Vada Faith (13 page)

“I do love you, Vada Faith. I don’t know how to handle what’s happening to us.” He closed his eyes for a minute as he leaned his arms on the door. His long lashes made my heart melt. He looked at me sadly. “We’ll try to work it through.”

“I love you,” I said, and waved as I drove away. “I do love you, John Wasper,” I said sadly to the empty front seat, “but I’m so afraid it’s too late to stop the surrogacy.”

***

“Please,” Joy Ruth said, using her chopsticks to spear a piece of chicken from the China Belle container, “don’t have another insemination. Stop while you can.”

We were eating lunch. I was sipping green tea. It was my sister who was eating Chinese. I was listening to her ramble on. She was on her surrogacy bandwagon. I tried to remember, without any luck, what had consumed our lives before this topic. I was trying not to think of my squeamish stomach.

“How can you give birth to a little baby and then not hang around and raise it?” She popped a glob of rice into her mouth like a pro with those chopsticks.

“Do we have to do this?” I asked, nibbling on a Chow Mein noodle from the can. I was trying not to think of the baby.

“The Kilgores are exploiting you.” She sighed. “They’re using you, honey. They’ll cast you aside when they’re done. Like an empty tin. Like an old cardboard box that once held a gift.”

I groaned. I felt bad enough. She had to make things worse.

“You won’t mean any more to them than a box, honey. A throwaway. Like this take-out container here.” She tapped a chopstick on the small white box. “Worth nothing without the contents.”

“This little baby will only exist because of Dottie and Roy,” I said, trying to convince myself as well as my sister. “Because of their love and hard work. My egg will go to waste if it doesn’t help them make a baby.”

“Aw, grow up. You can’t make a baby out of every egg you have. Get real. If you become pregnant don’t you want to bond with your own little baby?”

“It won’t be mine. Why would I bond with a baby that’s not mine? I have bonded. With this couple. I don’t have any desire to bond with their baby.”

“You’ve been brainwashed, for sure! If I didn’t know better I’d think you were kidnapped by aliens, taken up into space and had your brain altered.”

She gathered the wrappings from our lunch and took them to the trash bin. “You are too far gone for help. That’s a fact.” She slammed the lid on the trash container.

“Did I show you this?” I asked, pulling the Queen Anne house plan from my purse. “This is what I’m putting my money into.”

She studied the house plan and frowned. “Too extravagant for me.”

“See,” I pointed to the back door, “this is where I’m having the deck put on. I’m having a hot tub. John Wasper doesn’t know yet.”

“Miss Materialistic, what else doesn’t your husband know?” She asked, handing back the house plan.

“Not much.” I folded the paper and put it back into my purse. It was none of her business what he didn’t know.

“What’s in that box?” My sister never missed anything. She pointed straight at the jewelry box in my purse. The one that held the diamond bracelet.

“Nothing,” I said, quickly pushing the box down into my purse. I planned to give the diamond bracelet back to Roy Kilgore later that day.

“Hey,” she said. She moved in for a closer look, “I recognize the box. It’s from Mars Jewelry.”

“You are the nosiest person I know!”

“Let me see. Come on.”

“Here,” I said, pulling the box out of my purse. “Look, then shut up.”

“Where on earth did you get this?” She pulled the tennis bracelet from its nest of black velvet and her mouth dropped open a foot.

“Does it matter?”

“The Kilgores! I bet my bottom dollar on it. Why would they give you something like this?” She narrowed her eyes at me. “He gave you this, didn’t he?” She rolled her eyes. “I knew it. I don’t like this one bit. How could you take this? He’s after you, girl. He wants more than your egg.”

“I’m giving it back.” I finished sipping the rest of my green tea. My stomach didn’t feel any more settled. Probably because another damaging story had been on the news last night. A former housekeeper of Roy’s had given an interview. She was saying Roy had offered her niece a good sum of money to have his baby.

“Just simmer down,” I said. “I’m taking the bracelet back after work.”

“You’d better. If John Wasper finds it he’ll kill you.”

“Maybe I’ll keep it,” I said, putting the bracelet on my arm. “Maybe I’ll wear it this afternoon. Do our customers in style. You know. Beauticians do it with style.” I turned the bracelet around so I could watch it sparkle. I had no intention of keeping it or even wearing it. I just wanted to get back at her for acting so self righteous.

“Get that thing off. You’re perming Marge Randolph’s hair.”

“You’re just jealous, sister-girl. You wish you were doing this instead of me.”

“I wouldn’t be in your shoes. Not even for your funky socks.” That struck her as humorous and she laughed, shaking her head back and forth, as she headed toward the front of the shop to open the door for business.

“Smart aleck,” I said, throwing a hair brush at her but she dodged and the rubber brush bounced across the floor and skidded under the reception desk.

She’d made fun of my socks all day. I didn’t care. I liked them. They had pink hearts to match the mini skirt I wore.

I felt out of place standing in front of the huge double doors at the Kilgores’ home. The big house overlooked a majestic valley of pine trees. When Roy answered on the first ring, I was relieved.

“Well, Vada Faith,” he said, smiling and acting like I was a happy surprise, “do come in.” He carried a drink in one hand and gestured me in with the other.

“I’m afraid Dottie isn’t here,” he said as I passed by him and he closed the door. “She went to a meeting of the La Leche League. I’m not sure what that’s all about.” He led me into a large room with floor to ceiling windows, and motioned me to a white sofa. “Sit and rest.” He sat down across from me in an oversized chair that matched the sofa.

“I hope you’re not concerned about those awful stories that have been on the news.” His face carried this serious look.

“Well,” I said, twisting the strap of my handbag, “I am. Somewhat.”

“There’s no truth to any of it. When we left Mississippi, we left with a clean bill of health.” He leaned forward in his chair. “One or two disgruntled employees.” He leaned back and took off his tie. Then, he unbuttoned the two top buttons of his shirt. “That’s better,” he sighed. “Home improvement is a strange business. You’ve heard the saying, one bad apple spoils the whole bunch. That was true in our case. We hired the wrong kind of people. Same as in Arkansas and Alabama. We’ve learned our lesson. Here, we’re going with top notch people. A different breed of worker here in West Virginia. Hard working. Kind. Generous.” He smiled over at me. “Generous. That certainly applies here.” He downed his drink.

“Can I show you around?” He smiled back at me as he went over to a bar built into the wall and poured himself another drink. He came back to sit in the chair.

“Maybe later.” I was uncomfortable and wanted to get this over with.

“Here, I’m sorry, Mr. Kilgore. I have to return this.” I held out the box I’d carried all day in my purse.

“Roy, sweetheart! Call me Roy. Now what’s this?” He took the box, and turned it over as if he had no clue what was inside.

“The bracelet,” I said, “the diamond bracelet.”

He opened the box and stared inside.

“I can’t keep it, even though it’s beautiful.” I was nervous and ran my fingers through the sides of my short hair. I sat back on the sofa and sighed. “My husband would never let me keep it. I mean, I don’t want to keep it anyway.”

I had sunk so deep into the oversized sofa, my knees nearly touched my chin. I put my arms around my knees hugging them to me. Then I felt like a little girl and straightened myself up in a more dignified position, smoothing down my skirt and wishing suddenly that it were a little longer and covered more.

“I didn’t tell John Wasper about the bracelet,” I said. “It would upset him. Besides I can’t keep it. We have a business deal. That’s all.”

I sounded like an idiot but I couldn’t stop the flow of words. “My sister said this bracelet personalizes the whole thing. She’s right you know. I wouldn’t tell her though. She would be happy if we’d forget the surrogacy completely.”

I cleared my throat, and gave a nervous little laugh. “I’m not sure we can now.”

I wanted to kick myself. I hadn’t meant to say anything until I was sure. I just had a strong hunch.

He raised his eyebrows and smiled real big. “Are you saying…?” He gave me a questioning look.

“I’m not sure, Mr. Kilgore. Roy, I mean.”

His face beamed.

“That’s all I’m saying for right now.” When I saw his crestfallen look, I added, “Okay, maybe.” For the first time the thought of having a baby this way made me panic.

“Oh, honey,” he said, rushing over to me. He dropped onto the sofa beside me and put his arms around me. “I’m so happy I could cry.” He laid his head on my shoulder and squeezed me so tight I could hardly breathe. My heart started racing.

“I’m not positive, Mr. Kilgore. Roy.” I untangled myself from him. “I could be wrong. I feel similar to how I felt when I was pregnant with the twins.”

“You don’t think, oh, mercy, you don’t think we could get twins. Two babies. Do you, sweetheart?”

“No,” I said, swallowing hard. “No.” I’d never considered the possibility of two babies. There were many things cropping up I’d not considered. “No way,” I said. “Twins run in my family. But no. Not another set.”

The thought of having two babies for this couple made my head reel.

“It would be too much to expect.” He finally moved away and gave me some space. “We’d pay for two babies. Now, don’t think we wouldn’t. However, one fine baby will do,” he said, leaning back into the sofa. I was beginning to feel strange being alone with him.

He got up and went across to the bar and poured himself another drink.

“Did my wife ask you if we could be with you during the baby’s birth?” He came back to the sofa and edged close again. I could smell alcohol so strong on his breath I wondered exactly what was in that fancy glass of his.

“We want to be in the room when our baby is born.” He touched my arm. “Would that be okay with you, honey?”

“Oh.” What was next I wondered? “I’d have to think about that. I’d never considered it.” I knew I had to get out of that house without being rude. “Nope, not one thought whatsoever.”

“Will you give it some thought?” He reached for my hands and took them in his. “I want to be there more than anything in the world. I want to see our daughter or son come into this world. Will you let me be with you, please? Let us be with you?”

“Well,” I said, feeling cornered and very unsure of myself, “I’ll have to see. My husband wasn’t in the room when I had the twins. He couldn’t bear seeing me in pain. I was going to have my baby natural. Then we learned it was twins. I still wanted to try but I had to have a caesarean. I have to warn you that might happen again. Though the doctor said if it’s a normal delivery I should be okay.”

“Thank you, thank you. Honey, you have made me the happiest man in the world.” Suddenly he stood up and pulled me up with him. He scooped me into his arms and hugged me to him.

“Whoa, Mr. Kilgore,” I said, struggling to get loose. I’d made a mistake in giving him too much hope about being pregnant and now thinking he could come into the delivery room. John Wasper would have a fit if I let another man in the delivery room with me. No matter whose baby I was having. It took all my strength to get out of his embrace. He certainly was a strong man.

“Roy,” he said, keeping one arm around my waist as I edged away. “Call me by my first name.”

“Roy,” I said, finally jerking away from him completely. “I don’t want to get your hopes up.” I straightened my blouse and pressed my mini skirt down to my sides. “I may not be pregnant, and I’ll have to let you know about the delivery room. None of this is for sure.”

I had to get out of there. As I got up, I couldn’t resist glancing out the big window at the incredible view. Tall pine trees stretched for miles. It gave me a lonesome feeling. Maybe that was the feeling Dottie had in this big house up on this mountain all by herself.

“What a gorgeous view,” I said, turning back to him.

He was holding the bracelet up to the light streaming in the window.

“It’s a beautiful bracelet. I hope you understand why I can’t keep it.”

“Yes,” he said, “I do understand.” He settled the bracelet back in its box, “I will not take it back to the jeweler. If you change your mind, you let me know. Maybe after the birth of our baby, you will feel differently.”

“How about something to drink?” He asked putting the box on a glass topped table. “Perrier? Juice? We have to keep you healthy.”

“Nothing, thanks. I have to get going.” Uneasiness was creeping up my spine again.

“You need to understand,” he said, coming to stand by me, “we came here to take care of you, to be near our little birth mother. We want to make sure you get the best prenatal care money can buy. The best of everything money can buy.” He was too close again. “We want to be involved in every little step you take, honey. Every little step. Don’t forget it. You are special. A princess.”

“I’m flattered. Truly I am.” I glanced at my watch and edged away. “I really have to go now.”

“I wanted you to see the nursery, Vada Faith.” He drained his drink. “Come on. I’ll show you. It’s upstairs. Won’t take a minute.”

“Some other time,” I said. I wanted to see the house yet something told me it was time to leave. Mr. Kilgore was a very forthright person - on the verge of being too forthright. A little too affectionate for me. Was I reading too much into this? I just didn’t want to push things and get into something I couldn’t handle.

“Next time.” I moved quickly toward the door. “Thank you for the bracelet.” I turned to him. “It’s the thought that counts.”

“I know.” He smiled. “I send you countless thoughts everyday.” With that, he winked.