Page 5 of Royal Surrogate 2

“Park! Park!” The two children chant in chorus

“I think we have time to go to the park,” Renae says, grinning. “I mean, if you do.”

“We do,” Lauren says. “Xavier’s just always in such a hurry.” She rolls her eyes. “There’s plenty of time for the park.”

Renae smiles at me, and I give her a silent nod. I suppose I’d rather spend this time with just her, but if we can’t be alone, there’s no one I’d rather be with than my brothers.

We grab our treats from the bakery and follow everyone down the trail to the park near the river. Renae and I are far enough behind that we can chat together without the others hearing us, which I suppose is good, since we haven’t really discussed how we would handle our news.

“How are you feeling?” I ask, glancing down at her.

She bites into a cheese bun. “Fine. Hungry.” She grins up at me. “I guess it’s too early to be sick.”

“I wouldn’t know.” I glance up ahead at my sisters-in-law. “But I know two women who would know.”

“Do you think we should tell them?”

I shrug. “We could.”

She pulls my hand into hers. “I think I’d prefer to keep it a secret for now. Just for a little while.”

I nod. “Just for a little while.”

CHAPTER 5

Renae

Our afternoon in the park is exactly what I need. Being outside with the sun on my skin and the breeze in my hair and the birds singing overhead calms me tremendously, and it’s not long before I’m laughing and playing with Caspar’s adorable niece and nephew.

I’m kind of amazed at how quickly they’ve all started treating me like one of the family. Even though his brothers know about our contract, they don’t treat me like someone who’ll be gone in a year. They’ve welcomed me with open arms, and it makes this whole experience a little less lonely.

As much as I enjoy running around on the grassy riverbank with the kids, I get winded quickly and decide to take a little break. Better not to push myself right now, after all. Caspar notices me wandering away from the group and starts towards me, but I give a quick shake of my head and gesture that I’ll be all right for a few minutes. As much as I appreciate his attentiveness, I need a little time to myself.

I wander down the path that follows the riverbank, admiring the beautifully manicured flower beds on either side. Wintervale Town is certainly well cared for, and everywhere I look I see some gorgeous fairytale detail—lamp posts painted in bright colors, wooden benches carved with forest scenes, even a few little topiaries that someone trimmed to look like swans.

Just around a bend, I come across a place where the path has widened, and several local craftsmen have set up their wares. It reminds me a little of the arts festivals back home, only much smaller, with about ten booths displaying everything from decorative glass windchimes to hand-carved violins. I pause to sniff a couple of hand-poured candles with wooden wicks before turning my attention to the final booth on the row.

This one doesn’t have any goods for sale. Instead, the awning has been draped with lush blue and green and gold velvets, and beneath all that fabric sits a small woman behind a round table. Behind her is a painted sign that says, “Oracle Readings.”

I’m about to walk past when she catches my eye.

“Come,” she says, standing and beckoning to me with enthusiasm. “Let me read your cards.”

“Oh, no,” I decline politely. “I’m sorry, I don’t have any money on me.” Even if I did, I don’t believe in fortune telling. I prefer facts and peer-reviewed research, not this metaphysical nonsense.

But the woman is insistent.

“There’s no charge for you,” she tells me. “Please, I can tell when someone needs some guidance.”

I’m not sure what makes me pause. But there’s something inside me that realizes this could be fun, so I nod and take a seat across from the woman at her little table.

She has a deck of cards with gold along the edges, and she begins shuffling.

“I’d like you to think of an area of your life where things are uncertain,” she says. “Perhaps you’re torn between two paths. Or maybe there’s a question you’d like to ask the universe. Hold that in your mind.”

Honestly, there’s only one question in my mind, and though it’s too late to go back now, I find myself thinking, Did I do the right thing, coming to Montovia and agreeing to this?

The woman asks me to cut the deck, and then she shuffles once more before spreading the cards out between us.

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