(no subject)
Title: Surrogate - Chapter 2
Author: Christine Collins
Genere: Supernatural Romance
Rating: PG
Word Count: 1619
Comments: Unedited
Chapter 2
Marie followed Allison into the surprisingly modern kitchen. Every surface was either black granite or chrome. Allison smiled as she saw Marie's surprised look and said, “I know it doesn't fit the rustic antique look of the rest of the house but Will and I both love to cook and frankly a cast iron stove just won't cut it.”
“I suppose not,” Marie commented.
Allison bustled around the kitchen gathering the items for the tea. She seemed to be stalling as she took her time getting the teapot out of the cupboard, heating the kettle and letting the peppermint leaves steep. Finally she handed Marie her tea, leaned against the counter with her arms crossed pensively across her chest and began.
“I suppose you're wondering why I wanted to get you alone.”
“I figured you wanted to ask me about Kim alone. Make sure I thought she'd be a good surrogate mother.”
“No, not quite. I am sure Kim would make an excellent surrogate mother but that is beside the point. We want you to be our surrogate.”
Caught completely unawares by this statement Marie ending slurping to much of the hot tea and choked. Finally she managed to gasp out, “Me? You must be joking?”
“No, I'm afraid I'm quite serious.”
“You can't be serious, I'm in no condition to be a surrogate. I'm a wreck - you have no idea.”
“On the contrary I have every idea.”
“You don't know the first thing about me. And besides I'm no longer in the Shared Blessing Program. I'm...I'm not eligible.”
“Frankly, we don't give a damn about the Shared Blessings Program requirements. Will and I are looking for a more private arrangement. And we think you are perfect for our needs.”
“Like I said, you don't know anything about me.”
“Your name is Marie Maher, your maiden name is Kelly, you have two younger sisters, the youngest of which is expecting her second child. You got pregnant at 14 and gave your first child, a boy, up for adoption. You were married at 20 and had your daughter right afterwards. You had an extramarital affair 4 years later but reconciled with your husband. A year later you had your son. You were married 10 years. You joined the Shared Blessing Program 1 year ago but your husband and children were killed in a car crash last summer and you are now not eligible to be in the program.”
Marie just stared at this strange woman as she bared her life. If she thought seeing Erma brought it all back it was nothing to having this stranger recite it all like it was something in a file somewhere. Now she really had to get out of here. She turned to go but found her escape blocked by Allison.
“Let me go,” she choked out as the tears began to fall.
“No stop Marie,” begged Allison, “We don't have a lot of time. I didn't mean to offend you but I had to make you understand that I really do know all about you and I feel that you will be the perfect surrogate mother for us. Just hear me out please, the others will be back soon.”
“Fine,” said Marie wiping her tears angrily, “whatever.”
“Let me start by telling you that William and I have been married a long, long time. And we are very, very rich, but all the money in the world hasn't been able to get us what we really want, a child of our own. In certain circles I am very well known. And there are powerful people out there who do not want to see me happy. The others times I have tried having a surrogate mother the women I chose were hounded and badgered until they were unable to go through with it.
“I recently realized what I could do to help this situation. My husband and I will continue negotiations with Kim and her husband. To the prying eyes out there it will look like she will be the one they will have to act against.”
She paused at Marie's frown and explained, “Nothing will happen to her because we'll never get out of the negoatiation stage. He husband won't be back from overseas for a few months. Then he'll have to meet us and we'll drag the arrangements out, maybe even go to a few preliminary doctor's visits. They'll be compensated for their time of course. Meanwhile we'll do a rush job on you and get you pregnant. By the time they realize what going on the baby will be born and everything will be fine.”
“But won't your enemies realize something is up what Kim doesn't get pregnant but I do?”
“That's the brilliant part of the plan. Will and I won't have any contact with you. You can go with Kim to her medical exams as a 'supportive friend' but you'll be the one to actually get the insemination procedure instead of her. We'll inseminate you when she goes for her first checkup. We can begin the synchronization procedure right away so you are ready by then.”
“Well I suppose you think that me running around unexpectedly pregnant just fits my profile but I don't think I want to go there - thanks.”
Allison's confident demeanor wavered a bit before she recovered her composure and continued.
“Well I actually have a plan for that as well.”
“Do you now? Let me hear it - it can't be any more crazy than this other stuff you've told me so far.”
“Well-i-thought-you-could-pretend-to-be-dating-my-brother-and-having-his-child.”
“What was that? I thought you said you wanted me to pretend to be having your brother's child?”
“I did.”
For a minute Marie was truly speechless. She couldn't even think. She just stood there frozen in shock. Then she exploded.
“Are you out of your freaking mind!? I don't even know you. I can't even begin to describe how many ways you've insulted me and I've been here less than an hour!”
“Please don't be offended. That came out all wrong. It's just that we have so little time and I have it all planned out and I am so desperate! I've tried everything else.”
“Adopt.”
“I would, but I want my own baby. The ability to have a child was take from me cruelly years ago and I want to show these bastards that they can't win. Please help me.”
“These enemies of yours won't care that your brother is having a baby?”
“No - it's only me that's being punished.”
Marie looked into Allison's wretched tearful eyes and sighed.
“I'm sorry. I truly am but I just can't do this right now.”
“If it's about money...”
“Please don't insult me anymore. My husband and children have been buried less than a year. Frankly, I got plenty of money from our life insurance settlement but now I have nothing to spend it on. If you think I am going to shame his memory but pretending to be knocked up by the first guy I see you're mistaken. Now please get out of my way.”
Allison finally let her shove past, shoulders slumped in defeat.
Marie went looking for her friends and found them crowded on the tiny velvet couch with one on ether side of William. Kim had brought some of her scrapbooks and William was exclaiming over the pictures of her children. As he looked up at his wife who slipped into the room behind Marie his eyes were filled with undisguised longing. Retreating from the sight which made her feel surprisingly guilty she caught the look on Kim's face - hope. She was really depending on this money. And Marie knew her well enough to admit that Kim would be secretly thrilled to get paid for not actually having to go through with the pregnancy part. For Kim it was less about the 'shared blessing' and more about the money.
She sighed to herself again. Wasn't that what is was about for her - the 'shared blessing' part. She missed her children so much, didn't she want to help someone else have children. She had originally joined the program for the money - who didn't, but she always talked to Jack about the joy of helping a family plan a child. All her children and been unplanned and she yet loved them beyond belief. She wanted to help someone else experience that kind of love. The money didn't matter so much to her anymore but Kim could definitely use her share of it.
As for the looking like a whore part. Well it was a role she was used to playing. What's the difference now? At least someone would be happy. She looked over at Allison who have leaned over the back of the couch to embrace her husband. Make that two people. She sighed again. This time from the depths of her soul and Allison must have heard her because she looked over at her. Marie nodded her head very deliberately. Allison beamed a smile so big it looked like her head would split.
“When can I meet him?” she asked.
“He's on his way over right now actually.”
“Who,” queried Spencer, curious as usual.
“Her brother...”
“Nathaniel.”
“Yah, her brother Nathaniel. Allison thinks I should start dating again. She says it might cheer me up.”
“Great! I've been telling her that for weeks! A little casual dating will really do her some good. I mean Jack wouldn't mind. It's not like she going to run off and get married or pregnant!”
“Yah,” agreed Marie, ginning despite herself, “It's not like that at all.”