“This isn’t the way we thought this was going to go but honestly, I’m happy.”
“Yeah?”
“I’m thrilled, Brenna. When I saw you at the surrogacy clinic, I couldn’t believe it. The chances that you were the woman they picked for me had to be slim to none and it had to be a sign. It had to be someone or something out there giving us a second chance.”
She laughed a little. “Is that what you feel?”
“What did you feel”
“I just didn’t believe it. I thought I was being pranked or something. Like there was no way the baby I was carrying was yours, you know?”
“I think about that summer all the time, you know.”
“No, you don’t,” she said.
“I swear. I still don’t know what happened that summer, why we ended up splitting but I always think about what could have been.”
“You’re kidding. I always stopped myself from thinking too far into the future. I guess I wasn’t as optimistic as you were.”
“It doesn’t matter. That’s all in the past. The point is now, we can find out. We don’t have to wonder what could have happened anymore.”
“This isn't really the type of relationship either of us were looking for out of this,” she said.
“That’s true but we don’t have to force anything. We’re living in the same house, gonna be spending a lot of time together and preparing for the baby. We can just see where it takes us naturally. No pressure.”
“No pressure,” she repeated.
“Are you willing to give it a shot?” I asked.
“I…”
“Excuse me, Mr. Hampton?” Barry’s voice suddenly filled the back of the limo. The screen was up and he had seen us both enter the vehicle but nobody had told him to start the journey.
“Yes, Barry?”
“Sorry to interrupt. I wanted to ask where we’re going.”
“Home. Barry,” I said. We were going home.
Brenna giggled as Barry apologized again for the interruption. “Do you think he knows we had sex back here?” she asked.
“Of course,” I said. “Have you heard the way you get during sex?” She laughed. She didn’t move her head from my shoulder. We chatted the whole way back to the townhouse. The trip had taken a weird turn and we had ended up being one for longer than expected. Night was falling soon and I wanted to do something nice. Something to celebrate. I asked Brenna if she was hungry.
“Yeah, I could eat,” she said. I was just about to suggest a Middle Eastern fusion place that a friend recommended to me when the doorbell rang. Brenna looked over at me quizzically.
“Don’t worry about it. I’ll get it.” I went back to the door and she started heading upstairs. I opened it and had to physically stop myself from slamming it shut again.
“Mother,” I said.
“Is that all you have to say after you humiliated me in front of a Barringer?” she demanded. She tried to get into the house, but I stood in her way.
“Mum, I…”
“It’s alright. I’ve found a way for you to make it up to me,” she said. She started walking into the house. I ran ahead of her, so she didn’t get past the entryway.
“What? Mum, what are you doing he
re? I didn’t even know you were coming.”