The Billionaires Hired Baby Mother: When the wife and surrogate are two different people (14 page)

Ettie looked down, toying with a pretzel.

“
I don’t really,” she stated.

“
Then what?” Gina asked.

“
I just don’t fit in this world,”
Ettie said frustrated.

“
Ettie. Honey you’re not supposed to.
You’re their surrogate and once you give birth you come back to
our world.”

Ettie bit her lip.

“
Ettie is this about Roy?” Gina
questioned.

“
No. Of course not,” she said shaking
her head.

Gina sighed.

“
Look at me Ettie,” she said.

Ettie glanced up, tears in her eyes.

“
You fell in love with him didn’t
you?” Gina accused.

“
No,” she whispered.

“
Oh Ettie. I know you so well. You did.
Honey you can’t do this. This is not your life. This is their
life.”

“
I know that,” Ettie protested. “He’s
just so...so perfect. And he’s so good with Lily. You should
see him. She loves him Gina. He threw this party for her. So she
could make friends at her new school. I tried not to. It just
happened.”

Gina looked at her friend sadly. It had been so long that Ettie had
been interested in anyone. It wasn’t that she didn’t have
offers. She was after all stunning. It’s just that she always
made Lily her top priority, setting her own happiness aside for her
daughter. She was exactly like Andrea in that way. She had wished for
Ettie to find happiness, to open her heart to another man. To finally
trust someone after George had hurt her so badly. What she didn’t
hope for was that her best friend would fall for someone who was so
unattainable. It broke her heart.

“
Hello. I didn’t mean to interrupt,”
a voice suddenly said.

Ettie looked up silent tears streaming down her face.

Roy sank to his knees coming to her level.

“
Is everything okay Ettie?’ he asked
concerned.

“
Yes. I’m fine,” she said giving
him a small sad smile. “Roy this is my friend Gina. Gina this
is Roy Gardner.”

Roy stuck his hand out and Gina shook it.

“
Are you sure you’re okay?” he
asked again. “Do you need anything?”

Ettie nodded.

“
Gina. I knew it was you from Ettie’s
description. She talks about you and your wife often and fondly,”
he said flashing a big smile.

“
Nice to meet you,” Gina said smiling.

They had a small conversation and Abbie came over with Jordan. Ettie
made the introductions and Roy asked to hold Jordy. His face lit up
when the laughing baby grabbed his hair.

“
He’s beautiful,” Roy said.

Gina watched the entire exchange in silence while Roy, Ettie and
Abbie chatted. Ettie had returned to her normal bubbly self but Gina
also noticed something that concerned her. Roy kept glancing at Ettie
intensely. She could tell he was gauging if Ettie was really okay.
Though he kept up an easy conversation with Abbie his eyes never left
Ettie’s face for long. Her friend was in trouble. What was
really going on between them and if she could so easily see it, could
Melissa? After a few minutes he made his apologies, something about
burned burgers and headed back.

“
Wow, he is gorgeous,” Abbie said when
he left.

Gina gave her a look. Abbie understood it to mean change the subject
and they’ll talk about it later. Jordan let out a small yawn.
Abbie used that moment to excuse herself. He needed feeding before he
fell asleep.

Around two a beautiful brunette showed up with three adorable kids
and an equally gorgeous husband. They were with Mark, Roy’s
younger brother and his girlfriend Allison who Ettie had met only a
few times. The brunette headed straight for Roy and hugged him. The
kids held back shyly but the man knelt down and said something to
them. Lily being the gracious hostess came over and introduced
herself. The little girl who looked about her age smiled and took her
hand, heading towards the pool. The other two smaller kids followed
behind their older sister.

“
Who’s the Abercrombie family?”
Gina asked.

“
That’s Mark, Roy’s brother and
that must be Kate. That’s Roy’s sister,” Ettie
responded.

At that moment Roy and Kate looked over in Ettie’s direction.
She knew there was no way they could have heard her but she flushed
in embarrassment anyway.

“
Well they are headed this way,” Gina
warned.

“
Ettie,” Kate proclaimed. “It’s
so good to finally meet you,” she said hugging Ettie.

“
It’s nice to meet you too,”
Ettie beamed.

“
I just met your daughter. She is gorgeous.
This is my husband Paul,” she said.

Paul and Ettie shook hands.

“
This is my best friend Gina,” Ettie
said indicating Gina.

“
Yes Gina! And Abbie. Roy has spoken of you
often,” she gushed.

Roy turned red. Ettie laughed.

“
Ettie, what you are doing for my brother
it’s an amazing thing. Thank you so much. I know from
everything Roy has told me that he couldn’t be happier,”
Kate said.

“
I’m happy that I could help,”
Ettie replied.

They made polite conversation for a few more minutes until Kate
announced that she was starving. Ettie liked her right away. She
reminded her of Roy and his easy going way. They joined the rest of
the party which was in full swing. Mark hugged Ettie and Allison gave
her a warm smile. The kids swam and played games.

“
Hello Melissa,” Kate said.

“
Kate,” Melissa said getting up and
hugging her sister-in-law, “so good to see you.”

Ettie couldn’t help but notice that while polite, the women
weren’t exactly warm with one another. Kate seemed to know
everyone in attendance and greeted everyone before taking a seat at
the table. When it was time to eat they sat around the pool munching
on hamburgers and hotdogs while the adults all at one table ate
barbecue and Ettie’s famous potato salad. Ettie introduced
Abbie and Gina and Andrea to everyone else. Ettie was pleased to see
Lou hold out a chair for her mother and her mother’s bright
smile.

“
This is delicious. Henrietta do you cater?”
Melissa’s friend Jeannie asked.

“
No. I work for the Wilton Foundation,”
Ettie replied.

“
Really?” Tiffany the skinny blonde
asked. “I didn’t realize you had another job.”

“
Yes. I don’t make a living renting
out my womb,” Ettie said.

“
Yes. She’s one of their project
managers. Her and I went to college together. She has her Bachelor’s
degree in business management,” Gina said, Ettie was never
known for holding her tongue and Gina tried to defuse the situation.

“
Well that’s just ignorant,”
Kate said. Andrea sniggered.

“
I was thinking the same thing,” she
said, clearly annoyed that this woman had judged her daughter.

Tiffany’s face turned bright red.

“
I don’t think she meant it that way,”
Melissa said defensively.

Roy and the other guests concentrated on their food, looking
horrified.

Jeannie realizing that Tiffany might have offended Ettie, steered the
conversation back to the food.

“
Really Henrietta. If that doesn’t
work out for you, you should definitely go into catering. This potato
salad and those baked beans are simply amazing.”

“
Yes,” Melanie, the pretty brunette
said. “We never really eat barbecue at our barbecues. This food
is so charming.”

“
Yes, charming. Because potato salad is
clearly not normal. This being Texas and all,” Kate announced.

“
Kate have you tried the macaroni and
cheese? It’s even better than yours. Let’s go get some.”
Paul said leading Kate away from the table.

Gina gave Ettie a look. It wasn’t that Melissa and her friends
were snobs, because they weren’t, it’s just the fact that
they found potato salad charming, ridiculous. By the time Kate and
Paul came back the conversation had turned to an upcoming event
Melissa was throwing. Kate looked upset but she seemed calmer now.
She looked at Ettie, smiled and gave her a wink. Ettie appreciated
her standing up for her. She really liked Kate.

The party was finally winding down around seven. The sleepy kids,
changed and fed were given cotton candy, popcorn, candy and cupcakes
to take home. Ettie laughed when she thought about the angry calls
she may get tomorrow. By eight everyone had left and Ettie was
cleaning up. Lily was exhausted and Andrea had taken her back to her
room. Suddenly she found herself alone with Melissa.

“
Oh you don’t have to do that,”
Ettie said.

“
No I don’t mind helping,”
Melissa said grabbing a garbage bag and throwing plates and cups in.

“
Thank you,” Ettie said.

They both worked in silence and as Ettie thought about it, her and
Melissa had rarely been alone or had many conversations. When she had
first embarked on this journey she had thought it would be Melissa
and not Roy that she connected with.

“
I’m sorry about earlier. They
honestly didn’t mean anything by it. We’re not those kind
of people,” Melissa stated.

“
I didn’t get offended. I realize our
situation is complicated. Of course people are going to have
questions.”

“
Ettie,” Melissa said suddenly, “how
are you feeling?”

“
I’m doing okay. This baby is kicking
all the time now. He must be happy,” Ettie said rubbing her
belly.

“
Two weeks left,” Melissa said.

“
Yes. I’m excited. He’s kicking
right now. Do you want to feel?” Ettie asked.

Melissa placed her hand on Ettie’s belly and felt the baby
kick. She held her hand in place for quite a while, saying nothing
until Ettie became a bit uncomfortable.

‘
He’s so active,” Melissa said
finally.

“
Yes. You’re going to have a handful,”
Ettie said smiling.

Melissa smiled back but didn’t reply.

The silence was awkward and Ettie didn’t know what to do. They
were almost finished straightening up. The rentals would be returned
tomorrow and Ettie stacked the chairs neatly.

“
Thank you so much for the party. Lily had a
really great time,” Ettie said finally.

“
It was no trouble at all. She’s a
very sweet little girl,” Melissa said.

With everything done Ettie said goodnight and
turned to leave.

“
Ettie,” Melissa said suddenly.

“
Yes?” Ettie asked.

“
How does Lily feel about... You know about
you giving up the baby?” she asked.

“
I’m not sure that she really realizes
what is going to happen. But I’ve explained it and she knows
that the baby will be staying here with you and Roy. I explained to
her that the baby is yours and not ours,” Ettie stated.

“
And...and how do you feel about it? Aren’t
you attached to him?” Melissa asked.

Ettie was taken aback. No one had asked her about that so directly
before.

“
I am attached. But only because he grew
inside of me. Melissa, you don’t have to worry. I know what I
agreed to. Of course it will be hard but I’m also very happy
that I can give this to you and Roy. When I see him with Lily I know
he’ll be a great father,” Ettie said.

“
And what about me?” Melissa asked.
“Do you think I’ll be a great mother?”

“
Of course you will,” Ettie replied.
“It wasn’t easy for me. It was scary with Lily but things
came natural. You’ll be an amazing mother Melissa.”

“
Thank you Ettie,” she said softly.
“Goodnight.”

“
Goodnight Melissa,” Ettie said. She
wasn’t exactly sure that she meant her words, and immediately
felt guilty about it.

*****

The next morning at breakfast, Melissa announced that she had to go
into the office for her upcoming event.

“
I thought we were having lunch at the
club?” Roy asked.

“
We just spent the whole day together. Don’t
be upset,” Melissa reasoned.

Roy looked at her clenching his jaw but didn’t say anything.

Andrea kicked Ettie under the table. They both got up.

“
You don’t have to leave. We aren’t
arguing,” Melissa said.

“
No, we were finished,” Ettie
protested.

Roy looked at their half eaten breakfast and raised an eyebrow at
Ettie. She gave him an apologetic look but left anyway.

“
You could’ve told me that upstairs,”
he said.

“
I shouldn’t have to censor myself in
my own home,” Melissa said.

“
They left because you made them
uncomfortable,” Roy argued.

“
I wasn’t arguing. You were the one
who made them uncomfortable,” Melissa pointed out.

“
Is it so wrong to want to spend some alone
time with my wife before the baby arrives?” Roy asked dropping
his fork.

“
Of course not but we had the whole day
together yesterday. For your grand party.”

“
Alone Melissa. We don’t spend time
alone. It’s like you need a buffer to be around me. We haven’t
had sex in two months Mel, do you realize that?” Roy asked.