"Do you really believe that?"
"Yes."
"I just want to do the right thing."
"Alexis you know that the right thing, and the easy thing are not always the same thing."
"None of it is easy."
"Why don't we go back inside, and I'll help you sort through some of the profiles?"
"Maybe I shouldn't choose."
"Because you want to keep the baby?"
She shakes her head, "No."
"What do you mean?"
"I won't choose anybody. I will just have the baby, and whoever is next on the list can be the right ones."
"What if they're not."
"What if they are?" She argues.
"We should go inside, it's getting dark."
"Fine," she agrees.
Hours later the files have been returned to their boxes. The boxes are neatly stacked in Rick's office. He finds Alexis lying on the couch in the living room, sound asleep. He heads back into the office out of curiosity. He randomly selects a box, and reaches inside, and randomly selects a file. He removes the file, and replaces the lid. He takes a seat in his chair, the only surface in the whole room without a box, and opens the manila folder. He studies the file, reading, and memorizing each detail. By the time he gets to the other cover he's almost in tears. He exits the room, and heads into the living room. He takes a seat on the arm of the couch.
"Alexis?" He whispers.
"Hm?"
"Are you awake?"
She opens her eyes, and tilts her head back to look at him. "I am now."
"Can I summarize a bedtime story for you?"
"You woke me up so that you could summarize a bedtime story?"
"Please," he implores.
"Okay," she agrees.
"Listen carefully."
"I am."
"Sit up, so I know that you're listening."
"I was asleep."
"Please."
She sits up, and turns towards him so he can have her full attention.
"One upon a time there was a couple named Tim, and Catherine."
"Once upon a time there were a million couples, and they all had the same story."
"This one is different."
"Okay," she agrees.
"Once upon a time there was a couple named Tim, and Catherine. They were high school sweethearts, and got married as soon as they graduated. Catherine became a nurse, and after Tim got out of the Marines he became an accountant. They have many career successes, but what they wanted most of all was a child. They started trying for a baby as soon as they got married. They relentlessly tried on their own for three years. After having no success they tried with the help of fertility treatments for three years. Finally they got lucky. They had a son Michael."
"And they lived happily ever after. Why would they want a baby?"
"I'm not finished," he chides her.
"Sorry."
"Michael followed in his father's footsteps, and decided to become a marine. He joined the marine corp. right out of high school. He loved being a marine. He thought he would have a happy ending like his parents did. He had a girl waiting for him back home who he was going to marry."
"But?"
"He was killed by an IED on the way back to base after his final mission."
"Why are you telling me this tragic story? I've already read it."
"Those are the kind of people who deserve a baby."
"I agree."
"So the it's settled, they're the ones."
"They already adopted a baby boy."
"When?"
"Six months ago, the case worker forget to pull their file. They were in my top three."
"So they can't have another baby? They can't have your baby."
"Do you really think that they would want another baby?"
"How do you know if you don't ask?"
She shrugs, "I guess I don't."
"Did you like them?"
"I never met them."
"Maybe you should."
"You think that they're the ones?"
"What I think doesn't matter. What do you think?"
"It's funny that you picked that file out."
"I just picked one at random, to be perfectly honest."
"I want to say yes, but I'm just not ready to choose yet."
"You're running out of time, and of options," Rick reminds her.
"I just need more time."
"Then take it. You are the only one who has to live with this decision."
"No, I'm not," she argues.
"Alexis what is it that you want me to say?"
"I want you to have the answer and I know that you don't."
"Can I make a suggestion without you getting mad at me?"
She shrugs, "You can try."
"I think that maybe it is time you sit down, and have a face to face conversation with Pi."
"Why?"
"I think it might offer the tiniest bit of closure to the situation."
"I'll think about it," she agrees.