The Surrogate

Esther was at peace.

When she woke from her euphoric dreams, the house was still and the bedroom was dark. The dark emerald shade of the bedroom walls added to the depth of darkness in this warm room. She turned to see Archie looking peaceful as the streetlight filtered through the thin gap in the window curtains. The Egyptian cotton sheets were soft and comforting, but Esther knew she had to go. Sliding out of the bed, Esther heard a soft murmur from behind her.

“Where are you going?”

She turned to see that Archie was actually awake, but his eyes were closed and his body remained still. She slid back toward him, feeling the heat of his skin against hers. It felt familiar and good to be there for one moment longer.

“I thought you were asleep,” Esther replied as she draped her arm around his chest.

“Age hasn’t been kind to me. The older I get the less I sleep.”

Esther sighed, remembering that he wasn’t much different when he was young either. His voice had a slight rasp from the dryness of the air, making him sound just a little more gruff and masculine. She did not realize he could be even more attractive, but lying there in the dim light perfectly at peace made him seem like a classical sculpture of a god. In her hazy imagination that still wanted to be in a dreamscape, Archibald was her own Pygmalion.

Summoning him to life, he slowly opened his soft blue eyes and looked at her with a tender expression that relaxed every fiber of every muscle in her body. Peace exuded from him, and it was intoxicating.

“You didn’t answer my question. Are you staying now?” he asked her.

Esther sighed again. “I need to go home. I have to be there when Roberta gets up, and since she usually beats the sun I think it’s best if I don’t linger here.”

“Just one moment more,” he whispered before breathing deeply and closing his eyes again. “I can feel our baby with you lying like this.”

Esther noticed her growing stomach was next to his side where the softening parts of him gave way to the much stronger armor of her womb. With their future child lying between them, she felt Archie’s hand wrapped around her and trace her outline. It was too soon for an unknowing eye to see it, but they both knew it was there. That was enough.

Between the sheets, his hand gently glided across her cool skin. With her own ear rested against his chest and her hand over his heart, Esther could feel his pulse. Archie’s heart beat slow and steady like a deep distant drum lulling her back to sleep. Esther closed her eyes to cherish the poignancy of the moment.

“I still have to go,” Esther finally said as encouragement for herself and less for Archie’s benefit.

“All right, I guess it works out well anyway.” Archie groaned as Esther began to pull away.

The words caused for Esther to pause and ask, “How so?”

He opened his eyes to again, replying, “I’m flying to London. I arranged an early flight out of LaGuardia, and it will take time to get out there.”

Esther raised her eyebrows, giving him the chance to continue with his explanation. He rolled over slightly to look at her, sitting up and staring him down as she waited for her answer.

“In all fairness, I didn’t know last night was going to happen, and there never seemed like a good time to tell you.”

Esther, feeling more compassionate than stubborn, quickly yielded. She felt a sudden wave of chagrin wash over her as the idea of his departure sunk in.

“How long will you be gone?”

“A week. I have some business matters and some family matters to attend to. I would offer you to come with me, but…”

“But I have a life here to ‘attend to’ as you say.”

“Can I call you when I land this evening?” He smiled softly.

“You’d better,” Esther teased, and leaned down to kiss him on the lips.

The kiss was soft, and yet it sent Esther soaring. The ability to finally let her walls down and be with Archie fully made such a simple act so very satisfying. When she felt the scruff of his cheeks in her hands and could taste the sweetness of his kiss, Esther felt alive. It made her want to sing and shout to the whole world. She felt like a star being born as her heart radiated joy she imagined to be every shade of color possible. Esther was a woman of color, but in that moment because she felt like a prismatic rainbow.

In the quiet of the night, they both got dressed, and Esther led him out of the lake house. After locking up, they drove through the dark of night as the earliest risers in the city began to populate the streets. Window washers and catering trucks were their main companions through Manhattan.

The smell of coffee and doughnuts could be smelled as they passed specific delivery trucks. It made Esther realize how hungry she was, but she did not complain. She had Archie’s hand to hold as they sped down the streets and found themselves in front of her Brooklyn building.

He pulled off the road two doors down and looked at her sleepily.

“I’m going to miss you while I am gone.”

“You don’t have to go.”

He sighed. “Actually, dear, I do. I have some… arrangements to take care of that I think you’ll be pleased about.”

Esther’s interest peaked with, “What would that be?”

“Let’s just leave it as a surprise.” Archie smiled.

Esther huffed in a joking tone, and leaned over to kiss Archie. Slowly, she savored the intimate moment that was to last her a week. Archie had a bit of morning breath, but she did not care. They lingered there for a few minutes, her hand pressed against his cheek as the other still intertwined with his on the shared arm rests between them. Pulling away, she knew Roberta would be up there any minute.

“Bye, Archie.”

He kissed the back of her hand before releasing it. Archie did not want to let her go just yet.

Looking at her with longing he replied, “I love you.”

“I love you, too.” She smiled, opening the car door.

“Esther?” Archie called as she stepped out onto the sidewalk.

Leaning back in, she looked at the love of her life and father of her children with the idea of those two labels for Archie entertaining her tremendously.

“Yes?”

“If you call my secretary, she can arrange for all your things to be moved out to Westchester County. I promise to be back before you leave for Michigan.”

“If I move now, how will I get to work?”

“You can stay at our townhome in Manhattan for the time being.”

“Our?”

“I’m going to send a lawyer by your office, but he will call you first. Also, I’ll get a car for you to use when you want to head up to the house at the lake.”

“Get?”

“Okay, I ordered a car for you too. Not a sports car though, I know that isn’t you.”

Esther rolled her eyes, not surprised at Archie in the least.

“Okay, Archie.”

“I love you!” He smiled again, trying to garner a bit more favor.

“Love you too, babe. Call me when you get to Europe,” she said with a wink, perking Archie up as she shut the door and watched him speed back down the street before the morning traffic could get worse.

He had a plane to catch, and Esther needed coffee. She stopped in a French-style bakery across the street and got some croissants and a decaf for herself. She almost mistakenly ordered an espresso, but reminded herself that caffeine was off limits.

Heading back to her apartment, she took the stairs and unlocked the door as Roberta was coming out of the second bedroom tying her plush robe into place.

“You just getting back?” Roberta asked with her eyebrows raised.

“No, I threw these clothes on to get us some baked goods across the street.” Esther held up the white box in her hand.

Roberta either believed her or pretended and went along with Esther’s fib. Either way, the woman gushed over the warm flaky pastry, and then made herself a cup of coffee. Esther realized how tired she was as she thought she could smell the caffeine steaming out of the mug in Roberta’s hands. Exhaustion overtook her when Roberta left to take a long bath before her evening train home to Louisiana. Esther’s eyes shut hard as she collapsed onto her favorite sofa using her jacket for a pillow.