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.

down to place Rafe in his grandfather’s arms for the first time, trying hard no to be overwhelmed by the beauty of the

down at the baby. “He’s a beauty, Ella. Wonderful.” He shakes his head, staring at my son. Though I’m overwhelmed by the moment, part of me reflects that I’m glad Henry met Rafe while the baby is in a good mood. He still spends most of his time

look towards the door, smiling when

1. it.

raising one arm towards his son, the baby still held in the other. Sinclair bends down low to give his father a long, warm hug and

noise for the next few minutes as we all buzz around

1/3

a minute, raising my hands and

and Sinclair, “go into the living room, take the baby, and relax. I’ll bring in coffee in a moment. Then we’ll catch up. All right?”

of the room. A few minutes later I follow them carrying a silver tray heaped with coffee and food. My stomach

says fondly, looking down at his grandchild when

room.

tray down on the coffee table and sitting close next to Sinclair. “Would you

me. “I mean if it’s all the same to you, I’ll hold him a

to see the bond

smiling at my mate. “You, too, were a little bowling ball when you were born. With the same

time I’m over. We spend a pleasant half hour catching up, with Henry telling us all about the harrows of his travel back to us, how much he wanted to get here in time for the ceremony. He also catches us up on the lives of our friends who we unfortunately had to left behind, and surprises us by telling us that Isabel, James, and

gasp,

between us. “It

sure,” Sinclair says, smiling at me. “I didn’t want you to be

I say, my eyes filling with tears again at the thought of seeing my friends. “Thank you.”

I know, between wanting to spend time with his dad and the duties

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

you sure?” he asks, glancing at

his son. Then he smiles and pats the arm chair next to him. “You