So I promised on Twitter that I would post the first couple of chapters of my novel, Someone Else’s Baby. While I’ll admit I’m not quite ready to take this step yet, I’m doing so at my fiancé’s urging, and because I legitimately want to know what people think. Below, you’ll find a synopsis and the first three chapters of the novel. Any and all feedback is welcomed and appreciated. I hope you all enjoy!
Synopsis: Angela and Laurence Tate have been married for eight years, and desperately want a baby. After four years of trying with no luck, the couple decides to ask Angela’s best friend, Yvette Hollis, to act as a surrogate. Yvette readily accepts, and the Tates couldn’t be happier. But toward the end of her pregnancy, Yvette changes her mind and decides to keep the baby, disappearing without a trace and leaving Angela and Laurence distraught. The couple then begin a frantic search for Yvette and the baby — their baby — that tests the strength of their relationship, and brings to light secrets they never could have imagined.
Chapter 1
“It’s negative. Again.”
Angela Tate sat on the edge of her American Standard bathtub and sighed.
“What have we done to deserve this?”
Her husband, Laurence, sat next to her and slipped his arm around her waist, pulling her close to him.
“It will happen, Angie, we just have to keep trying. These things take time.”
Angela let out another sigh of exasperation and buried her head into her husband’s chest.
“I know that, but it’s already been four years. I don’t have a lot of time left, Larry. If it doesn’t happen soon…” She didn’t bother to finish her thought.
“Angela. Look at me.” Laurence lifted his wife’s chin and pushed a stray lock of hair behind her ear. “We haven’t tried everything. There are other options.”
“But how would we pay for it? We’d have to sell the house, or take out another mortgage.”
“We could adopt,” Laurence suggested.
“I don’t think I could. I want it to be ours. Does that sound awful?”
Laurence shook his head. “I do too, honey, but you said it yourself. You don’t have a lot of time left.” Angela dropped her head and stared at the ceramic tiles on the bathroom floor. “Promise me we’ll keep that as an option,” Laurence said.
“I don’t know, Larry,” Angela looked up at her husband, her hazel eyes gleaming with unshed tears. “I don’t know if I can raise a stranger’s child.”
****
Laurence woke up the next morning to find Angela sitting at her desk with her laptop open. He rubbed his eyes and yawned. The clock read 5:12 a.m., well before either of them had to be up.
“Babe? What are you doing,” he asked wearily.
“Research,” Angela replied curtly.
“Research for what?”
“These other options you mentioned last night.” Angela swiveled her chair around and looked at her husband. Even half asleep, he was the most handsome man she had ever seen. Her expression softened as he let out another yawn.
“Go back to sleep, honey. I’ll be done in a little bit.”
“I have a late class today,” Laurence said. “I can stay up with you for a little while.” He pushed himself up into a seated position and looked at his wife sleepily. “Care to share what you’ve found?”
Angela nodded and took her laptop off its charger, carrying it over to the bed. “We could do in vitro, but I don’t know how much of it our insurance would cover.”
Laurence took the laptop from Angela and scrolled down the page. “From the looks of it, not enough. At these costs, any kids we end up having would be paying for it long after we’re gone.”
Angela chuckled at her husband’s attempt to lighten the situation. “Well I would hope they’d see it as a worthwhile debt, considering.”
“What about a surrogate,” Laurence asked. “Do you think we could do that?”
“I wouldn’t feel comfortable asking a stranger,” Angela said. “I’d much rather it be someone we know.”
“Did you have someone in mind?”
“Well…” Angela got up from the bed and walked toward a window. “I thought we could ask Yvette.”
“Um, honey,” Laurence said tentatively, “I don’t think Yvette is the right person to ask.”
“Why not?” Yvette Hollis had been Angela’s best friend since childhood. Since both girls had been only children, they had been the closest the other had to a sister.
“Come on, Angie, you know why. Yvette is great, but you’ve gotta admit she’s a bit… vain. I highly doubt she’d be willing to let a child destroy her body.” Angela glared at her husband, but she knew he was right. Yvette had always been obsessed with her figure. Her large breasts and slim waist had always been her pride and joy, and she’d told Angela and Laurence more than once that she was not opposed to plastic surgery to keep her body forever young.
“Laurence, she’s my best friend. If there’s anyone we could ask, it’s her.” Angela looked pleadingly at her husband. Laurence let out a long sigh.
“Alright, honey. If you want to ask Yvette, we can. But don’t surprised when she says no.”
