"Well, I guess we should get started. Bette Porter this is John Thomas with his daughter, Jennifer."

"Hi, pleased to meet you," I said and they smiled at me.

"Ok, we’re just here to get to know one another. Do you have any questions for Bette?"

"What do you do for a living," Mr. Thomas asked.

"Well I am an artist, my work has been featured in galleries across the world and I am the assistant director and curator of the California Arts Center."

"Cool," Jennifer replied, "I like to take pictures. I am in the photography club at school."

"That’s great, what school do you go to?

"Beverly Hills High School."

We got into a discussion on her future and what she wanted in life. She became very animated and talked about her interest in photography and college. She became very comfortable with me and her father seemed pleased. He talked every now and again. I was very happy knowing this girl was bright and wanted to give me her child. But in the back of my mind, I knew that with Jodi and I not being together, I might not get her child.

"Are you a lesbian?"

"Well, um, yes," I said thrown off by her sudden question.

"Where’s your girlfriend?"

"Um, well, she got stuck at work. In a meeting. Her name is Jodi and she’s an art professor at California University."

"This kid’s gonna be artsy," she said rubbing her stomach and I smiled.

"Well, I think it’s time we get down to business. Go over the legal stuff," Jeanne said, "do we want an open or closed adoption?"

"Well, that’s certainly up to Jennifer."

"Sweetie," her father said, "what do you wanna do? Would you like Bette and Jodi to send you pictures and updates as the baby grows up?"

"No," she said quickly, "no, once the baby is born, he’s yours. I mean, he’s not mine. I’m too young and unprepared. When he’s older, he’ll understand that this is the right thing."

"He," I asked and gasped.

"Yeah," she said and smiled, "I found out a few weeks ago, it’s a boy."

I sat back astonished. A boy. I have a son. Damn you Jodi, why do you have to complicate my life? We went over all the legal stuff and Jennifer felt confident in choosing me, but her father wanted her to think about it. After they left, Jeanne talked with me and made sure she got my lawyer’s information so she can send the legal documents to her.

"What I wanted to tell you before, um," I said stuttering.

"Yes, please tell me."

"Um," I said clearing my throat, "Jodi and I are no longer together. And I don’t know if that affects my ability to adopt."

"Oh, um well," she said and the tears slip from my eyes, "hey Bette don’t worry. I have handled many single parent adoptions."

"I wanted this one," I said and the tears flowed and she handed me a tissue.

"Hey, Bette, she could still pick you. But I have to let her know you’d adopt as a single parent. She liked you, there’s no way this adoption won’t do through. Just give it a few days."

I walked out of her office, happy yet sad. I wanted this child more than anything. A boy. My own baby boy to love and cherish. Fucking Jodi, this was it, she couldn’t show up to this meeting. I’m gonna kick her ass out.

As I got home, I saw her car in the driveway and I got angry. Good, now I can give her a piece of my mind. I walked to the door angrily and opened it, the lights were off and she was no where in sight. Then I heard light moans and laughter coming from the bedroom. In a huff I walked down the hall and burst in the room. She was in between her teaching assistant’s legs. She screamed and Jodi jumped up. Furious, I slam the door and grab my keys and storm out of the house and get into my car and drive away. I had to get out of there before I did something I’d regret.