by Hazel Parker
The morning of the procedure, Kelly arrived at the doctor’s office. Monica and Grant were already waiting.
“Hi sweetie.” Monica gave her a big hug. Kelly was a bit surprised, but embraced the other woman in return.
“Hi Monica. Hi Grant.”
“Hi Kelly.” Grant refrained from hugging her. Kelly did not think that was a bad thing. She could not stop thinking about how awkward she had been at their initial consult.
“So you’re all ready?” Monica asked. Kelly nodded.
“As I’ll ever be. Hopefully this goes well, and we get you guys a baby.”
“That’s exactly what we’re hoping for,” Monica cooed.
Kelly left them then. She followed a nurse back to the room, where she changed into one of the flimsy paper gowns. As she lay back on the table, she fought her nerves. She reminded herself that she was doing this for the right reasons, and that everything would be just fine. Her mother would never know.
“It’s good to see you again, Kelly,” Dr. Landis entered the room. Kelly gave him a nervous smile.
“Hi Dr. Landis.”
“Are you all ready?” He sat down on a stool next to the table.
“I think so,” Kelly answered firmly.
“Well that’s good.” Dr. Landis handed her a clipboard. “Now I just want you to sign these forms, and we’ll get started with the implementation procedure.”
Kelly took the clipboard. She signed her name across the lines that were marked with “X”. She noticed that her hand shook slightly. Maybe she was more nervous than she realized.
“All right. Now that we’ve taken care of that,” Dr. Landis glanced through the forms, “I’m going to give you a mild sedative to get us started. It’s a state called twilight sleep and it’s very routine.”
“Ok.” Kelly took a deep breath.
“Nervous?” Dr. Landis raised his eyebrows questioningly.
“I…guess I am,” Kelly admitted.
“It is totally understandable.” Dr. Landis tucked her paperwork beneath his arm. “But really, you have absolutely nothing to worry about. This will be over and done with before you know what happened.”
His confidence made her relax a bit. Kelly was able to lay back, and focus on calming herself for the moment.
A nurse came in then. Kelly offered her right arm for the nurse to insert the needle. Almost immediately, she began to feel sleepy. Her eyes wanted to close, and she did not fight them. She was out cold.
The next thing Kelly knew, she heard voices above her. Immediately, she tried to get her bearings. Her head felt hazy from the procedure. Kelly groaned slightly, forcing her eyes open.
The first sight that she took in was not at all what she was expecting. Grant and Monica were leaning over her. Grant’s jaw was set in a mass of tight muscles. Monica’s lips were pressed into a tight line. Their eyes were locked on one another. Kelly could practically feel the tension between them. What had she just interrupted?
“I…uh….”
Two sets of eyes snapped down. They looked down at her, appearing startled.
“Well hello there,” Monica purred. She reached out, pressing one hand to Kelly’s cheek. It felt so odd: the other woman soothing her. Monica was not that much older than her.
“Hey,” Kelly raised one hand. She rubbed her eyes wearily. “Um, how did things go?”
“Everything went just fine.” Grant’s hand moved down to pat hers. Kelly opened her eyes, looking up at him. For some reason, Grant’s comfort felt that much better. Monica’s was just…awkward.
“Really?” Kelly smiled. “So am I pregnant?”
“We certainly hope so.” Monica moved her hand from the girl’s cheek to take her hand. “But of course, we won’t know right away. The doctor advised that you take a home pregnancy test in about a week. Some of them are so advanced that they can pick up quickly.”
“I’ll do that.” Kelly felt slightly more nervous now. What if it was positive? The thought was thrilling and terrifying at the same time.
“Would you like some water?” Monica’s eyes were filled with sympathy.
“Sure, water would be okay.” She had not been able to eat or drink earlier due to the sedative. While she was not currently hungry, her throat felt exceptionally scratchy.
“Of course.” Monica moved to pick up a plastic pitcher and a cup from the table next to the bed. Kelly allowed herself to bask in the fact that Grant’s hand was still on hers. She should not have been enjoying it so much.
“Here you go.” Monica turned back to them. Immediately, Kelly felt Grant’s hand withdraw. Was that what the two of them had been fighting over? “Can you sit up a bit?”
“I think so.” Kelly eased herself into a sitting position. She felt Grant’s hand rest on her back. She reminded herself that he was helping her sit up, but she was enjoying it too much. “Thanks.”
She took the cup, her hand shaking a bit. Kelly sipped down the cold water.
“The doctor wants you to rest for about a half an hour.” Monica sat down on the bed beside Kelly. Kelly nodded.
“And then what?”
“After you’re feeling up to travel, we’ll take you home.” Monica assured her. “And then we’ll get you back into bed so that you can rest.”
“Monica is right.” Grant’s hand patted her back with his words. “You need to rest for the remainder of the day. And no studying.” Kelly laughed.
“I need to read a chapter in a history book, but I can do that in bed.”
“As long as you don’t get overly tired,” Monica fussed. “You’ll have to learn how to keep your grades up while taking it easy.”
“I’ll do that.” Kelly smiled. “I promise.”
It was not long before Dr. Landis returned. Kelly assured him that while she was still a bit sleepy—and starting to get hungry—that she felt fine. Dr. Landis told her that she could get dressed, gave her a handful of paperwork, and repeated the advice to rest of the remainder of the day.
“Are you missing any classes today?” Kelly was seated in the front seat of Grant’s Mercedes, and Monica was leaning between the seats to talk to her.
“Monica, please stop bothering the poor girl.” Grant got into the driver’s seat, starting the car.
“I’m just worried about her.” Monica’s hand rubbed her arm. Kelly smiled faintly.
“It’s okay, Grant, really. And no, Monica, today was my off day. And I only have a four o’clock tomorrow. So I’ll get a lot of rest.”
“Well, that’s what I like to hear,” Monica relented, finally settling back into the car’s back seat.
The ride to Kelly’s dorm wasn’t long. Monica and Grant wanted to walk her upstairs, but Kelly was insistent that she could do it herself.
“Now you have all of our contact information?” Monica asked. “Emails? Phone numbers?”
“I do, I promise.” Kelly nodded firmly. Frankly, she was ready to get away from Monica for a bit. She didn’t know if it was the remainder of the drugs, or just that Monica was suddenly maddening. She couldn’t handle this type of pressure right now. Hopefully, she’d feel better after a solid nap.
“I’ll take a pregnancy test, and I’ll call you as soon as I get the results.” That seemed to please Monica. She reached out, hugging the young girl.
“Thank you. Thank you so much!”
“Of course.” Kelly stepped back. Her eyes met Grant’s. He gave her a strong smile.
“Call us if you feel sick, or if you have any odd symptoms.”
“I promise.” Kelly smiled at him. Reaching back, she pulled open the main door. “Thank you…for the ride and everything.”
“We’re in your debt,” Monica told her as she climbed into the Mercedes’s front seat. Grant gave her a wave as he walked back to the driver’s seat.
“Bye, Kelly.”
“Bye, Grant.” She stepped inside, letting the door close behind her. For a moment, she allowed herself to think of just how attractive Grant wa
s, and how lucky that Monica was. It was only a moment—and then Kelly headed for the stairs and her dorm room.
Chapter 6
A month had passed since the implantation procedure. Just as everyone had hoped, it had been a success. The home pregnancy test that Kelly had taken a week and a half later had come back positive. She had immediately called Dr. Landis, who had confirmed the pregnancy. Grant and Monica were over the moon.
Kelly tried to tell herself that this was the reason she had agreed to this deal. She was making a childless couple so happy. But she knew at the end of the day her real motivation was money, and that this was just a nice benefit. Still, it made her feel good—even if she did think that the Stones had an odd relationship.
Kelly had been studying for a test when her room phone rang.
“Hello?”
“Hey, Kelly, it’s Grant.” Oh right! She remembered that he was swinging by today to drop off a check.
“Oh hey Grant!” She got up. “I’ll come let you in.”
Kelly headed out of her room, and down to the main floor. She opened the lobby door, letting Grant step in.
“It’s good to see you!” He looked her over as he stepped inside. Kelly smiled at him.
“Thanks.” She glanced around. The lobby was deserted. All of the other residents were out at class or something else in the middle of the afternoon. “Why don’t we sit?”
“Yes, let’s.” Grant followed her over to a couch. “You shouldn’t be on your feet too much.” Kelly laughed as she sat down.
“Grant, I’m fine. Even the doctor says it’s good for me to be up and moving around.”
“Well, that’s good.” Grant sat down beside her. “So how are you feeling?”
“Not bad.” Kelly shrugged. “I have some morning sickness. And certain foods make me nauseous. But other than that, I’m good.”
“You’re not too tired?” Grant asked. “I hate to think of you spending the entire semester sleeping because you have no energy to do anything.” Kelly laughed again. Maybe it was too flirtatious of an action.
“I wouldn’t be the first college student to sleep through a semester.”
“I should have guessed. We were that way when I was in school.” Grant leaned back on the couch. “But most of the ones that did that when I was in school failed out.”
“That happens too.” Kelly was dead set against that happening to her. He mother would really kill her then.
Grant reached into his coat pocket. He withdrew an envelope from the sport jacket’s interior pocket.
“Here you go. As per our agreement.”
“Thank you.” Kelly was glad to get the check. She tucked it into her lap, not wanting to open it now. “So how is Monica?”
“Oh she’s fine.” Grant shrugged. He always seemed to have few words when Monica came up when they were alone.
“Is she getting the nursery all set up?” Kelly asked.
“Oh, not really.” Grant rolled his eyes. “Monica is very busy.”
“Oh?” Kelly was suddenly intrigued. “Does she have some sort of a new project.” Grant waved his hand dismissively.
“She’s busy with charities and basically being wrapped up in herself.” At the look on Kelly’s face he suddenly realized what he had said. “Oh, no, don’t worry about the baby. She’s going to be the most obsessive mother ever, I promise you that.”
“I really am so glad that I can do this for you guys,” Kelly told him. “Really, I want you guys to be happy.”
“Yeah, me too.” Grant sounded a little sad. Kelly raised a brow.
“Is everything not ok?” Grant looked over at her.
“I just…I don’t know if we’re going to be the picture of a perfect family.”
“Please don’t think like that,” Kelly offered sympathetically. “You guys really do deserve happiness. I mean, you’re such a beautiful couple.”
For a second, she couldn’t believe that she’d said that, but Grant merely laughed.
“Well, thank you. I’m glad to know that others can look at us and see that. You know, we occasionally make magazines. It hasn’t been as much lately, but before I turned thirty—we were in the ‘Top Thirty Under Thirty’ all over the place.”
“That’s awesome!” Kelly couldn’t believe how exciting that sounded. “You guys are so incredibly lucky.”
“I guess that we are,” Grant agreed. “It just doesn’t always feel that way.”
They were silent for a moment. Then Kelly smiled.
“Well, just wait until this little one gets here. You two will be so wrapped up in him, or her, that you won’t know what to do with yourselves.”
“I really hope you’re right.” Grant smiled over at her. “It’s going to be a lucky kid. I am going to make absolutely certain of that.”
It occurred to him that he should go. It was not right for him to be sitting here talking with her like this—he was a married man, after all. But she was such a nice girl, and so incredibly easy to talk to. It made him want to sit with her for hours. The fact that she was such a pretty girl did not help things one bit.
“Well,” he got up, “I should be going.”
“Ah ok.” Kelly hated to sound like it bothered her. He was married—and older than she. She did not have a right to want him to sit and talk to her all day. “I should get back to studying anyway.”
“Yes you should.” Grant headed for the door. “Just in general studying or a specific exam?”
“Test in Asian history.” Kelly shook her head. Grant winced.
“That sounds awful.”
“It is certainly difficult,” Kelly agreed, holding the door open for him. “Thanks for the check.” She held up the envelope. “I’ll get it cashed soon.”
“Whenever you get around to it.” Grant smiled at her. He looked her over for a minute before turning. “All right. See you later, Kelly. Call us if you need anything.”
“You know I will.” Kelly closed the door behind him, and Grant headed across the parking lot to his Mercedes.
Once he settled inside, he had to take a minute to compose himself. Why did he seem to fall apart when he was around Kelly? She was a college student—and he was married. He had to remind himself that he could not relive his youth with her. She was pregnant with his baby—a baby that he was going to raise with his wife of five years. He needed to get his act together—and fast.
Grant drove himself home. He would get home, and see if Monica wanted to go out to dinner. Maybe the two of them could really talk. He would enjoy that. They could get to know each other again. Maybe it would be the start of them really reconnecting. They needed to get busy on that before the baby came.
When Grant pulled up in front of the house, a car that he did not recognize was parked in front of it. Grant frowned. Was it one of Monica’s friends? Or was it a social committee meeting? There were no others, so it must have been a one off.
He headed into the house, dropping his keys on the front table.
“Monica?” he called.
She was not in the downstairs living room, or the den. She was not in either of their offices. That only left upstairs, and he could not imagine who she might have over that required a trip upstairs. There were only bedrooms on the second floor, and absolutely no place for entertaining.
As he reached the top of the stairs, he thought that he heard voices. They appeared to be coming from the master bedroom. Had he misinterpreted the car? Was it actually a cleaning service? Monica had been talking about having the carpeting professionally cleaned.
But the master bedroom door was closed. That seemed particularly odd. Why would Monica bring a cleaning person into their bedroom and close the door? He told himself that she must have done it to show them something specific—a particular spot on the carpet or something of that nature.
“Monica?” Grant pushed open the bedroom door. Instantly he froze. What he saw before his eyes was the last thing that he was expecting.
Monica lay i
n their bed—naked. Beside her, was a man that Grant could only see his back. Then the man turned to face him, and he instantly recognized him. The man was Philip Behr—the head of accounting from his office.
“What the hell is going on here?”
“Grant, I can explain—” Philip was sitting up, pulling the covers to his chest.
“The hell you can!” Grant yelled. “Get out of here!”
“But—” Philip stammered.
“Grant, calm down just a minute—” Monica began.
“No!” Grant snapped. “For that matter, you get out too!”
“Now just wait—” Philip tried, but Grant grabbed the handful of clothes which lay at the foot of the bed.
“GET OUT!”
“Okay! Okay!” Philip was fumbling into clothes. Monica was getting out of bed, wrapping the sheet around her.
“Grant—”
“OUT!” Grant was shoving a crumpled dress at her. “GET OUT! NOW! HOW DARE YOU, MONICA! HOW DARE YOU!”
Grant turned, storming from the room. He grabbed an antique vase from a hall table. Immediately, he pitched it down the hallway. From the bedroom, Philip and Monica both winced at the sound of the breaking china.
Chapter 7
Kelly was officially worried. She’d been sending text messages to both Grant and Monica to check in, but had heard nothing. When she had not received any responses there, she had decided to call. But both phones rang until voicemail picked up. They had done that the first time she had called, and the second, third, and fourth times.
Kelly could not imagine what had allowed to expectant parents to stop contacting the woman carrying their child. Had something happened? Was one of them sick? They could not possibly just disappear off the face of the planet.
Even worse, were they avoiding her? Had they changed their mind about this baby? What if they had? What would happen to it? Kelly was in no position to raise a baby, and she did not want to bring a baby into this world if there were no parents to take care of it. But could she have an abortion? She did not want that either. Would she have to find a set of adoptive parents? If she did, how did she explain to them why she was pregnant? She supposed that she could lie, but it would undoubtedly come out that she was surrogate abandoned by the real parents.
