.."Everyone laughed, other than the six and four-year-old, they just didn'tget the joke.The rest of the dinner was actually pleasant, the conversation...wasdirected away from Sarah's transition or the twenty-year gap in theirhistory. Before Sarah realized it, it was approaching 9PM, which was waypast the girl's bedtimes. Everyone looked exhausted, the stress from theday had taken its toll on everyone present. Sarah volunteered to put thegirls to bed, while Steve and her parents cleared the table,. As they were making their way downstairs Matt and Kristen showed up. We all gathered by the bar and we decided it was a good time for everyone to have a shot! Shots went down and I made sure everyone had a drink. I made myself another drink and re-filled my wifes wine. All the guys we're behind the bar talking with the ladies sitting in the stools across from us. I had some music playing in the background and the lights dimmed down - so far so good. My wife got a text from the last couple. “For an old man. Maybe he’ll invite me to one of his little get-togethers.”Evan just glanced at you.“Maybe then you’d accept an invitation to the party,” you teased.“That could be ... interesting,” Evan replied, mysteriously.The brownstone truly was right around the corner. You were impressed. Three stories. Well-maintained. “Professor Sarah must have quite an inheritance,” you observed.“Yes,” Evan replied. “Old shipping money.” He opened the gate, led you up to the door, and punched a code. ‘ ‘Please, you’ve been a real sweetie just coming today, just bear with me a bit longer, please.’ ‘OK,’ I laughed kindly, ‘No, I have no plans to start a family … at least not yet,’ I thought of Gwen and Maggie the two women who meant the most to me, and the two that I could never have a family with. ‘Perhaps not ever,’ I added. She glanced around as if to make sure that there was nobody in earshot, and then took another deep breath. ‘Well, I DO want to have a child …. And I want you to help.