“Okay then. You’ll leave from Port Authority in about an hour. After the second full day, you’ll disembark at Kingston. Then, you’ll stop at the big island. I think it’s called Port Yama. You’ll find out straightaway if slime ball is on the ship because he’ll find you. If he is, you jump ship at Kingston, seek out Sasha Framee. His name and phone number are on the back of this card.” Kim handed Mary the card. “He’ll get you on a plane or boat to Vermont.”
“Go to my brother’s house in Cage, and he’ll hide you in his guest cottage.” Phoenix sat down on the edge of the sofa. “Once we’re notified you had to run, we’ll go to Jenn’s friend, Hotel Director Stubbing, who works on the ship. He can let us know what happened. As hard as it’ll be for all of us, we’ll have to stay away because Conrad had a partner and we don’t know what he looks like…right?”
“Right, no one knows who he was. Conrad kept at my back the entire time and I didn’t see any skin on the accomplice, just black clothing from head to toe. I recognized Conrad’s voice, scent, and then the molar shaped mole on his hand. The hidden camera showed Conrad, but not a clear view of the other guy. They did get a voice imprint from the store’s security equipment. He sounds a little like Darth Vader.” Her throat had closed, making breathing difficult.
The entire situation was really too much. She should stay at home and hide out like she’d been doing for the last several hours. Why hadn’t she canceled the cruise after Conrad betrayed her, stole from her and left her blind-folded and tied to a chair?
“James Earl Jones is the voice. Deep. Husky, kinda sexy,” Jenn said, “like a smoker. God, I wish I had a cigarette.” She jumped up and paced to the edge of the family room and then to the white board.
Phoenix handed Mary the diary containing the donor list. “Calculate the averages and select the best candidate. You have four days for optimum fertilization. Make them count. Probably research the top of your list for two days, select the father for your baby, and let the little spearheads swim the next two days.”
“You’re going to have to act a part, Mary. You can’t be prissy or let guilt ride you. Most important of all, send snap shots of the finalist if you get a chance.” Kim winked.
“I’m not sure I can be a scientist like you, Kim. I do feel guilt and I’m not sure I can select a guy to impregnate me using such a cold and callous scientific method.”
“How do you think women select a sperm donor from a bank?” Jenn asked. “The only difference is you get to see the real guy. Unfortunately, you have to do the screening process. Also, having unprotected sex with a near stranger will be risky.”
Mary slipped Dane Bushard’s business card inside the journal and pressed it against her chest. “Maybe I shouldn’t go. My destiny might not include children or love.”
Kim was right on with the guilt comment. She couldn’t tell the candidate her intentions or they might not perform, thinking she had ulterior motives. Yeah, she had motivation–she wanted a child. Did this make her an unlikable person?
“Sweetie, we didn’t mean for you to abandon the donor project. We simply want you to be safe,” Phoenix said, sincerity flooding her words. “We included an escape bag with a pay-as-you-go phone inside in your luggage.”
Mary forced a smile. “Who knows the man in Kingston?”
“I do.” Jenn had added a new piece of gum and chomped. “He’s an old friend. Quite a nice guy. Clean, good looking, family dates back to the early Jamaicans…and the organs were all in working order.”
Kim laughed. Phoenix’s body jiggled with suppressed mirth.
“What?” Jenn’s expression was one of surprise. “She only has two days on the ship before she ports, she might need a last chance.” Jenn pressed her lips together as if in thought or recapturing a memory. “He’s not blond, but he’s hot, handsome, and quite skilled with his tool. He has the sexiest wink, slow and deliberate. I get orgasmic just thinking about him.”
“Thanks, Jenn, I’ll keep that in mind.” Mary glanced at the board and then her friends. What if she couldn’t get pregnant? Being the last member of the Keefe family might not be too bad. The town’s name, Keefe, would last forever even if the descendants died off.
When she reached thirty, she’d inherit her trust money and could adopt a baby. She stood. A guy to hold at night, to kiss, and take to dinner or the movies–she didn’t need one. Abandoning the cruise would be very easy to do.
“Don’t, Mary.” Phoenix’s low tone drew everyone’s attention.
Of all Mary’s fabulous friends, Phoenix knew her the best and had always delved into her mind and found her weak points. Mary started for the door, notebook in hand, handbag in sight.
“Don’t what?” Jenn asked between snaps and crackles.
Phoenix must have known Mary was ready to bolt. “She thinking of canceling. Get her luggage, Jenn. Kim, gather her purse, wrap, and make sure she has sun screen. Mary, is your cell fully charged? We’re taking you to the ship and getting you on board early.”
Kim twisted Mary around, grabbed both her arms and shook her. “Mary, you’ve had a rough way to go so far, losing your parents in that horrible manner and then being used by Conrad. Why not take control of your life, your future? You want a child, right?”
The mention of her parents brought a fresh pain to her heart, and her stomach muscles clenched.
“Yes.” She lowered her gaze. Selfishness wasn’t something she was comfortable with or wanted, but she needed a baby to make her life whole again.
“Forget everything then. Don’t think twice about commitment and your usual strict values. Look past the blonds. And as always, we’ll be here for you.” Kim hugged her.
Jenn’s arms circled her from behind. Phoenix came from her side and pushed her cheek against Mary’s. Excitement and fear shocked her heart into beating at a scary-fast rate. If she couldn’t conceive a baby, at least she’d have the most caring friends on earth.
“Let’s go.” Jenn stepped back and tugged Mary’s vest.
“Okay, but we say good-bye in the car. You drop me off. I’ll find my way to the cabin. I’ll keep in touch daily. When possible, photos will be sent.” Nauseous saliva wet her mouth. She swallowed, trying to keep everything in place as they rushed from the house and piled into Kim’s van.
A traffic accident on the highway made the short drive much longer. Police vehicles and fire trucks blocked the street at nine PM. There wasn’t an alternate route. The ship sailed at ten, and while they chewed their fingernails waiting for the emergency squads to leave, they reviewed the donor requirements. Finally the road patrol created a round-about and they rushed to the dock. Kim drove her vehicle as close as possible to the structure, hoping the Port Authority would not give her a ticket.
“Any minute that horn’s going to blow. You’ll to need to hustle. Too bad you wore the sexy five-inchers, your feet are going to hurt like hell.”
“Jenn, seriously, is it time for another patch?” Phoenix asked, as she climbed into the rear of the van and extracted Mary’s luggage.
“Thank you, all. I love you. Wish me luck!” Mary slid from the seat, holding her large purse close to her side, knowing the shield wouldn’t protect her from the future.
Phoenix set the suitcases on the ground, and then hugged her. “Don’t worry, it’ll all work out. You’ll be happy,” she whispered before she let her go.
“We’ll see, won’t we?” Mary asked.