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!

I say, laughing and sitting up as Roger snatches me to him, pulling me

he stares at me, thrilled. Laughing, elated, I take his face in my hands and kiss him, and

think we just named the

and then we gathered up all of our sandy clothes and the blanket and trooped back to the house, where we closed the

basket of food so we could eat something, and Roger went to get it while I curled further up in bed,

and sit with him on the couch for the elaborate dinner he made. Well, elaborate for Roger, who never learned to

landlord brought us every day in baskets and otherwise laying in bed talking, making each other laugh, sending

but it made us laugh

a usual part of the day as we napped, and went swim and laid out in the sun.

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

kiss me, let it sweep through me. “Maybe not next week. But soon.” He

put a hand on 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

into that?” Roger asks, loading our tiny luggage into the

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.” “Sounds like a deal,” he says, half serious and grinning at me as he buckles his belt and

say, smiling down at him and stroking my belly fondly. “We’re