The Surrogate

by Freida McFadden

It wasn’t until she found out I was trying for a baby that our relationship deteriorated.

There’s only one thing different about this baby shower from all other baby showers thrown for the other women in my company: I’m not pregnant.

That’s the best part about having a landline. You can slam it down. You don’t get the joy of slamming a phone down when you’re on a cell phone. What can you do—press “end call” really angrily?

“It’s a lot to ask of someone… I mean, we’d be using their egg and their uterus, so we’d be asking them to get pregnant with their own child just to give it up.”

Shelley peers at me over the rim of her Diet Coke. She’s thoughtful for a moment. “You know, I’ve seen her listening outside the door to your office.”

I thank her again, but as I put down my phone, there’s something tugging at the back of my mind. Something not entirely right. But that makes no sense. Mrs. Johnson was perfectly nice, especially given what we’re proposing to her daughter. Nothing she said raised any kind of red flag. So what is that nagging feeling that I’m missing something?

Mrs. Johnson lives in Indiana. Her phone number was an Indiana area code, and she told me she was “born and raised” in Indianapolis. I grew up a Red Sox fan—I went to all their games when I was a kid. I could never put on a Yankees cap. They’d never let me come home!

It’s such a small thing. It can’t be important.

But I feel like it’s very important and you’re going to regret not putting a stop to this

Is it just me or is that odd?

Oh it’s definitely odd

But here’s the weird part: when Sam unlocks the doors to the car with his key fob, Monica immediately jumps into the shotgun seat.

And thanks to Monica’s generosity, we’re going to be parents soon. I don’t know why I’m getting so paranoid.

Friend, this girl wants your life. She wants to be married to Sam and she’s gonna do whatever she can to get him.

So why do I have a sick feeling in the pit of my stomach?

Girl when you inevitably wind up in a big mess, remember this. And also remember your husband tried to warn you you freakin idiot

Abby, have you completely lost every bit of your common sense?

You should listen to your mom

I don’t know what I’d do if I ever lost him.

I gotta feelin you’re gonna find out you idjit

“Well,” she says thoughtfully, “doesn’t Monica have access to your calendar? Couldn’t she tell you the wrong time, wait for you to put it in your calendar, then swap it out for the correct time so you look like an idiot when you show up?”

And that’s exactly what she did cause girl is coo coo for Cocoa Puffs and wants your life. And you my friend d are too freaking stupid and blinded by the need to be a mom to see it

Monica smiles at Gertie—this time a genuine smile. “Thanks, Mom,” she says.