered his
hand to Tom.
Tom accepted it while doing a quick survey of the room. There were
pictures on one wall of family members, he guessed. His "ego wall" was
directly behind him full of his diplomas and other awards and recognitions. There
was a huge window which overlooked the ocean. It had all the appearances of a
normal doctor's office.
"Please have a seat." Dr. Reed gestured to the two chairs in front of his
desk. He sat and gave the nervous couple a warm reassuring smile. "What can I do for you?"
Tom cleared his throat. "My wife and I would like to adopt a baby."
"I see. May I ask what led you to me and my clinic?"
Cassy spoke up. "We did some research on adoption agencies and Anderson
Reed Home is very highly recommended."
"What sort of research?" Dr. Reed's eyes focused on Cassy.
"In the library, of course. And I found out a few things on line.
Gregory and Margaret Reed were highly respected people in the community."
Dr. Reed glanced over at the photo next to the lamp. "Yes, they were.
Aunt Margaret was always off doing one charity event after another. Uncle
Gregory taught English at the nearby community center. My cousin Charlotte
started this place after they died. I took over a few years ago when she
moved away."
Dr. Reed examined their application. "Mr. Birch, it says here that you had
a vasectomy in 1988. That's quite a radical step for such a young man."
Tom cleared his throat. "I was going through some difficult times. My
wife, my ex-wife, left me and took our two-year-old son and relocated
to Seattle. Watching Miranda leave with Sam was the hardest things I ever did." Tom's voice began to quiver.
Cassy could swear she heard violins somewhere.
Tom wiped his dry eyes. "I vowed that day I would never subject myself to
that pain again. I had a vasectomy and resigned my self to spending the
rest of my life alone. But then I met Georgia and became the luckiest man
in the world. " He picked up Cassy's hand and kissed it. He looked lovingly
into her eyes and found that annoyed look of hers looking back.
Cassy could feel Dr. Reed's eyes on her so she smiled at Tom. "Dr. Reed,
meeting Patrick was the best thing I ever did. He makes me happy. We
really want a child. Can you help us?"
Dr. Reed looked at the couple closely. He liked what he saw.
"Mr. and Mrs. Birch, I must tell you that adoption is not cheap. It can be
very costly. You have to allow for...?"
"Money is not a problem, Dr. Reed." Tom spoke up. "Georgia and I have very
secure incomes. We have been planning this for the last four years."
"I see." Dr. Reed looked down at the application again. He couldn't see
anything up front to turn the couple away. They both made excellent
salaries and they were willing to spend the money for a baby. He smiled to
himself. "I believe I have all I need here. We will need to meet again."
Dr. Reed stood up, and Tom and Cassy followed along.
"When can we expect to hear from you?" Cassy asked.
"If everything goes all right, very soon." Dr. Reed walked them to the
door. "It was a pleasure meeting the two of you."
Cassy smiled a big Texas smile. "Thank you for your time, Dr. Reed.
We hope to hear from you real soon."
"Don't you think you were spreading it on a little thick back there with
that big smile and 'Thanks for your time' bit?" Tom asked as they head back
to the station.
"No more than you and your 'I vowed I would never love again' speech."
"He bought it, that's all that matters."
"Let's hope you're right."
"At first he seemed disinterested, Harry. But when we mentioned that we
had money he changed his attitude." Cassy opened a bottle of mineral water
and took a long drink.
"That's to be expected. Do you think he bought your story?"
"I think so. Is the phone number all set up?"
"Ready and waiting. Patrick and Georgia Birch are all set to receive
calls."
"Let's just hope we get some." Cassy stood up and picked up her purse.
"I'll see you tomorrow, Harry. Tell Tom I've left."
"He already left."
Cassy was surprised. "What do you mean he already left?"
"Just what I said. He came in after the two of you returned from Dr. Reed's
and said something about an errand to run. You didn't know? He said you knew."
Cassy stewed. "I must have forgotten."
"He also said that you'd fill me in on Dr. Reed."
Cassy smiled at Harry. "Did he really? I'll have to thank him for that."
To Part 14