Cam leans forward, his elbows resting on his knees. “A private gift?”
Madi nods, a small smile starting to play at the corners of her mouth as she looks between Cam and me. “Yes. I didn’t want to do it in front of the kids. It’s not something I wanted to share with everyone. Not yet, anyway.”
My mind races, trying to piece together the puzzle and understand why all the mystery.
Cam’s hand finds mine, and he looks at me, brow furrowed. He’s obviously as confused as I am.
“Okay,” I say, focusing back on Madi. “I’ve got to admit I’m not sure what’s going on, but I’m intrigued.”
She takes a deep breath and looks directly at me.
“I want to be your surrogate.”
Did she just say what I thought she did? Cam’s hand tightens around mine, and I meet his gaze. His eyes are wide.
“You… what?” I say to Madi, needing confirmation that my mind isn’t playing tricks on me. We haven’t even broached the subject with her.
Her smile grows, and her eyes shine. “I want to carry your baby,” she says. “I want to give you both the family you’ve always dreamed of.”
The breath rushes out of me. It’s real. There’s a rush of joy, the kind that makes your heart feel like it’s going to burst right out of your chest.
“Madi, I… I don’t know what to say,” Cam says, his voice thick with emotion. “This is unbelievable… it’s too much.”
She shakes her head. “It’s not too much. It’s what I want to do. For both of you. I also want to donate the eggs.”
“But—”
She holds up her hand. “And I’ve been thinking… Cam should be the sperm donor. That way, the baby will have a genetic link to both of you.”
My mind is reeling, trying to process the magnitude of what she’s offering. A child, a perfect blend of Cam and me, growing inside my sister. It’s more than I ever dared to hope for. “You’ve thought this through, haven’t you?”
Madi nods, her expression turning serious. “I have. I’ve done the research, talked to doctors, spent hours talking it over with Dan… I’m ready for this, Greg. I want to do this for you.”
Tears blur my vision, and I blink them away. “I don’t know how we can ever thank you.” God, my heart is so full it feels like it might shatter.
Madi gets up and comes over to the couch, sitting beside me. She takes my free hand in hers. “You don’t have to thank me. This is what family does. We love each other, we support each other… we give each other the world, if we can.”
Looking into her eyes, seeing the love and determination shining there, I know she means every word.
Cam’s fingers tighten around mine, and I turn to meet his gaze. His eyes are brimming with emotion as we share a smile.
“There’s a lot to discuss,” Cam says, turning to Madi, his voice slightly hoarse. “But right now, I just… I can’t even begin to express how grateful I am, Madi. This is beyond anything we could have ever imagined.”
Her smile is radiant. “I know, and I’m so excited to be a part of this journey with you both. But listen, I’m going to get going. You two need a little time between yourselves.”
She stands up and I rise to my feet, still in shock over her offer. “Let me walk you out.”
She gives Cam a quick hug before heading to the hall. She grabs her coat and when she reaches the front door, she turns and pulls me into a hug. “Merry Christmas, little brother,” she whispers.
I hug her tightly. “Merry Christmas, Madi. I love you so much.”
She pulls back, cupping my face in her hands. “I love you too. Now, go be with your husband. I’ll see you a little bit later, okay?”
I nod, not trusting my voice, and watch as she makes her way down the path. Once she’s safely in her car, I close the door and lean against it for a moment. My mind is spinning. A baby, a family of our own… it’s everything we’ve ever wanted. It feels almost too good to be true. With a deep breath, I push off from the door and make my way back to the living room. Cam is standing by the Christmas tree, his back to me, and I’m sure he’s in shock, just like I am.
“Babe?” I come up behind him and wrap my arms around his waist. “Are you okay?”
He turns in my embrace and smiles. “I’m more than okay. I’m just… overwhelmed. In the best possible way.”
