Accidental Surrogate

Sharing the News Ella “Cora?” I gasp the minute I get the phone to my ear, still scrambling out of bed and tangled in the sheets.

“Hey, Ells,” she says, her voice somehow both tight and bored at once. “Sorry to wake you up – ” “You didn’t wake me – ” I say quickly, reaching for Rafe in his crib and scooping him up in my arms. Behind me, I hear Sinclair climbing out of bed too, coming to my side.

“I didn’t?” Cora asks. “Why actually.” Her voice goes stony. “Don’t tell me.

Knowing you and Dominic, I probably don’t want to know.” A little laugh bursts from me as I shake my head, trying to get back on track with this conversation. “Cora,” I say, looking down at Rafe’s bright, wide -awake face, “what’s up? Why are you calling? Is the baby -” “Yeah,” she says on a sigh. “Roger insisted I call. Baby’s on its way!” “Oh my god!” I shriek, spinning to Sinclair and beaming at him for the second time this morning. “It’s time for the baby! We’ll come right away -” “No, take your time,” she says on a sigh and I frown at her even though she can’t see me.

“Cora, what is going on? Why are you calling in the middle of the night for us to come but then also telling us not to hurry?” “Because my stupid mate made me call you,” Cora says, her voice annoyed.

is progressing totally normally -” “Awww,” I say, passing Rafe to Sinclair’s

a first-time dad!” “And a last time dad,” she mutters, making me laugh again, “if he’s this annoying every time I go into labor.” “Okay, well, should we come?” I ask, looking up into Sinclair’s face, a silent question in my eyes. Can we go? Is there any pressing

if he’s freaking out this much how did you ever talk him into a home birth?” “Well now he’s trying to talk me out of it – anyway,” she sighs, “will you just come?” I grin as I hear Roger yelling something in the background, his voice thick with anxiety though I can’t hear what he’s saying. My heart swells a little for my secretly-sweet

“See you in a bit!” “Excited!” I call through the phone before hanging up and tossing it onto the

all right?” he asks, cupping

– Roger’s just freaking out.” “Of course he is,” Sinclair says with a laugh. “Roger’s great under pressure except when it comes to things that are completely out of his control. It’s going to drive him crazy to have to watch Cora have to go through a great deal of labor and pain and not be able do anything about it.” “That’s so weird, but also

in our little arm chair so he can have something to eat while Sinclair finishes