Accidental Surrogate

“Well,” Henry answers, hesitating. “Cora and Roger will see the prophecy.”

My face falls a little when I realize the implications of this. “Really? Unfair,” I declare, pouting.

Henry laughs a little along with me. “It will bring them closer to him, give them a bond.”

“Well,” I sigh, “I want them to have that. What sort of things do you learn, though? Do you share them with the parents?”

“If you choose,” Henry shrugs. “I always did. And Sinclair and Roger’s godparents shared with me, for which I was grateful.”

“What did they tell you?” I ask, curious.

“That Sinclair would be a great leader of men,” Henry says, looking down at the baby again, clearly remembering his baby who looked so like this one. “That was no surprise. But Roger, that was…”

I pause, curious, suddenly fascinated. “What did they say?”

He hesitates and then meets my eye. “I never even told Roger about it. But they told me that his destiny laid less with who he was, and more with the children he would sire. The many children, who would be…” he looks away a bit, trying to sort his thoughts, “it was hard to understand. But something about a set of extraordinary children who would bring much joy to the world.”

I work hard to

Cora was

a father is important to Roger – his destiny, even. And if Cora can’t give him children… Henry meets, my

says quietly. “Don’t think too hard on her messages they often present themselves in the most

–

little smile, fighting against my own disappointment. I sit up straighter in my chair, smiling down at my baby, who’s staring up at me with his wide eyes, which are just starting to turn green. “Besides, today is about this little one. And his future.”

him again. “And his future is very, very bright. This I know for

to bursting to see all of them – especially Isabel, James,

as I have to greet all of our guests and introduce Rafe around to his new friends and family. But still, Isabel and

It’s perhaps too much for a trip to the woods, but we’ll be

was it right? God, I don’t know.

reassuring hands on my shoulders. “Everything is in order, Ella – you don’t need to micromanage everything. It’s all going smoothly.”

mind in more ways than one. “I just want everything to go smoothly, and everyone to have a nice time, and to make sure that everyone gets enough time with Rafe –”

need to be everything to everyone, trouble. They’re here to help you. You could have come down in

cared,” I say, turning on him with wide eyes.

down and enjoy the night. It’s for us, as much as for him. The guests are just happy to be along

and then looking down at my happy baby in my arms. “I

and moving towards the door. “It’s good that you figured that out now,

is likewise streaming towards the entrance, towards the two vans waiting to take us all out in the woods. “Oh, Dominic!” I say, spinning in his arms and looking towards the kitchen. “Did we remember the champagne