The Surrogate

Esther suddenly hated her. She had never been so impulsive in judging other people, but the fervent emotion was undeniable.

“Quinn, this is Esther Boudreaux. I wanted to make sure you two met before I let you go for the day. I need you to find the best deprivation tank spa in this city and get an appointment for her ASAP on my expense account. Plus, she’s to have full security clearance and complete access to my affairs. If anyone ever gives her trouble when I am not around, I want to make sure you give that individual hell.”

“It will be my pleasure, sir.” Quinn smiled and walked over to shake Esther’s hand.

Much to Esther’s dismay, Quinn’s skin was so soft to the touch and her handshake was like that of a practiced politician.

“It’s great to meet you, Quinn,” Esther offered up as she stood to meet her gaze.

“I’ve heard many wonderful things about you, Miss Boudreaux. Truly, the pleasure is all mine. I hope I can be of any help to you when you need it.”

Although envy was turning Esther’s heart green, Quinn’s kind words softened her just enough to say, “Please, call me Esther.”

“Thank you, Quinn. That will be all. You’re free to go once you’ve ensured all the paperwork from this morning is logged and saved.”

“Thank you, Mr. Macarthur. Happy Thanksgiving to you both.”

“Happy Thanksgiving,” Esther replied to the young woman as she stepped out and shut the office door behind them.

Her head turned to the office door, Esther began to hear Archie chuckle. She turned back to give him an incredulous look. He sat there leaned back in his office chair smiling. Esther came around the desk, leaning against it as she looked at him.

“Tell me, Archie,” she asked playfully. “What is so funny right now?”

“Don’t lie to me, Essie,” Archie replied as he continued to laugh lightly. “You may have darling brown eyes, but they are pretty green with envy right now.”

Esther scoffed, but did not deny it. They had been friends for too long not to see little things like that in one another. Just as he saw her jealousy, Esther always saw when Archie craved to get just a bit closer to her or when his touch lingered for just one more moment. It reminded her of when he used to press his nose against the glass of a storefront, taking in all that he could from the outside looking inward.

“She is quite striking. I’m never going to look that good in a dress again.”

“I would beg to differ. I think you look better already. Men like to date women, not human green beans. Only boys like sticks. That’s just a damn smart stick.”

Esther looked away as she asked, “Still, if she ever wanted to, would you date her?”

“Well, being that she is engaged to her partner of ten years, I doubt it. He’s an Olympic medalist and swimming star. I doubt my aging body really compares.”

Esther smiled mischievously, saying, “I beg to differ.”

There was a pause in the conversation, neither of them looked the other in the eye. Esther watched the birds out the window instead, trying to avoid his undeniably handsome face because her body told her that she was on the verge of something dangerous. Finally, Archie broke their silence in a quiet thoughtful tone. She assumed he would ask her if she had reconsidered their relationship, but he surprised her with another question instead.

“Does it bother you when I mention the women I’ve dated? I don’t want to lie about my past, Essie. I want to be honest with you, but I hate for you to feel hurt by the thought. I promise they were all just pretty distractions. None of them compare to you. They never will.”

“It’s your life.”

“And you’re going to be the mother of my child,” Archie stated frankly. “Does it bother you?”

“Archie, it’s fine,” Esther said, feeling a bit like a liar. Though in truth it was, something ached to take it back. “We’re not together romantically, and I cannot blame you for seeking… romantic company. You’ve always been a charming and attractive guy.”

“Oh, what high praise!” Archie exclaimed, making Esther laugh.

“Come on, would I date an ugly loser?” Esther joked before yawning compulsively.

Archie laughed, but quieted down to a pleasant smile as he asked, “Are you sure you are okay?”

“I’m fine,” Esther said, while yawning yet again.

The low-lighting of the room was not helping her, and the space was cool and comfortable.

“Essie,” Archie said in a somewhat chiding tone.

She shook her head, fighting back another yawn. Waving her hands, she said, “I just need a cup of water. I’ll be all right. I’m still not used to not having my afternoon pick-me-up of coffee. I don’t know if I ever will be. Plus, I want to be there when Grace and Roberta arrive. Grace is arriving in an hour, and Roberta is arriving about thirty minutes after that at Grand Central. I wanted to go pick them up like I always do.”

Archie moved closer to her, taking her hand as he implored Esther empathetically, “Please just humor me. Go lie down, I have one of the best guest rooms on the fifth floor ready for you. You have a lot on your plate emotionally and physically, and it would make me feel better if I knew you rested. Only if it is for fifteen minutes, I think it might do you a world of good.”

Esther sighed deeply knowing he was right, but still felt a spiteful urge to resist. However, it was not only her interests Archie had in mind. There was more than one individual’s well-being for Archie to be concerned over, and remembering that left her to agree.

“All right, all right. I’ll go lie down.”

“It’s two floors up at the end of the hall. Your things have been placed there already. If you need someone I can send for someone to show you.”

She shook her head and refused his offer with, “No, no. I’ll be all right.”

Holding herself back from giving him a mindless kiss goodbye, Esther pulled herself off the desk and went upstairs to the quiet top floor. Nobody was even on this level to bother her. It was only a small library and two bedrooms, as the attic space took up the other part of the floor. She walked down the hall to find her luggage in a room she remembered well. The peach carpet had been ripped up and faux-French furniture replaced, but she knew it was the room that she had stayed in as a child with her mother across the hall many a time.

The room was now a dove gray with hardwood floors that were cold to the touch. The furniture was a cool clean white and the rug under the bed was a fluffy wool rug dyed a soft lavender. To her toes, the rug felt like a sheepdog, making her smile as she looked for her bag sitting. After seeing that the piece of luggage sat by a chest of drawers by the bathroom door, Esther fished a silk scarf out of the things to wrap about her hair for its protection. However, as Esther reached the plush bed with a thick floral quilt she noticed the two paintings that hung above the bed. Tying her knot above her forehead, she stopped just short of lying down to stare at the art before her.