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

movement of the RV as much. The boys all

front, studying maps and discussing ridiculous things like terrain

endlessly fascinating

leave them to it. Cora and I curl up in

our time chatting, watching movies, and napping lightly

baby between us.

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

and talking with my sister, reconnecting with

life

broke through my window.

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

sink to the horizon.

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

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

going to have to snatch

them because the next

to make that

going to try to

at my napping baby, trailing a little finger

” Did we

our fated mates. We picked this…should

want a simpler life,” Cora laughs, and I look up

smiling and shaking her head at

Cora, I was a nanny – I was

single mom, to live quietly

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

you were always going to be

to the side, “but…you were

it kind of makes sense that you ended up being such a good

door for you to help thousands when he is

that was

considering what she’s saying. And I guess…well, I guess I

this was perhaps always the life I

I wanted

adds, her voice dropping lower. “I’m

isn’t my fated mate,”

eyes going wide. ” But

“But… Ella, this thing between us,” she

big. I don’t…know how

that.”

a mating bond snap into

back to me.

out in that rainstorm – that day when we

motel.”

her, knowing what happened that day,

eagerly, wanting to know. “What did

giving a little shrug. “But the

definitive. Not I choose you as my mate. Just…that

little jealous. I have no hesitations about Sinclair

I know that what’s between us

– it’s an experience I’ll never

“did you ask

she says, shrugging

“Why not?”

the idea. I don’t

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

she gasps, grabbing