Chapter 17
Marlowe
The wind was high in the trees when Marlowe stepped outside Tall Oaks with Brad.
She’d been volunteering with Izzy for bingo at the retirement community, and the last of the elderly residents were still chatting inside as she pulled her quilted jacket tighter.
This was her first fall in Charlevoix. The weather was much colder than Naples, Florida.
The wind that night felt like it had teeth.
Izzy had left a few minutes earlier, throwing Marlowe several excited glances.
It was getting harder and harder for the two of them to keep this surrogacy plan secret.
While they were packing up the multipurpose room, Brad had arrived.
He always seemed to know her schedule. Tonight was the night.
She had to tell him. That was only fair, especially after Sam’s experience with Josh. She felt uneasy about it. Nervous.
Marlowe settled into one of the white rocking chairs on the porch, exhaling a long, shaky breath. Would he react the way Josh had? The memory of that crash-and-burn still stung. She felt so bad for Sam. But then, there had been other issues with their relationship beside the surrogacy.
“Big day?” Brad asked, taking the rocker beside her.
“Yes. Right.” She grasped the armrests and began rocking, staring into the darkness and trying to look casual. Her mind was racing. Thank goodness all the residents were inside. The topic of surrogacy felt far too personal to risk being overheard. “Fall is really here, isn’t it?”
Brad looked up toward the sky where a million stars glinted through the darkness. “Seems like right after Labor Day, fall comes quickly. The leaves start to change and that’s it.”
“That’s it?” she teased.
He reached over and took her hand so naturally that it still made her heart trip. “I mean summer’s gone,” Brad said. “But Charlevoix is wonderful in fall and winter.”
“I remember.” Last year, Aunt Cate had tricked all three sisters into coming to Sunnycrest at the same time. That unexpected Christmas holiday reunion had led to some major changes. They’d renovated Sunnycrest, rebuilt their relationship and rebuilt themselves.
“I can't sit here long,” Marlowe said, checking her phone. Maybe she should wait until after the physical with Dr. Fielding. “I’ve got an early morning appointment.”
“New client?” Brad always sounded genuinely interested in her work, something she really appreciated.
“Not a client. Just a doctor’s appointment.
” Her stomach flipped. Why had she eaten one of the donuts Izzy brought?
This was exactly the conversation she didn’t want to do on a sugar crash.
She might start blabbing. What if telling Brad sent him running?
A bleak coldness crept through her. Sam's breakup with Josh after his reaction to her news had rattled Marlowe more than she admitted.
“I hope everything’s okay,” Brad said, concern creeping into his voice. This man really cared about her. No “L” word yet, but she felt it growing slowly and carefully.
“I’m fine.” Her voice betrayed her. “Just a checkup.”
“Good thing to do as we get older.” Brad stretched out his bum knee, the one he babied when he ran without a wrap. “Who’s your doctor?”
“Gabby recommended Dr. Fielding. Martha Fielding.”
A puzzled frown crossed his face. “I think Nicole might go to a Dr. Fielding. But isn’t she an OB/GYN?”
“Yes, yes she is.” She could practically hear the gears turning in his head. She couldn’t leave him dangling there. “Sam, Izzy and I are working on something really exciting.”
“Exciting? I hope everything’s okay.” She felt him studying her face in the dim porch light, as if trying to solve a puzzle without all the pieces. What if Brad turned away like Josh had? Better to know now. She didn’t need someone who flinched at big decisions.
A streak of light shot across the sky. “Look! A shooting star!”
Brad rocked back, surveying the dark. “We see them a lot up here. No bright city lights to drown them out.”
Pivoting toward him, she tightened her hands in her lap. She had to prepare herself to lose him, if that’s where this went.
“You know Izzy and Skipper are married now,” she began.
“Marlowe, I was at the wedding.” His baffled expression almost made her laugh. “I felt honored to be invited.” She wouldn’t tell him that her sisters had insisted.
“Right. Well… Izzy can’t have more children.”
“I figured.” Brad brushed his thumb over her hand. “Is that why she adopted Holly?”
“Exactly. Izzy had a hysterectomy. But she froze her eggs before that. I guess Aunt Cate helped her financially.”
“Your aunt is really something else.”
“Yes, she is.” Marlowe had to stay on track. “And now Izzy and Skipper would like to have a baby together.”
She had his full attention. Marlowe loved that about Brad.
“But she needs a surrogate. Sam and I both volunteered.”
He took her hand. “How generous of you.” Not even a flicker of disbelief or a pulling away.
“Tomorrow’s the exam to see if I’m even a viable candidate.” Her throat wobbled. “Sam’s appointment is later in the week.”
Brad’s eyes shimmered. Was he that moved? “I don’t know what to say. That’s just amazing. It must mean so much to your sister. Izzy and Skipper are lucky to have you and your sister.”
The tension in her chest loosened, breath by breath. She wanted to tell him everything now. “Skipper never pushed for this. He’s thrilled with Holly. But if there’s a chance they can have another child, Sam and I want to help.”
Brad shook his head as if he couldn’t believe it. “I think that’s wonderful.”
After what Sam had gone through, Marlowe wouldn’t have been surprised if Brad decided this didn’t fit into his future plans. Relief left her weak and she realized that she didn’t want to lose him. He’d become a man she couldn’t put in her rearview mirror. Now, when had that happened?
“Thank you,” she whispered.
“You’re thanking me? Why?” He looked genuinely confused.
“When Sam told Josh, he wasn’t receptive. At all. They’re not seeing each other anymore.”
“What?” His shock was loud. “I thought they were solid.”
“Sam thought so too. But his job keeps him crazy busy and his family hasn’t been, well, receptive, including his mother.” That was putting it mildly.
“What a shame,” Brad murmured. He tugged her gently onto his lap. The rocker creaked alarmingly but held. Marlowe soaked up his warmth. Her relief had left her weak as a wet noodle. “This doesn’t change anything for me. I hope it works. For Izzy and Skipper. And I’m impressed you and Sam offered.”
“Amazingly, it occurred to both of us,” she said softly.
And then came the thought she rarely admitted—even to herself. This could be a test run. A strange, unexpected doorway to something she’d convinced herself she’d never have. Motherhood. The idea startled her.
She inhaled Brad’s spicy soap scent as he rocked her. “Hope I don’t break this chair.”
“Want to get up?” His arms warm around her told Marlowe he wanted to stay right there.
“Not on your life,” she murmured.
Eventually, they walked to the car, his arm secure around her waist. When he wrapped her in a warm embrace before she climbed inside, she knew she wanted more of this. So much more.
“Tell me how it goes tomorrow, okay?” he said.
“I will. But I don’t think we’ll know anything conclusive. This is just the beginning of a process. I’ve been reading up.”
“That doesn’t surprise me. Good for you.” He squeezed her hand through the window.
Doubt darkened her expectations. This was such a big ask. “Brad, you don’t have to go the distance with me. If I’m suitable and I’m the one who can have the baby, we can take a break. You can see other people. I’d understand.”
“Stop it.” For a tall man, he could lean into a car window incredibly fast. Somehow he managed to duck his head in and kissed her. “It hurts my feelings that you think I’m that shallow.”
“Really?” She hadn’t meant to insult him.
“Really. Now get out of here.” He backed up and shooed her away with a grin. “I’ll call tomorrow. Full report.”
Driving home through the dark, Marlowe felt a wave of slap-happy relief wash over her.
She’d told him.
And he hadn’t folded.
Yet.