Chapter 26: Chapter 26

I stare for a moment, not knowing what to say, suddenly conscious of what I'm wearing. Pajama shorts and a spaghetti-strap shirt. Caroline looks down, her eyes wide when she sees my stomach and I realize Evans hasn't told her. Oh no.

"You're…pregnant," she says, confused. "I'm sorry, am I missing something?"

"Why don't you come in?" I say, awkwardly opening the door for her. She walks in and I close the door behind her before following to the living room. She sets the baby carrier on the floor and turns it around so the baby’s facing her, sleeping peacefully. Caroline doesn't sit down, though, she only sets the diaper bag on the couch and turns around, looking at me.

"Maybe you should call Evans," I tell her.

She nods and pulls out her phone. I stand there awkwardly and watch her call him. “Evans, I'm at your place...oh, don't worry, Ciara let me in..." she says, obviously torturing him. "...okay. Bye." She hangs up and smiles at me. "He's on his way."

I nod. "Good."

She sits down on the couch and taps on the seat next to her. "Why don't we talk?"

I shake my head slowly. "I really don't think that's a good idea."

"Why not?"

I hesitate. "It's not really my place to tell you."

"Tell me…what? That my brother knocked you up?"

I gulp. "Not exactly."

Actually, yeah.

She shakes her head with a smile. "I'm sorry. I’m not trying to be mean. I just haven't spoken to him in a long time. He didn't answer my calls and I knew something was up, because well, he's Evans. But I have to admit…I didn't expect this," she says, waving at me, staring at my stomach.

I can't believe he hasn't told his family. What did he plan to do? Hide the baby after it's born? I understand why Caroline is angry, and frankly, I’m getting mad too.

I half-smile. "It's okay, I understand." I walk to the kitchen. "Would you like something to drink?"

"Water, please."

I grab two water bottles and walk back to the living room, sitting down on the other couch after handing her the water. "How old is your baby?" I ask, looking down at him.

She smiles as she looks at him. "Three-and-a-half months."

"He's so cute," I say, smiling.

"Thank you." She looks at me. "At least you seem like a decent person."

I look at her. "Thanks?"

She laughs. "I'm sorry—I'm not usually like this. I'm just anxious," she says, playing with her hands.

I don't know what to say so we sit there awkwardly for who knows how long until we hear Evans unlock the door. And there he is. He closes the door behind him, then turns around and looks at us. He focuses on Caroline, then me, then back on Caroline. He scratches the back of his head. "Hello, Caroline"

Caroline stands. "Hello, Evans" she mimics.

I stand. "I should go."

"No," Caroline says, looking at Evans"I think you should stay."

Evans clenches his jaw as he watches his sister. "I'm sorry—"

"What are you sorry for, Evans?" She says, crossing her arms over her chest. "For not answering my calls? For not even coming to the hospital after I gave birth? For ignoring the fact that you have a family? Or for not taking the time to tell me—or anyone—that you’re going to be a father?"

Evan’s speechless. I can tell he’s sorry by the way he’s looking at her—like he's in pain—and I figure it's because she means a lot to him. Otherwise, he wouldn't give a damn about what she thinks.

"I'm sorry," he says again. "For everything."

"Are you really, Evans? Are you really?" she asks and I stare at her, amazed. I love the way she’s handling him—she needs to give me lessons.

He rolls his eyes. "Yes, Caroline I'm sorry. I just—I didn't know how to tell you."

"Tell me what, exactly?"

Evans glances at me for a second, then looks at her. "I wanted a baby."

"I sure hope you do, because it's too late otherwise, don't you think?"

He shakes his head. "You don't understand. I wanted a baby…so I hired Ciara. She's my surrogate."

Hearing the word makes me realize I’m only a surrogate by name; surrogates aren’t supposed to have sex with anyone and I threw that rule out the window. Then again, I'm not supposed to have feelings for the biological father either, so this is already not normal. Caroline doesn't know any of this, and I doubt Evan’s going to tell her, but it's for the best—this is between me and him.

Caroline turns to look at me, her mouth hanging open. "You're his surrogate?"

I nod slowly. "I’m, yes."

"You two aren’t together?" She asks, waving her finger between us.

Evans looks at me and I look back at him, waiting for him to say something. He doesn't, so I force myself to look at Caroline. "No, we're not."

"Why do you live with him?" she asks me.

"I brought her here," Evans answers.

Caroline smiles. "You and your stupid urge to control everything. Why am I not surprised? Let me guess—did he make you quit your job, too?"

"He did," I say, frowning. I didn't realize how much he controlled my life. It's sort of embarrassing to admit it—it makes me feel stupid and useless. “I started working again a few months ago, though. I'm a nurse." I say, somewhat defensive.

Evans doesn't say anything. Instead, he walks to the living room and looks down at Caroline’s baby. "May I?"

Caroline smiles, relaxed for the first time since she got here. "Of course."

Evans smiles as he leans over and picks up the baby, who looks even smaller in his big hands. He holds him with one hand, in a way that would make any woman swoon.

"What's his name?" he asks, caressing the baby with his free hand.

“Kyle," Caroline says with a smile on her face.

Evans half-smiles. "Are you ever going to let Mark pick a name?"

"Hey! He agreed," Caroline  says defensively.

Evan scoffs. "He would probably agree to jump off a bridge if you asked him.”

Caroline rolls her eyes, then turns to look at me. "How far along are you?"

"Sixteen weeks."

"How do you feel?"

I nod. "Good. Bigger," I say with a smile.

"Is this your first baby?"

"Yes."

Caroline turns to look at Evans. "I want to be in the delivery room." She looks back at me. "If it's not too much to ask."

"I don't have a problem with it." I’m actually a little relieved. The thought of being in that room with only  Evans makes me nervous—Caroline will definitely help a lot.

She smiles. "Great…so why have you let my brother hide you for so long?"

"Uh—"

“Caroline,please," Evans hisses.

Caroline ignores him and I gulp. "Actually, it is kind of disturbing that you didn’t tell your family." I say, bravely and Evans looks up at me. "What were you planning to do? Hiding the baby after it was born Caroline smiles. "I like her Evans sighs. "Of course you do."

"How exactly does this work? You have the baby and then…disappear?" Caroline asks.

"Pretty much," I say, avoiding Evans stare. "I’ll still provide milk for the baby for the first few months, but that’s about it."

She shakes her head. "I admire you—I don't think I could have a baby and give it away. Even if it wasn’t biologically mine."

Her comment makes me sad. I wonder what she would say if she knew this baby is biologically mine—she’d probably think I'm a horrible human being. Maybe I’m.

I just shrug. "I'm happy to help."

"And you—" she turns to look at Evans "—where did this urgency to become a dad come from? Don't you want to get married? Do this the normal way?" Caroline’s joking Evan’s face hardens and I know he doesn't like where she's going.

"You know I don't, Caroline,”he responds. Caroline sits next to him and puts an arm around his shoulders. "I know, I know—I just want you to be happy," she says, resting her head on his shoulder.

I smile at the sight of them; I never thought Evans would be so close to his sister. It makes him seem human. Like he’s capable of having feelings, showing affection. I look down at my stomach.

This baby is going to be okay. Evans is going to be a great dad—I can see it.

"When are you telling Mom and Dad?" Caroline asks him. I turn and walk to my room quietly, wanting to give them some privacy. When I walk into my room, my phone is vibrating on the nightstand. I reach for it. "Hello?"

"Ciara, where are you?"Flora asks.

"Oh Flora, I'm sorry, I totally forgot." Flora is having her last dress fitting today and I was supposed to go with her.

"I figured. Are you still coming? I’d really like to have you here." She sounds nervous. She’s been on edge for a few weeks now and it's only getting worse as the wedding approaches.

"Of course—I'm just going to change and I'll be on my way. You’re at home?"

"Yes, I'll wait for you here."

"See you soon. Bye," I say, hanging up. I change quickly then grab my purse and head out. Evans and Carolina are still talking in the living room, but they look at me when I walk in. Evans stands.

"I'm going with Flora," I explain, smiling. "She has her last dress fitting today and she's really nervous."

"Your friend is getting married?" Caroline asks with a smile.

"Yes, about a month from now, so you can imagine how nervous she is," I say, smiling. Then I look at Evans. "I'll see you later."

“Ciara, wait," he says, following me out to the hallway. I turn to look at him. "I want to tell you something," he says.

"Yes?"

"About the night after you and I..." He trails off and I shift uncomfortably. I really don't want to talk about that, but I don't say anything. "Her name is Elena" he says, probably talking about the blonde girl I saw him with that night.

I shake my head. "Evans, I don't really want to—"

"Hear me out, okay?" he interrupts. He seems nervous, so I nod. "Elena look works for me. She runs the finances in my clubs, she—" he looks at me. "She's a friend. Her and I…" he sighs, struggling with his words. “We didn't do anything—I didn't sleep with her. We were talking about business and it got really late. She slept on the couch."

I really don't want to smile but it's hard to hold it in. "I thought you didn't owe me any explanations," I remind him.

He runs a hand through his hair. "I don't—I want to. I've been wanting to tell you ever since that day…I'm tired of not doing things I want to do."

I smile. "Okay. I'm still mad at you for not telling your family, though."

"Yeah…sorry about that."

"You're sorry about a lot of things today," I tease.

"Told you I was a mess."

We stare at each other for a moment before my phone begins to ring, and I smile apologetically. "I have to go."

"Of course," he says, putting his hands in his pockets. "Take care, please."

I nod. "I will. Say bye to Caroline for me." I smile. "She's really cool, by the way—I can't believe you never told me about her."

He smiles. "Caroline is a pain in the ass, but she's definitely my favorite family member." He takes a step closer. "I promise to try and be more honest."

"I'd like that," I tell him.