"I'm so sorry to hear that it didn't work again, Jodie. It must be so frustrating and disappointing," Benjamin said.
Jodie seemed to deflate with a resigned exhale.
"Yeah, it sucks," she replied.
Benjamin took a sip of his beer.
"I don't know, Jodie. You think, maybe, that it's me?"
"Oh, no! Of course not, Ben!" Jodie assured, "Dr. Leighton said your sperm was ideal and very healthy. He was sure you were a perfect donor."
Benjamin shrugged. He wasn't feeling too comforted by Jodie's words. His friend had been trying for a baby for so long. He took another sip of his beer, and when he set his glass down, he noticed Jodie was waiting expectantly. That deflated look she had was gone. She held her hands together on the table, almost in an oddly polite way.
"What?" Benjamin inquired suspiciously.
"After Dr. Leighton gave me the negative results last week, he mentioned something interesting."
Jodie leaned forward, looking even more excited than before.
"He had said that artificial insemination just isn't as effective as natural insemination - for some people anyway," Jodie explained smartly.
"Okay?" Benjamin said with a furrowed brow.
"That really stuck with me. I called him again yesterday to ask about this whole natural insemination thing. He gave me a lot of science that I can't really get into now, but basically, he can confirm that natural insemination in some cases is just more effective!"
"Alright?" Benjamin answered with the same confused look.
Jodie sprung her hands open as if she just delivered the most exciting news in the world. She waited with a hopeful look.
"What's natural insemination?" Benjamin asked sincerely.
"Sex!" Jodie exclaimed, "Like, straight up, natural sex!"
"Yeah, so what's the point?"
Jodie rolled her eyes.
"What I'm saying is, you and I should have sex!"
Benjamin shuddered. His face flushed red as a couple girls at a nearby table giggled.
"Lower your voice, Jodie!" He whispered angrily, "What the hell are you talking about?"
"I really can't make it any clearer, Ben."
"No I hear you," Ben remarked, "but do you hear yourself? You want us to have sex?"
Jodie nodded righteously.
"Don't joke around, Jodie. Have you been so desperate to have a baby that you've forgotten you're married? Isaac. Remember Isaac? Your husband? I feel bad enough that he doesn't know I'm the donor!"
"Oh don't feel bad, Ben. We agreed before all of this that it would be better this way. I would find someone I know and trust to be our donor, and he would prefer he didn't know who it was. You know this."
Benjamin shook his head, "Well, that's not what we need to talk about now. Does Isaac know about this?"
Jodie shook her head calmly. Benjamin was shocked.
"Jodie, do you know what you're suggesting? You want to cheat on your husband."
"Nope, I'm not," Jodie argued confidently, "Isaac and I agreed that we would try anything for a baby. We never talked about or agreed on how we could do it. We've tried artificial insemination for a year - didn't work. So, now I'm trying natural insemination."
Benjamin shook his head. Then he shook his head again.
"Ben," Jodie said sincerely, "You're my friend. I'm your friend. I know I've already asked a lot from you, but can you do this for me? We've known each other since high school. We care for and respect each other. You know I've wanted kids for so long. I'm asking you to help me because I don't see anyone else who can."
Benjamin was touched by Jodie's kind words, regardless of how strange the context.
"Anyway, Ben, Isaac will be away on business for a week starting next week. I'd like to meet on the Saturday. You've got a week to think about it, but I really am hoping to see you."
The next days passed excruciatingly quickly for Benjamin. He spent some of his time looking at his old yearbooks. He looked fondly at the photos he and Jodie shared. Jodie was always a gem. She was a leader, always stepping forward first into anything that they feared. Some of their friends from high school may have drifted apart over the years, but Jodie had always been there for Benjamin. She really was his best friend, but whenever he thought of Isaac, his heart felt like it was tearing. Friday night came, and Benjamin received a call.
"Hello, Ben," Jodie said softly, "Will I be seeing you tomorrow?"
Ben paused. He tried to start a sentence several times. Jodie could hear him, and she waited patiently.
"Y-yes, Jodie. Mhm. Yep. God, what am I doing?"
"Fantastic," Jodie said, hardly able to contain her excitement.
"What's...what's the plan?" Benjamin asked with great reluctance.
"Well, come by any time you'd like."
"And?"
"And...well...we'll do it," Jodie replied positively.
"But where? There's no way I'm...doing it...at your place. Not where you and Isaac sleep."
"Oh, alright, fine! We'll go somewhere nice. Meet me at the Hilton on 6th Avenue at 7 pm. I'll call them to book right after our call," Jodie offered.
"Okay," Benjamin said weakly.
"Thank you so much Ben!" Jodie sang, "What you're doing means so much to me. I'll have a little something to help you along. You know, a little...nightwear...nothing too special. Something to sort of, arouse-"
"-Oh God."