Page 27 of Royal Surrogate 1

“Brother…” Xavier shakes his head. “He’s a toddler now.”

“I cared for him when he was a wee lad,” I say with a shrug. “And Renae and I plan to be parents as soon as possible. So go ahead and go,” I say with a smile. “What could possibly go wrong?”

CHAPTER 20

Renae

This is a terrible idea.

But arguing about it with Caspar would be even worse, so before I know it, we’re at the top of the front steps, waving goodbye to Lord Xavier and Lauren with Noah in Caspar’s arms.

“Are you excited for a fun weekend with your Uncle Caca?” Caspar says to his nephew, who’s looking a little confused by the whole situation. “We’re going to have lots of adventures, aren’t we?”

Noah squirms, fussing and reaching after his parents’ retreating car.

Honestly, I’m impressed the little one has held his composure this long. It took a little convincing from Caspar to get Lord Xavier and Lauren to agree to the getaway, but it was clear from the glances they kept giving each other that they both craved a little time to themselves. I get the impression that this might be the first true vacation they’ve had since Noah came into their lives. And even though they were both excited to get away, Lauren cried when she handed him to Caspar, and even Lord Xavier looked a little misty-eyed as he bid farewell to his son.

It’s finally starting to sink in for little Noah that his parents aren’t immediately returning.

“MA!!!!!” he screeches, writhing in Caspar’s grip. “DADA!!!!”

“Easy, there,” Caspar says, desperately trying to keep his hold on his nephew. “They’ll be home before you know it. In the meantime, we’re going to have so much fun together.”

But Noah doesn’t want to hear it. He screams at the top of his lungs—deafening me for an instant—and begins sobbing hysterically, beating his tiny fists against Caspar’s shoulder.

Caspar looks over at me, panic in his eyes. “What do we do?!”

I can hardly hear him over Noah’s screaming, but I get the gist.

“I’m not an expert on toddlers,” I admit. I knew this was a terrible idea, but Caspar didn’t want to hear it. “Does he have a favorite toy? Or snack?”

“I…don’t know.” Caspar shakes his head, then tries bouncing Noah on his hip. That only makes his nephew cry harder. “If my brother and Lauren had actually hired a nanny, this would have been a lot easier.”

“Wait, is that your intention?” I ask, crossing my arms. “You intend on dumping your child on a nanny and not doing any of the work yourself?”

“Of course I’d do some of the work,” he says. “But if I’m going to be a single father and I can afford the help, I don’t see why I shouldn’t have someone in my employ. Or several someones. Most royals do, you know. Xavier is just odd that way. But Xavier is the second son, and I’m the heir to Wintervale. I have duties I’ll be expected to perform.”

What duties? I want to ask. I haven’t seen him do anything I’d call real “work” since I’ve known him.

“You shouldn’t be so judgmental,” he goes on. “Plenty of parents around the world hire help. Or put their children in daycare. How is this any different?”

I suppose it isn’t, but it still seems slightly strange to me that he’d go through all this effort for a baby while already planning to pass off most of the care to someone else. I want our child to grow up with a loving, attentive?—

No, I correct myself silently but firmly. Not our child. Caspar’s child. Despite my role in all this, I’ve already agreed to give up all claim to the baby. I can’t go around thinking of it as “ours,” not if I want to get out of this emotionally unscathed.

Caspar has somehow managed to calm Noah’s screams into heavy sobs.

“Want some cookies?” he asks his nephew. “You can have all the cookies you want this weekend!”

Noah sniffles, then hiccups, swallowing a sob. He looks up at Caspar with big eyes. “Coo hee?”

“Yes!” Caspar’s face brightens. “Coohees! All the coohees you could want, my boy.” He bounces Noah on his hip. “I know your mommy has a stash of those good American ones somewhere…”

Noah sniffles again, his tears stopping, and he claps his tiny hands together. “Coohees!”

Caspar laughs. He’s so genuinely delighted by his nephew’s happiness that for a moment I’m knocked completely breathless. Granted, I haven’t known him very long, but I don’t think I’ve ever seen him look so joyful before.

Maybe he’ll be a great father after all, I think, turning and following them toward the kitchen.

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