Page 1 of Having the Bear's Baby

ONE

EMMA

“This isn’t the worst idea I’ve ever had. I mean, what could it hurt?” Emma shook her head, hoping no one heard her muttering to herself.

I’m at my wit’s end, and I’m not getting any younger. I deserve to finally do something for myself.

Her fingers tapped mindlessly on the desk in her home office while she stared at her computer screen.

One of the volunteers she had worked with had told her about this company called Shifter Surrogacy Agency that could help her get exactly what she wanted. A family of her own.

She had finally sat and looked them up, not finding too much information on them. Apparently, they were still new to the show but also very closed-lipped about their company.

She would have been suspicious if she had been told about this by anyone other than her friend. But through her intense research, it had all come across as legit.

Now, she stared at the application process, convincing herself it wasn’t so desperate to fill it out.

Sure, Emma had played the relationship game, but the older she got, the less patience she had for it. How did everyone seem to get stupider with age? And she couldn’t be the only person feeling this way.

There had to be other people of the opposite sex that felt similar to her. She just hadn’t found them … ever.

Somehow, she kept getting pulled into relationships with men … no that was definitely not the right term. She kept getting pulled into relationships with boys who needed fixing but would never be the material she wanted in the end. She thought they would be, but no. The only thing they were consistently good at was proving her wrong.

Maybe it was Emma’s need to support people and make their lives better. It was her job, after all.

Emma had a deep-seated love for aiding those who found themselves in dire straits. For years, she devoted herself to lending a hand within her community, generously giving her time as a volunteer. There was an indescribable sense of freedom that washed over her when she was able to make a difference in someone’s life.

Each instance of her support kindled an even stronger resolve within her to extend her helping hand to a wider range of people, spurred on by the incredible transformations she had witnessed firsthand. It didn’t matter how tangled or broken a person’s situation seemed … she saw the potential for change in every circumstance.

The sense of purpose and fulfillment she derived from assisting others propelled her forward, seemingly outweighing any concerns about her personal life.

Oddly enough, this was a facet she couldn’t seem to apply to her own life. Over the last year, she had gotten better and pickier. Actually, it had been longer than a year, but who was counting?

“You. You’re counting,” she reminded herself.

Age might just be a number, but it was creeping up there faster and faster. Tick tock.

She took a deep breath. “Fuck it,” she said as she clicked on the form and began filling out her information.

Emma had always been a steadfast and determined individual. From a young age, she had shown an unwavering commitment to carving her own path in life. As she matured, her self-reliance became a defining trait, one that she held onto fiercely.

The idea of settling down and raising a family had crossed Emma’s mind multiple times. It was a dream she cherished, one that had always been on her radar. However, she had reservations about letting someone else into her life in such an intimate and permanent way. Emma had witnessed relationships around her that turned sour, leaving individuals broken and dependent on someone else. She was determined not to let that be her story.

Her decision to raise a family on her own wasn’t rooted in any distrust or disdain for relationships. Rather, it was a reflection of her belief in her own capabilities. She had the strength, resilience, and love necessary to be a wonderful mother. She had faced numerous challenges before and had emerged stronger each time. Why should this be any different?

The thought of sharing the responsibilities and joys of parenthood with someone else was enticing, no doubt. Yet, Emma questioned whether it was worth potentially sacrificing the independence she had worked so hard to cultivate. She had built her career from scratch, climbed the ladder through sheer determination, and had a support network of friends and family who admired her tenacity. Could she maintain that sense of self while allowing someone else into her personal sphere?

Emma’s journey wasn’t devoid of doubts. There were moments when she wondered if she might be missing out on something beautiful by choosing to navigate motherhood alone. The image of a partner who would be her confidante, co-parent, and lifelong companion did tug at her heartstrings. But Emma’s commitment to herself, to the person she had grown into, was unyielding.

She filled out the online form and pressed submit without a second thought.

These things take forever anyway. I can always back out if what they tell me doesn’t sound like my cup of tea.

She pushed herself away from the desk and stood to stretch. She had easily wasted most of the morning debating if she really wanted to fill out the surrogacy paperwork, so now she had to get her ass in gear and get to work for the day.

* * *

After a very hectic morning, Emma was off by two in the afternoon, so it allowed an early start to her weekend.

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