“Shouldn’t she have time to think about this? You only sprung this on her today.”
“So? If she wants me to start paying, she needs to get started. I have a schedule of payments connected to milestones: ovulation tracking, insemination attempts, positive pregnancy test, diagnostic blood test, first ultrasound … It’ll motivate her to keep going.”
“Shouldn’t we plan our wedding first? It might not be convenient if the baby shows up before we’re married.” For some strange reason, Connor’s stomach curdled and his heart flopped around like a dying fish. This was all moving too fast. “What’s the rush?”
“The rush?” Elaine blinked and pointed a finger at him. “I’ve missed ten years of your life. Ten long years, and we’re both turning thirty. Do you want to be working all the way into your late fifties before your last child graduates from college?”
“Uh, I was hoping to have some time with you—just the two of us.”
“We’ll have plenty of time for that after the kids go to college.” Elaine buttered him up with a greasy smile. “You agreed to this. Don’t back out now, especially since we have the perfect surrogate.”
“Whoa, wait a minute.” Connor felt his jaw clenching. “I agreed in theory to having kids. I thought we’d adopt and at most, you’d find an egg donor and carry the pregnancy yourself. I never agreed to a surrogate.”
“You didn’t say no, and now we already have one ready to go. Besides, my sister needs the money, and I’m being very generous with her. Most family members do it for free, but I know Nadine needs to support herself.”
A queasy feeling spread from Connor’s belly, and his right leg jiggled as a cloud of impending doom settled over him. “Are you sure this is right for her? Aren’t we taking advantage of her? She’s probably agreeing because she’s your sister. Maybe we should hire another surrogate. It might make things easier in the long run.”
“That’s where you’re wrong.” Elaine poured herself a cup of tea. “If I am spending this much money, I might as well help my own sister. If she is doing this for the first time, she might as well do it for me. We’re family.”
“Have you considered what this might do to her? How it’ll affect her?” Connor didn’t know why he was trying to talk Elaine out of this. Heck, he didn’t even know his own feelings about having a woman he cared about, a very young and naïve woman who still lived with her mother, go through a pregnancy only to give the baby away.
Elaine set the teacup on the table with a thump and glared at him. “Of course, she’ll make a lot of money and we’ll all be happy.”
“I’m not so sure. If she were my sister, I would be asking her to think two or three times. This is a huge commitment, and if anything should go wrong …”
“Then it’s good she’s my sister and not yours,” Elaine said with an air of finality. “Don’t you have enough sisters to deal with without worrying about mine?”
“It’s not that,” Connor said. “It’s that you’re very persuasive, and I’m not sure your sister has thought this through. What if she regrets it the moment she’s pregnant? What if she wants to keep the baby?”
Guilt laid heavily on his chest at the thought of Nadine keeping the baby and someday asking him to help her raise their little one. If he wasn’t currently inside the hubbub of clattering pots, tinkling plates, steaming pots, and popping burners with the noisy din of a busy restaurant, he could almost picture a calm country scene where Nadine breastfed the baby on the creaky porch swing while he strummed on his guitar. Cinder would lie with her head across his foot, and Grey Hart, the cat would be stalking a mouse under the porch.
“Hey, hey.” Elaine tapped the table. “There you go, all dreamy again. I know you’re dying to be a father, so I’m doing this to make you happy. But if you’re unsure, why don’t you go talk to Nadine? She seemed very happy when I left their apartment. Her mother, not so, but then, she’s going to be out of the picture soon.”
Connor snapped out of his dreamland and blinked at Elaine. “Her mother isn’t happy about this?”
“She doesn’t know the details. I told Nadine not to say anything until she’s pregnant.”
“Doesn’t her mother have a right to know?” Connor hated drilling Elaine on her schemes, only because it never did any good. Elaine never listened, so he was wasting his breath.
“Eventually. We can’t tell her because she has pushy mom syndrome. She wants her daughter to be a model so she can milk more money out of her. It’s not enough for her that she took my dad’s payout, and it was very, very generous. You see? Our family’s very generous. We don’t shortchange people.”
“Payout? Is your dad paying her to go away?” Keeping up with Elaine’s train of thought was like keeping up with a Tesla jumping from zero to sixty in a split second.
“Let’s just say it’s Mistress Severance Pay for her twenty-five plus years of service.”
Connor slapped his palm over his forehead. Elaine was as bright as an exploding quasar, but she had the people skills of a pill bug, maybe less.
“What will we do with Nadine once she’s done birthing babies? Put her on a 401K plan?”
“What’s your problem, Connor? Don’t be so judgmental. If you’re really so concerned about my sister, go speak to her yourself. She was really excited about this new business venture I proposed. It’ll give her time to meander and dream while making money.” Elaine took her phone from her purse. “I’m texting you her phone number and address.”
Chapter Thirteen
After Elaine left the apartment, Nadine’s mother stuck to her like a bull terrier to a T-bone steak. “What’s going on? Let me see that contract she had you sign.”
“She took it with her.” Nadine pulled a wad of bills from an envelope. “Look, she gave me an advance. Two thousand dollars.”
“Doing what? Nadine? I wasn’t born yesterday. No one gives that kind of money unless there’s drugs, blackmail, or sex involved.”
“Actually, it’s all legit,” Nadine said. “Don’t worry. Elaine wouldn’t do anything illegal. She’s had a lawyer look over everything.”
“But you haven’t. What is she having you do?”
“A job.” Nadine picked up Greyheart. “Mom, you have to trust me. It’s legal.”
“Then why won’t you tell me what it is?” Mother grabbed Nadine by the shoulders and shook her, causing the kitten to snarl. “We’ve always been close, like best friends. You’re all I have, and now I see this sister of yours who never ever cared about you proposing some secret scheme. I’m sorry, sweetie, but I’m not leaving unless I’m sure you’re going to be okay. Right now, from what I can see, Elaine is offering you money to hook you into something dodgy. Did you read the termination clause? Do you owe her money if you back out?”
Nadine fanned the hundred dollar bills in front of Greyheart and shrugged. “I didn’t really read all of it.”
Her mother snatched the money. “Then don’t spend it. Look, I know you want to stay here in San Francisco, but the plain fact is, you can’t afford it. Maybe you should come with me to Tennessee. You might like it. You never know.”
“I’m a city girl.” Nadine blinked and swallowed, her throat lumpy. “I wish you wouldn’t leave. Can’t you take the money Dad’s giving you and buy something here? Something small?”
“I’ll think about it,” Mother said. “Why don’t we go get those pictures taken for the modeling agency? Give you some alternatives over whatever your sister’s bribing you to do.”
Nadine put the kitten down and hugged her mother. “I’ll tell you eventually. It’s just that I’m not sure how I feel about it. I know I’m doing the right thing by helping my sister. It’s not all about money. If I didn’t need the money, I’d do it for her anyway.”
“I can’t imagine what it is.” Her mother kissed her cheek. “But I’m proud of you, sweetie. You have a truly good heart. Come on, let’s have lunch before doing the photoshoot.”
Connor breathed a gian
t sigh of relief as he paid the bill at General Fooking Hot Pot. Elaine had to take a call and she’d rushed from the restaurant, dictating a text message into her phone.
At least he’d gotten her to agree to take time off and go to the cabin his parents owned in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada Mountain Range. It hadn’t been easy to extract the concession from her, but she had duly made the calls and texts to rearrange her schedule.
She knew which side of the bread the butter was on, and if he refused to provide the sperm sample, her plan for having her sister get pregnant would be null and void.
Yep, yep, yep. The ol’ Hart had a few tricks left. Connor whistled to himself as he strode down Irving Street toward the fire station. Elaine was so driven by what she wanted, she would make concessions if she thought any part of her plan might not come to fruition. He actually hated the wheeling and dealing. Why couldn’t they come to an agreement naturally, the way his parents did? Sure, they argued and fought, but at the end, everything was discussed and hashed out to everyone’s satisfaction.
Even though it was his day off, Connor always visited the station. The men and women there were family, living together on their shifts, cooking and eating together, working out together, cleaning the station together, and of course, going out on runs together. There had been a few fires lately. He wouldn’t say a rash of fires, but definitely, enough to keep everyone busy.
The station was a hustle bustle of activity. The garage doors were rolled up and two of the trucks sat on the driveway being cleaned and inspected.
Several guys were rolling up hoses, and his brother-in-law, Brian Wonder, was inspecting the wooden ladder. He was Cait’s husband, but he usually spent his days and evenings off at the station rather than home with his wife.
“Hey, Con.” Brian waved his hand for a slap and a shake. “Elaine going to let you hang out here on your off days once you’re married?”
“I don’t see why not. She’s got a busy orthopedics practice and she travels to give lectures and consults.” Connor took a cleaning cloth and sprayed it with wood cleaner. “But, dude, what’s your excuse? My sister’s not keeping you busy enough with honey-do’s?”
“Cait’s a good woman.” Brian retreated to his go-to statement, one that always stopped any inquiries from his in-laws.
Connor grunted, nodding. In the past, he’d let Brian get away with being evasive. But now that he was approaching marriage and fatherhood, he wondered why Brian was married, yet acted like he was single. He was also adamant about not having children.
“So, Elaine and I are thinking about having kids someday.” Connor tested the waters. “Think it’ll be cool?”
“Sure. Whatever you want.” Brian wiped the rungs of the ladder, his brows furrowed as if in concentration.
“You’re my bud, right? Think we should wait a bit, or get the oven baking right away?”
“You definitely should wait.” Brian ran his fingers along the joints of the ladder.
“Like you’re doing?” Connor kept his gaze averted from his brother-in-law. Even though Cait never confided in him, he was aware enough to know that she wasn’t entirely happy with her absentee husband. She loved children, and whenever her friends were over with their babies, Cait would get that longing look on her face before she turned her attention to meddling with one of her siblings’ life.
“I’m not waiting for anything,” Brian said. “Cait and I don’t want children. We’re best friends.”
Really? Connor turned away from his buddy. Best friends loved to spend time together. Best friends talked and understood each other. Best friends didn’t stay at the station and play online video games. If anything, Brian could be having an online affair.
“Glad you’re best friends.” Connor slapped his hand on Brian’s shoulder. “From now on, I’m not letting you spend your days off at the station. You’re to go home to your best friend, your wife, and spend time with her.”
“You’re trying to keep her from butting into your business.” Brian flashed a sneer that wasn’t quite friendly.
“Actually not. I’m your chief and your wife is my sister. I want you to make my sister happy. You don’t know her very well if you think she’s satisfied to spend her married life alone—without you and without any babies to burp.”
“You’re one to talk. I see you here all the time. Your busy doctor girlfriend doesn’t care if you hang out and leave her alone.”
“But I do.” Connor tossed the cleaning towel at Brian. “I made her promise to take a few days off next week with me at the cabin. No cell phones. No electronics. And guess what? She agreed.”
“She must really love you, dude.” Brian cleared his throat and spat on the driveway. “Who would have thought?”
“Yep, who would have thought that we’d be back together and getting married? I know one thing.” Connor turned toward his office. “Once I’m married, I’m going to be a devoted family man. This here’s a job, and yes, it’s family at the firehouse, but being a good dad trumps all of this.”
But then, it meant the mother of his children had to be happy, too. Both mothers, the surrogate and the legal one.
Elaine was ecstatic about her plan, but what about Nadine? Could she carry the baby, their precious baby, inside of her for nine months and give him or her up to a pushy mother like Elaine?
Knowing Elaine, she’d micromanage the entire pregnancy. Nadine was a free spirit. How would she feel being monitored and constrained by all of Elaine’s rules?
“Chief, you look like you’ve got a world of worry on those shoulders,” Brian said, slapping a towel at Connor. “From the little I pay attention to Cait, I think you’re in for a major complication with Elaine and her weird sister.”
“What was that again?” Connor bristled at Brian’s words. “The sister is not weird. She’s an artist and a poet.”
“Oh, so now he’s defending the surrogate. Soap opera time,” Brian mocked.
Great. Even though Brian barely spoke to Cait, he, along was the rest of his entire extended family, was up to date on the state of Elaine’s ovaries and why she’d lied in the past to save Connor’s career by breaking his heart. It was incredible that Cait’s speculations on the surrogacy had made its way to her absentee husband who she supposedly didn’t communicate with.
“I’ve got paperwork to do.” Connor went with his go-to phrase to shut off conversation. With that, he strode across the garage and entered the fire station.
Cinder lunged and jumped at him as soon as he stepped into the firehouse. He picked up his puppy and let her lick his face.
Contrary to what his family believed, he wasn’t taking Nadine’s side over Elaine’s. At least he didn’t think he was. He was only feeling protective because she was younger than her sister, more idealistic, and not as hardnosed.
This entire surrogate thing felt creepy, especially with the way his subconscious kept putting images and movies of her in his mind. She would be the perfect mother for his kids—but not as a surrogate.
The puppy was busily slathering his face with her tongue and Connor pursed his lips, almost kissing the puppy. Yikes, what was wrong with him, stealing kisses from a dog while thinking about his fiancée’s sister?
Connor put Cinder down and dug his cell phone from his pocket. He had Nadine’s phone number and address, but what excuse could he use to go see her?
Chapter Fourteen
Nadine and her mother walked up the steps to their apartment after a delightful lunch and visit to the modeling agency. She had to remove all her makeup, wear a bikini, and allow them to take pictures of her from every angle. Nothing hidden. The woman at the agency said Nadine had great bone structure and that she was thin enough for the runway without being too bony. They loved her ambiguous ethnicity which could be enhanced with makeup to go multiple directions. Her straight hair was a plus, as it was easy to deal with, and her long nose and slanted eyes gave her a signature look so she wouldn’t be an anonymous type, at least th
at was how her mother was selling it.
After that, they’d gone shopping, and her mother had bought her a few dresses and a large sun hat to keep her complexion even and pale.
“Hey, what’s this note on the door?” Mom said when they rounded the corner to their unit. “Fire inspection notice. Is this another one of your father’s tricks for evicting us?”
Nadine dropped her shopping bags and snatched at the note. “It says I have an artist’s studio that might be in violation of building code. You think Elaine had anything to do with this?”
“You tell me,” her mother said, giving her the gimlet eye. “She was the one who was in your room this morning. Looks like whatever secret project she has you doing doesn’t involve painting.”
“Maybe it’s unrelated,” Nadine said, swallowing a surge of bile. Her sister had dictated that she only use watercolors and that she had to get rid of her oil paints and paints containing lead, cadmium, and any tube that had a Federal ASTM health-warning label.
“It says to call Chief Hart,” her mother said. “Say, isn’t he the guy who rescued you from the tree? The hot, hunky fire chief? I saw them interviewing him. Looks like you made quite an impression on him.”
“Mom, stop!” Nadine opened the door and Greyheart immediately tangled himself between her legs, rubbing and purring. “It turns out he’s Elaine’s fiancé, so you’re way off base there.”
Mom’s eyes grew large and her jaw dropped. “Oh darling, he’s the one you had your hopes up for and found out he had a girlfriend. I’m right, aren’t I?”
“Mom, please. I’m going to have to be a big girl now and not cry on your shoulder about everything. You’re leaving, right? So let’s drop it.” Nadine dragged her bags to her room. “As for the inspection, I can’t see why I’m violating any codes. I’m using a clothesline to dry my oily rags and ventilating the room. I’ve been painting here for ten years and nothing’s ever happened.”
Spring Fling Kitty: The Hart Family (Have A Hart Book 3) Page 8
