Page 51 of In This Together

‘Oh, it’s not really dating in the romantic sense but describing it as a meet-up to interrogate a potential sperm giver doesn’t quite have the same ring to it now, does it?’

Hannah chuckled, her bicker-fest with Andrea seemingly forgotten. ‘It’s like Tinder for sperm. It’s Spinder.’

‘Which is scarily close to spinster.’ Andrea laughed good-naturedly.

Rosalie protested but she could admit it was quite funny, and at least her friends were back in good spirits. ‘Well, it’s quite possible I’ll die a spinster because my first date was with a gay daddy.’

Silence descended on the table just in time for their food to be set down. Rosalie inhaled the smells – truffle, garlic, lemongrass – from around the table. Whilst she drifted to a culinary heaven, she noticed Andrea’s face screw at either the sight or scent of her lunch portion of pappardelle.

‘Is it okay, Andi?’ Rosalie asked.

‘Mmm hmm.’ She nodded. ‘Just this indigestion knocking me sick.’

Whilst Andrea played with her food, Hannah continued to quiz Rosalie on her gay daddy date.

‘But, like, when it came to the baby-making part?’ Hannah asked.

‘Yes, well, in his case, there wouldn’t be conventional vaginal conception,’ Rosalie said. ‘I mean, unless he… Well, no, I guess it wouldn’t work.’

‘Oh my goodness, I’m dying over here. Ros, you are the perfect medicine for me,’ Hannah said, dabbing tears from her eyes as she laughed.

‘What? It’s okay to say vaginal,’ Rosalie countered. ‘My mentor at Swans says it’s important to use the correct terms and get comfortable with the process and my body. My vagina, womb, cervix, all of that.’

‘On a serious note,’ Hannah began, ‘would having a gay father for your child bother you?’

Rosalie shrugged. ‘You mean in terms of values and lifestyle?’

‘I guess,’ Hannah said. ‘I’m not saying I have an issue with gay people here, or gay couples having children, don’t misunderstand me.’

Rosalie put a hand to her friend’s arm. ‘Of course you’re not.’

Hannah was the least discriminatory person Rosalie knew, if there was such a thing. Hannah had been through struggles with perceptions and awkward conversations about her being white, Rod being black and their kids being of mixed heritage, at least a thousand times, that Rosalie knew of.

‘I guess you mean because the baby would have a heterosexual experience with Mom and a homosexual experience with Dad, right?’

‘Well, yeah,’ Hannah said.

Rosalie chewed a mouthful of food. ‘I’ve definitely thought about it, but I think where I get to is that it wouldn’t be the most conventional start to life in any event and later, I guess it would become just the same as if Mom, me and Dad were divorced, except they’d never put the kid through all the fighting and hate to get there.’

‘In some ways,’ Hannah said, ‘it would be great that the child got to see different options, too. It doesn’t have to be straight, or gay, or feel guilty about being whoever it wants to be because Mom and Dad are clearly open to anything.’

Rosalie smiled. ‘Exactly. As it happens, I don’t think last week’s guy is going to be the sperm to my egg…’

Hannah choked on her next mouthful of fizz. Rosalie patted her back as she continued.

‘But I wouldn’t say “no” to daddy-dating another gay man. I suppose it might be a shame to completely rule out the idea of romance, but that’s not the main driver here. I checked the “open to options” box on my agency form. Plus, I totally love the gays. Wouldn’t my kid be more fashionable in the city that never sleeps with a Mommy and a Gaddy? It would have, like, supreme emotional intelligence, taste and class. And, I’m not going to lie, if I never have to compete with the baby daddy’s younger wife with pert boobs and a perfectly formed butt, I won’t be sorry.’

‘Hell, I’m convinced. I think I’m going to trade in Rod for a gay daddy,’ Hannah said.

‘So, Ros, how has Sofia been recently, at the studio, I mean? Has my dad been at the studio a lot?’ Andrea asked.

‘Actually, I’m pleased you asked. I wanted to mention something but I didn’t want it to seem like I was telling tales.’

‘Go on.’

‘Well, Jimmy is helping out and I think it’s because Jay is using again. I overheard some of Sofia’s artists complaining that Jay hadn’t shown up for their recording sessions.’

With pursed lips, Andrea nodded. ‘Thanks, Ros. It’s good to know you’re there to keep an eye on her. Sofia hardly tells me anything these days. And asking about Jay is like lighting her fuse.’ She shook her head. ‘I wish she would see Jay for what he is before he ruins both their lives.’

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