Page 20 of Sassy Surrogate
She makes a “go ahead” gesture.
“Do you want children?”
The question seems to catch her completely off guard. I mean, what do children have to do with business, right? For a second, it seems like her brain glitches, and she can’t process the question.
“Children?” she asks.
“Yes. Would you like to have children one day?”
“Well, yeah. I guess. One day. Definitely not any time soon though. Why do you ask?”
Shit. Not quite the answer I was hoping for, damn it. My nerves beginning to make themselves known, I stand and pace over to the kitchen counter. Then back. Rubbing my chin, I do it again. I’m not sure how to feel about her answer. It could derail my plan before it even gets going.
Turning back to her, I find Danica staring at me with huge eyes. Before she can say a word though, I stop beside the sofa where she’s sitting. Taking a seat next to her, I take her hand in mine.
“Remember, an open mind.” I gaze at her for a moment. “I would like to hire your services as a surrogate.”
I didn’t think it was possible for her eyes to get any bigger, but they do. I swear, they seem about to pop out of her head. Not a word comes out of her mouth. She simply sits there, as if turned to stone. I wait for her to say something, but after a long, awkward silence, I finally crack.
“Cat got your tongue?” My words snap her out of her daze.
“I’m sorry. I appear to have not heard you correctly. I could have sworn you asked if I would be a surrogate for you, but that can’t be right. I must have misheard you.”
“No, you hear right. I would like to engage your services as a surrogate.”
“But– but I– well shit.” This time it’s her turn to pace. I watch as Danica gets to her feet to stalk around the small space. Stopping unexpectedly, she faces me from across the room. “Where is this coming from? Why me? You don’t even know me.”
I bite back a sigh of annoyance and also get to my feet. Before I can approach her, she holds up a cautionary hand. Then shakes her head. Respecting her unspoken request, I return to my seat.
“It’s probably best to start at the beginning. Come take a seat and I’ll explain.”
Danica sits in the chair I vacated minutes before. I’m not pleased with her seating selection but decide it best not to comment on it.
“Go ahead. Let’s hear it then.”
“Let me backtrack ever so slightly and give you a little backstory. For a long time, I’ve wanted a family – more specifically, children. When my wife and I got married, I thought we were on the same page about the kind of life we wanted; turns out we weren’t.”
She jumps to her feet, a horrified expression on her face. As if I’d kicked a puppy. “You’re married?”
“I was,” I hasten to assure her. The last thing I need is for her to throw me out because she thinks I’m a cheating bastard. “Now I’m not. For a variety of reasons, none of which I’m keen to go into.”
My staccato reply appears to clue her in that this is a sore subject. She simply nods but says nothing else. “The yearning for children of my own hasn’t gone away. In fact, it hasn’t lessened in the slightest. If anything, it’s probably stronger now than ever.”
“Ooooohhh, I get it now. You’re looking for a surrogate because you don’t have a wife.” Danica claps a hand over her mouth, her cheeks turning bright red. “Oh God. I’m so sorry. I have such a talent for being the least circumspect person you’re ever likely to meet.”
“It’s quite all right.” I can feel my smile is a little strained around the edges.
“At the risk of sounding just as tactless, why not just find another wife to settle down and have children with? You’re still pretty young, handsome, virile…” Her words trail off as if she didn’t mean to say them.
The look on her face is of such mortification that I can’t help the bark of laughter that has my whole body shaking as it rolls out of me.
When finally my merriment fades, I once again look over at Danica and grin. “So you think I’m handsome and virile, do you?” My grin just widens as she attempts to sputter out a response. “To answer your question, I have no intention of remarrying. Ever.”
“Dare I ask why, considering my current track record of embarrassing myself?”
“That’s not something I want to get into.”
And just as quickly, my good humour evaporates.
