by Roxy Wilson
“There’re so many I like, I can’t seem to decide on which one.” Selene stared into his eyes. Her fingers moved up his arm, to his shoulder, to the line of his jaw. “You have any ideas?”
He held her hand and kissed it. “How about Trislene?”
She snatched her hand away. “What the—”
“I’ve got another good one.” Triston paused for dramatic effect. “How does Seetris sound?”
She chuckled. “Will you stop trying to come up with combinations of our names? My daughter is not going to be named Trislene or Seetriss. You make her sound as if she’s a cough syrup.”
He snapped his fingers. “I’ve got the perfect name. Ton-sel”
“That sounds like some sort of disease.”
“Tonlene?”
“Shut up.”
Triston grinned as he kissed her. Life was picture perfect.
Nothing could go wrong.
Chapter Ten
Selene hit the answer button of her smart phone. “Hello?”
“Err, Selene. This is Warren.”
She’d spent the afternoon sitting on the patio, enjoying the last of the summer sunshine, but the air had gotten slightly chilly, a clear sign that autumn would begin to make its way and winter won’t be far behind. And when she thought of winter, her favorite holiday came to mind. Christmas. It would be the first Christmas she and Triston would spend together as husband and wife. And before that time, they’d have their daughter to complete their family. Selene could hardly wait for the most wonderful time of the year, and spending it with Triston and their daughter would make the season complete. She hummed the tune that Andy Williams had sung decades before she was born, but which was her most favorite Christmas song.
As she stepped inside the house she heard her cell phone ringing, so she waddled towards it at top speed. She’d been determined to glide gracefully in her last trimester, but no matter what she did, the weight was making her body heavy and clumsy.
She’d snatched her phone off the center table and answered it automatically. Now she cursed herself for not checking the number on the display area. Hearing Warren’s heavy sigh across the lines and Meg’s raised voice in the background, made her temperature rise. A one-eighty, totally different from the coolness she’d felt just minutes before.
“What do you want?” She heard the hardness, the brittleness in her voice. Why the hell was he calling her now? Hadn’t he already done enough damage to her life?
“We were wondering if you had the abortion.” Warren cleared his throat. “You didn’t call us to let us know.”
Was she supposed to inform them regarding her decision? What the hell? They had no right over her anymore.
“No, I didn’t.”
“Glad to hear it.” He cleared his throat again. “Meg changed her mind again. She wants the baby.”
No, she couldn’t have heard him right. “What did you just say?”
“Meg and I want the baby.”
For a moment, Selene’s mind went blank. She could barely think. She’d gotten used to the idea that she was going to be able to keep her daughter and have the family life she’d always dreamed of, and now this. Did they think this was a game? A child’s life hung in the balance.
“You must be joking.” She snapped herself out of the daze and took a deep breath. “Meg needs some therapy. In fact, both of you need it.”
“Now, hold up young lady.” Warren’s voice was stern. “You—”
“Why do you want my baby? Four months ago you told me to have an abortion. I want my baby, and I’m not giving her up.”
“We paid for your medical expenses.”
“You stopped paying four months ago. You and Meg threw me a curve ball. Decided you didn’t want her anymore. And now, you’ve changed your mind again. Am I just supposed to fall in line with your plans whenever it suits you? I’m not going to do it.”
“Now you listen to me, young lady,” Meg spoke. She’d taken over from Warren. “We paid you for a long time to carry that baby for us, and even though we had a lapse in judgment, we want it back now, so there’s nothing you can do but give it to us.”
Selene could feel the anger bubbling up inside her. Who the hell did they think they were? They both needed psychiatric evaluations.
“A baby isn’t a toy you discard and then pick up at your convenience.”
“It’s obvious you didn’t read the contract you signed. The baby is rightfully ours. Ours. You hear me? And we’re going to get it.”
This was a soon-to-be living and breathing person that had rights of her own. And the Stevens were certainly not fit enough to be good parents.
“The baby’s a girl. You wouldn’t know because you were too selfish to stick around.”
“So what’s your point? The proof is in the paper.”
“I won’t give her to you.”
“Ha. You’re delusional if you think we’ll let you have that baby.” A sinister quality had crept into Meg’s voice. “It wasn’t as if it was conceived out of love. You basically sold it to us.”
That comment hurt, but she’d be damn if she showed the Stevens any signs of weakness.
“What if you decide later on in life that you don’t want her again? I refuse to put my child through that. She deserves better.”
“Then you’ll be hearing from our lawyer,” Meg snapped and disconnected the call.
Selene finally broke down. How could they do this to her? It wasn’t fair. She was looking forward to being a mom. And life would have been so much better because she had Triston in it.
She dialed his number. He picked it up on the second ring.
“Triston?” She was fighting back the tears, and they were showing through in her voice.
“What is it, honey? What happened?”
“They want to take away our baby.”
“Who?”
“It’s the Stevens, they just called, and they want our baby.”
“What? Have they lost their mind?”
“I’ve been such a fool. I couldn’t afford a lawyer, but I was in a desperate situation and I just signed the contract. The rent was overdue. I didn’t want Jamie to drop out of—”
“—Calm down, baby. You— ”
“—I should’ve listened to her…to Jamie…and the Stevens seemed like a nice couple…I’m so sorry…so sorry…I can’t believe they want the baby after all this time…they’re—”
“—Baby, you’re not listening to—”
“—they’re…What have I done? How can I fix this? Triston…”
“We’re not giving up our child.” His words matched her intention. “Don’t you worry about it, babe. We’re going to kick their ass in court.”
“Triston, I want you to come home,” she sobbed into the phone.
“No need to ask, babe. I’m already on my way.” His tone was confident, reassuring. “Stay calm for our baby’s sake, okay?”
Almost forgetting that Triston wouldn’t be able to see her, she was about to nod her head in assent, but caught herself in time. “Yes, I will.”
Selene flopped down on the couch. How could this happen? Everything was going so well. She and Triston were happy. And now the Stevens wanted to come back and ruin their lives. It was unforgivable. How could they demand she gave up her child when they were the ones who left her stranded?
What if they were right? She’d signed a contract. Could they force her to give up her baby?
Triston reached home less than an hour later. He must have driven like a mad man. Before she had time to fight her way out of the couch to greet him, he was already there. He put his arms around her.
“I’ve got some good news.” Triston tightened his arms around her. “I made a few calls on the way, and I got the name of a good lawyer. This matter will go to family court, and I have it on good authority that most of the time, the child is given to the biological mother.” He kissed the top of her head and caressed her cheeks that were damped with tears. “Let
the Stevens come with their lawyer. We’ll see who wins.”
Selene smiled through her tears. The more she relied on him, the more he was taking care of her. It was so easy to love him. She leaned against him, lifted her head, and kissed him even as she wondered if their happiness would last.
****
Triston tapped his finger on the desk. The lawyer was taking far too long to read the contract that Selene had signed. What if they didn’t have a chance to hold on to their daughter? That news would devastate Selene. It would kill him. He’d been looking forward to becoming a father. They’d planned their life around this baby. No one should have the right to take her away from them.
Triston admitted that their daughter had become as much his priority as it was Selene’s. And he couldn’t bear the thought of not having her in their lives.
The lawyer put the contract on the table. “Did the Stevens pay your medical bills for the first three months?”
His heart sank. So the lawyer thought the Stevens actually had chance to get their child?
“Yes, they did, but Triston has been paying the bills for the past four or five months. They told me that they would pay for the abortion if I wanted to have one.” Selene’s voice was teary but strong.
“Our daughter wouldn’t have been alive if Selene had done what they wanted,” Triston chimed in. It was difficult for him to rein in the anger radiating from his voice.
“Yes, I understand, Mr. Walker.” The lawyer rubbed his eyes. “But the judge will demand to know all the details. Traditional surrogacy isn’t really used that often in California, mostly because compensated gestational surrogacy is widespread and has more laws protecting both parties.” He glanced at the contract he’d just placed on the table. “I’m assuming that the Stevens entered into this agreement to save money. A gestational pregnancy would’ve cost them more.” He cleared his throat. “The good news is that Mrs. Walker is the child’s biological mother and the judge would definitely consider that.” He looked, first at Selene and then at Triston very soberly. “The bad news is that California places high value on the rights of the intended parents, so if they can prove that they never intended to abandon the baby, they could win this case.”
Triston was flabbergasted by this news. He wished he’d made an effort to do some research on the internet before visiting the lawyer. How could the biological mother be in danger of losing her baby?
“But they were the ones who abandoned my baby. They said they didn’t want her anymore,” said Selene, looking flustered and scared.
“Yes, that’s true. But they wanted you to have an abortion. And since in essence, you agreed to have a baby for them in lieu of payment, you should’ve complied with their wishes as they’re the intended parents. Also, you don’t have any legal proof that they invalidated the agreement. They offered to help you terminate the pregnancy, didn’t they? That doesn’t show abandonment. It shows their intent to not have the child. They took a decision on its fate and you didn’t follow through on it.”
“I didn’t want to get rid of her. And it doesn’t specify in the contract that they can force me to abort if they want.”
The lawyer sighed. “I’m going to be frank with you. In this particular case, the judge might go either way. The contract you signed is rather vague on a lot of issues. And it will be up to the judge to decide the specifications. He’ll definitely consider that the intended parents were the legal parents of the child, and thus it was perfectly acceptable for them to make the decision to terminate the pregnancy. And you chose not to do so. We’ll need to get your medical bills from your doctor. And I think with those in hand, we can make a point that the Stevens gave up their rights to the baby when they refused to pay any more of your medical and living expenses. You’re the child’s biological mother, and you didn’t end the contract. They did. So we definitely have a shot at winning, but to be honest with you, there are no guarantees.”
A little of the tension that gripped Triston’s chest eased. “Thank you. I’ll get copies of her medical bills for you. How long will it take for us to sort out this mess?”
“The Stevens have not issued you with a summons yet. It might mean that they’re still thinking about it. Maybe they’ve changed their mind. If and when the summons comes, the judge will set an initial hearing. It’s called the docket date, and it can be after six or eight weeks. But maybe in this case, the judge might give an earlier date if they so request because they would obviously want to settle this before the delivery.”
Triston led Selene out of the office. Her palms were cold, and she seemed to stare unseeingly in the distance. Obviously her fears were not completely alleviated. Anything could happen in court. The judge might rule in their favor or he may as well give their daughter to the Stevens simply because she had been conceived at their behest.
Triston hated how this situation had taken a toll on Selene. “It’s going to be okay, honey. The judge will see reason, don’t worry. Our baby girl will remain with us. I just know it.” Even as Triston said those words, he knew that he wasn’t reassuring her or himself.
The lawyer had said it could go either way. And yet, Triston didn’t know what kind of a judge would take an innocent child away from her mother. The Stevens had already decided not to have her once, who was to say that they wouldn’t again?
“What if he gives them the baby?”
Triston didn’t want to tell her that he was just as scared as she was. She was depending on him to be the strong one, and he didn’t want to disappoint her. “He will not. I’m sure of it,” he said with a false confidence.
After taking her home, Triston left her there to go to the medical center to request from them copies of Selene’s medical bills. He returned about two hours later, only to find Selene in the living room. She was holding a white, manila envelope that had been slit open.
Dread settled in his heart. “What is it?”
“It’s the summons. Not long after you left, a man stopped by and handed it to me. The docket date has been set for next week. The family court has declared it to be a matter of urgency and put it on fast-track.”
Triston’s heart sank. This couldn’t be good news. He took the envelope from her hand, slid out the legal document, and read through it quickly.
“I don’t know. I’m so worried,” Selene said. “What if the judge doesn’t see it our way?”
Triston sat beside Selene, and held her close. He kissed her forehead as she settled against him, perhaps taking comfort in his close proximity.
Even though their time together had been short, it was almost as if they’d picked up right where they’d left off. Their feelings for each other were still there, and it was easy to just let them bubble to the surface and take over. It seemed as if the last six years had never even happened. Selene looked at him, her eyes red from the tears she’d shed. It pained him to see how the last few days had shaken her confidence. She was never one to be given over to tears so easily, that is, until the Stevens had bulldozed their way back into her life.
“It’s going to be okay,” he said, but even to his own ears, his voice sounded hollow.
What if they lost their baby? The thought terrified him.
Chapter Eleven
The morning before they appeared in court, Selene was lying in bed, tossing and turning as she tried to get comfortable. The door to the bedroom opened, and Triston came in carrying a tray. When she sat, he set the tray down on her lap. It was her favorite breakfast, pancakes with maple syrup and honey, and a glass of milk.
“Thank you.” Her voice sounded weak. She’d barely slept the night before. Anything could happen in court today. The fear of losing her child was driving her crazy. What if the judge decided in favor of the Stevens? How would she bear parting with her baby right after birth and handing her over to a couple whom she wasn’t sure were fit enough to be parents? What if they didn’t take care of her daughter and neglected her?
They had ditched her baby once.
Triston sat beside her. Reaching over, she wrapped her arm around him and kissed him lightly on his lips. When the kiss ended, they stared at each other’s eyes for several seconds.
Triston ran a hand over her arm. “You haven’t eaten well for the past week.” He sliced a bit of pancake with her fork and lifted it to her lips. “Come on, eat up.”
Selene took a bite. She couldn’t taste anything. Her mind was consumed by thoughts of the upcoming court hearing. “It’s good,” she said in an attempt to not hurt his feelings. “I’m going to eat this, okay?” When she saw the uncertainty in his eyes, she took the fork from his grasp, and made a show of slicing another piece and taking a bite. “See? I promise I’ll eat.” She smiled at him for good measure.
Triston got up and paced the room. He looked as nervous as she felt. “I was thinking that maybe we should tell the lawyer that I plan to adopt our baby. For one, he could start the process as soon as this case is over, and two, it might sway the judge in our favor, knowing that I intend to be a proper dad and will assume all legal and financial responsibilities.”
Selene frowned. Adopt the baby? When had they ever discussed it?
“What are you talking about?”
He sat by her side. “I was planning to adopt her. I figured we had time, but now it’s imperative to show the judge that we’re a solid, tight-knit unit. That will count for something.”
Selene took another bite, giving herself a moment to think about what she wanted to say. “We’ve never discussed adoption.”
His coal black eyes were clear, decisive. “No, we haven’t. But I’ve always said that this was our child. I don’t want there to be any difference between her and any other child that we may have later.”
She was in danger of losing her baby. How could he bring this up now? Selene couldn’t deal with the enormity of the situation he was placing her in. “Triston. I’m not sure adoption is a good idea.”
