Chapter 10
Isabel
Izzy’s hands shook on the steering wheel as she drove home. Both her sisters had offered to carry her baby. The whole thing seemed so unreal. Her baby…their baby. Hers and Skipper’s. The thought kept bursting through her like morning sunshine.
In the back seat, Holly had fallen asleep, head tipped to one side, mouth open and drooling. She was teething. The sweet girl had no idea of the happiness brewing around her. One day soon, she could have a little brother or sister. Was this for real?
When she pulled into their long driveway, Izzy drew in a breath.
Calm. She needed to be calm. She hoped to have some time alone with Skipper.
Irene and Ainsley didn’t need to know about this just now.
Her life had been full of twists and turns but this might be the sweetest. She’d never expected motherhood to circle back to her in this way.
The air was cool as she parked on the concrete slab Skipper had recently added.
That was his solution to give them more parking space.
The man was always solving problems. Ainsley’s bright yellow Wrangler sat crookedly next to Irene’s Subaru.
Ainsley had sold her car before coming home.
Then she’d found the used Wrangler online.
Izzy was unbuckling Holly when she felt Skipper step up behind her, his warmth settling around her. “Hey, babe. Let me do that.” His hands brushed hers away and relief washed through her. In her jittery state, she might drop the baby.
Their sleepy little girl melted into Skipper’s arms. Izzy’s throat tightened seeing the two of them together.
“Something wrong?” Skipper whispered over Holly’s head as they climbed the steps.
“Tell you after we get Holly in bed,” she managed. “Where are Mom and Ainsley?”
“Back in their suite watching a movie. Hallmark night.”
Perfect. She followed him to Holly’s room, which was Skipper’s pride.
He’d papered the walls with giraffes and monkeys and of course he’d assembled the crib.
A zoo mobile hung overhead. Entering the room felt like stepping into a storybook.
Sometimes she’d catch Holly talking to one of the animals. The giraffe was her favorite.
Together they got Holly into her sleeper sack. Ten minutes later, they were in the kitchen. Izzy didn’t know where to start.
“Want some tea or coffee?” he asked, unaware of the tidal wave heading his way.
“Sure, chamomile.” She reached for a mug, filled it, slid it into the microwave but forgot to turn the thing on. Instead, she stood there like a goof, staring into space.
“Okay, what’s going on?” He pushed the buttons on the microwave. “You’re upset about something.”
“Oh, Skippy.” Her laugh wobbled. “Worried? No. Crazy excited? Absolutely.”
He turned toward her, brows high and hopeful. “Really, what is it?”
How she loved him. Loved the way he leaned in, ready to face anything as long as they were together. She wrapped her arms around his waist.
“Hey, sweet thing,” he murmured, his arms strong and warm. His heartbeat thudded against her cheek. “What’s this about? You’re shaking.”
“You’ll see,” she whispered, breath catching. “But let’s talk outside.”
“Okay, mystery lady.” He chuckled softly, the sound a warm slide down her spine. When the microwave pinged, she added sugar and a tea bag. How she wished her hands would stop shaking. Skipper nudged her toward the porch as though she were something delicate that just might break.
They settled into the white rockers. Skipper leaned forward, studying her with that patient, open expression that always assured her that whatever she said, he’d hear it. “So, what’s going on?”
Izzy set her mug carefully on the porch floor. “You know I…saved some eggs.”
He tilted his head. “Right, we talked about it.”
She patted her stomach, her whole body buzzing. “Baby-making eggs.”
Skipper nodded, his gaze steady and encouraging. She knew this was going to blow him away. Izzy lifted her chin, breath trembling. “So…we can have a baby, Skippy. Our baby. All we need is a surrogate.”
Skipper stared at her a beat, long enough to see the realization break over him. “All? You say that like it’s a minor detail.
“Someone to carry our baby,” she said softly. “Our embryo. Yours and mine.”
She watched him swallow hard. Who could blame him?
This probably sounded like a miracle. They should have talked about this before they got married.
But at the time, they had Holly and they both thought they were set.
Never in her wildest dreams did she ever think this would happen.
“Izzy…are you really considering this?” The poor guy still looked confused and she didn’t blame him.
“Yes. Our child…born through a surrogate.”
He let out a sound between a laugh and a sob. Wanting to share the joy, she left her rocker and settled onto his lap. He held her as if he was afraid she’d float away, along with this dream.
“But the surrogate part?” he whispered into her shoulder. “How does that work?”
“You’ll never believe it.” Izzy grinned through her tears. “Both my sisters want to have our baby.”
He jerked back to look at her. “No way.”
Swallowing hard, she nodded.
His eyes glittered, shining with love and disbelief. “Izzy, that’s incredible.” His voice broke, and he pulled her tight, his cheek pressed to her temple.
“Oh, Skippy…” She cupped his jaw and kissed him softly, tenderly. “I know it’s a lot to take in.”
“It’s everything,” he whispered, his voice thick. “Everything I didn’t hope for. I mean, I’m happy with things the way they are. I love Holly as if she were my own.”
“I know that but here we are. They’ve offered this great gift.” They rocked together gently, his arms snug around her waist. The wonder of it all flowed over them like a blessing. She told him the basics, the process and the possibilities. Wearing a dazed look, he listened carefully.
“What if it doesn’t work? What if something happens with your sisters?” he asked finally.
“We’ll take it one step at a time,” she whispered. “And if it doesn’t work out, we’ll face that too. Together.”
He nodded, pulling her back into him. “You should’ve led with the baby surrogate part tonight.”
She laughed, delighted by his excitement. “We’re so lucky. Marlowe and Sam both want to do this for us.”
“Your family is amazing. Having a baby can’t be easy.”
“Right, it’s not. There will be lots of details. Complications,” she admitted, not wanting to dwell on that part. “They’ll decide between them, or maybe the tests they have to take will decide it. Whatever happens…” She curled her fingers around his. “Our baby might be possible, Skippy.”
“I can’t believe this is real.” He rubbed some tears away.
“Oh, it’s real. I can’t believe it either. But let’s not share it with your family yet. They’ll have so many questions. And I don’t have answers yet.”
Skipper rolled his eyes. “That’s the understatement of the year.”