Accidental Surrogate

Ella

The morning of the moon ceremony finds me, unsurprisingly, in the kitchen. Eating.

Rafe is with me this time, giggling happily as I dance happily around the room with him, singing about how delicious carrots are as I pour some baby carrots out from their bag onto a plate and begin to munch on them..

–

I’m just getting to the part of the song – which I’m making up as I go along about how they’re good for your vision and help you make friends with rabbits when I hear an odd, familiar sound out in the hall.

I gasp, spinning towards the door as the mechanical hum grows louder, and I’m nearly run over when Henry wheels into the room.

“Henry!” I gasp, tears instantly lining my eyes, stumbling in my hurry to hug him close, almost falling into his lap.

“Steady, girl!” Henry laughs, putting out his hands to catch me and help me find my feet, laughing a little. He beams up at me and I’m laughing too, shaking my head at myself as I lean down to give him a proper hug and then a kiss on both cheeks.

“We missed you so much!” I gush, my heart in my throat as I pull away. “I’m so glad you’re home and in time! A miracle!”

“Certainly took some doing,” he says, raising his eyebrows at me. “I rode in a cargo plane to get here – this little man had better impress.” He shifts his gaze, then, to the baby in my arms.

“Oh!” I say, standing up straight and remembering my manners. “Henry, may I please have the pleasure of introducing you to your grandchild?”

“Nothing would give me more joy,” he replies, his own eyes wet now.

be overwhelmed by the beauty of the

I’m overwhelmed by the moment, part of me reflects that I’m glad Henry met Rafe while the baby is in

hear footsteps on the stairs and look towards the door,

1. it.

the other. Sinclair bends down low to give his father a long, warm hug and I bite my lip to see it. Sinclair never admitted it, but he

kitchen is filled with happy noise for the next few minutes as we all buzz around each other, trying to do nice things for each other and make sure everyone’s

1/3

minute, raising my

“go into the living room, take the baby, and relax. I’ll bring in coffee in a moment. Then we’ll

them nod and comply, heading out of the room. A few minutes later I follow them carrying a silver tray heaped with coffee and food. My stomach rumbles as I

wonderful, Ella,” Henry says fondly, looking down at his grandchild when I enter

room.

easily persuaded of that,” I say casually, putting the tray down on the coffee table and

if it’s all the same to you, I’ll

deeply to see the bond forming

were a little bowling ball when you were born. With the same

of his travel back to us, how much he wanted to

I gasp, excited.

between us. “It wasn’t a

says, smiling at me. “I

with tears again at the thought of

hair, but I also see him glance at the door. He’s torn, I know, between wanting to spend time with his dad and the duties I know

a smile. “We’re perfectly all right here on our

sure?” he asks, glancing at

his son. Then he smiles and pats the arm