“This isn’t a job, Grace. This is a baby that's half yours. You're not just a surrogate for some rich bastard. I don’t know how he’s done it, but you're in love with him.”
“Polly…” I don’t know what I can say to convince her, especially since I’m exhausted from trying to convince myself.
“No.” She stands up, looking like the strong, determined woman I knew she had the potential to become. “I don’t want to be part of this. I don’t want to feel guilty every time I look at you, knowing you did all that for us. I came to you for help when Iran from Jonah; I made you vulnerable, and you helped him do that robbery to protect me. I carry enough guilt already. I’m not carrying this, too.” She shakes her head, and when I see Selena and Sophia both standing in the doorway, she drops her head in shame. I don’t know how long they’ve been standing there, or how much they heard.
“And do you all feel the same?” I ask them.
“We had no idea.” Both of them enter the room, wrapping their arms around Polly. Even Selena, who usually refuses any form of affection. I stand up and complete the circle, so all four of us huddle together.
“How were you supposed to know? I did everything I could to keep it a secret.” Polly smiles before lowering her head. “All of us can manage, Grace; we can get by. Please, don’t leave your child with that man.” There’s malice in her tone, and I realise that none of these girls know Jack at all.
“See, that's not the part I’m worried about. Jack isn’t who we thought he was; he’s nothing like his fatherorhis brother. He’s kind and considerate, and…” I stop myself before I get carried away.
“Shit, you reallyhavefallen in love with him. I had your back, said it wasn’t possible.” Selena shakes her head in disappointment.
“Of course, I haven’t fallen in love. I just know he’ll be a good dad to this child.” I look down at the bump that will soon be gone, and try not to get emotional.
“And you’ll be a good mum,” Sophia adds, pressing her hand to my tummy. “Don’t deny the child that.” There’s a silence, one I could break to tell the truth, to open up to women who have become sisters to me, but I have to lead by example.
“We’re sticking to the plan.” I pull out of the huddle and gain some composure. “Polly, this wasmydecision; you have no burden to carry, none of you do. I’m not in love with JackRavenshaw, and I don’t want to be a mother to his child.” I look them all in their eyes and lie to their faces. I’ve conned a lot of people, but never them, and I feel sick as I do it.
“I’m going to ask Jack to make sure our new identities are ready; it gives Selena time to make sure they’re water-tight. Then, we leave together, just like we planned.” I can’t let my feelings and thoughts distract me from the fact that Jonah is still out there. If I stay with Jack, I put him and our baby at risk. I have the opportunity to do what's best for everyone I care about, and I’m taking it, even if I have to feel that burn for the rest of my life.
“I have to go.” I smile bravely when I feel that composure starting to slip; I can’t convince them if I start to cry.
“I’ll be in touch as soon as this is over.” I wrap them all in my arms one more time before I leave. Rushing back through the apartment and out the door.
“You good?” Jack asks when I open the door and interrupt the lecture he’s giving to his security.
“Yeah, let's just go home.” I step towards the lift and press the call button, ignoring the urge to stroke my tummy, like I usually do whenJack’sbaby gives me another kick, all the while pretending that I don’t feel that burn Polly told me about already.
JACK
One Week Later
“Are you trying to eat the baby out?” I laugh when I eventually find Gracie sitting at the kitchen table, surrounded by half-eaten tubs of ice cream.
“Don’t look at me, I'm disgusting.” She quickly drops her spoon and covers her mouth while she swallows.
“You're not disgusting; you're growing my son.” I pick up the spoon and scoop a generous amount of mint ice cream onto it. “He gets as much ice cream as he wants.” Raising it to her mouth, my cock goes instantly hard from the feisty look she gives me, before her lips cover the spoon and she indulges.
“Look at you, all firm and hot, fresh out of the gym, while I’m sitting here eating four different kinds of ice cream, looking like a beached whale.” She grips the table to support herself as she attempts to stand, and, like always, I rush to help her.
“You don’t look like a beached whale, you look sexy as hell.” I start rubbing her tummy, but she swats my hand away.
“Jack, I’m almost a week past my due date, and this baby is showing no signs of coming anytime soon. I’m really starting to worry I’ll be induced.”
“We’re doing everything we can,” I remind her, hating that not only is she scared, but clearly uncomfortable. It makes me feel really guilty for appreciating the fact she’s still here, in one piece, swelling by the day.
“I can’t have this baby in a hospital. I just can’t. We have to do more.” Storming past me, she starts walking up the stairs, only not in the usual manner. Sideways, like a crab.
“What the hell are you doing now?” I can’t help laughing at her. “It’s meant to help; I’m going up to bounce on that stupid oversized ball.” I go after her so I can support her hips as she uses the banister to slowly climb the stairs.
“Gracie, he’ll come when he’s ready,” I promise her.
“Well, he needs to hurry; he’s on a deadline. I just know that bitch wants me to give birth in the hospital, so do you.”
“Dr. Stratton is not a bitch; you said you liked her.” I laugh again, it was just last night she was saying how grateful she was that Dr. Stratton makes her feel at ease and in control.
