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

studying maps and

they find endlessly fascinating for

I shrug and leave them to it. Cora and I curl up in the

chatting, watching movies, and napping lightly

baby between us.

a wonderful day in the little sun-soaked

laughing and talking with my sister, reconnecting

life since

broke through my window.

it’s all really over?” I ask her

sink to the horizon.

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

sighs, telling me honestly. “I think…well, Ella, I think we

think we’re going to have to snatch at

the next challenge is

have to fight to make that peace in our

to try

at my napping baby, trailing

we choose

picked this…should we have chosen

simpler life,” Cora laughs, and I look up at

and shaking her head

was a nanny

single mom, to live quietly alone with

says, waving a hand at me in dismissal. “That was just

always. Yes, you were always going to

“but…you

sense that you

for you to help thousands when he is

that was always

say, considering what she’s saying. And

perhaps always the

that I wanted

dropping lower. “I’m

my fated mate,” she

wide. ” But you’re a

says, frowning. “But… Ella, this thing

feels really big. I don’t…know

that.”

bond snap into

she says, turning back to me. “But

day when we had to stop at the

motel.”

knowing what happened that day, and she blushes

eagerly, wanting

was his mate,” Cora replies, giving a little shrug. “But the

Not I choose you as my

say, impressed, a little jealous. I have

mate, and I know that what’s between us is far beyond anything

own fated mate. But still –

you ask

says,

“Why not?”

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

I’ll go ask -” I say simply, scooching forward on

gasps, grabbing my