tell you the truth, I feel like a celebrity having paid security as my escort. So let me enjoy my little fantasy. Now, if you’ll carry these bags to the car, I’ll go say my goodbyes to Kate and be right out to smudge your cheek with my lipstick.”
Rio chuckled. “Sounds like a plan.”
Anticipating Margaret’s arrival, Kate discarded her magazine and brushed a crumb from breakfast off her coral pink shirt. It seemed everything landed on the little shelf her belly made these days. At least the pregnancy finally allowed her to experience decent-sized boobs, though she wouldn’t want them to stay quite this endowed. They’d be a nuisance while running, but if they retained a smidge more fullness than before she wouldn’t mind.
“Oh, don’t frown so at your stomach,” Margaret instructed as she approached through an archway, a bemused expression on her face. “I know how you feel, but this will all be over soon and it will be flat again.”
“Unfortunately, so will my chest,” Kate spoke before she realized Rio was passing behind Margaret in the hallway. He turned a surprised laugh into a cough, nearly dropping a cosmetic case in the process.
Kate blushed so hot she was amazed her hair didn’t turn red. “Ah. Whoo. Well, that was awkward.”
Almost as awkward as having Rio come get her for breakfast this morning after what they’d done.
Grinning, Margaret sank into the cushion beside her. With her came a delicate drift of rich perfume and motherly comfort, if such a thing had a scent. “Kate, you can’t know what a breath of fresh air you are. I’m glad you were here so we could get to know you better. Sometimes I think if things were different ...” She caught herself and shook her head. “Listen to me going on.”
“If things were different how?”
“Never mind, dear. It doesn’t matter.” She took a deep breath as if fortifying herself. “What I really meant to say before I go was thank you, for what you did to help my son and daughter-in-law realize their dream of becoming a family.”
She stopped on a little indrawn breath and swallowed, her eyes bright and damp.
Kate nodded and looked away from the raw pain on the older woman’s face, unable to speak around the lump in her throat.
“They were never happier than in these last few months and that’s because of you.” Margaret’s voice was little more than a whisper now as she struggled for composure.
“It was my privilege.” Her heart breaking for the older woman, Kate embraced Margaret. They clung to one another for some time before Margaret straightened and dug into her handbag for a tissue.
Kate reflected on the truth of her response. Yes, she’d had goals in mind before agreeing to be a surrogate and those goals required the exchange of monies, but she’d gotten so much more. Friendships, the joy of a baby’s movement from within, the certainty that the course she’d chosen was the right one for her, even if she’d had to struggle with her emotional attachment at times. There was also the satisfaction from knowing she was doing something that would have deep, lasting impact on several lives. How could that not be a privilege?
“Mom, you coming?” Rio asked as he entered the room. Seeing the tissue and reddened eyes, he approached his mother’s side with a concerned frown.
She stood and squeezed his hand. “I’m fine, dear. Kate and I were just having a girl moment, weren’t we?”
Kate cleared her throat and pushed to her feet. “Absolutely. Thank you for your hospitality, Margaret. We’ll call you at the first sign of labor.”
Margaret embraced her again, this one more of a casual farewell before being rushed out the door. Kate crossed to the window, intending to wave goodbye, but lowered her hand when Rio gathered his mom to him and her shoulders began to shake.
It was a private moment that made Kate take a step back from the window. But Rio’s expression stilled her from further retreat. With brows
Rio chuckled. “Sounds like a plan.”
Anticipating Margaret’s arrival, Kate discarded her magazine and brushed a crumb from breakfast off her coral pink shirt. It seemed everything landed on the little shelf her belly made these days. At least the pregnancy finally allowed her to experience decent-sized boobs, though she wouldn’t want them to stay quite this endowed. They’d be a nuisance while running, but if they retained a smidge more fullness than before she wouldn’t mind.
“Oh, don’t frown so at your stomach,” Margaret instructed as she approached through an archway, a bemused expression on her face. “I know how you feel, but this will all be over soon and it will be flat again.”
“Unfortunately, so will my chest,” Kate spoke before she realized Rio was passing behind Margaret in the hallway. He turned a surprised laugh into a cough, nearly dropping a cosmetic case in the process.
Kate blushed so hot she was amazed her hair didn’t turn red. “Ah. Whoo. Well, that was awkward.”
Almost as awkward as having Rio come get her for breakfast this morning after what they’d done.
Grinning, Margaret sank into the cushion beside her. With her came a delicate drift of rich perfume and motherly comfort, if such a thing had a scent. “Kate, you can’t know what a breath of fresh air you are. I’m glad you were here so we could get to know you better. Sometimes I think if things were different ...” She caught herself and shook her head. “Listen to me going on.”
“If things were different how?”
“Never mind, dear. It doesn’t matter.” She took a deep breath as if fortifying herself. “What I really meant to say before I go was thank you, for what you did to help my son and daughter-in-law realize their dream of becoming a family.”
She stopped on a little indrawn breath and swallowed, her eyes bright and damp.
Kate nodded and looked away from the raw pain on the older woman’s face, unable to speak around the lump in her throat.
“They were never happier than in these last few months and that’s because of you.” Margaret’s voice was little more than a whisper now as she struggled for composure.
“It was my privilege.” Her heart breaking for the older woman, Kate embraced Margaret. They clung to one another for some time before Margaret straightened and dug into her handbag for a tissue.
Kate reflected on the truth of her response. Yes, she’d had goals in mind before agreeing to be a surrogate and those goals required the exchange of monies, but she’d gotten so much more. Friendships, the joy of a baby’s movement from within, the certainty that the course she’d chosen was the right one for her, even if she’d had to struggle with her emotional attachment at times. There was also the satisfaction from knowing she was doing something that would have deep, lasting impact on several lives. How could that not be a privilege?
“Mom, you coming?” Rio asked as he entered the room. Seeing the tissue and reddened eyes, he approached his mother’s side with a concerned frown.
She stood and squeezed his hand. “I’m fine, dear. Kate and I were just having a girl moment, weren’t we?”
Kate cleared her throat and pushed to her feet. “Absolutely. Thank you for your hospitality, Margaret. We’ll call you at the first sign of labor.”
Margaret embraced her again, this one more of a casual farewell before being rushed out the door. Kate crossed to the window, intending to wave goodbye, but lowered her hand when Rio gathered his mom to him and her shoulders began to shake.
It was a private moment that made Kate take a step back from the window. But Rio’s expression stilled her from further retreat. With brows
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