My story starts about six years ago when I was living in Kingston (a suburb to the south-west of Central London, for those of you outside the UK).
I was, and still am, a senior accountant with a large financial services company. I had my own house, and because of some large bonuses, I had managed to pay-off my mortgage early. So there I was age 34, still single and I guess pretty well-off compared to most people my age.
I had a small circle of friends but as is the way with these things all of them had gotten married and I was the only one still single. Although I still went out occasionally with my friends the frequency had reduced somewhat because they now had other priorities.
My most recent girlfriend, Sarah, lived with me for a year but I knew it was never going to work. Eventually we both decided to part and so I was back on my own.
One evening I got a call from Mel, one of the girls next door, inviting me around for dinner that Saturday. I accepted and agreed to go around about 8pm.
I had become friends with Mel and her partner soon after they moved-in. I spent a whole weekend helping them move their stuff from Camberley and we had been friends ever since. Increasingly the three of us spent time together and it was now a regular event for us to meet up or go out on a Friday or Saturday.
I liked Mel a lot, both as a friend and as someone I found very attractive. I was less sure about George (short for Georgina). Although I got on well with George there was an edge to her that didnât quite endear me in the same way. I also didn't like the way she would sometimes talk down to Mel, you could definitely tell that George wore the trousers in their relationship.
Mel and George had worked together at a hairdressing salon in Camberley, and then decided to start their own salon not far from where we now lived. They had started dating in Camberley and the move to Kingston had given them the final push to start living together. Their salon wasnât exactly huge but they seemed to be doing OK.
I must confess that it did my ego the power of good being seen out at the local bars with two attractive girls and I often fantasised about getting together with Mel and George, but then what normal guy wouldn't.
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Anyway on the arranged Saturday, I went around to their place at 8pm, armed with a couple of bottles of wine and a bunch of flowers. Mel and George made me welcome as usual and we sat chatting and drinking before dinner.
They had prepared me a lovely steak dinner, which surprised me a little as they are both vegetarian. They both ate veggie burgers instead. "I AM honoured" I said referring to the steak, as I tucked into my meal.
It wasn't until after dessert that I noticed their nervousness and realised they obviously had something on their minds. As we finished, they both started to look furtively at each other and it went quiet for a minute.
"Whatâs wrong" I asked.
Again they looked nervously at each other until finally George spoke "We have a big favour to ask of you"
"You know I'll do anything for you two" I replied, quite genuinely.
âWell this is quite a big favour to askâ
âAskâ I replied
âWell Mel and I have been living together a couple of years, as you know and wellâŚâŚ..we are also both past the 30 barrierâ George said looking a little nervous.
âArenât we allâ I said, trying to lighten the mood.
âWell the truth is Mel and I would like to have a babyâ George stated.
The penny dropped almost immediately but I didnât want to risk making any assumptions. âYes?â I replied, wanting them to spell it out.
âAnd âŚâŚ.well we would like your helpâ
âAre you asking what I think youâre asking?â
âYesâ replied George. âWe wondered if you would make Mel pregnant for usâ
âWowâ I said still shocked to actually hear it. âThereâs an offer I donât get every dayâ I joked.
We all gave a nervous laugh and then there was a brief moment of silence followed by George asking âWill you help us?â
âUmmâŚ.I donât knowâŚ.. I guess Iâm just kind of, shockedâ I replied
âIâve seen the way you check Mel out sometimes. You canât tell me you wouldnât like to sleep with herâ George added.
âI may have looked once or twice but I know you two are an itemâ I replied feeling a bit embarrassed. Mel started blushing bright red and so did I.
âLook we both know and like youâ George said âAnd well the alternatives are either a one night stand with someone we donât know or a very lengthy and expensive treatment process, which we canât really affordâ she finished.
âWhat about you Melâ I asked, becoming very conscious that George was driving this conversation.
âI would rather it was you than someone I donât knowâ She replied.
âWhat about after itâs born, what then?â
âNothing, after Melâs pregnant, thatâs it. Weâll take care of the restâŚâŚ.There is no need for anyone else to know anything about thisâ George stated.
âSo youâd like me to be your sperm donorâ
âLook we could make it worth your whileâ Mel added
âWhat do you meanâ I asked
âWell we could pay youâ Mel replied.
âI donât want your moneyâ I replied.