The Stolen Child

The Hardest Part is Asking

"Thanks for meeting me guys." I sat down on the sofa, across from a man and woman.

"No problem. What's up?" The man with the shaggy, dark brown hair said. He had an athletic body, and was dressed in nice jeans and a cream colored sweater.

"Yeah, Noemi. We're happy to be here, but what's going on?" The pale skinned woman said. Her long dark blonde hair cascading in curls, just brushing her shoulders. Her blue eyes flickered with curiosity.

"Okay, so, I need to ask you guys something. Brody and I have been talking about this for some time now. You both know that I cannot have my own children." I explained, brushing the bright red wave of hair that had fallen in my face, away. The two guests nodded as I continued.

"That car accident was the worst thing that had ever happened to me. Not only did I almost lose my life because I was hit by a drunk driver, but he took away my ability to have my own children." Tears welled up in my eyes, I pushed them down and continued. "As my best friends, I wanted to ask you both, if you would help me have a child? I can't carry a child, so Cass, I'd need you to do it, and Luke, Brody can't have kids either. At first we never thought it was a problem. But now, we want a child. We thought about adoption, but I can still supply the egg, and we would like one of our own. The rest we would adopt. So Luke, we'd need your help to create a baby. What do you say?" I looked eagerly at my two friends. Their faces twisted in contemplation.

"Um…" Cass began. "Wow. I...I'm honored that you would think of me for this, to um...to carry your child, but Noemi, this is a big favor you are asking of me. Of us." She looked from Luke back to me.

"I know. I'm sorry. You don't have to answer now. You both can think about it. Take all of the time you need. Please, don't feel obligated to say yes. You don't have to, and I won't be upset if you choose not to. I know what I'm asking of you both is a lot."

"I definitely need some time to think about this." Cass said. "I don't know that I am ready to be pregnant, and carry a child. Noe, I love you. You are my best friend, and I would do anything for you. But this is gonna take some time to figure out."

"That's fine Cass. Take all the time you need. We aren't in any rush at all. You absolutely do not have to say yes. I would love for you to do it, but I don't want you to feel like you have to because of our friendship. This won't affect us at all, whether you say yes or no. We will always be friends." I got up, and hugged the nervous Cass tightly.

"Well, I need to consider it as well. I don't know how I feel about donating my DNA." Luke added. I pulled away from Cass and turned to Luke.

"I know." I said. "I know it's asking a lot. I didn't expect either of you to say yes right away. But I wanted to ask my two best friends if you would. You both will forever be in this baby's life whether you help with the creation or not. So I wanted to give you both the opportunity to do what Brody and I can't, first."

"We'll think about it. I promise." Cass got up and headed for the door. Luke and I followed close behind her.

"Thanks again guys." I hugged each friend before watching them leave. I sighed and closed the door, leaning against it.

I really hoped that they would say yes. I was pining for my own child. My own flesh and blood. That ability had been taken from me as a teenager, and I came to terms with the fact that I would never have a child of my own. But when I met Brody everything changed. We wanted kids. Brody had tried to be the father, but after multiple failed attempts, the doctors discovered that he was infertile and unable to be a father. We had selected a surrogate, but she ended up being hired by another couple after we discovered Brody was unable to father a child. I had to find a new surrogate, but also a donor for my child. I wanted to find someone I knew. I didn't want to just pick some random stranger. It didn't feel right. Luke had been my best friend for years. We met at work and we had been inseparable since. Cass and I had grown up together. We were as close as sisters. I have an older sister, but we don't get along. We have a negative history, and don't speak. So asking her to do it is out of the question. She loves to see me suffer, and if having a child of my own would make me happy, she would say no just to see me in pain. I didn’t have anyone other than Cass that I would trust with something like this.

"Hey sexy." Brody came into the kitchen as I prepared dinner, kissing me tenderly on the cheek.

"Hey stud." I smiled as I stirred the potatoes, keeping them from burning. "How was your day?"

"Oh, just another day." He sighed and headed for the bedroom to change. Brody worked as a federal agent. He would leave often to go on undercover missions. A lot of the time those missions were in other states or countries. The longest he had ever been gone was just over a year. That was the longest year of my life. Having a husband I couldn't see or talk to for over a year. That year, I decided to start my own restaurant. I am not a chef, but am business savvy. Eight years later, the restaurant is as successful as ever. I enjoy my job, running a business. Without any kids at home, I needed something to do. A restaurant just seemed like a fun thing. It pretty much ran itself these days though. I go in every now and then to check on things, but I took up horseback riding as a hobby, and dedicate a lot of time to that while Brody is gone.

"So, I have some good news." Brody tossed his dirty laundry in the wash as I plated our dinner.

"Oh? What's that?" I said curiously.

"You know how we've been talking about me not going on missions? Just staying here instead?"

"Yeah." I said eagerly.

"Well, I spoke to my supervisor, and they're going to make it happen." I squealed in excitement as I jumped in his arms. I had been begging him to stay home for years now. Brody was going to be thirty one this year, and I was going to be twenty eight. We are getting older and I really wanted to spend our prime years together. No more year long missions.

"Brody, that's great! Just in time too! I talked to Cass and Luke today. They need time to think about it, of course, but I think they'll do it. If they agree to help us with the baby, I want you here. I need you here." I pulled free of his hug and finished plating dinner.

"That's great, baby." He stood behind me, wrapping his arms around my waist and kissed my neck.

"We could be parents soon." He whispered into my ear.

"I know. I'm so excited. I really hope they say yes. I never thought we would have a family, but I'm so excited at the thought that we finally might be able to."

"I know. Me too."

Brody carried our plates to the table as I grabbed our drinks. We sat and talked about what his new position at work would be if he didn't continue the missions. We also talked about Cass and Luke and the possibility of having our own child around the house. I felt so elated. I never knew how much I really wanted to be a mom until I was facing the reality that it could soon come true.

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"Hey Cass!" I sat down at the table. It had been three weeks since I asked Cass and Luke to help bless me with a baby. Cass had called me earlier today and asked to meet me at my restaurant for lunch. I agreed, hoping it would be good news.

"Have you ordered yet?" I asked her as I called over a waitress.

"Not yet." She smiled at me. My anxiety was through the roof. I was getting good vibes from her and was sure this was going to go well today.

"Hey Lucy." I said to the waitress. "Bring us two of the roast chicken breasts with asparagus and wild rice." I looked at Cass. "Is that what you wanted?"

"Yes." She giggled. "You know me so well."

"Oh, and Lucyz, two diet cokes and water as well. Thanks hun." She smiled and hurried off to the kitchen.

"So, how have you been?" I asked her. I didn't want to jump right into the baby conversation. I wanted to let her bring it up, even though it was killing me waiting.

"Good. I've been really good."

"How's work been?" Cass worked for a local cosmetics company. She was third in command and really good at what she did. One of the perks of being her friend was getting to test out their new products. She was always bringing me free products to try out and I always gave her my honest opinions about them.

"Busy. Speaking of work." She reached into her oversize purse and handed me a bag of new products. "I've got new things for you to try. We just rolled out a new skincare line. It has hyaluronic acid and is supposed to help with fine lines and wrinkles. Use it for two months and let me know what you think."

"Oh!" I said as I opened the jars, smelling each cream and testing a few on the back of my hand. I opened up a lipstick that was a beautiful purple red color.

"This is a gorgeous color." I ran the stick on my wrist. "This shade is perfect on my tan skin."

"I thought it would be a good color for you. It's a new formula. They go on super smooth, like butter." Her eyes grew wide and she grinned.

"Ohhhh!" I exclaimed excitedly. "I cannot wait to try it!"

Just then Lucy returned with our lunch and drinks. We chatted more over her new products and how the restaurant had been doing. Finally, as we finished our meal, we got down to the baby talk.

"So." Cass put her fork down gently on her plate and wiped her lips with the napkin. "I gave the baby thing a lot of thought."

"Yeah?" I nodded, eagerly waiting for her response.

"Yeah. At first I was against it. I have never been pregnant before. But I talked it over with Todd, and Noe, I don't want to be the reason you don't have a child of your own. Todd is fine with it, and I am fine with it. I'm not ready for children yet, but I think this will help me to decide if I do want them or not. You know, pregnancy is the scariest part. But having Todd and you to help, it makes it less scary." I almost screamed as I jumped excitedly in my seat.

"Oh Cass! Thank you so much! I can never thank you enough."

"You don't have to thank me. I know you would do the same for me if the roles were reversed."

"I would. I can't believe Todd was okay with it too." Todd was Cass' boyfriend. They had been together for about four years and were absolutely the cutest couple ever.

"Yeah, I was kind of surprised. But I think he's nervous about having a baby as well, and I think we're both on the same page as far as this helping us to decide if we want kids in the future or not."

"Well, I'm so thankful. I've already thought about it, and spoken to a lawyer and there's some paper work we'd need to figure out. But Cass, I want to be completely up front with you."

"Okay". She looked quizzically at me.

"I would like for you to sign a paper saying that you want no legal claim to the baby. That you understand this child is Brody and mine, and you won't seek custody or anything."

"Oh honey." She sighed. "I know. This baby won't be mine. I know I'm just a vessel for your baby." She smiled at me.

"Also, I want it to be clear that I will be paying for everything related to the baby. That includes all medical, food, everything you would need, I would pay for completely."

"You don't need to." She waved her hand and rolled her eyes.

"Yes, I do!" I exclaimed. "This is my baby and you are being such an amazing friend by offering to carry it for me. I will absolutely be paying for everything for the next nine months.

"If you say so." She laughed and sipped her soda.

"So." She suddenly got serious. "When are you planning on doing this?"

"As soon as possible. If I hear from Luke soon, I'll get the paperwork started, and realistically, we could be pregnant within a month. Is that too soon?"

"No. I said yes, so we might as well get it started before I change my mind." She laughed.

I really have the best friends in the world. It's not every day someone agrees to carry someone else's child for them. Especially a woman who hasn't had any children. I was thankful she was willing to give me this opportunity. Now all I needed was to hear from Luke.