Chapter 8
"No, I'm ready, just let me get my purse, dear." At AJ's startled look at her endearment, Mac quickly said, "Sorry, Si…AJ, I was just practicing."
"That's fine. In fact, you're right to do that so we don't react the way I just did. Let's go then, sugarpie!" They both laughed at the silliness. In the elevator, AJ put his arm around Mac's waist just as the door opened. They walked out that way, for all the world, looking like a happily married couple.
"Reservations for Bayer," AJ told the maitre' de, in what Mac privately thought of as his 'Admiral voice'.
"Right this way, Sir, Ma'am," he said and took them to the best table in the room.
"We are expecting a guest to join us," AJ informed him.
"I will bring him back as soon as he arrives, Sir!"
Mac leaned over and whispered in AJ's ear, "Why does he get to call you Sir and I don't?" and then laughed at his startled expression. As the waiter approached Mac said out loud, "That is what I plan to do to you once we are back in our room, darling!"
Getting into the act, he covered her hand with his and said with a sensual smile, "I look forward to that, sweetheart."
As the waiter was talking their drink order, their guest was shown to the table. He was a middle-aged man, dressed in a three-piece suit, looking very much like you would expect a lawyer to look like.
"Mr. and Mrs. Bayer?" he inquired. At AJ's nod he went on, "I am Ernie Lore, and am pleased to meet you."
"Join us, please," AJ invited, "I hope you will be able to help us."
"I am sure we can come to some arrangement," Ernie said, taking his seat. After placing their food order, Ernie got down to business, "You do you understand that we cannot guarantee the delivery date of the child," he told them. "And if you require a certain sex child, that could take even longer to arrange."
"Well, I would like to give my husband a son, but more important is how quickly we can have a child," Mac told him with an adoring look directed at AJ.
He returned the look and told Lore, "I promised her a baby for her birthday, and that's next month. Cost is not a factor."
At that last, Ernie's eyes lit up and he informed them, "Well we do have a baby coming in sometime next week, although the sex is not known. The couple that had originally contracted for this child was not able to come up with the final payment."
AJ reached into his jacket pocket and said, "I can write you a check for the full amount right now, Mr. Lore."
"Well, I do have three other couples that are interested in this child…"
"Would another $5000 help to convince you that we are the best choice for this child?"
"Yes, I think that would definitely put you two at the top of the list!"
"Wonderful! Darling, it looks like we are about to be parents!"
"Oh, AJ, that makes me so happy!" Mac claimed wiping away a tear.
"All right then," AJ said, "How do we go about picking up the baby?"
"You will be contacted when the baby is about to be born. At that time you will check into the Naval Clinic as Lieutenant and Mrs. Bayer. When the baby is cleared you will check out with your newborn."
"Naval Clinic?" Mac questioned.
"Yes, it is on the base and we have complete control of the staff there."
"Thank you, Mr. Lore, you have made my wife very happy," AJ stood and shook the man's hand as he prepared to leave them.
"Remember, you need to be ready to go at a moment's notice, keep this cell phone with you at all times," Lore passed it over, "That's how we will contact you."
"Thank you again, Mr. Lore!" Mac said.
Once they were alone, Mac looked at AJ and remarked, "Wow, I had no idea it would be this easy, it seems wrong."
"We'll be prepared for every eventuality-and don't forget we do have back up. Although I'm not sure that I fully trust my life to Webb."
"I have trusted my life to him, and he did an amazing job of keeping me alive in Paraguay," Mac answered.
"For which I will be eternally grateful to him," AJ said, and then was very glad when the waiter came to ask if they wanted more coffee so he did not have to explain himself.
To be continued….