by Hazel Parker
“That’s really cool.” Grant nodded.
“It is. I’ve been very successful. That’s what allows us to be in the position to hire a surrogate.” Kelly nodded at his words, sipping quietly on her beer.
“Do you work?” she turned to Monica. From the corner of one eye, she thought she saw a look of amusement pass over Grant’s face, but then it was gone. The woman in front of her laughed.
“Heavens no. But that doesn’t mean I’m at home all day with nothing to do. I keep very focused on the charity scene.”
“Monica is very good at organizing various events for a multitude of charities,” Grant explained to Kelly. “It takes up a good portion of her time.”
“I’ll bet!” Kelly thought that sounded interesting—terribly cliché in their social scene, but interesting nonetheless.
“Do you drink regularly?” Monica nodded to the beer. “As in, parties? The bar scene?”
“I do go out,” Kelly admitted. “But I fully understand the risks of drinking while pregnant. I promise, I would never put your baby at risk.”
“Well that’s what I like to hear.” She smiled. “What about smoking?” Kelly made a face.
“Not at all. I never touch cigarettes. And I don’t go out with people who do, so there would be no second hand smoke.”
“Good.” Monica Stone looked pleased. “Now, I know that college is a very stressful time. I’m not certain that an all-nighter is a good thing for a pregnant woman.”
“Oh no!” Kelly answered immediately. “I don’t do those now, I certainly wouldn’t while I was pregnant.”
“Good.” Monica looked momentarily satisfied. “We’d cover everything of course.”
“Everything?” Kelly echoed. Both nodded simultaneously.
“All the medical expenses obviously,” Monica rattled on. “Plus anything else that you would need: clothing, food, vitamins. Plus, if you’d need transportation to an appointment, or any special accommodations, we’d handle all of that.”
“Plus there’s a little extra, because this is a big impact on your life.” Grant gave her a smile that almost seemed to be apologetic. Kelly smiled at him. “You’d be doing us a huge favor, after all.”
“I appreciate that,” she told him. “I like the idea of going into this and knowing that I wouldn’t be alone.”
Actually, the offer of a little extra was more than generous. She had read that they were not really obligated to do much more for her. But she really could bring in money on this!
“Can we tell you anything else?” Monica pressed gently. Kelly tried to wrack her brain for what little she knew about surrogacy.
“Um…so do you guys have, like, eggs set aside? Or would you need one of mine?” That was a big concern for her.
“Actually, we have some embryos already frozen,” Monica assured her. “So we’re really just waiting for the right woman to carry them for us.” Kelly felt momentarily relieved. She did not really want to become a mother like this. She was saving that for when she was married.
“That’s really cool.” Kelly smiled genuinely. “Is it too personal to ask why?”
“Absolutely not,” Grant stepped in. “You have every right to know.”
“He’s right,” Monica agreed. “You see, Grant and I have really tried to conceive over the years. But it just never takes. There is just something wrong with my body that doesn’t make pregnancy possible.”
“I’m sorry,” Kelly told her sympathetically. And she was. That must have been a hard thing to accept for any woman.
“Thank you.” Monica sighed. “But hopefully, that’s where you come in. Now you understand, it wouldn’t be your child. Biologically, it would be ours. You would just be carrying it.”
“Oh, I know!” Kelly had watched enough episodes of Friends to understand that concept. “Believe me, I would never try to interfere either. I just want to see you all happy.”
She did not want to consider how big a part the money played in her motivation. She was able to help them build a family—a huge gift for any couple. But the money was a huge benefit.
“Thank you.” Grant looked over at Monica. “I know today is a little rushed, so after we finish up here you can take all of the time that you need to think it over.”
“Oh! One more thing.” The thought had suddenly hit her. “You wouldn’t tell anyone about this, would you?”
When the couple stared at her, Kelly felt the need to elaborate.
“See, I’m just…I really don’t want my mom to know.” She did not need to tell them why she wanted to do this, but she felt that it was fair to say she did not want her mother to know. Besides, she had already said that she was a college student. Surely they could figure out why she wanted to do this.
“Oh no!” Monica exclaimed. “If you don’t want anyone to know, we won’t tell. For that matter, all of our friends only need to know that we are having a baby through a surrogate. They don’t need to know anything else.”
“Good.” Kelly felt a surge of relief flush through her.
“Yes.” Grant gave her another smile. He was so good looking. “So think it over. Take your time and—”
“That’s ok!” Kelly smiled brightly. “I don’t need to think it over. I’m in, if you’ll have me, that is.”
Grant and Monica looked at one another. Neither of them had to speak; their looks said it all. They were both surprised that she did not even want to take a night and consider what they were asking of her.
“Are you sure?” Monica asked gently. “This is a big step.”
“I am one hundred percent positive.” Kelly smiled harder. “I would be honored to be a surrogate for your baby.”
Monica looked at Grant and smiled. Grant knew exactly what she was thinking: this was their girl.
Chapter 3
The following Monday, Kelly arrived at the University of Tennessee Medical Center at nine. She and the Stones had an appointment to meet with the doctor who would do the implantation procedure. Kelly was a bit nervous, but she reminded herself that nothing was actually happening today. She could save being nervous for the day of the actual procedure.
Pushing open the door to the fertility clinic, she found Grant sitting in a chair along the wall. She smiled, giving him a quick wave as she signed in.
“Hi,” she said down beside him.
“Hi yourself.” Grant closed his phone, slipping it into his shirt pocket.
“Is Monica on her way?” Kelly looked around the room. She thought that she noticed Grant’s mouth tighten, but she ignored it.
“Actually, she’s not coming. She has a meeting for one of the charities that she heads.”
“Oh.” It seemed very odd to her. What woman would not want to be present to discuss the conception of her child? Grant must have picked up on her confusion, because he shrugged.
“Sorry, it was just one of those things that she couldn’t do anything about,” he offered it as if that solved everything.
“No, no, I get it,” Kelly answered hurriedly. She did not want him thinking that she was going to sit here and criticize him—or his wife.
“So, college,” Grant tried to lighten the mood by switching the topic.
“Yep, college.” Kelly looked him all over. He really was such a handsome man. She had to stop thinking like that. “Did you go?”
She immediately cursed herself for being so stupid. Obviously he had gone to college. How else could he have been as successful as he was now?
“To college? Oh, yeah.” Grant nodded. “I went to Stanford.”
“Good school,” Kelly mused.
“Yes, it is,” Grant agreed. “Are you in a sorority?”
“No. I never spent the money on joining.” It felt weird to be sitting here discussing money with him. One, because he had so much of it himself, and two, because she was about to take his money to have his baby.
“Ah.”
“Were you in one?” Kelly tried to keep the conversation flowing. For some reason, she en
joyed talking to Grant. She wanted to know more about him, and not just for business reasons. She was entirely too curious about this man.
“Sigma Tau.” He held up his right hand, pointing out two Greek letters in the center of a large gold ring with a red stone. Kelly smiled.
“Did you enjoy it?”
“Oh yeah,” Grant winked. “Women, drinking, it was great.” Kelly laughed.
“All of the things that they always tell you about.”
“Very true.” He had known coming in today that he liked this girl, but he found that the more he talked to her, the more he liked her. “So what are you looking to do with your major?”
“Right,” Kelly nodded. “I don’t know. I like the advertising field. So I might go there. Marketing is pretty broad. I guess I have a lot of options.”
“Yes, you do.” Grant thought if nothing else, he would be able to help her in the business industry, maybe even get her a job someday. “What about your minor?” Kelly laughed at that.
“Oh, I really only went with history because I like it. I know it’s not a practical career field.”
“You could always teach,” Grant suggested. Kelly made a face. He laughed at that. “So I guess that’s a no?”
“That’s a no,” Kelly agreed. “I just don’t think that’s for me.”
“Understandable.” Grant was going to say more, but Kelly’s name was called. They got up, making their way back to the doctor’s office. Kelly took a seat, settling in one of the chairs across from his desk. Grant took the one next to her.
“I’m sorry that you have to do this without Monica,” she finally said, now that they were in private. Grant shrugged.
“I’m handling it for her. She’d approve of that.” That sounded weird. Did he not want a baby too?
“Did you meet her in college?” Kelly tried to keep the conversation light; she hoped that he was not too sensitive about discussing their relationship.
“Oh no. I met her after I got into the business field, if that tells you anything.” Grant said the last part in a darker tone. Kelly was beginning to get a picture of their life. Somehow, she suspected that love was not the only thing that was keeping them together.
“Have you wanted children long?” she asked carefully. She reminded herself that it was only fair. If she was going to give them a baby, she did want to know it was going to have a good home.
“Pretty much since we got married,” Grant shrugged. “Monica has been very passionate about it.”
Yet not passionate enough to be here, Kelly thought.
“She really has baby fever.” Grant appeared to be trying to cover up his previous statement with something less awkward. “Maybe that just comes with her age—or seeing her friends having their own. But we’ve been going through this so long, I don’t feel much like the father. It’s more like I’m the sperm donor for the accessory to her life.”
They fell into silence. Kelly wondered why he had felt the need to confide in her about that. Was he unhappy being married to Monica? Would they have this baby, and then Monica would take it and leave him? So many thoughts were rushing through her head. She didn’t know how to respond, but she did know that she felt bad for him. He had everything: money, looks, a great personality—yet he seemed to be lacking a real connection to his wife. Kelly did not think that was a way to live—ever.
Fortunately, she was spared as the door opened and the doctor joined them.
“Hello. I’m Dr. Landis.” He held out his hand to Kelly. He was a middle-aged man with a receding hairline.
“Hi, I’m Kelly Wilson.” She shook his hand.
“Nice to meet you.” Dr. Landis offered his hand to Grant.
“Grant Stone.” Grant shook it.
“Very nice to meet you, Mr. Stone.” The doctor sat down behind his desk. “This will be your baby…and your wife’s?”
“Yes.” Grant smiled apologetically. “I do have to apologize that my wife isn’t here. She had a previous engagement.”
“Of course. I’m sure that she’ll make all of the other appointments. Besides, this is all just information.” Dr. Landis leaned back in his chair. “So what can I tell you?”
“Well,” Kelly began, “from what I read online, it’s a fairly easy procedure.”
“Yes. Now from what I understand, we will be using one of Monica’s eggs and Mr. Stone’s sperm to make our embryo.” [SBM1]
“Correct.” Grant flinched a bit at the clinical terms. But he reminded himself this was not about intimacy. This was about creating a child. He and Monica had tried intimacy—and it had not worked.
“Which is where you come in.” Dr. Landis smiled at Kelly. She nodded firmly.
“Yes.”
“So you’re ready to make this type of commitment?” The doctor looked at her seriously.
“Yep. I’m ready to give them a baby.” Kelly looked over at Grant and smiled.
“You’re sure?” Dr. Landis repeated. “You’re very young, and this is life changing.”
“I totally understand.” Kelly hoped that she did.
“Ok then.” Dr. Landis shrugged. “So basically, we will run all of the necessary health screenings to make sure that you are physically up to becoming pregnant. After that, we will get you scheduled for an in vitro fertilization procedure.”
“I could have multiple babies?” Kelly wanted to know. Dr. Landis nodded.
“Yes. That’s always a possibility with IVF treatment. More than one embryo can take, resulting in twins, or even more. Are you prepared for it?”
“Sure!” The prospect of multiple babies excited her more than it should.
“Great, now Mr. Stone, are you and your wife prepared if there is more than one baby conceived from this procedure?”
Grant had not thought of that part. He wondered if Monica had considered it.
“Yes, of course we are.” That made Kelly feel better. She had heard so many horror stories of parents not wanting one or more of the babies.
“Other than that, it’s just a basic pregnancy?” Kelly wanted to know.
“Yes. Even with multiple babies, it would be very normal. You are young, and from my observation, healthy. I cannot imagine that you will have any issues.”
“Of course.” Kelly nodded. “But I’m not worried about it either.”
“Good.” Dr. Landis looked at them. “Anything else? Any other questions that I can answer?”
They chatted for a few minutes longer. Kelly brought up her concern about privacy. Dr. Landis assured her that they could tell no one without her permission.
At the receptionist’s desk, the clerk gave Kelly prescriptions for bloodwork and other lab tests, along with a collection of paperwork on surrogacy and in vitro.
“So thanks for coming.” Kelly gave Grant a bright smile as they stepped outside.
“Thank you, Kelly.” Grant returned her smile. “You have no idea how much this will mean to us. Monica is going to be so thrilled.”
He was so good looking. He did not look like any businessman that she imagined. She had always pictured stuffy, older men in three-piece suits. Maybe because he was so young. Both times that she had seen him, he always looked nice, but so casually put together. And he wore his hair in such an interesting fashion. It was long for a business man—bushy almost. She loved how it curled up around the base of his neck. It looked so lush and full. She wondered just what it would be like to run her fingers through it.
The smile fell off of her face as Kelly was jolted back into reality. Where in the hell had that come from? She was going to have his baby for both him and his wife! It was totally inappropriate for her to be thinking about running her fingers through this man’s hair!
“Kelly?” Grant was looking at her curiously. She wondered if he had been talking to her, and she had missed his entire conversation.
“I. Uh.” Kelly flushed. “I better head back to campus. I have a few things to work on today.”
“Of course! You go on!
Don’t let me stop you from getting your schoolwork done.” Grant pulled his phone out of his pocket.
“Okay,” Kelly smiled. “I’ll see you soon, Grant.”
“Yes. You too, Kelly.” He gave her another smile, but Kelly was turning to avoid it.
Chapter 4
Grant went back to his home office to wait for Monica. He wanted to tell her all about the appointment. He also wanted to think.
He had no idea why he had decided to say so much to Kelly. She was a sweet girl—and so pretty. As much as he hated to admit it, there was a connection between the two of them. He had to wonder if she had felt it too. Was that why she had run off so quickly?
But at the end of the day, he was married. It was not right for a married man to say such personal things to a young woman that he barely knew. Actually, it was wrong for a married man to say all of those things to ANY woman. He would have to be better from now on.
Grant turned on his laptop. He stared at his emails, beginning to click blindly through the business messages. Now that he was thirty, it was so hard to remember what it was like to be around college girls. Hell, that felt like a lifetime ago for him. Now when he was around them he felt his age rather than feeling like the young frat boy that he once was.
Regardless, there was a connection between the two of them. There was no point in denying that to anyone. But maybe it was a good thing. Maybe that was a way of knowing for sure that she was the right person to carry their baby.
Grant heard the front door open downstairs. He wondered if Monica would come up on her own, or if she would make him come search her out. He listened to the rustlings from downstairs, and finally heard her footsteps. Good. She was coming up.
“How did everything go?” She appeared in the doorway of the office.
“Fine,” he nodded, turning around to face her.
“And you think Kelly is responsible?” Monica had been a bit nervous that Kelly was so young. He supposed that he could not fault that.
“I think she’s going to be just fine.” Grant forced himself to smile at his wife. He had to remind himself that he was married. While things may get shaky sometimes with Monica, he was devoted to her. Besides, what couple did not hit the occasional rocky spot? He and Monica were going to finally have a baby together. Maybe that would be the connection that they needed.
