Page 38 of The Surrogate Mother
“Uh huh.” She nods. “It’s on the calendar. The Cuddles people, right?”
Damn, even Monica knew about the meeting. What’s wrong with me?
“That reminds me,” she says. “I’ll need to take off for afew hours next week to do that ultrasound and the blood tests. Is that okay?”
Sam drops the plates in the dishwasher and lifts his head. “Ultrasound?”
Monica arches an eyebrow. “Abby didn’t tell you? I’m having this screening ultrasound next week.”
He frowns. “Is something wrong?”
“Not at all!” She clutches her chest. “I would tell you if there were. This is something everyone gets. But it’s a chance to see the baby. Do you want to come?”
“Uh…” Sam glances in my direction, then back at Monica. He seems like he’s looking at her abdomen, but he could also be looking at her boobs. Not that I would blame him, because they’re pretty spectacular right now. “Yeah, of course I would. That would be incredible.”
She brightens. “Hey, I recorded the heartbeat at my appointment last week. Do you want to hear it?”
He nods vigorously. “Yeah, definitely.”
Monica and Sam go back to the living room and sit together on the couch, while I take the loveseat. She gets out her phone and scrolls to the recording she took last week. Then she presses “Play.”
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
His eyes widen. “That’s the heartbeat?”
She nods.
I wouldn’t have expected it from Sam, because he’s not an emotional sort of guy, but his eyes start to get misty the same way mine and Monica’s did in the examining room. He listens to the whole thing, then he makes her play it a second time.
“That’s amazing,” he breathes.
She grins at him. “That’s our baby.”
Her words hit me like a punch in the gut.Ourbaby. No,it’s notourbaby. This fetus inside her ismybaby. Mine and Sam’s. Even if she’s using a general “our” to include me too, it’s still inaccurate. This isnother baby. We have a contract. What the hell is wrong with her?
And why is she sitting so close to my husband? This is a very large couch. She’s got the whole couch to spread out on, but somehow, she’s so close to him, their knees are nearly touching.
I want this girl out of my house.
“Anyway,” I say. “I’m so sorry I couldn’t make it here sooner, Monica, but it’s been great having you.”
“Well, thanks for inviting me,” she says. “The lasagna was really delicious, Abby.”
I’ll have to take her word for it. I’ve lost my appetite.
“Not as good as mine though,” Sam says with a grin.
Her eyes widen. “You know how to cook?”
“Uh…” He offers a crooked smile. “I’m… learning.”
She claps her hands together. “I’d love to try something you’ve made sometime.”
“Sure,” he says. “That sounds great.”
Great, now they’re setting upanotherdinner? I’ve got to get her out of here ASAP. Before she moves herself in.
But before I can say anything else, Sam heaves himself to his feet. “Well, it’s late. You should probably get going.”
