A Surrogate Love Affair

by Jaimie Roberts

  “No. As you can see, though, my window suffered.”

  He looks over at the window, then gets up to stand in front of the policeman. “I hope you’re going to arrest that fucker.”

  The policeman holds his hands out. “Calm down, sir. I know tensions are high right now. Mrs. Armstrong and I were just discussing everything when you came around.”

  Reaching out, I grab Ethan’s arm. “It’s okay. Sit. I just want to get this over and done with.”

  He blows out a breath in anger, but relents and sits next to me. Once the police officer sees that Ethan is as calm as he can be, he sits on one of the sofa chairs.

  “Now, can you tell me what happened from start to finish?”

  I tell the officer about Kyle coming to my work and ripping up the divorce papers before threatening me. I then tell him about tonight. As he writes everything down, I say, “The operator, Elizabeth, heard everything that went on from the moment I called. I’m sure she can vouch for me.”

  A knock sounds on the door and a police officer pushes it open, looking at the other one. “Can I have a word?”

  They walk out and close the door behind them. Ethan grabs my hand. “I should have stayed with you tonight. I never imagined things would get this bad. You should have told me he threatened you.”

  “And what would you have done about it?”

  “I would have found him and kicked his fucking arse.”

  Giggling, I nudge him. “Exactly. And then you’d be playing right into his hands. He would have had you arrested. You can’t have that. You’re a doctor.”

  “I don’t care. It would have been worth it just to wipe that smug look he always has off his face.” He shakes his head before looking at me. “Why don’t you come live with me for a while? Just until this blows over.”

  It’s tempting, I’d feel safer, but I shake my head. “Why should I be afraid in my own home? No. I won’t let him run me out of my house. I won’t let him win.”

  “It’s not about winning and losing, Alice,” he says, moving closer. “You’re the mother of my child. If anything happens to you...” He grits his teeth, making me smile. I squeeze his hand.

  “I know, and I’m really thankful that you care so much. Listen, if this escalates, I promise I’ll move. For the moment, though, I’m staying.”

  “Trying to break down the door and smashing a window is escalating, don’t you think? He’s obviously unstable. When I got here, I saw him in the police car. He started hitting the window with his head and shouting at me.”

  Frowning, I look away. “I can’t believe how much he’s changed. This is just so unlike him.”

  “Or maybe he’s been like this all along and you’ve just never seen the real him because he kept you down for so many years.”

  I’m about to retort when I close my mouth again. At the end of the day, no matter how much I argue, Ethan’s right. I just haven’t seen it until now.

  The officer walks back in. “He’s been drinking, so we’re arresting him for breaching the peace and being drunk in charge of a vehicle. We’ll keep him overnight until he sobers up. We’ll also have the car towed. I assume you don’t want it stuck outside your house.”

  Ethan shoots up from his seat. “What? That’s it? He scared Alice half to death and smashed her window, but all you’re going to do is keep him overnight?”

  “Technically, it’s his window. He still owns half the property.”

  Shoving his hands through his hair, Ethan starts pacing. “I don’t believe this.”

  The police officer looks from Ethan to me. “I would suggest you get your solicitor to file a motion with the court for temporary exclusive possession of your home. You will need an injunction on either yourself or your property.”

  I nod. “My solicitor is already on this. I’ll speak with him in the morning regarding an injunction.”

  “Good.” He looks at the window. “Shall we call someone for you to cover that? You won’t get a new window tonight, but at least someone can secure it for you.”

  I smile. “If you could, that would be great. Thank you.”

  “No problem. Will you be okay?”

  I look up at a pacing Ethan before glancing back at the police officer. “Yes, I will be.”

  Finally, Ethan snaps his head to the officer. “I’ll stay with her. At least until someone gets here to fix the window.”

  Nodding, the officer leaves, closing the door behind him. Ethan sits beside me. “You have to tell the solicitor about the baby. I know you want to keep this a secret, but Kyle’s getting out of hand. He needs to be reined in. If you’re expecting, no court in the land would allow someone like him near you.”

  I know what he’s saying is true, but it concerns me. “If Kyle finds out about the baby, it may make him even more unstable.”

  Ethan sucks in a breath. “Well, then, come and live with me.”

  “Ethan, you can’t watch me twenty-four/seven. Besides, once I get this injunction, maybe he’ll finally stay away.” This divorce has only just started, but I’m already tired. “I don’t know,” I say, sighing. “Maybe I should just give in, sell the house, and give him half the money. At least I’d be free of him.”

  Grabbing my hand, he moves closer. “Please, don’t give up now. He doesn’t deserve any of it. Not after what he’s done.”

  Looking into his eyes, I smile. “You’re willing to give Sarah half of the house when you don’t have to. How is this any different?”

  “It just is.”

  “How?”

  “There’s a big difference. For a start, Sarah hasn’t worked in years and has nowhere else to go. No matter what she’s done, I can’t see her homeless. That’s the gentlemanly thing to do. It’s a pity Kyle can’t extend the same courtesy to his wife.”

  I sigh. “Kyle is a very selfish man.”

  Ethan shakes his head. “He definitely is. I’ve never hated anyone in my life before. Even after what she did, I can’t even bring myself to hate Sarah. But Kyle... He’s definitely the exception to the rule.”

  I pat his knee. “You may be a doctor, but you’re only human.” I get up. “Do you fancy a cup of tea? Maybe something stronger? A beer?”

  He smiles. “A beer would go down nicely. Thanks.”

  Ignoring the glass on the floor, I walk toward the kitchen and put on the kettle for me, then grab a bottle of beer for Ethan. Once my tea is ready, I put it, the beer, and a plate of biscuits on a tray, then walk into the living room to find Ethan sweeping up the glass.

  He looks up. “I hope you don’t mind. I found these in the little cupboard under the stairs.”

  “Not at all.” I smile brightly as I place the tray down.

  “Why are you smiling like that?” he asks with a smirk.

  I sit down and look at him with a laugh. “Kyle never did an ounce of housework. Seeing someone quite manly sweeping is refreshing.”

  “Manly?” he asks, cocking an eyebrow. “You think I look manly?”

  I feel myself blush. “Well, you’re obviously fit and healthy. You go to the gym regularly. You’re tall, muscular, and look like you can handle yourself. I saw as much when Kyle hit you.”

  Ethan rolls his shoulders. “I used to kickbox years ago.”

  “Really?”

  “Yep. I enjoyed it, too.” Ethan sweeps the rest of the glass into the dustpan and walks toward the kitchen to throw it into the bin.

  “Why did you stop?”

  I hear nothing for a few seconds. “What was that?” he asks, walking toward my little cupboard.

  “If you enjoyed it so much, why did you stop?”

  He walks back in, picks up his beer, and sits in the chair. I don’t know why, but I feel a little lost when he does. Being close to him makes me feel...safe.

  “I loved going to the gym and kickboxing, but in my final years of studying, I didn’t have time for both. I opted to drop the kickboxing because I wanted to remain fit. Besides, I’m sure I’d remember it if I had
to use it. Thankfully, I have only had to once in my lifetime.”

  I frown. “Oh no. When was that?”

  Ethan takes a sip if his beer, then shrugs off his jacket. He has a pale pink shirt on, which looks good on him. When I look back at him, he’s smiling. “What?”

  I blush again. “Nothing. It’s just, well… You look nice in pink. That’s all.”

  “Why, thank you.”

  “Anyway,” I say, waving my hand. “What happened to you?”

  He sets his jacket beside him and settles back in the chair. “It was just before I met Sarah. I went out with some mates for a few drinks. As I walked back home, I was jumped. The guy held a knife to my throat and demanded that I give him my wallet.”

  I gasp. “What happened?”

  “I grabbed his arm and yanked him off me. As I spun, I kicked him in the head, knocking him out cold.”

  “Did you call the police?”

  He shakes his head. “No. I thought I might end up getting in trouble for assaulting him. There were no witnesses, so I figured if I let him off, he would do the same for me.”

  “But what if he did it to someone else?”

  He thinks about that for a moment. “I was a lot younger then. I talked myself into believing that he would think twice next time he wanted to mug someone.”

  Shrugging, I nod. “I guess you were right. At least, I hope you were.”

  “Besides, with the sentencing these days, he would have only gotten a slap on the wrist and be sent out to do it again anyway.” He shakes his head. “Tonight is a prime example of injustice.”

  I sigh. “I’m going to call my solicitor in the morning so he can sort this injunction out. Kyle would be stupid to start breaking the law now. He never has before.” Then I remember something. “Oh, apart from the time he was sixteen and got caught with cannabis in his pocket. Because he was a minor and only had enough for his own consumption, they only gave him a caution. It was enough for him not to do it again.”

  “I did cannabis when I was that age,” he says, surprising me. “When you’re young, you think you can do anything. I was invincible.” He gives me a cheeky wink before taking a sip of beer. I don’t know why, but that little wink does something to my stomach. It’s almost like butterflies.

  I pick up my cup of tea and take a sip. “I guess we all thought like that at fifteen, sixteen. I thought I knew everything. I used to tell my aunt as much.” I shake my head. “She must have really regretted the day she took me in.”

  “Do you miss them?” he asks, leaning forward.

  “My parents?” He nods. “I do think about them from time to time. It’s hard, but it gets better every day. You must understand that.”

  “Yep. It’s never easy, but at least you can look back and remember them with a smile rather than a tear. I’m sure that’s how they want to be remembered.”

  “It frightens me,” I blurt without thinking.

  Ethan frowns. “What?”

  I look into his eyes. “Mortality. It’s strange. I never thought about it before, but now that I’m pregnant, I think about it often. I want this baby to get the full experience I never had.”

  Ethan smiles. “He or she will. I promise. All I can say is if we work together as a team, this baby will want for nothing. I think he or she is actually quite lucky.”

  Smirking, I raise my eyebrow. “Really? How’s that?”

  “Well, when you think about it, couples get together, marry, then have children. By that stage, familiarity sets in and arguments can arise. The best part about us raising this child is the love and marriage part doesn’t come into it. We can work together as a team, as sensible adults. I can see us working well together.”

  “I must admit, I feel so much better now that you know. Thoughts of you getting back with Sarah and taking the baby away from me scared me to death. That’s a big reason I couldn’t bring myself to tell you. I was honest when I said it wasn’t the right time with you just finding out about Sarah, but I also kept it from you for purely selfish reasons. I actually hated myself for not ringing you and letting you know.” I sigh again. “Anyway, that’s my confession. And yes, I do think we’ll work well together as a team.”

  “Motherly instinct is a powerful thing. I don’t think it was as much selfishness as it was simply a mother protecting her child. If you say that fate is real, maybe something in the universe made you become pregnant at the time you did. Maybe you were meant to have this baby all along. I realise now that doing it the way we were going to would have been a mistake. You would have struggled. Don’t you agree?”

  I would like to say no, that I would have coped, but a part of me thinks he’s right. I shrug. “I would have dealt with it.”

  Ethan smiles. “Because you would have felt obliged to. Your best friend couldn’t conceive. You would have given anything for her to have a baby. But it would have been at the cost of your broken heart. Knowing that crushes me.”

  My heart warms. “I’ve never met someone as understandable as you.”

  Ethan takes another gulp of beer. “I just think it’s a matter of dealing with what our spouses did that changes the dynamics in a major way. You said your instinct was to protect, which will never change. You’ve already bonded. How can I take that away from you? I had a lot of time to think about it today and it all boils down to the same thing. We’ll make it work because we have to.”

  A knock on the door interrupts. “Who is it?” Ethan asks.

  “Locksmith for Alice Armstrong.”

  “Yes,” I shout, running toward the door. I open it and see a couple men standing there, tools in their hands. “Please, come in.” I point to the window.

  They get to work. By the time they’re done boarding it up, Ethan’s had another beer, and I’m absolutely shattered. I don’t tell Ethan this because he’ll take that as a hint to go. Truthfully, I don’t want him to leave.

  But as I look at the time and see that it’s already well after nine, Ethan takes that as his cue. “I suppose you want me to go.”

  I can tell he’s reluctant. “Please stay. That’s if you don’t mind. I could use the company.”

  He smiles. “I don’t mind at all.”

  When I put the TV on for some background noise, Forrest Gump comes on. Before I know it, we are settled next to each other on the sofa, eating biscuits and watching the movie. In all my years with Kyle, we never did this together.

  It’s nice.

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  The next day, I wake up to the smell of cooking eggs. My stomach roils, but my mind wants sleep. The more the smell reaches my nostrils, the more my stomach rebels. Before I can even think, I’m off the sofa and running toward the bathroom.

  Clutching onto the side of the toilet, I vomit violently. I’m miserable, but the more I get rid of, the better I feel.

  I feel a hand on my back, rubbing tenderly. That’s when it all comes back to me. Kyle, the smashed window, Ethan, falling asleep on the sofa.

  Taking a couple deep breaths, I reach for a tissue, but Ethan hands me some. “Feeling better?”

  I dab my mouth, flush the toilet, and turn to him. “Yes, much better. Thanks.” I feel like death warmed over, but Ethan looks bright-eyed. “I guess we both fell asleep, huh?” And it’s then I realise I didn’t wake up once during the night. That’s never happened before.

  “I woke up in the middle of the night with you wrapped around me. You looked so peaceful, I didn’t want to move you.”

  My cheeks flush with embarrassment. “I’m sorry. I didn’t realise.”

  He chuckles. “Don’t be sorry. It was nice to see you looking so content. I know things have been hard for you, but I meant what I said. I’m here for you—to make things better.” He leans against the doorframe and scratches his head. “Well, that’s the plan anyway.”

  I smile. “Well, your plan’s working.”

  “Are you kidding? I just made you sick by trying to cook you breakfast. I don’t think that’s
a good start.”

  I place my hand on his shoulder. “You didn’t know. Besides, it’s nice. I can’t remember the last time someone cooked me breakfast.”

  His eyes widen. “Kyle never cooked for you? Never made you breakfast in bed?”

  I shake my head. “Nope. I think he felt it was woman’s work. Unfortunately, that was the way his parents brought him up. That’s what he always told me anyway. I could see it for myself all the times I was around them. His mother and I would be in the kitchen cooking, while Kyle and his dad would sit in the living room and talk ‘business’.”

  He shakes his head. “But still. This is the twenty-first century. Growing up with friends and other cultures should have taught him differently. I know plenty of men who were brought up exactly the same, but rebelled against it. I think Kyle’s excuse that he was brought up that way is just laziness.”

  I smirk. I’ve always liked Ethan, but getting to really know him already makes me feel close to him. He always knows the right things to say. It’s refreshing.

  “Shall I get rid of breakfast?” he asks, pointing toward the kitchen.

  I shake my head. “No, it’s fine. Actually, I am really hungry. I didn’t eat much yesterday.”

  He gives me a reprimanding look, but doesn’t say anything. The look tells me all I need to know.

  As we walk into the kitchen, he points to a chair, so I diligently sit down, smiling. This is all new to me.

  “How do you like your eggs?”

  “Scrambled, please.”

  He gets to work. By the way he’s opening drawers and helping himself to the seasonings, I can tell he feels at home in my kitchen. It’s quite fascinating to watch.

  I look at the clock hanging on the wall. Shit, it’s almost nine. I’ve never slept this late. “I’m usually headed to my yoga class by now.”

  Ethan turns and gives me a smile. “Don’t be hard on yourself. Sometimes it’s nice to have a break from the norm.”

  I fake gasp. “Are my ears deceiving me, or is the doctor advising me not to exercise?”

  “There’s always another day. Even doctors don’t always take their own advice. Live a little, but don’t overdo it. Enjoy the things that make you happy, but not so much that it could kill you.”