Accidental Surrogate

Accidental Surrogate Chapter 386-The Long…Long Road

Ella

It takes me just a little over an hour to realize that…I hate road trips.

“Oh my god,” I murmur to Cora as the vibrations of the gigantic RV continue to

shake through us, making poor Rafe grumble uncomfortably. “Is it night yet?

Can we stop?”

“You’re being a baby, Ella,” my sister replies, looking up at me with a smirk,

jumping her red king over three of Roger’s black checkers and capturing them.

“It’s fun!”

“You’re only having fun because you’re kicking Roger’s ass for the third time at

that game,” I murmur, sighing as I glance out the window.

“Seriously,” Roger sighs, leaning back against the white leather of the

kitchenette’s booth. “You should quit that, Cora. For Ella’s sake – she’s trying to

enjoy herself.” He runs a frustrated hand through his hair, staring at the board.

“Yes,” Cora replies, laughing. “For Ella’s sake, I’ll go easy on you.”

“I just thought it would be prettier,” I sigh, looking out the window at the endless

highway miles. “Like, purple mountains majesty. Fruited plains. Etcetera.”

Instead, it’s just hour after hour of looking at cars, and asphalt, and the sad little

pine scrub that borders the highways.

“Maybe when we get further out,” Cora offers, hopeful. “Nah,” Roger replies,

making his next move on the checker’s board. “After the forest it’s all corn for

days.”

I groan, leaning my head back. “I hate corn.”

“No, you don’t,” Cora chides, instantly making her next move on the board and

capturing two more of Roger’s pieces. He gasps in protest and then slumps

back again.

“How are you doing this,” he murmurs, studying the board. “Are you a witch?”

“Maybe,” she says with a shrug.” Guess we have to ask mom.”

I smile at her then, bouncing my fussy baby in my arms. And I inhale a deep

breath, silently ordering myself to cheer up because even if I decidedly do not

like riding in the RV, I’m still excited to take this trip for my sister, to get her the

answers she so desperately wants.

Eventually Cora and I retire with the baby to the bedroom where Sinclair

of the RV as much. The

front, studying maps and discussing ridiculous things

endlessly fascinating for some weird boy

them to it. Cora and I

time chatting, watching movies, and napping lightly with

baby between us.

ends up being a wonderful day in the little sun-soaked room at the

talking with my sister, reconnecting

I’ve been missing from my life

broke through my window.

you think it’s all really over?” I ask her in a quiet

sink to the horizon.

to ask me what I’m talking about – she already knows.

she sighs, telling me honestly. “I

big lives. I think we’re going to have to snatch at moments

because the next challenge is always

to make

going to try to

sigh, looking down at my napping baby, trailing a little

we choose wrong? I mean

picked this…should we have chosen simpler

and I look up at her

smiling and shaking her

ask, sitting up straight, ” Cora, I was a nanny – I was

single mom, to live

me

Yes, you were always going

the side, “but…you were never going to

makes sense that you

Dominic. He opens a door for you to help thousands

that was always

I say, considering what she’s saying. And

That this was perhaps always the life

sometimes that I

adds, her voice dropping lower. “I’m actually…I’m not

my fated

wide. ” But you’re a human

know,” she says, frowning. “But… Ella, this thing between us,” she

big. I don’t…know

that.”

bond snap

says, turning back to me. “But Roger said it first,

rainstorm – that day when we had

motel.”

her, knowing what happened that day, and she

eyes. But I lean forward eagerly, wanting to

mate,” Cora replies, giving a little

you

jealous. I have no hesitations about

what’s between us is far beyond anything

still – it’s an experience I’ll never have. “Well,”

you ask him

says,

“Why not?”

“I…like the idea. I don’t want him to tell me

say simply, scooching forward on the bed, ready to jump

she gasps, grabbing