Accidental Surrogate

Home with Baby Ella

I hear Sinclair sigh heavily next to me, murmuring “Ella…”

But I ignore him, my eyes fasted on Hank, who blushes a deep red at the door and looks down at his shoes. I don’t say a word, though, or make this any easier on him. Instead, I wait patiently for an answer.

“Cora is,” he murmurs, awkward, “very special to me…

“I would imagine so,” I reply, my voice harder than I think I expected it to be. “She’s a very special person.”

Hank sighs and raises his eyes seriously to mine. I hold his gaze steadily.

“I’m very serious about Cora,” he says evenly. “I want to build a life with her. But we are moving…slowly. We both want to make sure that this is right.”

My heart warms when I hear him say that he wants to build a life with her, but still – what does that mean? I hold my baby closer to me and shift in my seat.

“And do you want to have childre-”

“Ella!” Sinclair bursts in, his voice angry, a hand on my arm.

“What!” I cry, turning to him with a frown. “It’s a legitimate question!”

“It’s none of your business!” He hisses back to me, his eyes wide and appalled.

–

my sister’s business is

My frown deepens as I open my mouth to object to my mate business, after all – but Hank clears his throat, bringing my attention back to him.

says, his eyes flicking between Sinclair and I now,

at an end. I sigh, nodding, as Sinclair speaks.

you, doctor,” he says with finality, letting Sinclair know he’s free

scowl as Hank leaves the room, my eyes on my baby.

I look into his eyes, still mad.

have. If

information. “And

ask, still bristling that he didn’t let me get information

brings his eyes back to me, though. “Either way, that’s a conversation between

enough to not talk to

back on the chair. “I guess

him on his little head. “Don’t worry, baby,” I

in his chair, but doesn’t bother to counter me. He knows it would be

by the activities of the day. But Cora finally gave us the go–ahead when Rafe’s final set

“Oh,” I say, fascinated, moving forward

presents from friends and

the sudden rush of feelings, overwhelmed by all the love in the room when I’ve been so distracted – I haven’t even

no,” Sinclair says quickly, taking me by the shoulders and moving the baby and I towards the stairs. “We’re way too tired for this

at it as Sinclair guides me up the stairs, a

there in the morning,” Sinclair says, steady, yawning. “Now? Bed.”

sigh, nodding to his wisdom and allowing myself to be shepherded upstairs. When we reach the door to our bedroom, though, my eyes fill with tears again as I look

to be there for me. “What

the first time, Dominic. Putting him to sleep in his own little bed. It’s just…” I shrug, not really knowing how to put all of my emotions

body against him – against the warm, steady bulk of him, grateful – again – to have a mate who understands me so completely. Who

understands, really, that this is all a dream to me. And that every moment of it – even one as