Accidental Surrogate

“Oh geeze,” I say when we pull up to Cora and Roger’s house in the pre- dawn morning and see that every light is on. “You ready for this?” “Sure!” Sinclair says, grinning at me as he puts the car in park at the end of the driveway. “It will be a nice role reversal – this time Roger can be the one worried sick and I can be in the background cracking jokes.” “Aww, sweetheart,” I say, grinning at my mate and putting a soft hand on his cheek. “It’s cute that you think you’re funny enough to crack jokes.” Sinclair’s brows knit together as he frowns at me. “What are you talking about?

I’m very funny.” “Okay, baby,” I murmur, patting his shoulder as I turn to climb out of the car.

“I am!” he insists as he gets out of the driver’s seat and starts around the car.

“Dominic,” I sigh, hiding my teasing grin as I lean into the car and unbuckle Rafe, pulling him into my arms. “You have so many blessings. Why do you need to be funny too?” “Because I am funny!” Sinclair says, crossing his arms and glaring at me.

“Okay!” I say cheerfully, not contracting him but moving quickly towards the front door of the house without confirming either.

“Ella!” he scoffs, striding after me.

“What!?” I laugh, knocking on the door for once instead of just striding in because I want to give Cora and Roger their privacy if they’re not ready for us.

We did get here really fast, after all the roads were empty this early.

“I make you laugh all the time,” Sinclair says, still frowning down at me.

“but I’m laughing at you, not your jokes.” He growls at me, starting to get a little miffed, and I burst into laughter. Sinclair opens his mouth to protest more but both of our attention snaps forward when the door flies open, revealing a harried Roger staring at us with the fingers of one hand already tangled in his own

see her starting up the steps, leaning hard against the banister. “Everything is fine, please come in!” Roger sighs a deep, tortured breath and I pat him on his shoulder as I hurry past him and up the stairs to Cora, taking the plate of toast she’s carrying out of her hand, Rafe perched on my hip. Cora smiles her thanks at me and presses her hand to the small of her back as she concentrates on getting up

stair lift chair?” I ask, gesturing towards

getting up the stairs, Ella,” Cora growls as she continues to lift herself up one

rolling my eyes at her. “It’s just fun.” This makes her laugh a little and she. shakes her head at me. “Okay, good,” she says. “Someone sane is here. Can you please have Dominic just tie the other one

them, baffled. Because honestly Cora looks fine to me just very pregnant and in the early stages

birth was a terrible idea – what were we thinking -” “We decided on a

with him as Cora

a home birth is a good idea,” I say, following Cora into her bedroom and over to the bed, where I place her toast on the side table before lifting Rafe more securely into my arms. Cora

and musses his hair. “I’m perfectly healthy – there’s no reason to not do it at home, and I’ve got doctors coming to stand by just in case! Ridiculous,” she mutters, pulling the blankets up

crossing his arms as he comes

goes slack as he stares at me. “You almost died, Ella!” “Oh,” I say, turning my head to the side as I remember it. “Oh yeah!” I laugh a little, giving a shrug. ” Honestly, I always forget that part…” Roger just groans, turning away and covering his face with his hands. “He’s watched too much Little House on the Prairie,” Cora murmurs, rolling her eyes at me. “He thinks a home birth is all boiling water and screaming and blood everywhere – ” Roger groans again, louder this time, and I see Sinclair clench

to be fine,” I say, smiling at Roger’s turned back, but I turn back to Cora when I hear her

five minutes apart.” “Did your water break?” She nods, but doesn’t answer, clearly gritting her teeth through the pain. I murmur to her consolingly

god,” I hear Roger murmur, coming quickly to my side. “Is she…is she all right?” “I’m right here!” Cora