Fuck his mama, the surrogate, and that damn gender reveal.
CHAPTER 24
EMBER
“Amara, what do you mean they want to meet me?” The words sprang from my mouth.
I had just left from getting a massage and was feeling relaxed until now. This was the last thing I expected to hear. This was supposed to be anonymous, and from my understanding, both parties signed contracts on that agreement.
I didn’t know if my nerves would allow me to be in front of the parents whose baby I was carrying. I assumed it would be an awkward encounter, and I wasn’t ready for that.
“I know meeting wasn’t in the original contract, but you know, some things change.” I’d never heard Amara not seem so sure of what she was saying since meeting her. This only let me know she was probably thrown off by the sudden change of plans too.
“What if I say no?” I inquired, wanting to know my options.
“By all means, you have a right to refuse… but Ember, my clients… the father, particularly, is so adamant about personally thanking the woman who put herself on the line to carry his child.”
I didn’t know what to say as I focused on catching my breath while I walked toward the parking lot. That was something else Istruggled with lately; I was always out of breath. After getting in the car, I took a moment to gather myself.
“Amara, I don’t know… I mean… I like our current arrangement. What would I say to them? Where would we meet? What if they see me and change their minds? There are so many what-ifs,” I expressed, surprised at myself for being so vulnerable.
“You have every right to be concerned, and thank you for opening up to me. However, I can assure you my clients would make it comfortable for you.” She chuckled. “And trust me when I say the baby is very much wanted, so no one is going to change their minds.”
I still wasn’t sure, but I asked, “Can I get a few hours to think about it?”
“I don’t mean to rush you, but they are expecting an answer by the end of the day.”
The pressure. I turned on my car and instantly turned on the AC to cool off. I felt my hot flashes rising, another thing that had become the norm lately.
“Okay, I’ll reach out by the end of the day.”
“Great. Again, my apologies for the sudden change of plans. If I’m not in the office by the time you call, please use my personal number.”
“Will do. Talk to you later, Amara.”
I quickly hung up and leaned back on the headrest.
What made them change their mind?
We were headed to month seven, and now, all of a sudden, they wanted to meet the woman who was pregnant with their baby. I guess in a way, I wanted to meet who was responsible for changing my life too. My thoughts went back and forth between wanting to say “yes” and wanting to say “no.” When it came down to it, the only reason for saying “no” would be fear. Andfear was something I so desperately needed to remove from my life.
I dialed Cassie’s number right away when I made it home. She answered on the first ring.
“Ember, y’all okay?” was the first thing she asked.
“Y-Yes,” I replied, feeling my anxiety build up.
“You don’t sound like you’re okay. What’s wrong?”
“Amara called to tell me that the baby’s parents want to meet me,” I blurted, knowing Cassie would hear through my lies if I kept saying I was okay.
“What!” she squealed. “Okay, okay. When and where is this meeting going to happen? I’m dying to know who these rich ass people are.”
I laughed at Cassie’s antics. I should’ve known we would have different reactions to this situation.
I gently rubbed the area where the baby was kicking. “You think I should? Even though we signed a contract?”
“Um, Ember… Hell to the yes. When you look at it, y’all changed each other’s lives, so it’s normal for them to want to meet you. You’re giving them a blessing they probably weren’t able to attain on their own. And they’ve given you the opportunity to elevate your life with a clean slate.” I heard what sounded like a drawer closing on her end before she continued talking. “One of the best parts out of all this is… You ain’t gotta deal with Mr. Gross ever again. Sounds like a win-win to me.”
