She, the Kingdom (She #1)(21)

Someone knocked on the door, and I stood, wiping the mascara out of my eyes so I could see. I twisted the knob and jerked the door open to see Amelia standing there in a bright red designer dress, a tan floppy hat, and matching wedges. She was picking at her nails, although I wasn’t sure how she could see in the shade through the dark, oversized square sunglasses. Her purse was nearly as big as she was, but that didn’t stop her from flinging it as she hugged me.

“Oh my stars! What happened? Why are you crying?”

“It’s okay,” I said, surprised. “I’m okay. I’m just happy.”

“Happy?” she asked, releasing me. “Did you find a job?”

“Yes,” I said with a sigh. “Come in.”

She followed me to the table, stopping in the doorway when she saw the mess of envelopes and trash. “What happened?”

“Oh.” I sniffed. “Just paying bills.”

“That’s a lot of bills.”

“Tell me about it,” I said, clearing a space.

Amelia sat and took off her glasses, suddenly excited. “I came to tell you that Wicker’s Vet Clinic is hiring a receptionist, but now you can tell me all about your new job!”

“Wicker’s needs a receptionist? What about Sharon?”

“She retired. She’s like ninety years old. So tell me about the new gig.”

“I…” I wasn’t prepared to lie to my best friend, but the NDA bound me to complete secrecy. I wasn’t sure what Max and Sophie were telling people I had so graciously done for them, and I didn’t want what I told Amelia to conflict with their story. Damn it. I should have asked him.

“You’re really not going to tell me, are you?” she said, a bit miffed. “I found out from Rhonda. Do you realize how much it hurt to find out the hospital gossip knew about my best friend’s amazing story before me? Insulting! Humiliating!”

“I’m so sorry,” I said.

“I see from the car outside you’re actually going through with it.”

I nodded, having no clue what she meant.

“How?” she asked, shaking her head in awe. “They just… asked? I thought he was a poop to you in the HR meeting? Oh!” she said, clapping. “You know what? I bet he rescinded Sandra’s offer on purpose, hoping you would say yes! Knowing you had a better offer just around the corner! I guess he’s not such a jerkface after all…” she trailed off, fantasizing.

“He’s really very nice. And respectful. And gentle. Not like I thought at all.”

“Gentle?” Amelia asked, her perfectly-shaped eyebrow arching.

I flushed red. “You know what I mean.”

“He’s all paternal now, isn’t he? Knowing you could be carrying his baby.”

“His…?”

“I’ve wondered why they hadn’t had children yet, and then Rhonda tells us how Sophie gushed about how brave and generous you are. I thought, yes, that’s the Morgan I know. It makes complete sense for you to be a surrogate.”

I tried to keep from looking mortified but failed, evident by Amelia’s reaction. She covered her mouth. “Oh, gosh. I said something to upset you. Your hormones are nuts, and I’m blathering like an idiot. Is it because… I mean… Rhonda thinks they used your eggs. Is that true? Because that would explain the car and the money and…”

“Amelia, please. You know I can’t discuss the details.”

My mind was spinning in twenty directions. Above all else, I wondered how the Kingstons could be so sloppy as to use a surrogacy agreement as a cover story. After Hannah was born, the doctor couldn’t stop the bleeding, so I had to be flown to Wichita for a partial hysterectomy. Nick had always bragged about wanting his own football team, and he was so upset that I was no longer able to have children that I’d kept the news to myself to save him further hurt. Our small town loved to churn painful gossip, and telling even one person meant explaining to everyone else, having to feel it a thousand times over.

“Of course,” she said, waving me away. She combed through the curled tendrils of her hair with her fingers, lost in thought. “It’s just that I know it must be a lot of money for you to have decided so quickly. I just hope you really understand what you’ve said yes to. If and when you conceive, you’re committed to Max and Sophie Kingston’s marriage for nine months.

“Thank you for worrying about me. It’s nice. I did take time to think about it.”

Amelia sighed, resting back against the dining chair with a relieved smile. “That’s amazing.” She tapped the envelopes. “This is amazing! Do the kids know?”

“No!” I said, too loud. “And they can’t.”

“But, Morgan, they’ll find out eventually.”

“There are ways around it,” I said.

“The whole town will be buzzing. The kids are going to know something is going on. The new car… you’ve stopped going to work.”

I thought about her point, and conceded. “You’re right. I’ll figure out a way to explain. Until then, please keep it between us.”

“You mean between us and Rhonda?” she asked.

A laugh escaped my lips, and then we cackled for a solid five minutes, complete with tears and efforts to stop only to start again. I remembered feeling a little envy mixed in with my happiness for Amelia when Dr. Heathington had proposed. Amelia was already familiar with money because her father was a radiologist at the hospital and her mother was a former model. She was well-traveled and well-bred. My parents had always struggled. I didn’t know anything else.