Chapter Two
Rache got a text at ten the next morning, and she smiled. So, care to have some coffee so I can snort it?
Rache laughed and said, Sure, where and when.
The teahouse? I am hosting today.
What?
I know. No one else was available. The first performances of Patchwork Pixie started today.
Right. Is eleven good?
Great. You can tell me how your holiday fund is coming and if you are going to put one of those cuffs on. See you there.
Rache grinned and went to get dressed. She wondered how far along Eden was.
Rache walked into the bustling tea shop filled with parents and children, as well as ladies chatting and laughing.
As she stood there, a graceful woman walked up to her and smiled. “Rache. Come on. I have a table for us.”
They hugged, and Eden’s belly demonstrated a kick. “Wow. How far are you?”
“Forty weeks and three days.”
“Why are you here?” Rache’s eyes were wide.
“Cain and family are out shopping.”
“Little girl?” Gesturing to the belly.
“Little boy. A family that wants him. This is going to be strange, but I am not going to be there to see it.”
Rache was worried. “Why not?”
“We all agreed that a clean break would be better for Cain and for me.”
Rache blinked. “Tell me about it over tea.”
“Yeah, that would be best.” She rubbed the side of her belly. She walked to the small table that had been set aside. A young woman came with two pots of tea and two trays.
Rache chuckled. “You ordered for me?”
Eden looked embarrassed. “I don’t want to waste your time.”
“Eden, what’s wrong?”
“Well, you know how this baby isn’t mine, right?”
“Yeah. You are a surrogate.”
“Not willingly. My brother is selling my surrogate services and has a stack of files lined up. I don’t want to do this anymore. I haven’t even kissed a guy for fuck’s sake.”
“I don’t understand. How can he do that? You are an adult.”
“He had himself appointed my guardian when our parents died. He took my inheritance and started selling the use of my body for surrogacy.”
“But seriously, no reputable clinic would do that.”
Eden sighed. “I have given birth to five Stronghold Elite. This is my first plain alpha-beta baby. Lovely couple. I want them to have this baby, and then the next day, I am running. I have a passport, saved money, and a destination. I wanted to know if you wanted to come with me for an all-expenses-paid trip to Wonder Island.”
“What?”
“I am going to be recovering, and I recover fast, but I think it would be easier to hide if it looked like I was just heading to the islands to party. I have a place rented, and all you have to do is buy your own food.”
“Whoa. How long do I have to think about it?”
“I need to know fast. I have been in labour all day.”
“Ohmygod. Do you need a hospital?”
“No. I have four hours before this little guy emerges. I want to eat, I want to relax, and I need that savings fund that you were keeping for me.”
Rache nodded. “I will have it ready to go. Well, I get a warm holiday. So, tell me more about what is going on.”
“Everything has been done by IVF or, in the case of the Elite, IUI.” She grimaced.
“My brother and his omega take me in. They say that I have been generous enough to carry their child. They don’t even want children.
They supply the sample, and in it goes, or that is how it worked with the Elite.
Now this couple is legit. They are just looking for a surrogate to bring their baby into the world, and he will be here today. ”
“So, what is different about this one?”
“My brother wants to gouge the family before signing the documentation. I can’t sign because he has had me declared incompetent. I am going to be completely helpless, and I have told them to bring a lawyer.”
“Wow. That is a lot happening.”
“Yes, so eat fast. We are going to be using the break room to file the paternity and maternity for custody of the baby. That is going to be in place before I let this baby out.”
“Wait. It’s happening now?”
“They just came through the door. You are a witness. My phone is tapped, so sorry for the surprise.” She slowly stood and waved the dark-haired man, the dark-haired woman and two blondes over.
“Grab the sandwiches and follow me.”
Rache blinked and got up with the two trays. She followed her pregnant friend, and the four newcomers followed behind her. The staff room was locked, and Eden pulled the power on the cameras.
Eden went to the couple. “First off, Eva and Thomas, the baby is fine, and I hope you have his room ready. He is going to need it soon.”
She looked at the dark-haired man. “You are the lawyer?”
“Yes. I specialize in contract law.”
“Great. Cram this one while I explain what my brother is about to do.”
She reached under the table and peeled off the contract that she had taken from her brother’s office.
“This is the surrogacy contract. The real one. My brother is going to present a fake at the hospital. I want to make sure Eva and Thomas have this baby. The genetic testing in the file confirms that it’s theirs.
He’s going to claim that Thomas fathered a child on me. ”
She paused and breathed for a moment.
Rache got up and rubbed her back. “You good?”
“Yup. They need to go for custody papers before the baby comes out.”
The lawyer lifted his head. “They have all the records.”
“But those aren’t going to be the ones that my brother brings along. He couldn’t extort the Elite, but they paid hundreds of thousands to have a healthy baby.”
The dark-haired woman said, “Why are you acting like you have no say in this?”
Eden looked at her. “Because I don’t. My one talent lies in bringing healthy babies into the world, so my brother had me declared his ward with my power of attorney, and he’s been selling my body for the last seven years.
This is the first time I had a family that actually cared on the other end of the delivery room. ”
Thomas said, “What can we do?”
“Find me a different birthing centre. One where things are just between you and the doctor. One that won’t register me in labour until you have the baby so that you can take off.
I won’t look postpartum within six hours of delivery, so we need a doctor to witness the birth, and then I will sign everything, and you can take him home, and the custody order will kick in immediately after that. ”
The dark-haired woman’s eyes finally caught on how serious this was. “What happens if custody isn’t immediately established?”
“He sells an alpha-beta newborn to one of the more desperate of the stack of files he has on his desk. This is the long game for him and his omega. They are going to keep using me like this until they take off and leave me with all the responsibility. I just want to leave. I have a place to run to and my go bag. He will know the moment my passport pings, and the chase will be on.”
“Where will you go?”
“I have a reservation for a villa in the Wonder Islands.”
The dark-haired woman grinned. “I think we can help you out. Wait. Wait, are you in labour now?”
“Yup. Three and a half hours to go.”
Thomas and Eva clutched each other’s hands.
The lawyer looked at the paperwork. “This is useful. Thank you. The custody will kick in the moment the baby arrives, but there is a restraining order being filed to keep your brother away from you.”
The wife nodded. “I have a safe place for her to labour. There is a doula, a midwife, and a doctor on the way as soon as you say go.” She paused. “Do you mind an audience?”
“Nope. I am good.”
She looked at the couple. Eva was terrified, but Thomas looked like he wanted to punch someone. “I should also warn you that I am going to get a little bigger and paler when it comes time to deliver.”
The lawyer’s wife grinned. “My name is Penny, and the midwife is Luna, and the doula is Nora. The doctor’s name is Dr. Oriel, and they are prepping a birthing room. It will be ready when you are.”
“Can we go now?”
Rache smiled. “I am coming with. I am immoral support.”
Eden smiled and sighed as the contraction hit.
Eva was at her side. “Does it hurt?”
“Well, it doesn’t tickle. Come on. We need to go. My brother could have his minions in through the front door in minutes. Yes, I know I sound paranoid, but if he does get the baby in some way, file for kidnapping immediately. Call the police, call every hunting alpha, call everyone.”
Eva looked at her and nodded.
“You contracted for a surrogate. There isn’t anything illegal in that. You went through contracts. You paid my brother the monthly stipends that were never used for prenatal care. So financial deception is also an option for charges.”
Thomas asked, “How much do you need to carry a child to term?”
“Me? I do it for snacks. It doesn’t impede me at all. Now, can we go? I don’t have a car, so I will need to catch a lift.”
Rache said, “I know where we are going. Nora’s, right?”
The wife said, “Luna’s. It’s more heavily guarded.”
“Got it.”
Eden chuckled. “I never went to the book club, but I am guessing you are both members.”
Rache nodded. “I am parked around back. We can slip out while everyone stares at the matched set of alphas.”
That was it. Rache got Eden moving with a bag she grabbed from her locker. They got out of the building, flipped off the cameras, and as soon as Eden was settled, Rache drove calmly and efficiently. Eden groaned and whispered, “I am sorry I got you into this.”
“Don’t be. I have already called off work next week for a family emergency. We are going to be out in the sun and enjoying not being here as soon as we can. I have never had a holiday away from home. This is going to be fun.”
Eden laughed. “Just have to finish this business first.”
The gates of the palatial building opened up as they approached and closed behind them.
Safe.
Luna was the midwife, and Nora was on the way. Doulas were great if you needed someone to focus on the mother and not the baby.
Dr. Oriel arrived at hour two and stood by while Eden went through her contractions, walking around and standing straight.