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.

“If there’s nothing else,” he says, his eyes flicking between Sinclair and

at an end. I

letting Sinclair know he’s free from my interrogation. “We’ll

Hank leaves the room, my eyes on my

slowly, admonishing. I look into his

because she thinks he wants children they can’t have. If Hank also isn’t on the same page with her about kids, then what’s the point?”

up in surprise as he processes this information. “And

bristling that he didn’t let

eyes back to me, though. “Either

onto the pillows. “If they’re all too stupid enough to not talk to

the chair. “I guess I shouldn’t

I kiss him on his little head. “Don’t

chair, but doesn’t bother to counter me.

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

a little when I see the variety of gift baskets and flowers waiting for us. “Oh,” I say, fascinated, moving forward to look at them all. Then I look up at my mate. “Did you do

eyebrows also raised in interest as he checks some tags on a few of them. “ They look to be presents from friends and well–wishers. See?” He

my lip against the sudden rush of feelings, overwhelmed by all the love in the room when I’ve been

I towards the stairs. “We’re way too tired for this – if

Sinclair guides me up the stairs, a steady hand on my back. “Rafe’s first teddy – we

will be there in the morning,”

to be shepherded upstairs. When we reach the door to our bedroom, though, my eyes fill with tears again as I

exhausted but wanting to be

him home for the first time, Dominic. Putting him to sleep in his own little bed. It’s just…”

to my soul as much as mind as he confirms this. I know, he says, simply. And so I rest my body against him – against the warm, steady bulk of him, grateful – again – to have a mate who understands me so completely. Who doesn’t think I’m crazy or overwrought.

really, that this is all a dream to me. And that every