Accidental Surrogate

o the baby and I grip his hand, and we both wait… But nothing.

“The baby doesn’t like the name Matthew,” I whisper, laughing a little. “Well, it was just a starter,” Roger murmurs, grinning at me again. “You try one.” “All right,” I say, leaning my head back and taking a deep breath. And then I pass a name down, trying… Oliver.

“Oliver!?” Roger bursts out in disgust and I gasp, glaring at him.

“You are biasing our son!” I accuse, sitting up to smack him. “I said nothing when you said stupid Matthew!” “Matty is a cute name “he protests, laughing and blocking my blow. “Oliver is the name of a sickly Victorian child who wants more gruel -” I growl and lay back, taking a deep breath and gathering myself. “Well, let’s see what the baby thinks,” I murmur, sending Roger another glare. And then I try again, whispering Oliver? down the bond. But nothing comes back.

“Good baby,” Roger murmurs, kissing my stomach again and making me laugh.

“Don’t let her call you that. It’s terrible.” “Okay okay,” I say, taking a deep breath. “Let’s try one more.” “I’ll pick it?” Roger asks.

“Sure,” I reply, relaxing. “But this time, pick one you really, really like. One that you’d actually want him to be called – your favorite.” “Okay,” he murmurs.

And then Roger passes another name down the bond, and I smile, because… Because I love it.

And we wait… And then both Roger and I gasp at the same time as we feel the baby respond.

Happy!

god,” I say, laughing and sitting up as Roger snatches me to

thrilled. Laughing, elated, I take his face in my hands and kiss him, and kiss him, and

just

came up, and then we gathered up all of our sandy clothes and the blanket and trooped

the early afternoon to the owner of the bungalow tapping on the door, bringing us a basket of food so we could eat something, and Roger went to get it while

had to, eventually, because Roger wouldn’t let me eat all my meals in bed, instead insisting that I come and sit with him on the couch for the elaborate dinner he made. Well, elaborate for Roger, who never learned to cook. But the spread of sandwiches

baskets and otherwise laying in bed talking, making each other laugh, sending

honestly, the baby never did much, but it made us

as we napped, and went swim and laid

the second day, we knew we had to get back – because as much as we like each other, we

after we’ve packed and locked up. “Next week?” I laugh and let him kiss me, let it sweep through me. “Maybe not next week. But soon.” He nods,

my stomach. “But, considering that this little guy is coming along? We’re going to want more space.” “True” Roger says, his eyebrows raising. “And considering what the goddess said that night on the boat?…” I break into a grin. “You’re thinking more?” “I’m thinking a bunch more,” he nods, eager. “And I’m going to enjoy the process very much, Cora – ” “Oh, sure,” I say, laughing and rolling my eyes, shoving him away a little bit. ” You just make the babies, I’ll grow them, and carry them, and then raise them He laughs, wrapping an arm around my shoulder as we head for the car. ” Nah, I’m going to be a very involved dad. You’ll see. You’ll barely have to lift a finger.” “Good,” I say, standing on my toes to kiss his cheek as he opens my car door for

our tiny luggage into the trunk before crossing to the

in the car, closing my door behind me as Roger climbs into his seat. “Ella, loaded up with four of her own kids and as many nieces and nephews as we can pass over to her to raise? She’d be in heaven.”

say, smiling down at him and stroking my belly