The Surrogate

She could not help but giggle like a stupid school girl as he kissed her again. The moment was long and slow and soft, but as the clocked ticked down it came time for them to get ready. Ordering room service, they ate eggs and toast in their hotel robes before getting ready. Lounging on the bed, they watched the local evening news and pondered the artificial look to the anchorman’s hair.

When the time came, Esther did her makeup just so and pulled on the new cocktail dress she bought. Archie buttoned himself up into his suit, but let Esther help get his tie right. They shared one last long kiss before they went out to face the world and their daughter. With the concert hall in walking distance, Esther could see the traffic down the hill as they arrived to the performance. They found seats on the mezzanine with a good view of the cello section thanks to a cheerful usher.

The s*x had helped Archie some, but Esther could see he never focused on the program in his hands. He still bounced his leg until the house lights dimmed down and the announcer welcomed everyone to the show. The thousands bulbs of the decadent modern chandelier that made the whole room glitter slowly filtered down to darkness. Eager to see how her daughter had decided to dress for her big concert, she remembered helping her pick out clothes for big events the day before. Esther missed those small moments, but she was nothing but happy for her daughter.

Slowly, the lines of students came out from the edge of the stage. Secret doors opened on the far left to let out the cellists, and last out was their very own Grace. She sat out on the edge with a winning smile as she adjusted her music and got her instrument from beside her chair. Looking over to make sure Archie could see Grace, Esther paused and sat a bit stunned at the man beside her.

Esther could see the way he looked at her now fully, staring at his striking expression. Archibald Macarthur looked like a man who was seeing the dawn for the first time. Esther realized then as she looked back on her daughter that he rather looked at Grace the way she had when the hospital staff put baby Grace in her arms. Only hours old wrapped in her blanket, Grace may have been a teenager, but Esther saw her again that way too.

Instead now in the bright stage lights, she was dressed in a long black tulle skirt and silken blouse which she loved very much. Esther remembered the day they had shopped for that very outfit the week before she left for school, but she had never seen Grace wear her hair quite like it was in that moment. Her curls were finished around her face to be relaxed and loosened down to her shoulders and pinned back with a glittery black bow in her hair.

“She looks like a princess,” Archie whispered.

“Yes, she does.”

Archie smiled, and the music quickly began. The famous suite filled the air rising higher and higher. The students were all so in time that there could have only been one flute or one violin, but of course there were many. However, only one cello mattered out of the dozen playing before them. Archie nervously clutched Esther’s hand, squeezing it as the music swelled into something new. Esther laughed lightly and leaned over to whisper in his ear.

“Are you okay?”

He turned his head to face her, making their noses almost brush as he replied quietly, “Only because you’re here.”

The evening music was the best Esther had ever head, and it was definitely because her luminary of a child had been the first chair of her section. Brimming with pride, Esther ran to hug her as the students came out in the lobby. Wrapping her arms around Grace, Esther kissed the top of her daughter’s head that smelled like hairspray and sweet perfume.

“I’m so proud of you! That was amazing.”

Grace grinned and replied, “Thanks, Mom.”

“Do you want to get something special? Archie and I can take you out to that bakery place you like.” Esther gestured to Archie, but realized as she turned that he had hung back. A few feet away, he slowly stepped forward as Esther kept talking. “What about that hot chocolate place you like?”

Grace nodded. “Let me go grab my coat from the check room before they close.”

In a few minutes, they were sitting across the street in a coffee shop and used bookstore. With all the furniture seemingly flea-market finds, their chairs all came from different sets and their table was painted a sunny yellow. Esther admired the rows of tattered books and trinkets as Archie went and ordered at the counter before joining them. They all sat in the bookstore’s cafe with the tall busy shelves closing in on their small wooden table. The waitress brought over their pot of hot chocolate, and the steaming beverage poured out like thick syrup into their mugs.

“It’s very Parisian,” Archie commented, not having any himself but happy to sip his sparkling water.

Esther could feel the tension in her body, but it started to diminish as she consumed the sweet-tasting drink. Archie was hardly speaking, and it was making Esther nervous. She knew the time had come to reveal the truth to her daughter. Otherwise, Archie might die of anxiety right there with his glass of water clutched tightly in his hand.

Esther sighed heavily. “Grace Margaret.”

“Oh no,” Grace interrupted. “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing!” Esther cried out, half-laughing from the slowly building hysteria.

Grace rolled her eyes. “You only use my middle name when you have something very serious to talk about.”

Esther admitted sheepishly, “It’s about you and me… and Archie.”

Grace listened quietly as Esther explained the whole story. She did not ask questions or interrupt her mother. She only stared into the cooling cup between her hands. Esther made sure to sugarcoat the truth, but there was only so much Esther could gloss over. When Esther finished, Grace looked up with tears in her eyes. Archie, trying not to cry too, looked just like his daughter as he grasped his cup.

“Are you okay?” Esther asked reaching out to her baby girl.

“Um, I guess. It’s just… a lot. And Dad knew? And he never told us? We can’t be mad at him, I know, but it is just so much to process.”

Archie finally spoke up after sitting so quietly the whole time. “Grace, I just want you to know that this changes nothing. I know we’ve been getting along, and I was happy for that. I never expected any of this to come up, and as your mother told me when I was nervous to see you today: you are still the same girl, Grace. Joshua Foster is still your father. Nothing changes that. He changed your diapers and taught you to walk. He got you your first instruments. Even if I am your biological parent that does not change how much he loved you. I just hope that we can keep being friends, and maybe be….”

“A family?” Grace offered with a weak voice and smiling.

She was crying, but Esther could see that neither of them were sad. Archie reached out and took her hand. For the first time, he held the hand of his first child, and began to talk of happier things. They talked about Christmas at the lake house and summers in Europe. Archie talked about the places where Mozart and Beethoven made their music he could show Grace, and Esther could not feel happier. They sat there until the counter girl had to close up shop.