Chapter Two
I never expected him to actually make a move.
A few days later, Peter comes home ecstatic, telling me he’s solved everything.
“I know exactly what we need to do.” He grabs my shoulders and kisses me so thoroughly that my toes curl in my slippers. I didn’t know I could still feel giddy like this.
“What did you solve?” I ask, laughing. The man can’t keep still, moving around the kitchen, checking the fridge, opening and closing the cabinets.
“I’ll explain everything tonight. What are we having for dinner? We’ll have to set the table for one more.” I can hardly keep up with him. Butterflies fill my stomach at his enthusiasm—I have no idea what’s happening but his excitement is contagious.
“It’s a good idea,” he insists, pressing a kiss to my cheek. “Just try to keep an open mind, okay? I’m going to head to the store and get us some steaks.”
Just like that, he’s gone again. I don’t know enough to be suspicious. It won’t be much of a hassle to make a plate for one more and Peter buying steak is a nice treat. It’s a pleasant change of pace to have someone over. I even crack open a bottle of wine.
The table is set for seven o’ clock and he still won’t tell me who’s coming. The doorbell rings and his cheeks go pink. He runs a hand through his hair, trying to smooth it down. “How do I look?” he asks, then shakes his head without waiting for an answer, and goes to the door.
My stomach has already started to sink. I turn helplessly to the hallway and wait for her to appear—Rose is laughing at something Peter said, his hand hovering right near the small of her back.
Our neighbor’s twenty year old daughter is barefoot in a pastel pink dress that makes her almost look nude.
The fabric is so thin I can see the swell of her large breasts and the outline of her areolas pointing the way.
Her eyes glitter when she sees me and she crushes me in a hug, her warm skin and hair smelling like strawberries.
“Oh, Mrs. Waterman, thank you so much for having me over. Mr. Waterman told me all about your troubles and I’m more than happy to help.”
I pull back, unwrapping her arms from my waist and try to get control of my emotions. “Rose.” It comes out stiff, like a reprimand. “What sort of troubles has he been talking to you about?” I stare at my husband when I say it and he shrivels under my gaze.
“Just how you guys really want a baby, but you can’t get pregnant.
I’ve always thought you were so amazing, totally older couple goals.
You’re so much cooler than my Mom. You’re so successful, and you always have it all together.
I’d be honored to carry a baby for you!” Her smile is guileless.
She plops herself down at the table like a gangly teenager and reaches for her wine glass.
I cough and remove it, putting the bottle and the glasses away. This is humiliating. And completely inappropriate. She obviously doesn’t even understand the ramifications of what she’s offering. Who could be so blase about having another couple’s baby?
“Just think about it, Bella. Before you get upset, just really think about it. She wants to do this for us.” My heart wrenches. When I turn around, they’re both sitting at the table, and he’s holding her hand. When did this alliance form and why am I the one being blindsided?
“I don’t know, Rose. It’s a big commitment.
You can’t just decide something like that on a whim.
What about school?” I pull out my chair and join them, trying to convince my heart that this is a normal conversation.
If I just address it logically, they’ll both realize how insane this sounds and the world will go back to normal.
“I can take some time off. I believe this is something really important. Mr. Waterman and I have talked about it a lot, trust me. I thought it was a little crazy at first too.” Her eyes are wide as she squeezes my husband’s forearm.
I turn my strained smile to him. I would love to have this conversation in private but he denied me that right. Probably because he knew I was less likely to explode with an audience. “Peter, you approached the neighbor’s daughter about being our surrogate before you even talked to me?”
“I didn’t want to get your hopes up. She just got back to town this week, and I had this idea, and I wanted to make sure it was something she’d even consider before I brought it to you.
I know how much this baby stuff has been stressing you out.
” I hate him for making it sound reasonable.
We both know what’s going on here. We can both see her, young and glowing, healthy and beautiful.
Just being around her makes him look a little brighter too.
I think of her on that trampoline, how hard he was in my mouth after, and I struggle to swallow.
“We don’t have the money to do this. We can’t pay you, he told you that, right?
So what, we’ll just get a turkey baster, load it up with Peter’s semen, and you’ll…
” I gesture across the table at her. The dinner is getting cold but I can’t eat a single bite.
I’m sick even thinking about this. Her belly, bloated with my baby.
Her body, but my child. They both have to see how ridiculous this is, right?
Rose blushes and covers her face with her hand.
“Um, no. I don’t think I’d be comfortable with that.
” She gets control over her embarrassment and starts twirling the end of her ginger hair with a finger.
“I think that if we’re going to do this, it should be as natural as possible. It’s what’s best for the baby.”
“And what does that entail?” I raise my eyebrows, but my body throbs, having gotten there before my mind was willing to catch up. She and Peter exchange a look that sets my blood on fire.
“I would prefer a natural conception. Peter and I would have to have sex.”