Accidental Surrogate

I narrow my eyes at Roger when he comes upstairs about forty-five minutes later. “Are you going to behave better now?” I ask, my voice tense.

“Yup,” he says, leaning in the doorway with a lazy smile.

I start to laugh as I look over his too – loose stature. “Is it because you’re all drunk?” My eyes shift to Sinclair as he appears in the doorway behind his brother. “Seriously, did you get him all drunk?” Sinclair, Rafe sitting up in his arms, just gives a little shrug, his mouth pulled up at the corner in a secret smile.

“I am only,” Roger says, smiling as he steps into the room and holding up a hand with his thumb and pointer finger pressed very close together, “a very tiny bit drunk. Just something to steady the nerves.” Ella laughs next to me before she scoots off the bed.

“All right, then,” she says, gesturing to me as she moves around the bed and reaches to take Rafe from Sinclair. ” Take your spot, Roger. And stop freaking her out, okay?” “I promise,” Roger mumbles, giving Ella a sloppy little salute before climbing onto the bed and taking her place.

“We’ll be downstairs,” Ella says when I turn my eyes to her. “You just call, and we’ll be right up. Okay?” I nod to her, smiling a little, grateful that she’s here. Beyond having the power to heal me instantly should anything go wrong, it’s just…really nice to have my sister close by.

Roger sighs as he pulls himself into the spot close on my right and tucks his legs in under the blankets. Then he turns to me, his face serious. “I’m sorry, Cora,” he says quietly.

“Thank you,” I say, my anger fading as I see that he means it. I lift a hand to his cheek, wanting to touch him, wanting him close.

“I just love you so much “I get it,” I say, nodding.

He nods too, capturing my hand and pressing a kiss to it. “But I didn’t listen to you. And Sinclair made me sit down and listen – which he shouldn’t have to do, so I’m sorry about that. But he explained that you need to be the one freaking out today. So, I have to just… be steady. Is that right?” “It’s closer,” I say quietly, studying him. “I mean, Roger, it’s not that you can’t feel afraid too – I get that it’s a big day-” He nods, agreeing with me. “But I was taking all the air out of the room. I’m sorry, Cora – you’re right, we had a plan, we should just trust it. Everything’s going to be fine, yeah?” “Yeah,” I say, a little smile coming to my lips now as he slips an arm around my back, tugging me close.

“How far apart are the contractions?” he asks, looking down at my belly and stroking it softly with his hands.

my voice quiet. “Or, maybe a little faster now? Four and a half?” “Cool, cool,” he says, pretending a calmness that I know he doesn’t feel. ” That is all very cool…” Suddenly, I start to

asks, turning to grin at

Sinclair,” I murmur, taking his cheeks in my hands and leaning forward to press a kiss to his mouth. “Trying to do everything right.” “Well, I have to try, don’t I,” he murmurs against my lips, kissing me back. “I’m going to be a dad in a few hours.” “To a real cutie,” I say, leaning back and smiling down at my belly. And I bite my lip, feeling significantly calmer now, starting to get…well, maybe a little excited, alongside being terrified. “Do you think he’ll have any hair?” “Nah, completely bald,” Roger murmurs, a little thoughtlessly as he tucks his head close to mine and takes a deep breath

what color do you think his

he replies, making me click my tongue and pull away to glare at

at me. “These are

could have wings.” “That,” I say, rolling my eyes, “would have shown up on an ultrasound.” “But purple eyes,” he says, holding up a finger, “would not.” “Ridiculous,” I sigh, but I’m smiling as I snuggle close to him. Or at least I smile for a second, before the next contraction starts again. “Oh boy,” I say, sitting up, a hand moving low on my stomach. “Here we go.” Roger goes rigid next to me but does his

right?” he says quietly

returning my hand to his cheek.

we’ll just have to wait

hurry up,” Roger murmurs, turning is attention to

time.” “Poor kid,” Roger says, sighing as he inspects the bond and passes love and comfort and reassurance to the baby, as well as to me. “He’s all uncomfortable, cooped up in there.” “Well, tell him we’ve got a nice big

for the first time? I agree. I’m finally ready – completely ready to bring our baby into the world with

day passes and dusk darkens our windows before my contractions really start to heat up. By then, the house is busy

by the time I’m almost ready to push. But I smile

Hank says, smiling at me

my

to me on the