Finding Home by Elizabeth Sage Read Free Book Online Page B

” Kiera began,
but was interrupted by Phoebe bringing the tea. “Fresh scones! Oh
thank you Phoebe,” she gushed, as if we’d been discussing nothing
more than the weather. “Phoebe’s baking is addictive,” she said,
“and this is her famous strawberry-rhubarb jam.”
    I was amazed at what was spread before me.
Silver tea service, crystal jam jar and butter dish, Blue Willow
china. Vera Wemble would have had a fit over such a show of
opulence. She thought proper people should own nice things, but she
didn’t believe in using them. She kept her own good china locked
away in a cabinet, only taking it out for Christmas and Easter.
    “This is just heavenly,” I said. The simple
life of the lodge was my ideal. Much as I wanted a home, I’d never
been much interested in material things. But right then I longed
for this life, just for a few months. Could I justify living in
luxury at Malagash though? Wouldn’t I feel constantly guilty,
thinking about the homeless? But then, I wouldn’t really be selling
out if I only stayed here during my pregnancy, would I? “So,” I
said, “did you spend a lot of time here as a child?”
    Kiera poured the tea. “As much as I possibly
could, which was every summer, and over Christmas. My mother hated
it though. Too far from New York City and her social set. She
refused to stay more than a weekend at a time. So Phoebe looked
after me, and my father came up as often as he could, for the
sailing. Then when I was older and began to disagree with him – he
was a very opinionated, stubborn man – we grew apart and I never
came here at all. But I still kept in touch with Phoebe. She lives
down in Airdrie Bay with her son, who incidentally is my doctor
here.”
    “Oh really?” I sipped at my tea. “So you must
have known him as a child? She told me her little boy used to come
to work with her.”
    “Oh yes,” Kiera said fondly. “Angus was my
childhood best friend.”
    “And what’s he like now, your doctor? I mean,
if his own mother disapproves, well, what does he think of our
plan?”
    Kiera blushed, which made her look even
prettier. “He’s a very good doctor and I hope you’ll feel
comfortable with him, if you decide to go ahead. He’s not
paternalistic or anything. He’s quite sympathetic actually.” She
kicked off her patent leather heels. “God, these shoes pinch like
mad,” she said. Her sheer stockings showed toes shaped like tiny
fingers, with nails the same shell-pink as on her hands. “And of
course as a physician, he’s concerned with the medical as much as
the moral aspects.”
    I tucked my feet, which in my work socks were
rough and callused from going barefoot in the woods and over rocks,
under the settee. “But he must know there’s a lot of controversy
about surrogate mothers. He’s not worried about being
involved?”
    “Not greatly. You see we feel, that is, Nick
and I feel, and Dr. MacLaren agrees, that our situation is
different.” She rose and wandered over to the French doors at the
side of the room, which faced extensive gardens. She stood looking
out, her back to me. “I suppose that’s not very convincing.
Everyone thinks their case is special. Why should we be unique? But
what I was going to say before Phoebe came in, is that I’m not
going to beg you to do it, although Nick might. But if you think
you can, then I’m one hundred percent behind you, and I’ll do
anything to make it work.” She turned to me then, her eyes
glittering with tears. “And I think that if you do do it, you’d be
doing more good in a few months than most people do in an entire
lifetime.”
    “That’s quite a declaration.” I drank some
more tea, trying to keep from shouting, Yes, yes, yes, I’ll do
it! I felt I might bite right through that fragile cup. How
could I say no to the chance to do the ultimate good deed?
    But I knew I’d have to protect myself every
step of the way. “If I were to do it,” I told her, “I’m not sure it
would be for