Loving the Surrogate

The Curtis Couple

Gracie Smithson Curtis turned forty a month ago but people always mistake her age. She is big on natural beauty.An advocate of true and unartificial beauty. She had never gone under the surgical blades. Ever. That is something she was very proud and vocal about.

James is forty-four ,devilishly handsome, fit and buff, fashionable and sexy. Accomplished , acknowledged and successful. Both of them were successful in their respective careers. Gracie Smithson Curtis is the Chief Medical examiner of the state and her husband is the CEO of the prestigious Bank of America. They own villas and townhouses in the residential parts of New York that only the richest can afford. A tonful of properties under their names.

Gracie is often seen hanging out with beauty moguls like Kylie Jenner and Jefree Star. Despite the advocacy for natural beauty, she had friends from the beauty industry and it didn't matter to them either. She was never seen to wear the same ensemble twice. Her closet was also shown in a TV documentary for a women's channel . A lot of women envied her collections of luxury bags and shoes. Both of them were featured numerous times in lifestyle and business magazines and would sell out the moment they hit the stalls.

There was no party where they were not invited. If the Curtis' aren't invited, then it's not a party good enough to wear an expensive outfit. They were the cream of the crop. The best of the best and everyone loved their parties to be graced by the legit elites.

Everyone loved them. They were adored. Revered. They have everything. Success. Good money. Pedigree. Friends with good connections . Good genes. Fit bodies.

Perfect for some.

Except for one.

A child.

An heir.

James and Gracie Curtis were childless. No heir to inherit whatever billions they stashed.

James grew up in Connecticut. His father was a banker. Mom was a devoted housewife. It was natural that one of their offspring inherited his banking skills. It was no doubt James . He had the makings of being a banker. The one to follow in his father's footsteps in making money out of other people's money. He had three older siblings. Matthew, Rhina and Tony. Their household was loud, boisterous and the nights were filled with stories and pillow fights.They lived comfortably. Not worrying about what to eat after dark. They had maids. In fact, a handful of them. Their mother was also busy establishing their social standing and status.

He loved his childhood. His dad would always go home late in the afternoon from working from nine to five on the city bank. He works hard. So hard that he had to sacrifice his time with the family for the bank he was so obsessed with. Five times a week with a lot of overtime . But as soon as he hears "Daddy is here, he's home!'' his face lights up like Christmas and little James could swear that his exhaustion from the office disperses like smoke. Poof, gone just like that. He never understood that until he had his nephews and nieces.

His sister Rhina would always protest about this arrangement. Matthew was living abroad with his family. Only Tony and Rhina live in the state . Both of them were blessed with kids. As per the Curtis family agreement, each sibling has to take the kids once a week for a fun time. Irregardless of where and what they kids wanted to do as long as the parents were informed of it.

He looks forward to his turn and sometimes asks if he could take his siblings' turn. He had no kids yet and he loved taking the kids out and spending his money on them.

"Please, James, if Bobby asks for an Xbox, do not, I repeat, do not indulge." His sister was dead serious. She was just about finished with packing a traveling bag with spare clothes, medication and water bottles.

"Rhina, it's just for a day, a couple of hours and yet look at you. You packed their whole closet."

''It is okay to be prepared and here, " Handing him a note." These are the foods that Thomas is not allowed to eat for now."

"Peanuts. But these are his favorites!"

"I know, but he needs to avoid them until the lab results on the cause of his allergy on the last day comes out. Just avoid it, okay? Are you doing that?"

"What if he asks for it?"

"Not to worry, we had a talk about it. He knows the consequences." Rhina crossed her arms as if that would stop her brother from protesting about the peanuts. They both loved peanuts, that is why. If Thomas was not allowed to eat, then he got nothing too.

"Well, what did he say?"

"Thomas is cool about it. If I may say, he handle it maturely unlike some person I know." She grinned.

"Who?''

"You."

"That's not fair."

Before Rhina could say anything t bruise her brother's ego and the love of peauntus, the kids went rolling down the mahogany stairs. All ready and set for their day out with Uncle James. Rhina had three kids, Tony had one and Thomas was his ultimate favorite because he was the youngest and adored him.

"Hey, Uncle James. We are ready!

"I can tell."

"Where do you guys want to go?"

"Not at a fine dining restaurant , please." One of his older nieces complained. These kids are fed up with five-star restaurants. For even a little time, they wanted to be like normal kids. They were growing up in an environment where they already knew that they were rich and that everything was all posh and glamorous. James could not blame the kids for not wanting what their parents always have to offer. He had a wonderful plan.

"Luckily, uncle Jamess is here to the rescue."

"I am telling you, James. If you do anything that I would not do and should anything happen to them, I will have your liver, maybe squeeze the jelly from your eyes and I will be happy to grind your bones and put it on my toast." Rhina leaned in and whispered her friendly advice and warning to her brother.

James gulped. " Wow, motherhood has made you into a monster."

"So, kids, get into your uncle's car and you are free to go."

James, with the bunch of kids loaded in his car, had something wonderful in his mind. Instead of taking the road to the mall, he took the freeway. The kids were confused and excited at the same time. Most especially young Thomas.

"Er, uncle? You took the wrong way." Tony Jr said.

"Have I?"

"Yes."

"Well, today I am taking you to the cabin we grew up in and we are going fishing!" He happily announced.

"But mom will kill us and she will grind your bones." Thomas said nervously. Her sister was a scary person.

"Nah. I am not afraid of her. I will call her after we get our food at McDonalds and we will have some fun. Okay?"

He did called Rhina and Rhina was not happy but had to forgive him as long as he brought each child alive and in one piece home to their parents. True to his words, the kids and he had the times of their lives even if they did not catch anything because they s*ck at ishing. Good thing that they had take out and tons of snacks. He made the kids promise him not to tell their parents that they were fed with fast food and junk food, otherwise they could not do that again. The kids were good at negotiating. He ended up buying them toys and stuff at the mall before going home.

He was, in return, smothered with loads of hugs and kisses and Thomas even gave him a gum.

"Thanks, Uncle James, we had fun and let's do that again." Thomas hugged him again before going inside. It was past five when he pulled over into Rhina's driveway. His sister looked dead at him in the eye as she strutted towards his now muddy car.

"I cannot believe you disobeyed me, but I am glad you went there.

Seriously, James thinks that if they had kids of their own maybe their arguments wouldn't be that bad. Maybe they would set aside their stupid pride and consider the child's welfare before rushing into drastic decisions. I wonder if Gracie feels the same way too.

Later that night, "What's wrong?"

"I want us to have a baby.'' James blurted out.

Gracie smiled.

"Then maybe I should've gone to bed naked." He kissed her deep and hard. James was intent on them conceiving, but Grace had a secret she was not ready to share. Not in moments like these..

They met at one of those socials. James from Harvard and Gracie from Yale. Everybody was supportive of the match since they both hail from prestigious families with old money ,excellent credentials and connections. Gracie couldn't ask for more. James was athletic, handsome, intelligent and a husband material. So she said yes and they married. After college, they pursued success and glory together and forgot what they were missing.

During breakfast, James suggested that Gracie visit her OB-Gy. Later that afternoon, Gracie went to see Dr. Crew. The doctor suggested they do a transvaginal ultrasound for her uterus and fallopian tube ,couple of blood tests to check hormones. A pelvic exam and how to track her ovulation. She left the clinic with a sore body and a paper bag full of vitamins and supplements .

Her cell rang just as she climbed into her car. It was James. "Hi love, how did it go?''

"We did a lot of tests today. She said I took my time in checking on my fertility." She sounded wounded and her husband caught the undertone.

"I'm sorry, love, you had to get through this alone. I'll be with you next time. Love you." Line died.

Some women describe being pregnant as having part of you and a part of your other half inside you. Others say it's fulfilling and some would say that they needed to get pregnant to save a marriage that's going down the drain.

Her mother gave birth to just two babies. Trina and Gracie are twins but only Gracie survived to see the light of day. Belle never got pregnant again.

For now she wanted that baby and James wanted to be a Dad more than anything. She knows it's a bit late for their age, but they were busy establishing careers that they've set aside parenthood. But now they are ready. She'd drop by farmers market to buy fruits and veggies and probably enroll in a work out class. She wanted to be fit and healthy for the baby.

She got loads of fruits and now wonders if she will be able to consume this much since her diet consists mostly of coffee . Gracie heard the door.

" Come see what I got from the farmers." She called out to him.

Seeing his wife's purchases, James broke into a broad smile and hugged her from behind. "We are gonna have a healthy baby."

" What are we naming him?"

"James Curtis Jr. " Gracie broke the hug. "Your name is awful. He's gonna be a David.'' Gracie took his hand and gave it a kiss. With eyes so calm she said " This baby will be loved." God, how James loves this woman. She leaned in for a kiss, but he had other plans in the kitchen in mind. He is intent on getting his wife pregnant the soonest possible.

He could almost smell that wonderful newborn scent and the cry of hunger and the stench of vomit and poopoo all intermixed coming from a little human who was half Gracie, half him.