DETECTIVE SANDERS' SURROGATE

CHAPTER 6

LANA'S POV

"Oh my God! I... I... just can't believe it is you..." She trailed off in what seemed like unease and confusion. I quickly sensed the reason for her unease and reassured her.

"No no!" I raised my hand, grabbing the attention of everyone in the room. "I'm.. The fact I now realize you're involved doesn't change anything. I'm still interested please. I need the money." I muttered, looking down at my hands as I constantly picked on them.

"Heyyy..." The woman whom I now understood was to be the grandmother to my future child, took my chin in her hands. "It also doesn't change anything on my side. I'm just so suprised it turned out being you. I guess this was what we had spoken about the last time?" She asked, and I nodded.

"Yes." I muttered as I felt fresh tears leaking out of my eyes.

"I'm so sorry my dear." She quickly pulled me into her embrace. "I'm so sorry, but we can't back out now. You're the miracle we've been looking for and my son needs you more than ever. I hope you understand." She softly patted my back while hugging me. Was she joking?! In as much as this was a painful decision for me, I had already made up my mind to do this and didn't want anything hindering it. So, she didn't have to apologize for not being able to back out. I also couldn't back out as well.

"I've made up my mind ma. I'm not backing out." I said, taking in a deep breathe and sniffing in the nasal mucus in my nose as well.

"Thank you." She whispered, before pulling away, making me frown slightly at the loss of warmth.

"You love my mother's body that much?" I turned to the man on the bed and watched as he chuckled. It was then I realized he had noticed my frown. Looking at him at that moment, his smiles called to me, making me less tense.

"She's warm." I whispered, letting out a silly smile as well, and making everyone laugh.

"So about the reason we are here?" Dr. Presley called our attention and we turned to him, making that constricting feeling plague my chest again.

"Yes! About that." The elderly man who had been quietly seated close to the bed, said. I supposed he was the father of the ill man.

"I have agreed to carry a child and donate my eggs as well, for your son." I said, making them give me funny looks. Had I said anything wrong?

"He is my uncle, actually." The huge man replied with that heartwarming smile of his. "But, you're not so far from the actual truth though. He is like a father to me."

"Oh?... Okay." I nodded. Just like that, a room containing four adults grew silent and became filled with tension again.

"Please can we hurry up with the agreement already?" I asked, finally breaking the annoying silence. I urgently needed this money and didn't see any need for prolonging the discussion.

"Oh yeah!" Dr. Presley said. "I would fill you in on the details of the agreement orally, and if you are okay with it, a written agreement would be sent to you tomorrow for your signature." What did he mean by.... I hadn't even realized I was frowning.

"You should trust me by now, Lana. Feel free to have a lawyer go through the agreement on your behalf, if you feel like there's anything shady about it. I perfectly understand. I'm only saying I would fill you in orally, incase you decide some of the clauses of the agreement are not to your liking and decide to pull out. That way, we wouldn't go through the stress of preparing a contract."

"Okay." I nodded in agreement.

"Good! So we should take our seats first, before I proceed." Doctor Presley suggested and I nodded, taking the empty seat next to.... I didn't even know the name of the man I was to be supposedly carrying his child. Anyways, I sat next to the man's uncle, while his mother sat at the edge of his bed. After we were all seated, Dr. Presley started.

"First of all, I'm sure we are already all aware that this is not the usual kind of surrogacy agreement. Due to the fact that the surrogate is also donating her eggs, it makes it completely different and .... should I say precarious? It's already a well known fact that some surrogates tend to get attached to the babies they carry, and because Lana has to donate her eggs, it makes it even more risky. This child would biologically be hers, meaning that she definitely would grow attached, seeing as she isn't even a professional surrogate." At Doctor Presley's words, I felt my eyes brim with unshed tears. "So Lana, could you give us your word that immediately after the child is born, you'd leave and...... stay far away? Most people even relocate sometimes, but we wouldn't ask that of you." Thank God they weren't asking me to relocate. My whole life was in New York, and I didn't even have anywhere else to go.

With a deep sigh, I nodded in agreement. "Yes, I give my word. I would stay as far away as possible." I muttered. I noticed the ill guy looked at me immediately I made the statement. Wasn't he convinced enough? "Do you need me to sign an agreement or an undertaking? I would, if it's so neccessary." I directed my question to him, making his eyes widen in suprise.

"No, not all!" He let out an uneasy chuckle.

"Well, you seem like you don't believe me."

"Not that.... I'm just... I don't really think you want to do this. Your tear stained cheeks gives you away." I quickly locked eyes with him in fear.

"No... I want to!" I rushed out.

"I'm not saying I want to pull out, I really don't have a choice. I was just hoping this whole thing could feel consensual and not as if you're being forced. I know giving me what is supposed to be OUR child, would be difficult. But that's why I'm trying to pay you handsomely for your services."

"I don't feel forced at all. It's totally consensual." I forced a smile. "It's still new to me because I only agreed to do this just an hour ago. It's normal for me to feel this way."

"Fine, then." He gave a half smile. The man was beautiful, jeez! "Doctor, please go on." He nodded at Doctor Presley who continued with his talk.

"Secondly, once it is confirmed that you're pregnant, you would completely move into William's house. His mother has insisted they would love to take proper care of you for the sake of the baby."

That wasn't such a bad idea. I honestly wanted my...... the baby to be healthy, and my one meal a day, couldn't help achieve that. Funnily, that one meal was usually a junk or fruit. The baby definitely needed more.

"That's fine by me." I nodded.

"Alright then. Thirdly, you would be paid a third of the money once you're confirmed pregnant. The remaining two thirds would be paid after the baby has be born."

"That's..." I started to air my disagreement when Doctor Presley caught in.

"Don't worry Lana. Each chemo session takes 6 weeks. Due to how fast Maisie's health is deteriorating, she would need 8 chemotherapy sessions, no longer 6. The first third should cover for atleast, 5 sessions before you eventually put to birth hopefully. If things go as planned, Maisie wouldn't be affected in any way. So the earlier you can get pregnant, the better for her."

I quickly looked at the man whom I now understood to be William.

"So, when are we?..." I asked, lightly shaking at the thought of copulating with the man. Apart from the fact that the man looked so huge even in a seated position and could easily crush me underneath him, I was still a virgin. I had never had s*x before.

"When are we doing what?" He asked in confusion. I put my head down, silently hoping I could be invisible to the other people present in the room as I spoke.

"I mean.... When do we... you know?" I swallowed. "When do we copulate?"

"Jeez!!" His mother burst into a fit of laughter. What on earth was funny about what I said? I looked at Doctor Presley for help and I could see him smiling tight lipped.

"Did I... D..did I say anything wrong?" I stuttered.

"Not at all, Lana." Dr. Presley said. "It's just that you seem to be misunderstanding some things."

"And what is that?"

"You both wouldn't have to have s*x. All we have to do is inject his sperm into you. It's an artificial insemination procedure."

"Oh!" I let out a heavy sigh of relief I didn't even know I was holding in. Thank God I didn't have to do that at all.

"It's totally fine, Lana. Calm down." Dr. Presley smiled. I was tempted to steal a glance at William, but I was to embarrassed to do so. What was the man probably thinking of me? Did he think I was so eager to jump on his body so quickly?

"It's okay dear. Feel free to ask any other questions you may have." William's mom said to me in an encouraging manner, and I nodded in understanding.

"I am a final year college student. I hope this agreement doesn't put any kind of restrictions in that area?" I asked.

"Oh no! Not at all." She smiled. "You could still be going to school as you normally do. I'm sure my son wouldn't have an issue with that."

"Thank you."

"Lastly," Dr. Presley continued. "After this meeting, I would take you for an examination to know when it would be your ovulation, so we can carry out the procedure."

"I'm actually ovulating at the moment." I supplied, making William's mother gasp in sweet suprise.

"That's perfect then!" She exclaimed, taking my hands in hers. "Doctor, we should get on with the procedure now that she's ovulating, so there won't be a need to artificially stimulate her ovaries. They are naturally stimulated now."

"It depends on what Miss Lana wants." He replied, looking at me. I was actually tongued tied at that moment.

"Oh my dear. Please." She pleaded. "Doing things a bit faster would ensure my son undergoes his surgical procedure as well. And there's also your sister. The faster, the better for us all."

"Yes." I nodded in agreement.

"Yes?" She asked again, and I nodded.

"Alright then! We would carry out the procedure tomorrow, after the contract signing has been done. Due procedure must be followed." Dr. Presley said, and we all nodded in agreement.

"This is a miracle indeed." William's uncle who had been quiet through the entire discussion, whispered to himself. We quickly wrapped up our discussion and the next minute, I was on my way out of the room, not without sparing the huge man once last glance. Outside the room, Stephanie was still patiently seated and waiting for me to return. Immediately she saw me, she flung up in worry and concern.

"How was it?" She asked me.

"It went well." I replied, finally letting the fact that I would be pregnant soon, sink in.

"That's a good thing right?" She muttered, looking at me in pity. The very looked I hated so much. She quickly noticed the way I reacted to her look and rushed out. "Yes, I know. I'm looking at you in pity at the moment. I really can't help it. You are in a situation where my meager savings can't do much to help you. I'm sorry."

"I need a hug." I muttered as I felt the tears coming. I felt so weak! Why was I always crying? I had to be strong for crying out loud.

"I'm here for that, baby." She stood up and hugged me tightly, as I let the tears flow freely. We were still at it when we heard the door open. Oh my! They shouldn't see me like this. My worries were put to rest when I heard Dr. Presley's voice.

"We should leave, Lana dear." He urged, making me pull away from Stephanie, and cleaning away my tears. He led the way and we went back towards his office.

Just as we were about to go in, I excused myself to go see my sister instead. I hadn't seen her in 3 weeks, and I felt bad. Steph accompanied me and we walked into Maisie's room. She looked really pale and weak. She was dying, but then, I was glad I was going to be able to help soon. She had been sleeping, but the moment we walked in, she opened her eyes slowly. Looking towards us, she whispered weakly.

"Lana?" I hastened my steps towards her bed and gently took her hands in mine.

"Yes, my love." I nodded vigorously. "It's me." At hearing my voice, her face contorted so much, making me panic as I thought she was in pain. She was actually in pain though.

"I thought you had left me. I thought you were tired of me already. I waited everyday for you to come see me, but you never showed up. I'm sorry for being such a burden to you. You deserve to have a life where you can focus on yourself and not constantly worry about me."

At seeing the tears seep out her eyes, my chest constricted in pain. Oh no! I never wanted to ever make Maisie think that was the case. I didn't want her worrying about me when she was already going through so much pains.

"Lanaaaa..." She drawled. "You shouldn't stress okay? Doctor Presley has done his best for us already, you shouldn't beat yourself up about it."

"No, not at all." I bent and kissed her cold nose. "Not at all. I'm not stressing, I can't see it as stress. You are the purpose of my life at the moment, and I won't lose you. You already know you're all I have right?"

"You should start learning to detach.." She trailed off weakly. "I feel it coming.... It's coming." She managed to shake her head a little.

"What is coming?" I asked worriedly. "What is coming, Maisie?"

"The death... my end. I can see it....."

"Don't say that! Your death isn't coming, do you hear me? It can't come." I let out a tear and I gently shook her, trying to make my words sink in. "You'd be fine, I promise. You would be fine soon, okay? I found a solution for you. Your chemotherapy sessions would start soon." I grinned with my teary face, making her eyes widened slightly. I vigorously nodded my head to reassure her of what I had just said. "Yes my darling. God made a way." I smiled, brushing her baby hairs with the palm of my hands.

"How?" She muttered.

"I found a job." I smiled, making her frown a little. That was expected, including her next question.

"What job is that?"