The Surrogate

by Freida McFadden

I look at his profile in the light of the moon. He’s clean-shaven now, which means he shaved just before we went out. For me.

God, I can’t wait for this pregnancy to be over so things can get back to normal.

I suppose it’s not ridiculous that she might want to keep her job. At age twenty-three, you’re allowed to change your mind about your career path. Everything is going to be fine.

Will it be?!

“Any chance you might come back?” This time when she laughs, she throws her whole head back like I made a hilarious joke. Except it wasn’t a joke. “Oh, I don’t think so, Abby. I’m done living in the fast lane. Done rushing to make deadlines and getting pushed down the stairs.”

“But I wanted him. And he’s been a great husband.” “Has he?” “He absolutely has.” I suppress the urge to pound my fist on the table. “And he got me a great lawyer.

He’s going to help me fix this terrible mistake.” “Well,” my mother says. “I hope you’re right.”

“She started having what I thought was a quite ill-advised affair with her math professor in college. I told her so, but she didn’t want to hear it.”

Maybe the two of them figured out a way to finally be together.