Sparks

His stomach twisted into knots; he became wide awake. He glanced at the clock: It read 4:30 a.m. “Do you know what time it is?”

“I knew I couldn’t get you otherwise.”

“This is not a good time.”

“When is a good time?”

“A day after never,” he grumbled then yawned.

“That’s not fair,” she said without anger. She kept her voice low. “Jordan, I need to see you.”

He sat up and rested his head back. “Why?”

“I have to discuss something that I can’t say over the phone. This is important to me and to you.”

He turned on the light and squinted at the glare. “To me?”

“Yes.”

His tone grew concerned. “Is someone ill?”

“I’ll tell you when we meet.”

He shut his eyes. “Maxine, you know I don’t like games.”

“Please, Jordan.”

He didn’t want to see her again. He still didn’t trust himself. “I don’t know.”

“Please.”

He held his head. “I shouldn’t.”

“But you will.”

Damn, she knew him too well. “It will have to be quick. I have an appointment at seven tomorrow or rather today for dinner. You could come before then…say, around five.”

“Fitting me in around appointments? Seems the tables have turned. Maybe you’ll understand my position now.”

“It won’t change anything. We’ll still be divorced.”

She paused then said, “I hear you’re the new head of the Institute. I wonder why Charles chose you.”

“He wanted to make everybody laugh.”

“If you need any business advice—”

“Right,” he cut in ready to get back to sleep.

“I’ll see you around five.”

“Maxine,” he said sinking under the covers. “This had better be good.”

“Are you out of your mind?” Jordan stared at Maxine in disbelief. He surged to his feet. “No way!”

Maxine sat on the couch and tucked her feet under her. She kept her classically beautiful face composed and maintained a level tone as though dealing with a child throwing a tantrum. “Jordan, just listen.”

He gestured to his ears. “I was listening. I can’t believe what I just heard. Actually, I hope I didn’t.”

“You’re being emotional.”

“As opposed to psychotic?” He threw up his hands. “I don’t believe this.”

Maxine swung her feet to the ground. “It’s a little favor.”

“I’d rather extract my own kidney.”

“I’m not asking for a kidney. I’m asking for a baby.”

“That’s nice. I hope you get one.”

“I want to have it with you. Where are you going?” she demanded when Jordan abruptly left the room.

“To get something to eat.”

She followed him to the kitchen. “I thought you said you had a dinner date.”

“It’s not a date. It’s an appointment.”

“I just saw you eat a sandwich.”

“I’ll still be able to eat dinner.” He grabbed an apple.

Maxine stared at him amazed. “I always swore you had a second stomach. How could a man eat so much and still look like you?”

“Good genes.” He waved his apple. “Which I’m not planning to share.”

“You wanted to once,” she said quietly.

“Then we should have had this conversation at that time.”

“I wasn’t ready then.”

“And I’m not ready now. Go to a sperm bank.”

Maxine hugged herself, her brown eyes pleading. “I want to know the father of my baby.”

He stared at her for a moment then turned away. “No.”