Holiday in Your Heart by Susan Fox Page B

served, Maribeth took her seat on the sofa and said, “I have an announcement and a request.”
    â€œShoot,” Cassidy said cheerfully.
    â€œI’m thirty-nine and obviously not getting any younger. I’d always hoped to fall in love, marry, and have children. Love and marriage can come along at any stage of life, but my biological clock’s running out on having a baby, and that’s the thing I want most in life.”
    â€œI can relate to that,” Sally said quietly.
    â€œMe, too,” Lark put in. “Having done it once, I have to say it was the most incredible experience, and I can’t imagine my life without Jayden. I sure wouldn’t mind giving him a little sister or brother.”
    Cassidy was silent. Multiple sclerosis ran in her family, and Maribeth knew that it would be a tough decision for her and Dave, whether they should have a baby.
    â€œAnyhow,” Maribeth said, “I’ve been dating since I was thirteen and—”
    A splutter of laughter escaped Lark. When they all turned to her, she said, “Sorry, but I was remembering that ‘men, men, men’ rant you went on one day, MB. How did it go? Tall ones, short ones, black ones, white ones?”
    Maribeth chuckled. “Doctors, lawyers, Indian chiefs. Yes, something like that. I’ve dated them all. Sweet ones and spicy ones, rich ones and poor ones, science nerds and jocks. And there’s not a single one that I fell in love with. I’m not going to marry a guy just for the sake of getting married and having a baby.”
    â€œThat would be a huge mistake,” Lark agreed firmly.
    â€œAnd I don’t need a man,” Maribeth went on. “Except for the biological contribution. So I’m thinking seriously about using a sperm donor. I’ve put together a short list of men and I’m looking for input.”
    Her last words were swallowed up by a flurry of exclamations and comments, as well as a pair of arched eyebrows from Brooke, who obviously thought it odd that Maribeth would date a new guy and shop for a sperm donor at the same time.
    When the noise settled down, Maribeth told them about her visit to the women’s clinic and her online shopping. She did not mention Mo; if things worked out with him, her friends would know soon enough. “I’ve chosen six prospects. Come on into the dining room and let me show you.”
    The women gathered up their mugs and liqueur glasses and followed Maribeth.
    Earlier, she’d moved the big flat-screen monitor from her home office upstairs and hooked it up to her laptop, along with the wireless keyboard and mouse. Now, after making sure Cassidy was seated in a comfortable chair with her leg up, Maribeth logged onto the website and navigated to the page of options she’d set up, the product of hours of browsing. It showed six head shots, along with brief biographical data: age, height, weight, race, religion, education, and occupation.
    Her friends studied the screen avidly. Cassidy pointed. “I’d pick that one. He reminds me of Dave.”
    The man was handsome, with medium brown hair and gray eyes, but his outstanding feature was the sense of warmth and compassion in his expression. It matched perfectly with his occupation as a family practice doctor. “Me, too,” Maribeth admitted. “That’s why he’s on the list.”
    â€œThis one’s hot, though,” Jess said. “I mean if you like the type.” She nudged her mother-in-law. “Which you do, right, Brooke?”
    The guy did look a lot like Brooke’s husband, Jake, with his black hair, five o’clock shadow, and rakish grin. He was listed as a pilot.
    â€œThat one’s hot, too,” Sally said, pointing to a man with beautiful near-black skin, strong features, and close-cropped black hair. “And he’s a veterinarian. He loves animals, so he’s got to be a good guy.”
    â€œWhat about