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.

else,” he says, his eyes flicking between Sinclair and I now,

questioning is at an end. I sigh, nodding, as Sinclair

free

scowl as Hank leaves the room, my eyes on

says slowly, admonishing. I look into his eyes, still mad.

need to know, Sinclair. She’s not with Roger 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

go up in surprise as he processes this information. “And what’s Cora’s page about kids?” he asks. “Does she want

bristling that he didn’t let me get information that

considering it. “Actually, I don’t know…” He brings his eyes back to me,

stupid enough to not talk to each other about it, then I am going to talk about

leaning back on the chair. “I guess I shouldn’t have expected any different.”

head. “Don’t worry, baby,” I whisper to him. “I’ll teach you my troublesome ways. And then we’ll torture daddy together.”

doesn’t bother to counter me. He knows it would be

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

I gasp a little when I see the variety of gift baskets and flowers waiting for us. “Oh,” I say, fascinated, moving forward

presents from friends and well–wishers. See?” He points to one filled with hand–drawn cards set neatly around a fluffy teddy bear. “This one’s from James and Isabel…”

sudden rush of feelings, overwhelmed by all the love in the room when I’ve been so distracted – I haven’t even kept up with everyone as well as I

and I towards the stairs. “We’re way too tired

I cry, looking over my shoulder at it as Sinclair guides me up the stairs, a steady hand on my back. “Rafe’s first teddy – we have to get it!”

will be there in the morning,” Sinclair says,

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

murmurs, taking my chin between his fingers, exhausted but wanting to be there for me. “What is

home for the first time, Dominic. Putting him to sleep in his own little bed. It’s just…” I shrug, not

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

dream to me. And that every moment