"How can I say no? I have not been doing my part at all. I've seen the looks on Dad and Colin's faces. The worries, the stress. My brother is out there doing it all by himself. He has no life apart from the farm and that's not right. He's up from dawn till almost midnight and I hate that." Sighing again, she shook her head. "Ihave to do my part. It's just nine months out of my life and after that, we get to save the farm. Of course, I'll do it."
The smile that broke over her mother's face was like the sun breaking through a very dark cloud. Her eyes glistened and for a minute, she could not say a word. "You have no idea what this means. Let me call Eleanor and let her know the good news."
"Mama, wait. What if it doesn't work? And what will I have to do?"
"I'll let her explain everything to you." Maeve patted her hand and abandoning her seat, came around to wrap her arms around her shoulders. "Thanks, honey." She whispered hoarsely. "You have no idea what this means."
"I have some idea." Despite her misgivings, Yasmine returned the hug. "Go and call Eleanor."
*****
"You knew."
"Of course I did. Did I approve? No." They were in the chicken coop handling the feeding. All around them the sounds of squawking were ignored. Eleanor had been called, and she had been told exactly what would happen. She would be tested by a team of experts and go on from there.
"You never said anything to me."
Colin glanced over at her as he scooped a handful of grain and distributed it evenly. The pigs had gotten their slop, and the rest of the animals were fed. He had a mind to go into town and play a game or two and just sit in the local bar and watch the basketball game with some of the men. He needed a day off.
"It was not my place." He shrugged when she cast him a disgusted look. "It's not something a brother could bring up to his sister. What was there to say? 'Sis, welcome home. Oh, by the way, in order to try and save our own, your uterus is required.'" He winced when she dug an elbow in his ribs. "You get the picture."
"Oh, clearly." She snorted in disgust. She continued to ladle out the grain automatically. "I had no idea it was so bad."
"Yeah. But the last thing I want you to do is make such a damn sacrifice. Dad agrees with me."
"And yet, he hasn't said a word."
Dusting his hands off, Colin reached for the rake. It was time to tidy up after themselves. He needed a shower to wash the dust and grime off him and a couple of beers. In exactly that order.
"You have to know that would be an uncomfortable topic for him." He paused. "Christ, the man has a difficult time discussing body parts. Not to mention sex. You remember when he cornered us while we were watching the cows mating? We were teenagers and grew up on a farm and he was livid. Especially with you. He shooed you away."
Yasmine burst out laughing, the sound sending the chickens squawking and fluttering wings.
"I remember. He was so uncomfortable and when he came to my room later that night, he asked if I knew the facts of life. I had a hard time keeping my cool."
Colin chuckled softly, his expression sobering as he stared at her. "You don't have to do this."
"You know better than that. We need the money."
His expression turned angry. "And it makes me feel so damn useless."
"Then you're a fool." When he stared at her in askance, she continued. "You've been singlehandedly holding this place up for years."
He shrugged. "It's not enough."
"More than." Grabbing the rag, she dusted her fingers off. "Now go on about your way. I'll finish up."
He gave her a skeptical glance. "Sure you know what you're doing?"
"Go away, Colin."
Touching a hand to her cheek, he grinned at her. "Don't wait up."
She stayed where she was even after he left, her mind buzzing. Putting away the feeding pail and completely oblivious to the ruckus the chickens were making, she sat on a crate, her mind in a whirl. She had agreed to be a surrogate. Had agreed to carry someone else's baby inside her for nine months. After those nine months, she was going to hand it over.
Panic gripped her around the throat and had her gasping. She could still say no, she decided. No contract had been signed yet. She could still back out.
No, she shook her head in despair. She had given her word and just hearing the joy in Eleanor's voice and the immense relief on her mother's face were proof enough to realize that she was hooked. She was going to do it. Had to do it.