spermdonorgrace - Tumblr blog

[spermdonorgrace]

spermdonordylan

It seemed too good to be true, the way it had worked out. She was incredibly attractive, somebody he would talk to in a bar, someone he would deem his type. Harry knew to be quiet, thankfully, and understood Dylan hadn’t been with anyone in a while. Lack of going out, having places to go when his friends were all coupled up and wanted to be in bed by eleven. He didn’t know if he was ready for that kind of commitment yet, so he had avoided a relationship for a good two years. They had only just had a conversation a month ago, Dylan mentioning being lonely, that he was thinking he wanted something like that now that he was older. And it seemed to just fall into the seat next to him, in the form of blue eyes and a nice smile. He couldn’t help the smile he had on his face either, the idea of Grace buying him a drink afterwards. “He’s got plans.” He jumped into, missing the small snort that came from Harry. He didn’t, but he was about to. She was just as loud as the two of them, fitting in with their little group all the way until the final buzzer. Then he shooed Harry away, friendly of course. “Could you piss off now?” he smiled, nodding towards the blonde walking in front of them. Harry laughed, smacking him on the back. “I’ll call you tomorrow.” He promised, walking through the crowds to find his own taxi. Dylan was more interested in being left alone with a stranger, who didn’t mind buying him a drink. She was cute, she seemed like she was his age, and for some dumb reason he couldn’t stop smiling. Like a flutter in his stomach, reminding him of what it was like to meet someone without the intent of a one night stand. They laughed for a little bit, talking about the guy, Matt, she had a bad date with. Just their ten minute conversation seemed to be better, flirting here and there, a connection he could feel. It was nice. When she offered dinner, he agreed. She typed her number into his phone and he was already thinking of a good night to take her out, how long he was suppose to wait before he called, that sort of dating game thing. He really hadn’t been in it for a long time.

“I’m holding you to that.” he told her as she was leaving, smiling when he finished the last of his beer and left himself. Dylan had a nice decent apartment because of his decent wage, so it was a nice place to come home and relax in. His TV was nicer too, and luckily he had that ESPN plan set up, because he was pretty sure he missed the entite third quarter just talking or thinking about the girl next to him. He settled in with a beer and watched the whole thing again, texting Harry about her for a little bit, and eventually crashed on the couch like the adult he was. He didn’t work Sundays, luckily, so it was nice just to walk around Central Park with his mother. She lived just outside the city with his dad, and loved to visit at least once a week. Claimed it kept them close, when Dylan was sure she was just there to flirt with Harry. That was all they ever did, a joke that never died. Again, the same question that came up whenever she was around showed up. “So how’s your girlfriend?” Dylan laughed through a bite of his sandwich, shaking his head. “Still non-existant.” He replied, expecting the same eye roll from his mom. “You’re not getting any younger, you know. You’ll end up alone with eighty cats.” Dylan liked to push her buttons so he smiled through a mouthful of food, shrugging. “That sounds awesome.” She laughed too, despite how needy she was for Dylan to find love and be happy. He hadn’t had the best of luck, and she was counting down the years until she had a grandchild. The woman was insane. He was back at work on Monday, walking into Red Rocket with a cup of coffee from Harry’s Cafe. He had eight appointments in the one day, so he should have been distracted enough. But he was still thinking about Grace. She made a very lasting impression. It caused him to open his mouth while he was tattooing a regular, Max, distrating him from the pain on his ribs. “What would you say is the right amount of time to wait to call somebody?” he asked, wiping the red skin with a wet wipe. Max snorted. “A week?” he suggested, and Dylan shot him a raised eyebrow. “So not two days?” Max laughed at that, so it was lucky that Dylan didn’t have a needle to his skin. “Times that by four, bro.” Dylan shook his head, focusing on the tooth of the tiger he was tattooing. “I’m gonna do it anyway. Fuck it.” He was commited, as well. He got off at six o'clock and picked up his phone while he was reheating leftover takeout, clicking her name while the microwave swirled in the background. “Hey.” he breathed when she picked up, smiling into the receiver. “It’s Dylan.” He tapped his fingers along the counter, hearing the smile in her own voice. A good sign. “I don’t know if I was supposed to wait longer than two days…” he laughed quietly, crossing his arm over his chest. “But do you want to go to dinner tomorrow night?” he asked, suggesting the restaurant he’d seen a million times on his way to work. “There’s this halloween themed restaurant on West 35th. I don’t know if you’re into horror but I’ve heard it’s really good.”

The second Grace got in the door she was bombarded with a three year old jumping into her arms before she could put down her bag, shooting a look at Lacey once Liam was hugging her. They were pirates, apparently, so Grace made Liam walk the plank to bed, only giving him his new hat once he was tucked in. A half an hour and the last of his batman comic read out loud later, Grace was finally shutting his door and coming out into the living room, both her and Lacey flopping down on the couch with exaggerated huffs. “I tried to get him down but the kid’s smarter than me, seriously. He’s like a hostage negotiator.” Grace didn’t scold her though, just laughed and popped a stray piece of popcorn she almost sat on in her mouth. “So how was it?” Grace was grinning before she could help herself. “It was great, seriously amazing.” She didn’t explain, unfortunately for Lacey. “Yeah? You like Matt?” Grace actually laughed. “Oh, Matt, oh no, no that was a disaster. Oh god. No, I met a guy there.” She should have expected the reaction. Lacey had been trying to set her up with someone for months and she hadn’t liked even one of them. “Seriously? You met another guy on the date? You picked your own date on a set up. That is so typical, that is such a Grace thing to do, I hate you.” Lacey was already laughing but Grace shook her head, leaning down to take off her shoes. “I’m telling you, he was.. he’s nice. Really cute.” That got her attention. It wasn’t until Lacey was leaving that she had to ask why the whole thing was a Grace thing, and Lacey just rolled her eyes and pointed out that Grace took a do-it-yourself approach to everything. Liam was her first example, and really, how could Grace argue with that? She spent all Sunday at home recovering before a new week, before running back and forth between work and Liam’s school and daycare and the club he went to on Wednesday afternoons they called early fun with science when it was basically a dozen kids going to Central Park to find bugs. Every week was jam packed so Grace took the day off, built Liam the biggest blanket fort they could manage and ordered a pizza for dinner, letting him pick all the movies while they huddled all day in hibernation. He always gave the best cuddles.

They were just finishing dinner on Monday night, or more, Grace was trying to convince Liam to stay in his chair long enough to finish eating, when her phone buzzed. “Quit swinging you little monkey.” Grace was still laughing when she got up, shooting him what she hoped was a serious enough look. “Finish eating, I’ll be right back.” Liam was making monkey noises when she left the room so she thought he actually might keep himself entertained for more than thirty seconds. “Hello?” Grace was grinning as soon as she heard his voice. “Hey, hi.” It definitely wasn’t too soon to call, not in her books, not when she’d been thinking about him since they met. Hearing that Dylan didn’t really know the rules to the dating game either only made her smile wider. She was way too fond already. And if that hadn’t done it, his idea for dinner put her over the edge. He wanted to do something different than cocktail hour, than dinner at the same boring place and a movie neither of them even wanted to see. It was a small effort but it made a difference, Grace could already tell she had a lot more in common with Dylan than any of the other guys she’d gone out with. “That sounds.. not even a little boring.” Grace laughed, kicking at a bath toy on the floor. “That might not sound like a compliment but I swear it is. That sounds great.” Finally, just like clockwork, Liam was outside the door, tiny hands bumping against the wood. “Mom?” Two seconds alone, that was all she could get at one time since Liam was born. Well, once she even got a whole minute all at once, not even broken into ten second breaks, to do her makeup on her own before Liam came in and smeared her lipstick across the floor, but she was pretty sure she wouldn’t get that lucky again. Thankfully the door was pretty thick and Grace muffled his call with a cough as soon as she felt him there, moving away from the door in a rush. “I’ll meet you there tomorrow then? Is eight okay?” When he agreed Grace smiled jumped to end the call quickly, trying to make it seem as casual as possible. “Okay, see you then. Bye.” She was still grinning when she opened the door and watched Liam run away like he’d been caught, screaming the whole way back to the kitchen. That game only lasted another hour. Lacey was back over, complaining and whining even with a smile on her face the whole time. She didn’t mind, she never did, and Grace loved her for it. She was changed into a dark pair of jeans and a red top she’d just gotten a Kool-aid stain out of, Liam’s favorite flavor, in a matter of minutes, practically running out the door to make it on time. Lacey had asked all about the date when Grace called her, about Dylan and what he did and if she was planning on telling him about Liam, but it was all a little too much so Grace barely answered. It’s one date. She didn’t realize until she was already outside the restaurant paying for her cab that one of Liam’s toys was in her purse, some superhero walkie talkie going off when she nudged it. She had to take the batteries out just to get it to shut up, a little flustered when she got inside. As soon as she saw Dylan the feeling dissolved, replaced with the kind of butterflies that reminded her of junior high. “Hi.” After a breath, Grace smiled wider. “If it’s worth anything,” she said while they were getting a table, “I’m glad you only waited two days.”

Sperm Donor Dace

[spermdonorgrace]

spermdonordylan

“It’ll pay for the next two pizzas.” Harry tried again, standing in front of Dylan who was sprawled out on the bed across from him. Dylan laughed, flipping the page in the biology book laid out in front of him. “Yeah, so? Are we really that desperate?” he asked, which of course he knew he answer. Harry had just been fired, and they were running low on the amount of times their meal plan allowed them to eat. They’d been living off of twenty-five cent noodles for the last week. “No, but it’s easy money, isn’t it?” Dylan glanced up at him, not feeling very convinced. They tried to find a way to get a little extra money on the side, a nice chunk of change to help with things, but that dream died pretty quickly. They had tattoos less than twelve months old, and according to nurses at their local plasma center, they weren’t allowed to donate. But they could donate something else. “Just try it once, honestly, who cares? Do you know how many people do this?” Dylan stared up at him, waiting for him to continue, some sort of number on the tip of his tongue. But nothing. He shot him an exasperated look. “Well fuck, I’m sure a lot.” Dylan laughed at the turmoil he was putting his best friend through, shaking his head when he turned his attention back to studying. “Whatever, just once.” He agreed, not thinking too deeply about it. They both walked into the closest sperm bank the next morning, not knowing what to expect. They were twenty-one, they were healthy, they ticked every box. It seemed like easy money. Only it felt too sterile. Dylan stood in a white room, heels clicking on the other side of the door, his best friend in the room across from him. It took a while to get comfortable. He laughed for a good minute, staring at the little cup he was supposed to aim into, as if that was attractive in any sense. It didn’t help that in the middle of trying, Harry banged on the otherside of the door, making him pause with a hand around himself. “Get it, champ! Go for gold!” Dylan laughed, annoyed. “Fuck off.” Harry walked off laughing, and Dylan had to coax himself back into it. Pretend he was turned on by the very obvious pair of fake boobs on the front of the magazine he was given, ignoring the smell of alcohol and disinfectant wipes in the air. Eventually he got there, but not after twenty minutes of trying. Harry raised an eyebrow when he walked out, a smirk on his face. “Couldn’t get it up?” Dylan laughed, shaking his head. “I’m never doing that again.” Neither did Harry, but they did end up paying for Dominos that night.

Becoming a tattoo apprentice right after college was everything he’d been working for. Harry went down a different route, becoming the kind of guy that owned a cafe across from a Starbucks, claiming coffee from a brand name wasn’t as good. So Dylan hadn’t had a Starbucks drink in years, sticking loyal to his friend, grabbing a coffee from him on his way to work every morning. They remained best friends, through business decisions, through tattoo mistakes, everything. Dylan never thought twice about what he did in junior year because he never thought he would have to. It was a funny memory and now that he was older, he had a bunch of funnier things to think about. Like bad dates, horribly drunken nights that ended in horrible hangovers, slowly getting worse over the years. Their friendship was never boring, and thanks to the years they spent together, they were both very interested in basketball. They went when they could afford it, and on a Saturday when they had no other plans, they geared up and headed for their favorite team’s game. He didn’t pay much attention to the people around them, a general glance at the woman next to him, an appreciated glance over just once. But he was too invested in the game to focus on much else, until half time. Until he was staring up at himself on the big screen, right in the corner. The couple next to them were suppose to kiss and Dylan found himself looking, Harry laughing quietly next to him. Dylan didn’t see the big deal but the guy apparently did, making it awkward for everyone in involved. Until she turned to him. Dylan smiled before he could help it, shrugging like he didn’t care. “Okay.” he agreed, leaning in for a brief kiss with a stranger. It was hilarious, and Dylan wasn’t going to stop her if she didn’t care. The guy did though, moving out of his seat after the two of them pulled back. Dylan sipped through his door, smiling through the attention they were getting because of the big screen. The guy was gone, and he was left staring at a woman that had a pretty great sense of humor. Harry of course had to jump in, leaning forward to put in his two cents. “He doesn’t deserve me.” He pointed out, serious as ever. Dylan whacked him in the arm, rolling his eyes throughout. “Luckily neither.” he smiled, leaning forward a little. “That was pretty ballsy. I’m guessing that’s not your boyfriend?” he had to ask, the guy never coming back, the blonde unable to really care. It was his loss, really. She explained it, and he ended up smiling wider. Harry was back on his phone, scrolling mindlessly, knowing when to mind his own business. Dylan took it as his opportunity. “I’m Dylan.” he finally introduced, after already having their first kiss. Grace. She was cute. Dylan had been missing cute in his life for quite some time, never really having anything serious, just relationships he didn’t really care for in the end. Throwaways. Dylan never minded, but he loved meeting women that looked like her. The game was getting ready to start again, the players pushing their way back onto the court through loud intro music. Dylan still tried for a conversation. “You take all your dates to Knicks games or just the lucky ones?” he asked, leaning close to her ear. It was there, something he hadn’t had in a while, that strong attraction. He pulled back a little, feeling his own eyes dance between hers, a warm look growing on his face.

Grace waited with her bottom lip sucked into her mouth for the guy to say he had a girlfriend back home, maybe a wife, or maybe she was right about the guy sitting next to him. Instead, his friend leaned forward with a quick wit, Grace’s eyes bouncing between the two of them before she laughed, her eyes settling on the stranger she kissed. No girlfriend then, she could work with that. Grace jumped at the chance to explain that Matt was the farthest thing from her boyfriend, already forgetting he was even there. She wasn’t letting Lacey get away with that one, she’d have plenty to say later. But in the meantime Grace just smiled, wide eyes to show how not invested she was in the guy that just ran out on her. “Not even close.” After that they were both smiling, no strings attached elsewhere, a clear opening they were both gravitating towards. Grace tried to think back to the last time she’d flirted with just anyone instead of an awkward set up and couldn’t, so she let herself enjoy the moment, thinking maybe that’s what she’d been missing the whole time. Something she didn’t have to go looking for, something real. Dylan. He was cute, and Grace wasn’t one to waste good seats, so she stayed. “I’m Grace.” Her night was turning out to be a lot more eventful than she expected. Even more so when the game started back up, the crowd louder than ever around them, and Grace turned to watch the action when Dylan leaned in to speak. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d grinned like that. Maybe that was what made her forget all about the date she was supposed to be on and try to remember how to be smooth.

So Grace was sitting up a little straighter when she turned to find his eyes, distracted by something familiar there, gold flecks in warm hazel eyes she couldn’t help but think she recognized. Instantly, Grace wanted to laugh. Of course something would remind her of Liam while she was out. It was something Lacey accused her of constantly, never being able to turn off the mom in her. And maybe that was true, but Grace swore that wasn’t it. They were his eyes, but they were just like the ones she fawned over a million times a day. Maybe that was why she couldn’t help doing the same then, biting back the smile threatening to break through. “If they’re really lucky I buy them a drink after the game.” Grace knew she couldn’t pull off smooth, couldn’t put on a flirty face and deliver lines like they might in the movies. Instead she was grinning the whole time, an obvious amateur. Maybe it would be endearing. Their conversation was broken by a play that had them both jumping back into the action, Grace covering her eyes when the player everyone was watching missed a clear shot. Once the excitement wore off Grace leaned back towards Dylan to bring his attention back. “If their friends don’t have other plans.” When she caught his gaze after that Grace was grinning all over again, turning to watch the game to keep from embarrassing herself. It wasn’t exactly like she could stay out all night, and maybe Dylan had other things to do, but Grace bought him a drink all the same. It might have been a cheap beer from the food counter, everyone else moving to get out of the stadium while they stood and laughed about the situation that helped them meet, but it felt like a good start. So when Grace felt her phone buzz in her bag she figured she’d better say something before she had to run home. She’d gotten her first message right before the end, a text letting her know that they’d eaten all the oreos and Liam wanted something from the game. They were doing arts and crafts, apparently, because the next message was asking how to get glue out of a couch cushion. “Do you want to get dinner some time?” She didn’t exactly have to play coy, they’d known each other maybe five minutes and they’d already kissed. So Grace jumped at the chance to put her number in his phone, knowing the picture of Liam grinning and covered in finger paint she had as her screensaver wouldn’t exactly play well. After that, Grace knew she had to go, her phone buzzing in her bag with more messages from Lacey, so she pulled away from her spot reluctantly, a flutter in her heart she almost didn’t recognize. “Maybe next time you can remind me about that kiss.” She was grinning the whole way out of the building, and then again, after she’d run back in to buy a baseball cap for Liam before the souvenir shop closed.

Sperm Donor Dace

[spermdonorgrace]

Sperm Donor Dace

Grace Holden, twenty three and already voted New York Lifestyle Magazine’s Small Business Success of the Year, is opening her third location in Soho this August. Her brand ‘Little Apple’ has become it’s own chain store in a matter of months since the twenty something entrepreneur opened a store front to sell her products. You can still find all the brand’s products online on their website, including an original line of clothing, cribs, personalized baby blankets and organic baby food.

Grace was happy, she was; she was successful and had an apartment with working air conditioning for the first time in her life, she owned her own business like she’d always wanted to, she had friends in the city and she was settled. She was happy. The only thing missing was what her life practically revolved around: a baby. Grace was surrounded by babies all day long, she saw them in strollers down the street and in her apartment building and on every commercial as soon as she turned on the television. It was baby overload and Grace knew exactly why: she wanted to be a mom. Ever since she was a kid Grace had carted around baby dolls, pushed mini strollers through the park and played mom to all her friends, it was her dream long before she dreamed of moving to the city, and long before she dreamed of starting her own company. Being a mother, that was what Grace had wanted from the very beginning. The only thing standing in her way was finding a father. She had this problem that her friends like to explain simply, like it was obvious. Everywhere you go you find the worst man possible and attract him like a magnet. It was sort of true, so Grace never argued. She had the worst luck, never once coming close to settling down, and by the time Grace was twenty three, everything else in her life falling into place, she decided she’d had enough. She wanted a family, to be a mother. She was going to have a baby. So Grace did it herself. She moved into a new apartment with two bedrooms, found a fertility clinic and bought her own sample, donor number 3728. He was her age, no family history of heart disease, and he did something with art. Talented, Grace decided, and she picked him based on a feeling in her gut. Four months later she found out she was pregnant with a baby boy. Liam James was seven pounds when he was born, healthy and beautiful and hers, and the name just sort of fit. She couldn’t even quite explain why she picked James for his middle name. It was her grandfathers middle name, sure, but they weren’t that close and she never brought that up when people asked. Mostly, Grace just liked the way it sounded. As soon as she’d thought of the names together they just fit. Liam James. He was beautiful, with dark hair straight away and big, hazel eyes that Grace couldn’t stop staring into, even when she was rocking him in the middle of a conference call about a mew product line. It was hard, harder even than anyone said it would be, and Grace had always just assumed they were exaggerating. But her parents lived just outside the city and she had a best friend she could call any time of night and she would come over, just like that, and Grace was okay. She did it, all on her own when everyone said she couldn’t, and even after all the sleepless nights and dirty diapers and showing up to meetings with spit up on her jacket, Grace was the happiest she’d ever been. Liam was her family, and she didn’t regret not waiting around to be happy. The only downfall was dating. It took about a year for her friends to start badgering her, to claim that she looked better than ever and it was time to get back out there, but Grace refused. It was after Liam turned three that she finally gave in, agreeing to go on a few dates now and then if they set them up but never promising more than that. Because sure, the idea was nice, and she might have missed the connection, but she had all she needed already, just her and Liam. Until Liam’s daycare was out for a week and Grace had to stay home with him and she realized that without another adult around to talk to she was slowly losing her mind. It was perfectly fine again when she went back to work but it was still in the back of her mind. So she was trying, and mostly failing, to date.

“Why can’t I come?” By three, almost four, a fact he made sure to remind everyone of every time he had the chance, Liam never whined questions or demands like the other kids in preschool. He just asked questions, point blank like his thoughts were completely rational. It was hilarious, he was like a thirty year old caught in a toddler’s body. “'Cause a date is for grown ups.” Lacey answered easily. Lacey had been Grace’s friend since college, wild and a little loud and the only fun thing about three hour lecture halls. She moved around after school but always gravitated back to New York, claiming it was the only logical answer to give her career in fashion a chance. So Lacey stayed put and never once bothered Grace when she decided to get pregnant. She was the only one to never poke her with preachy speeches or questions like do you really think this is a good idea? She was supportive, always, and Grace’s best friend because of it. So, naturally, once Liam was born Aunt Lacey became one of his favorite faces, and that night, his favorite babysitter. “Why?” He was still planted firmly in the why phase, and it usually got to Grace after ten minutes if nonstop asking but Lacey never showed the same weakness. She was really good with Liam, but she’d only laugh if Grace ever told her so. “Because they’re boring. Wouldn’t you rather stay here with me? We can watch cartoons and eat ice cream for dinner.” Grace shot her a look then and sighed when Lacey winked in response. “Batman!” Liam was up and scrambling, headed straight for the television after that. “Hey, wait a minute, don’t I get a goodbye? A 'love you mom,’ anything?” Liam was giggling when he took off back across the room to her, Grace getting down to balance on one knee. It was hard to do in tight jeans but she managed. “It’s real funny to break your mom’s heart, huh? Did batman ever change your stinky diapers?” Liam was a fit of giggles when she pulled him closer to hug him, tickling him until he was screeching. “Give mom a kiss, Li, she’s gonna be late.” Grace tapped her cheek after that and smiled when he smacked his lips there, laughing when she did the same, a loud raspberry on his skin. “Alright, have fun.” She tossed when she got up, grabbing her bag and fishing through it. “Call me if-” But Lacey was already cutting her off, waving her towards the door. “Yeah, go, go have a life, we’ve got it covered.” So Grace left, and it only took her two tries to stop hovering at the top of the stairs and actually go down them, running out of her building to find a cab. She was meeting the guy there, something she decided would be a rule when she started dating again. That way she could keep strangers far away from her actual world and find out all about them first, figure out if they were even worth actually dating before she mentioned Liam. So far, none of them had been even remotely close. But for some reason Grace had still agreed to go out with Matt, a guy Lacey knew from work and insisted she at least go out with once. Apparently, he was nice. When she met him, she realized just how nice nice was. Too nice. He was polite and boring and even the input se managed to get from him over dinner was about as interesting as her tax forms. And he was an accountant. By the time they got to the basketball game they had tickets to Grace was wondering if he even liked the Knicks at all or if he was just trying to impress her. Lacey must have mentioned she liked basketball, because he looked as out of place there as she expected him to. He probably preferred the opera or something equally as dull and beyond her depth. Either way, Grace was settled in her seat and ready to watch the game even if he didn’t say a thing. She probably said enough for the both of them anyway, shouting and groaning when she couldn’t help herself. She only noticed the guy sitting next to her when she bumped his leg with her shoe when she shifted and glanced over to apologize, smiling briefly until she looked back at the court. It wasn’t until halftime that the date boiled to a head. The kiss cam was always the beginning or the end of a relationship, no matter how short, so Grace shouldn’t have been surprised when it landed on them, her cheeks going red with the heat of every eye on her. She wasn’t really embarrassed though, if anything it could have been a good story later, a first kiss caught by thousands, but Matt wasn’t having it. He outright refused right in front of everyone, shook his head and looked at Grace like she was crazy, and she knew right away he was the exact opposite of the kind of guy she was looking for. So before Grace could let herself feel the full force of humiliation, the sound of people groaning at Matt’s reaction all around her, she turned to the stranger on her left and raised her eyebrows in a silent question, hearing Matt make an indignant noise behind her. “Okay.” she drew the word out. “What about you?” When he didn’t disagree Grace leaned forward and pecked him on the lips, laughing as soon as the crowd cheered them on. When she looked back to Matt he was red faced and angry, getting up in a huff, but Grace just laughed harder, waving goodbye to him before looking back at the stranger she’d kissed in spite. She could have done a lot worse. “I hope your girlfriend isn’t jealous.” she told him over the sound of the crowd, glancing past his shoulder and tacking on, “Or your boyfriend.” Grace was still giggling, nodding in the direction of the guy sitting next to the stranger with her eyes bright and amused.