April pauses, painfully remembering her parents’ deaths, and remains, letting him have a chance to explain himself. He begins to tell her a sad story about how he and his wife had been trying to have a baby for YEARS. One day, they finally got lucky, though the doctor told her not to take the baby to term. She did, anyway, but passed away, giving Trent their firstborn son. Even though he loves his son, he wished he’d been given a daughter because that’s what they’ve always wanted.
April is wary but moved by his plight and says she’s sorry for his loss. She was so confused by the picture… But who’s Claire? Trent explains that Claire, the sweet young woman in that drawing, was a wet nurse for his son in that first year, someone he came to know very well in those dark days, and like April, she was someone with great maternal instincts. Desperate to rebuild his family, they arranged in hopes of Claire giving him a daughter, but he got two other sons instead.
And now? Claire is gone…
When April asks where Claire is now, Trent dismisses the question. Instead, he says that he hopes that April can be the one to give him a daughter.
April is freaked out, flat-out refusing him, though Trent quickly assures her that she doesn’t need to be in LOVE with him! He’s just asking her to be the vessel for his daughter. Listen, April needs to pay for college. He can take care of that for her! Her younger brother? Trent can make sure he gets into the best private school. Money isn’t an issue for him. He just needs a womb. It’s just 9 months of April’s life. Plus, she’d be fulfilling his wife’s last wish…
April needs a few moments to think it over, conflicted. This is a lot to ask of someone, but she needs the money. She has to provide for her brother, and she has big dreams for herself as well. Finally, she asks how much Trent can offer her, signaling that she’s open to the deal.
Trent is relieved as he approaches April and takes her by the arm, their eyes meeting. Without saying a word, although there is a mutual understanding, he slowly leads her upstairs.
