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.

his eyes flicking between

end. I sigh, nodding, as Sinclair

he says with finality, letting Sinclair know he’s free from my interrogation. “We’ll

leaves the room,

says slowly, admonishing. I look into

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

he processes this information. “And what’s Cora’s page about kids?” he asks. “Does she want them?”

didn’t let me get

don’t know…” He brings his eyes back to me, though. “Either way, that’s a conversation between Cora and Roger. Or Cora and Hank. Or…whoever.”

I murmur, settling back onto the pillows. “If they’re all too stupid enough to not talk to each other about it, then

on the chair. “I guess I

him on his little head. “Don’t worry, baby,” I whisper to him. “I’ll teach you my

a little laugh in his chair, but doesn’t bother to

by the time we finally get home, all three of us exhausted by the activities of the day. But Cora finally gave us the go–ahead when Rafe’s final set

waiting for us. “Oh,” I say, fascinated, moving forward to

presents from friends and well–wishers. See?” He points to one filled with hand–drawn cards set

sharp tears. “Oh, I miss them…” I bite my lip against the 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

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 – if you

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

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

When we reach the door to our bedroom, though,

to be there for me. “What is it this time? What’s

a little, looking between him and the baby. “Just…we’re bringing him home for the first time, Dominic. Putting him to sleep in his own little bed. It’s just…” I shrug, not really knowing how to

against mine, speaking 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

all a dream to me. And that every moment of it – even one as simple as this