When Wednesday rolls around, I feel more positive. After some persuasion, I finally start winning Kyle over to the idea of me becoming a surrogate. I act like the total devoted wife, and things seem to be better. He’s more attentive and caring, even before lovemaking. He constantly tells me how sexy and beautiful I am—which, for the first time in a long time, has me smiling. He’s more demanding with how often we have sex, but I know he’ll be putty in my hands afterward.

I wave to my co-workers, Sally and Henry, as I walk out of the building. Working at an insurance firm, we’ve been swamped with work after the flood last week. Luckily, today is a little quieter, so I manage to get out to meet Sarah for lunch. After Friday night, I’ve been nervous about seeing her, but also a little excited about the prospect of her being happy again. I really hope I can do this for her.

As I near the café on the corner, I spot Sarah through the window. Because of the stress of trying for a baby, she doesn’t work at the moment, but with Ethan being a doctor, she doesn’t have to. In one sense, I’m a little jealous of her having all this free time. At the same time, I need a purpose. If I didn’t work, I think I would end up finding a hobby, such as writing. I smile at the thought as I open the door. Sarah looks up and smiles, standing to kiss both my cheeks.

“Alice, how are you? I bet crazy since the flood. I suppose we have to count ourselves lucky that we live on a hill.”

We laugh. The side of Cornwall we live in is rather hilly. It’s the type of place that looks beautiful in all kinds of weather. Of course, I prefer the sun, but I love the way the hills take on a radiant shade of green once the rain hits.

“Yes, we were lucky, but the town below us? Not so much. I’ve had to deal with over a hundred claims since last week.”

Sarah looks out the window. “Luckily, today is beautiful. That always helps clear things up.”

After we order our drinks, I watch her a moment. She looks tired. Her flowing, vibrant blonde hair is a little lank today, and her eyes are dark and sullen.

I clear my throat. “Speaking of clearing things up, have you managed to speak with Ethan?”

Sarah sighs, then turns to me with a small smile. “You really want to do this for us?” When I nod, tears immediately spring to her eyes.

I reach out and grab her hand. “Please, don’t cry. I never meant to make you cry.”

Sarah shakes her head, sniffling. “It’s not that. It’s just... You’ve always been like that. Always looked out for everyone else before yourself. I never know whether to hug or slap you for it.” When my eyes widen, she laughs. “I didn’t mean it to sound nasty. I just always thought people would take advantage, walk all over you.”

I frown. “I would never do this for just anyone, Sarah.”

She nods with another sniffle. “I know. We’ve been best friends for how long now?”

“Eighteen years.”

Her eyes widen. “Eighteen years?” I nod. “Look how far we’ve come. Just think. If it hadn’t been for that mix-up at the cab firm, things could have been very different.”

I think back to that night eight years ago. Both Sarah and I had booked separate cabs to go meet our blind dates. I was supposed to meet Ethan, and Sarah was supposed to meet Kyle, but the cab drivers got our names mixed up. Once we got to our respective restaurants, we realised the mistake, but carried on with our dates. I hit it off with Kyle, just as Sarah did with Ethan. The rest, as they say, is history.

“You’re right, but fate lent a helping hand.”

She smiles, looking off into the distance. “It certainly did.” Her face falls as she snaps her head back to me. “Why are you doing this?” she blurts out.

I frown. “What do you mean?”

Sarah leans forward. “I know you, Alice. I know you want a baby just as much as we do. Why not have one of your own? Why do this for us?”

I see the pain in her eyes and know why. I’ve always known why. “Kyle isn’t ready to start a family yet. You are. It just seems like perfect timing. Once you have your family started, maybe Kyle and I can start our own. At the moment, my eggs are free.” I start laughing, causing Sarah to bust out in giggles.

“I’m laughing, but nothing about this is funny. You’re willing to sacrifice a lot, but I don’t think it’s right to ask you.”

I lean forward to grab her hand. “You have been waiting for the day you can hold your baby in your arms, haven’t you?” She nods. “Let me help you get there. I’m more than willing. I swear to you, I want to do this. You’re like a sister to me. You know I’d do anything to see you happy again.”

Sarah starts sniffling, fanning her eyes with her hands. “Don’t make me cry again. You’ll ruin my make-up.” She laughs through the tears.

I think this is the first time in a long time I have heard her genuinely laugh. It feels like old times. We haven’t been able to laugh out loud like this in a long time.

“So, what are you going to get to eat? I can’t talk about this baby stuff with you anymore. You’ll have me balling like a baby...and that really isn’t a pretty sight. Believe me.”

I chuckle. “Okay. I think I’m ready to order.”

Once the waitress comes with our drinks, we place our orders. When I see the clouds gathering, I stifle a groan. “I hope this doesn’t mean another bad winter. I can’t stand the cold and the rain.”

Sarah shivers. “Me, either. I do like snuggling up in front of the fire, though. That obviously has its merits.” She wiggles her eyebrows at me.

“Ah, nights in front of the fire sound nice.”

Sarah frowns. “Don’t you guys do that?”

I laugh. “Our nights involve a lot of rough sex with little else.”

“Nothing wrong with a bit of rough sex, but I get what you mean. No candy and flowers with Kyle then?”

I tap my fingers against my coffee mug. “He can be sweet when he wants to be. I think he’s a sex addict, though.”

Sarah almost spills her coffee. “Come again?”

I snort. “Kyle... I think he’s got a sex problem. He wants it all the time!”

Sarah laughs loudly. “My god, girl. That just goes to show how much he wants you. You should be thankful he’s like that after all these years together.”

I nod, having heard the same from Kyle. “I know.” I sigh. “I’m a lucky girl.”

I think about what she said about nights in front of the fire. I would love to laze in front of a roaring fire, Kyle and I feeding each other, snuggling up close, appreciating one another before making love.

“So, what plans do you have this weekend?” Sarah snaps me out of my daydream.

I think about it for a moment, my heart sinking. “Kyle wants to go visit his mum and dad on Sunday.”

Her eyes widen. “Oh, that old witch. I’m so lucky I don’t have to deal with a mother-in-law.” She blows out some air, then looks at me. “Kyle is lucky in that respect, too.” At my expression, her face softens a little. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean it like that.”

I nod. “I know. Don’t worry about it.”

When I was eight, my mum died of cancer. Two years later, my father passed after a heart attack. To this day, I think it was from a broken heart. It cut him badly when my mother died. So much so, my aunt practically raised me as he disintegrated into a man who had lost all hope. It was heartbreaking for me. I had not only lost my mother that day, but I’d also lost my father. When I found out he had died, it came as no shock. I didn’t grieve as much as I thought I would because, deep down, I had accepted he had died long before he did.

Thinking about those times fills me with sadness. Right now, I want to try and insert a little happiness into our conversation.

“What about you and Ethan? Got any plans?”

She rolls her eyes just as the sandwiches come, the waitress smiling before walking away. “Ethan wants to visit his sister in Plymouth for the weekend so he can see his nephews. They’re always so happy every time he visits. That’s the only reason I agreed to go. His sister hates me, but I have no idea why.”

I frown. “Have you tried to talk to her about it?”

Sarah takes a bite of her sandwich and chews, swallowing before replying. “She’s scary as fuck.” I start laughing, Sarah joining in. “I’m serious. Trying to talk to her is like trying to have a conversation with Hitler. In fact, I think I would have a better conversation with him. Still, Ethan has fun with the kids. For that amount of time, at least we’re not talking about a family of our own.”

I think about that for a second. “Do you feel pressured?”

Sarah chews her lip. “Yes…and no. It’s hard to explain.” She suddenly straightens. “Anyway, enough about babies. I get plenty of that at home. I want to talk about Paris.”

I raise my eyebrows. “Paris?”

Sarah virtually bounces up and down in her seat. “Ethan is planning on taking me to Paris. We’re going to stay at one of the most exclusive hotels there. Considering we’ve had such a hard time lately, he wants to spoil me. He really knows how to treat a lady.” She smiles, giving me a wink.

I’m happy for her, but I’m also a little jealous. The farthest Kyle and I have ever been on holiday was when we went up north to the Highlands of Scotland. It was beautiful up there, but I sometimes crave that spontaneity, and Paris would definitely be that for me.

“Sounds wonderful.”

Sarah nods. “I can’t wait. A whole weekend of food, wine, shopping, and sex. I’m so over all this eating healthy and no drinking shit. I’m just going to let my hair down for once, and Ethan will let me this time. He’s definitely a doctor. His constant fussing is a bloody nightmare at times.”

I try not to let that grate on me, but it does. “He just cares. That’s all. He wants what’s best for both of you. He’ll make a great dad.”

Sarah nods and sips her coffee. “Yeah, I know he will. I think I just feel relieved now that the pressure is off me. I know that’s no comfort to you, though.”

Smiling, I swallow a bite of my sandwich. “It’s a good pressure.”

She looks sad for a moment. “It was for me for a while, too, but then it all got to be too much when nothing happened. All the tests showed Ethan was okay, so it was me. It was always me.”

I lean over and grab Sarah’s hand again. “Please, don’t get upset. As you say, the pressure is now off you. Let me and Ethan do all the work for a change. You just sit, wait, and be a little unhealthy for once. Drink that wine and eat that food you say you couldn’t consume for a while. Just have a bit of fun.”

Sarah beams at me, tears in her eyes. “You’re such a good friend. Do you know that? I don’t know what I would do without you.”

I sink back in my chair, getting emotional. “It’s what I’m here for, isn’t it? Besides, who else could I get to play Sleeping Beauty with?” I raise my eyebrow at her as she laughs.

“Oh, my god. We did play that, didn’t we? I think I recall you being the wicked witch more often than not. Sorry about that.”

I shrug. “It was fun. It didn’t matter to me who was whom, as long as we got to play together. Then we grew up and playtime took an even more playful turn.”

Sarah laughs. “Yes… The drinking and the boys.”

I chuckle. “Well, for you it was the boys. I’ve only ever known one.”

“All right there, Miss Virtue, but I seem to recall a certain boy having his hand up your blouse in Lucy’s closet. Does the name Josh Kemp ring a bell?”

I gasp. “Oh shit. I’d forgotten about that.”

We giggle some more before I look at my watch, sighing. My hour’s up.

“I wish you could wag off work for the afternoon so we could go pub crawling. It’s been ages since we’ve done that.”

I think about that a moment. It has been a while since I let my hair down. After my next period, I assume I should refrain from drinking. If I am going to do this for Sarah and Ethan, I’m going to do it properly.

“You know, maybe we should do it before we try for that baby.” I smile.

Her eyes widen, a grin stretching across her face. “Seriously? That would be awesome. How about Friday?”

I nod. “Sounds good to me. I should have some news for you by then.”