Total pages in book: 98
Estimated words: 96833 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 484(@200wpm)___ 387(@250wpm)___ 323(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 96833 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 484(@200wpm)___ 387(@250wpm)___ 323(@300wpm)
After a few minutes, I’d calmed down enough to rejoin them in the kitchen. “I need time to process this,” I said.
Kate nodded. “Of course. Take as much time as you need. The eggs aren’t going anywhere. We’re the only ones getting older.” She chuckled. “Phil and I need to do this while we’re still young enough to responsibly care for our grandchild.”
I swallowed. “I understand.”
Kate took a sip of her tea. “There’s one more thing we need to discuss.”
“What?”
“The surrogate.”
My brain must have been operating at a slower speed today. Maybe it was the lack of sleep, because not only had I not initially realized they would want me to father the baby, but the fact that someone would need to carry it had also skipped my mind.
Before I could respond, she added, “We think we’ve found someone.”
My eyes went wide. “Without discussing this with me, you found someone?”
“You would have the final say. We wouldn’t do anything without your approval.”
“Who is this person?” I asked, my guard up as far as it could go.
“One of Phil’s oldest and dearest friends has a daughter. She’d never met Britney because they grew up in different states, and she’s a bit younger. But Phil and I were visiting Roland and his daughter recently in Rhode Island. We confided in them about our situation, never expecting her to offer to help. I know we should’ve discussed it with you first, but I got really emotional one night and well, the floodgate opened. Like I said, I never expected that she would—”
“Who in their right mind would offer something like that after one conversation?”
“She’s a wonderful girl with a big heart,” Kate explained.
“I don’t buy it.” I crossed my arms. “What does she want?”
Kate’s forehead wrinkled. “What do you mean?”
“Money. How much is she asking?”
“That wasn’t even discussed,” Phil answered.
“Well, that’s insane. Who agrees to do something like this without discussing money?”
“Because it’s not only about money for her,” Kate said. “Of course she knows it will come with compensation, but she genuinely wants to help us.”
“How old is this person?”
“Twenty-five,” Phil answered.
“Twenty-five, and she wants to give up a year of her life? She doesn’t sound right in the head.”
My mother-in-law crossed her arms. “I doubt there’s anyone you would deem fit for this task, Sig. Because you’re not open to it yet. Once you’ve had time to think, you can meet her. I already told you we won’t do anything against your wishes. If you don’t like her, we can find someone else. What you want is what matters most.”
What I wanted was for this entire situation to disappear.
What I wanted was to have Britney back.
And that would never happen.
CHAPTER 2
* * *
Sig
Track 2: “How Can You Mend a Broken Heart” by The Bee Gees
A couple of days later, feeling anxious, I left work before noon, which I almost never did. I drove to the countryside to my cousin Leo’s home. I wanted to discuss this latest development with him and his wife, Felicity.
Leo Covington was the Duke of Westfordshire, a title passed on to him when his father died. While Leo was my first cousin, I was not an aristocrat myself. Leo’s father was married to my mother’s sister; we were the non-aristocratic side of the family. I’d spent most of my younger years reaping the benefits of my association with Leo, however. And in addition to being my cousin, Leo had always been my best mate, confidante, and travel partner.
Leo and Felicity lived on a property known as Brighton House, which had been passed down in the Covington family. They had an obscene number of animals inhabiting the surrounding acreage, including a Shetland pony Leo had purchased for Felicity when he was wooing her in America nearly a decade ago. They’d named him Ludicrous, which pretty much summed up that entire transaction.
Ninety minutes after bolting from my office, Leo, Felicity, and I sat around the center island of their massive kitchen, which featured French doors overlooking acres of farmland. I’d just finished recalling my conversation with Kate and Phil.
Felicity slid a tray of crackers, cheese, and fruit over in front of me. “I think it’s really precious that they want to do this, Sig.”
“Precious or insane, depending on how you look at it,” I said, popping a cube of cheese in my mouth.
Her eyes glistened. “Imagine getting to hold Britney’s child. How incredible would that be?”
My chest tightened. “Excruciatingly painful would be more like it.”
She nodded. “I guess I can see that perspective, too.”
I stuck a toothpick into an olive. “The past couple of days, I’ve felt like the star of a miserable made-for-television movie I would never willingly subject myself to.”
Leo clapped my shoulder. “I give you credit for even considering it, cousin. I think I’d have the same reaction you do, honestly.”