The Surrogate

by Freida McFadden

“I didn’t do it.”

But I’m not guilty. I didn’t do it. I didn’t kill anyone… Did I?

Wym did I??? Ho did you??

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

Hmm….

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.

Um hello!? then who tf is??!

Abby Two Point Oh.

The helly?

“He said Janelle changed her mind. She wants to keep the baby.”

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?

Facts.

I felt like an absolute failure as a woman. My uterus was damaged, my eggs were poor quality, and all our attempts at IVF were expensive disasters.

This Is so sad

But he’d never do that.

Never put shit past a man.

Someone else’s child—someone else’s problems.

“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.”

Oh goodness

When Monica returns with a fresh white mug with steam coming out of it, she’s got a funny expression on her face. She places the mug down on my desk and straightens up, but doesn’t leave. She just… stands there.

Oh BROTHER

She chews on her lip. “I would do it.” “Do what?” “Be your surrogate.” I start choking on the coffee. It’s very dramatic.

I beg your FINEST pardon?!?!

“Sorry, I just… I was thinking and… I think we could help each other out.”

Help eachother hmm???

“Don’t you see, Abby?” Her eyes are shining. “This is perfect! I can give you the baby you want, and you can help me get my advanced degree, which would be a drop in the bucket for someone like you with a trust fund and everything. It’s a win-win.” Technically, everything Monica is saying makes sense. But in reality, it’s insane.

Man wtf is going on fr !?!?

“I know you mean well, but… it’s a bad idea. We work together…” “I’d quit.” My mouth falls open. “What?” “As soon as I start showing,” she says. “I’ll leave so it doesn’t become an awkward situation. If you can cover my rent, that is.”

Now the rent is thrown in too... Hmm

“No,” she says firmly. “I’m offering because I like solving problems. And I figured out a way for both of us to get our dreams.”

“I understand you respect Abby and want her to have a baby,” he says, “but if you don’t mind my saying so, you seem very eager to make this happen. It doesn’t make sense to me.”

Clock itttt

Shelley lets out a sigh and takes a sip from her Diet Coke. “I know you want this, Abby. I get it. But… you really don’t see why this is a bad idea?”

Abby is pissing me off

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.”

Oh whaaaaat the helly

I tried reading. I downloaded three separate books onto my Kindle, but none of them held my attention.

She just like me fr

“Monica paid me two-hundred bucks to say I was her roommate and that she was awesome.”

Nigga...