As I walked through the hallway to answer the front door, I had already prepared my two speeches. It will either be, "Sorry, I already know who I'm voting for." or, "No thanks, I just bought cookies from the last Girl Scout that was here."
As I pulled open the door, I nearly went into shock as I stood frozen, staring at the last two people I would have ever expected to see on my front porch that day.
"Hi Tommy!" came an overly sweet voice as her hand popped up to wave at me with just her fingers.
It was Kelly and her daughter Jenny. Man, had it been a long time. Twenty years ago I had become great friends with Kelly and her husband who, well, she divorced a few years back. Jenny was just a baby then, and we all hung out quite a bit.
After a few years her husband received a great job offer so the family packed up and moved three states away. That was the last time I saw them. Then Facebook came along and we've kept in touch ever since. When I first saw pictures of Jenny I couldn't believe what a gorgeous young woman she had grown up to be!
She had the sweetest face, straight platinum blond hair down to her shoulders with bangs, and of all the many pictures posted, I don't think I ever saw one where she wasn't wearing a big, genuine smile. Looking through her summer vacation photos I can also say she looked incredible in a bikini.
I know, I kinda felt like some pervert noticing that. I'm old enough to be her father after all. But there was no denying it, she could have been a swimsuit model.
As for Kelly, well, she had looked quite a bit like her daughter back in the old days. Over time she had put on about thirty pounds, but she wore it well. Her face was rounder and she had very short blond hair. I would also say that more than a bit of that thirty pounds went to her chest and it looked great to me.
I was friends with both of them on Facebook and we had frequent conversations. With Kelly we chatted about anything and everything but mostly she liked to unload on me about the jerk she ended up shacking up with after her divorce. I know, apparently I'm a good listener, god help me. Have to say we did flirt a bit and I got the distinct feeling that she had a bit of a thing for me, but nothing was actually said.
Jenny would come to me for fatherly advice since her dad had become very distant after the divorce. She had a mature soul and would tell me how she preferred the company of older adults and that kids her age were so immature. Although I never flirted with her, I could tell she felt very close to me, and not just in a fatherly way. Hmmm...like mother, like daughter?
"Well, are you going to invite us in?" Kelly asked finally.
I jerked out of my trance and exclaimed, "What? Oh, jeeze yeah, I'm so sorry. Where are my manners?"
I gave Kelly a big hug as she walked through the door and then turned to Jenny to give her a friendly squeeze.
"Come on in and sit down you guys." I said as I motioned to the living room. "I can't believe how long it's been!"
"And Jenny, you were just a toddler the last time I saw you," I added.
"I know!" Jenny laughed. "Mom has told me a lot of stories about you from back then."
"Uh oh," I teased, "all good I hope."
"Weeeell for the most part anyway." Jenny kidded.
"So what brings you back to the old neighborhood anyway?" I asked, looking back and forth at them.
Suddenly the room took on an air of awkward silence.
"Mom, go ahead and tell him." Jenny said quietly as she turned to Kelly.
"Oh wow," Kelly began nervously, "this seemed so much easier when I was rehearsing it in the car."
"Well somebody tell me already." I demanded. "The suspense is killing me."
"OK," Kelly continued, "you know Jenny and Jared got married a year and a half ago, right?"
"Of course!" I said with a smile. "I saw all the pictures and you guys make a beautiful couple!"
"Aww thanks," Jenny replied with an uneasy expression on her face.
"Well," Kelly continued, "they wanted to have a baby right away and have not had any luck after all this time, so Jared finally had his sperm count taken and it was so low that it's very likely he will never be able to father kids."
"I'm really sorry to hear that." I interjected. "So what now? Adoption? Artificial insemination?"
"Uh, well, kinda." Kelly replied, squirming a bit in her seat. "Here's the deal. First of all, we can't really afford the cost of going to a doctor for artificial insemination. Besides, Jared's parents might find out."
"And why is that a problem?" I asked.
Kelly continued, "Jared's folks have been pushing hard for a grand baby and his dad is an old fashioned type who thinks his son would be less of a man if he were sterile."
All of a sudden it hit me like a ton of bricks. They wanted me to be the sperm donor!
"Uh, Mom," Jenny said looking at my stunned expression, "I think he just figured it out."
"So, you want me to be a sperm donor?" I asked in a slow measured rhythm.
Kelly just nodded, unsure if she should speak again just yet.
"So, I have to ask. Why me?"