Accidental Surrogate

Chapter 311: Cora at Home 

Cora

When I wake up it’s almost eight at night and I groan, realizing that my sleep schedule is

completely wrecked. I’m reminded, suddenly, of my years as a medical resident when this sort of thing was normal – sleeping all day, taking night shifts, living moment to moment rather than a steady, scheduled life.

And quite frankly, right now? That sounds really wonderful, compared against a whole night of empty hours in which I have nothing to do but… think.

Think about what I’m doing in my life, think about my career which has gone in a really weird direction, think about my relationship…s.

About a certain kiss in the woods.

About a sweet doctor who, apparently, wants to build a life with me.

I sigh and sit up, looking around at my sterile little apartment. I never really decorated, I realize as

I look around at the grey and beige furniture, the simple linens, the charmless curtains. Everything is functional and high quality but none of it is… me?

Or is it?

I frown at my space, thinking of Ella’s sweet home that – even though Sinclair picked out most of the furniture before she moved in – still sings Ella Ella Ella in every corner. It’s warm and sweet

and comfortable. What does my space say about me?

I mean, I’m an orphan – I never had any possessions or any control over the environments in

which I lived, so where would I have learned to decorate? I never had a mother to show me how

So where did Ella…

my eyes at myself, sick, again, of being jealous of my

has what she wants in her life. But sometimes she’s just so….perfect.

reaching for my phone, seeking some kind of distraction from these disquieting- thoughts. But when I pick it up the first thing I see is

how did the baptism go?

You

2

you get up – I know you were up all

from you.

through the rest of my phone, trying, determinedly,

at all from Roger. Not a peep. As I take a deep breath and

I’m… I mean, this is a little pathetic, but I’m outside. Can you let me

your apartment door…

twinges a little bit when I see that. Hank. He’s being so sweet and I’m…well, I’m not being fair to him, am

even want – despite what might have passed between us last night, it doesn’t change anything. And there’s a man standing outside my door with mooshoo pork, dying to love

of my bed and dash for

I yank

accidentally dropping the large bag of Chinese on the little mail table I keep outside my

maybe too bright, too cheerful. “I’m so sorry,” I continue, smiling at him, “I just woke up – we were up all night. It’s – I’m very sorry.

warm smile. “I get it – you had a busy night.”

against my door frame and gesturing towards my little

says, his lips turning up a bit at the corner. “That

the house, the Chinese spread out around us on the coffee table, eating right out of the containers with the supplied chopsticks, Hank tells me all about his day. He held down the fort at the little free clinic we both work at, seeing both prospective

Hank closely as he tells me his story, my eyes flicking over his handsome, serious face

watch him, something that makes me…well, makes- me want

asks, making me blink and focus on him.

Hank,” I say, giving him an apologetic look. “I got….lost in my

responds, giving me a little wink and reaching out to grab my hand, squeezing it a bit before sitting back. “I

in the clinic,” I respond instantly, looking down at my chicken with broccoli and picking up a morsel. “But she doesn’t have any medical experience. Would she really be helpful there? I think that she

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