I can't believe it's come to this, I muse to myself. After everything I've been through, this is what my relationship with Sophia has evolved to. I know this is what she wanted, but in the back of my mind, I can't help but wonder if she'd be disappointed. But then I think of the tiny embryos that we created together and all doubt clears from my thoughts. How could I not want the baby waiting for me to take a chance? The child who would give me a piece of Sophia for the rest of my life.

All I want is to cling to the life that brought me so much happiness. Because all I feel now is dead inside.

"This all seems so callous. Scrolling through a book of potential baby carriers is not how I expected to kick things off." I set the book down on the table and sit back on the sofa.

"Kind of like the Hollywood Squares of baby mamas," my sister, Abbi, chimes in. She laughs at her own joke and reaches for the book. As she casually flips through the profiles of potential surrogates, I can't help but feel a little disconnected from the entire process. The idea of placing mine and Sophia's embryo into a complete stranger’s womb is ... well, unsettling.

"I like this one." Abbi leans over and points to a pretty blonde.

Her picture captures my attention right away. The mismatched eyes draw me in. They reflect a soul deep longing, not much unlike my own. As I stare intently down at her picture, my sister rambles on in the background, but I don't hear a word. For some reason that I can't quite explain, or understand, this woman staring back at me from a photograph in my nervous grasp is utterly captivating. Not in a sexual way. It's much deeper than that.

I can't get over the fact that I see so much of myself staring back at me. Her expression is bland, no smile or laughter brimming. She looks as if she's merely existing. At that realization, it dawns on me what it is that I find so alluring about her picture. She looks so lost and alone even with the world going about its business all around her.

"Will?" The hint of amusement in my sister’s voice is gone as my eyes meet hers. "Are you okay?" she whispers, just loud enough for me to hear.

I nod and swallow the lump of rising emotions down. My throat feels tight, and my chest hurts beyond reason. This all so overwhelming. But as I look back down at the picture again, a sense of rightness envelops me. ‘She's the one.’ Sophia's voice invades my chaotic thoughts. I know it's not really her talking to me, but my mind takes a small amount of comfort from the fact that we were so close that I could practically read her thoughts. And as I look down at this lonely looking woman, I know she's the one Sophia would want me to pick.

My gaze flicks from her photograph to her bio, taking in the information with a calculating eye.

"Ah, yes, Ms. Kara Murphy. She has two other potential clients interested in her as well," Margaret chirps proudly.

Abbi looks over at me with a quirked brow. "Well, what do you think? The others are all fine, but I'd rather see you use someone who has no husband at home and children of her own to care for. Professionally speaking, the pregnancy is less likely to stress her body if outside interference is limited." When I give her a blank look, she shrugs. "You need her to live with you so we can keep an eye on her. You don't want her a thousand miles away from you seeing doctors we're not familiar with." She squeezes my knee encouragingly. "This is your one chance. We can't risk a miscarriage or poor healthcare. I want to oversee the pregnancy myself to ensure the baby develops as it should with no hiccups along the way."

I look over the other three profiles we had considered as potentials, but none of them call to me as hers does. She's everything we've requested in a surrogate. The fact that she's not married and is also willing to relocate makes her all the more appealing.

"All right. Ms. Murphy, it is." I slide the profile back across the table to Margaret who is grinning from ear to ear.

"Wonderful!" she exclaims happily. "I'll just need to pull up the contract Ms. Murphy arranged with the agency. We'll go over the financial provisions she has requested as well as the healthcare and agency fees. Then we'll submit your interest form to her, along with the other couples who have expressed interest ...”

I wave a dismissive hand. "My lawyer has already worked out the contract. I don't want competition, so I'm sure the monetary compensation will assure that my interest form is the only one that she'll see." I raise a brow in question. "Agreed?" She nods quickly and begins shuffling paperwork around on her desk. I bend down and pull the manila folder from my briefcase.

Margaret’s grin slowly slides from her now pinched features as she opens the folder and reads over the contract I've had drawn up. "I see."

Abbi clears her throat to stifle a giggle. She knows I wouldn't leave anything to chance with this arrangement.

"Ms. Grant, as I'm sure you are aware, my family is very high profile. This procedure needs to be performed as discreetly as possible. My father is up for reelection in six months’ time, and I will not abide leaks to the media of our arrangement. All matters in terms of legality will go through my attorney. All contracts will be drawn up by my attorney as well. Are we clear?"

Margaret looks from me to the legal documents and then back at me before muttering, "Quite clear."

I didn't want to risk any loophole, so I had my lawyer work up an ironclad contract between myself, the agency, and the surrogate. The contract was drawn up in a way to ensure my family’s privacy was of the utmost importance.

"The compensation clause is on page three. I'm sure you'll find it adequate."

After a few silent moments, Margaret’s face begins to turn a lovely shade of rose red. "Mr. Scott, this is ...” she stutters and tries to regain her composure. "This is an exorbitant amount of money. I assure you the agency contract seeks to provide the surrogate with reasonable compensation while simultaneously avoiding any excessive charges to our clients." She gestures to the document in her hand. "Please don't misunderstand my meaning. This is most generous but also unnecessary."

I lean forward, bracing myself with my forearms over my knees. "As unnecessary as it may seem, this is the contract and the monetary compensation I wish to proceed with. Ms. Murphy is to live at my residence for the duration of her pregnancy. She is to be cared for ...” I look over at my sister with a knowing look. "By my sister, Ms. Abigail Scott-Linsey. Abbi is the best OB/GYN in the state, and I wouldn't trust my unborn child's life under anyone else's care. These terms are nonnegotiable."

I stand and extend a hand to my sister who smirks at me before rising at my side.

"I trust you'll be able to meet the intended deadline as well?" I ask over my shoulder as I approach the large wooden door.

"Yes, Sir. I'll contact Ms. Murphy right away," Margaret responds.

I stand to the side and allow Abbi to exit ahead of me, my gaze falling on Margaret. "I expect you will. Have a good evening, Ms. Grant."

"You as well, Mr. Scott."

Before we can make it to the elevator, Abbi playfully punches me in the shoulder. "You bully. I can't believe you already had that contract drawn up." The elevator doors close, and I push the button for the lobby.

"If I had told you prior to our meeting, you would have been more selective. I needed you to go with your gut and select the one you thought would be the best candidate."

She grunts her agreement and then finally huffs. "I hate it when you're right. But I do think we selected the best one available." The elevator dings as we reach our destination and the doors slide open.

Abbi stops just before we reach the main entrance and turns to me with an excited gleam in her eyes. "I can't believe I'm finally going to be an aunt. Just think, this time next year you'll be a father."

Her excitement is the only reason that I mask the pain filtering through my veins at that exact thought.

Sophia was supposed to deliver my child. We were supposed to take crazy Lamaze classes together, paint the nursery together, buy baby clothes together, but instead––I'm going at it alone. The thought leaves me feeling hollow inside, but I hide my feelings from my elated sister and escort her to my car in the parking garage across the street.

I know it's time to move on with my life, but just because it's the right thing to do doesn't make the sting of heartache any

easier to bear.