Page 152 of Stolen Fate

“Good. Tell me your full name, age, education level, and occupation.”

I cleared my throat a bit before I spoke, regretting the wine. I should have gone with water instead. “My name is Evelyn Adler, and I am twenty-two years old. I have a BS in childhood education, and right now, I am doing mostly freelance work involving tutoring kids and college students.”

Marie nodded, before she stapled her hands under her chin. “What is your height and weight?”

“What?”

“Height and weight, Ms. Adler.”

“Oh. I’m five-foot-six and weigh about 120 pounds.”

“Are you on a restrictive diet?”

I shook my head. “No.” I could see what Katie meant by intrusive.

“Do you have any children?” Again, I shook my head. “Drink, smoke, or do any recreational drugs?”

“No.”

“Good. And, finally, how regularly do you get your period?”

I blinked at her. “What?”

“How regular is your period?”

So, I had heard the question correctly. “I don’t see how that is any of your business.”

“Trust me, this is all relevant.”

When I didn’t say anything, she let out a sigh. “I don’t have a lot of patience or time, Ms. Adler. I would like to get the process done quickly, and if you don’t think you can do this, then perhaps you should stop wasting both of our time and leave.”

I didn’t say anything for a moment. I was so tempted to leave. I imagined standing up and not saying anything; just walking out that door. But then I would blow my chances of getting picked for the job. And I imagine how my dad would look when I told him we had to move.

I didn’t think I could handle that. My shoulders slumped a bit, and I knew she could see the defeat… the desperation in my eyes when I looked back at her and answered, “It’s pretty regular.”

Satisfaction lit up her inhuman gray eyes, and I pretended not to notice. “Good. I need you to fill out this form with your family’s medical history. Specifically, your mother’s side and what her pregnancy had been like with you.”

With shaky hands, I grabbed the application from her and filled out all the information I knew. I knew I was desperate, so I didn’t list that my mom had died from lung cancer, how hard it had been for her to get pregnant, or the miscarriages between my siblings and me.

I made myself into the best applicant she could get, or at least, what I thought she wanted, with what little information she had provided me, and by the time I got out of the interview, my hands were shaky, and I didn’t know how I even made it back to my chair.

An hour later, Marie came out, and despite the long day, I didn’t see a single hair out of place, and her makeup was as flawless as it had been this morning.

She looked at each one of us again, her eyes lingering on me, and I knew in that moment, I had been picked.

I just knew it.

I didn’t know why or how, and I didn’t know how I was supposed to feel about it.

I had listened detachedly while she dismissed all of the ladies there and watched as the surprise and worry came on Katie’s face when she called my name, asking me to stay behind. I remember Katie leaving the room, telling she would wait for me in the building before she disappeared from view.

And then it was just me and Marie.

“Congratulations,” Marie offered, and it sounded like she was congratulating a little kid when they brought home an A from a school project to show off to their parents.

“Thank you.”

She smiled a little, and it was the first hint of emotion I saw on her face all day.

“What do you need me to do?”

“I need you to be a surrogate for a couple.”

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