Accidental Surrogate

Ella

The next morning I’m up and dressed early, eagerly glancing towards the door every few minutes because I know Cora is coming to see me. It’s a social visit as well as a medical one–I run my hand over my belly, eager to hear what she has to say about Rafe’s growth and progress.

A hear someone at the door of my bedroom and I gasp, spinning towards it. But I just scowl when I see that it’s Sinclair standing there, smiling at me, and not my sister. He bursts out laughing when he sees my disappointment

“Really?” he asks, pretending to be hurt as I pick up the television remote and start to flick through the channels. “Days ago you were desperate to see me – have I fallen out of favor so fast?”

“No,” I sigh, looking up at him apologetically. He gives me a warm smile, his eyes flicking over me, making sure I’m okay. “I just can’t wait to see her. And she was telling me some really weird things about her and Roger – actually, has he said anything

Sinclair holds up a hand to me, stopping me and glancing down the hall to where someone is climbing the steps.

“Cora!” I cry, throwing my legs off of the bed and working to hoist myself up. Sinclair moves aside and I see Hank and Cora at the door.

“No no –” Doctor Hank says, putting out a hand towards me, palm out. “Stay in bed, Ella – no need to get up. We’ll come to you.”

I frown at him (for more reasons than one) but stay on my bed Luckily, Cora gives a little shriek of joy and throws herself into my arms, where I get to wrap her up tight. I laugh and tell my sister how glad I am to see her while Hank, also smiling, places his bag on my side table and starts to unpack it.

and putting a hand on my belly.” How is

and shrugging. I look down at my stomach. “He’s just swimming around in there, giving me a kick or two every once in a

too small to kick,” Cora wonders, frowning and probing my belly. “You’re only three months

pregnant is more like five or six months pregnant in wolf biology,” Hank informs us, popping his stethoscope around his neck and giving me a smile. “It’s easy to get the timeline

pregnant a few weeks ago, in the desert would have sworn it. But

grow rapidly from here,” Hank murmurs, leaning forward and pressing the stethoscope to my back to listen to my heart and breathing. “If

and then at Sinclair, still standing in the door. My checkup takes a while, with Doctor Hank focusing on my general health and then Cora performing a check on the baby. She even used a little portable ultrasound machine that Sinclair ordered so that we could do these kinds of checkups at home while I’m still weak.

whole process, desperately hoping for a good report. I’ve been quite good lately, even if it’s been boring – no stairs, spending most of my time in bed, really just doing

grow strong.

the ultrasound and pressing “print” on the little machine so that we can have a picture of it “From my end, everything looks great.” She gives me

me and crossing his arms. “Overall, Ella, you’re doing wonderfully, all things considered. But I have to remind you that you’re still quite fragile, medically, even if you are feeling better. The orders still stand – complete bed rest,

bedrest. I think, deep down, I was hoping

has been keeping me informed of what the world is like, and I’ve been keeping an eye on the news. The tentative ceasefire between the wolves and the humans is holding, though there are some humans who are protesting against giving in so easily, and Sinclair as initiated the start of peace talks between our two peoples. Still, there are so many on both sides who are displaced- so many mothers and their children living as refugees –

you all right, Ella?” Cora

her and Hank. “But thank you – I understand that I can’t. It’s all for the best, and I can learn to be patient. Will you tell me, though?” I beg, looking up at the doctor

healthy for more activity, I’ll let you know. I promise I won’t hold you back He gives me a nod and the start of a smile, which I return brightly. I can tell he is warming

Hank surprises me, though, by reaching a hand out to Cora next.

help my mouth from falling open a little. “Yes,” she says, giving his hand a little squeeze before dropping it. “I’ll see you