“Why don’t you sit down?” Libby took her arm and led her to the row of plush chairs. After making sure Charlotte wasn’t going to keel over, Libby went back to the table and clasped her hands behind her back.
“I don’t know why I’m here,” Charlotte admitted. “I’ve never been in a serious relationship. Never been a mom. I’m sure there are a lot of women out there who are more qualified.”
Libby frowned. “That doesn’t mean you aren’t.”
“I don’t know if I am,” Charlotte said in a smaller voice. “But I’ve been reading these brochures, and I have seen this friend of mine… She’s amazing, and she and her husband would make amazing parents, and I just really want to help them.”
Libby’s stomach tightened at the longing and yearning in Charlotte’s voice. “I think you’re doing a great thing.”
Charlotte lifted her gaze and grimaced. “They don’t know yet. I’m not even sure if they’ll accept me as a surrogate, but I don’t know…it just feels right.”
The kettle began to shake, and then it made a clicking sound. Libby spun around and poured the boiling water into two cups. She carried their chamomile tea over to where Charlotte sat.After handing her one of the cups, Libby went back to her desk and sat behind it.
As much as she liked Charlotte, she didn’t want to get in trouble with the boss, who had strict guidelines about where and how to interact with patients. Outside of these walls, Charlotte was her daughter’s drama teacher. Inside here, Charlotte was a patient. One who was in over her head by the looks of things.
Libby blew on her drink and sat up straighter. “I come from a foster home. My parents died when I was young, and none of my other family members wanted to take me in, so I went into foster care.”
Charlotte’s expression softened, and her eyes widened as she looked at Libby over the rim of the cup. “If you don’t mind my asking, what was it like?”
Libby’s stomach clenched as she saw her foster mom tucking her hair behind her ears. Then, she saw her foster dad patting her head before handing her some pocket money for school. Although she’d been quiet and reserved, the two of them had done their best to provide for her, and she stayed out of trouble to show them how much it all meant to her.
Over the years, Libby hadn’t gotten any better at expressing herself, but deep down, she knew the truth. Without the Bakers, she would’ve stayed in the same system or worse. She’d seen too many kids who ended up on the streets, doing anything and everything within their power to survive.
It was a broken and unfair system, but Libby hoped that wouldn’t always be the case.
“I loved my foster parents,” Libby said finally. “I’m not sure if I was able to convey that well, but they knew, and I guess that’s what really matters. All any kid wants to know is they’re wanted and they’re loved.”
Charlotte glanced down at her cup and sniffed. “Yeah, I guess so.”
“There’s still time to figure out what you want to do,” Libby continued in a softer voice. “No one would think less of you for changing your mind about this, you know.”
“I’m afraid I’ll get too attached to the baby,” Charlotte whispered, her voice catching toward the end. “Then it wouldn’t be fair to the parents or the baby.”
Libby’s throat closed up. “I think it’s better not to get ahead of yourself. You’re not there yet, and there’s no telling how you’ll feel.”
Based on everything she knew and had seen Charlotte do, Libby had a feeling the drama teacher was going to do the right thing, no matter how painful it was.
Libby was about to tell Charlotte something else when she heard the back door open and slam shut. Moments later, the phone on her desk rang, and Dr. Reese’s breathless voice came on. Libby listened to her for a few moments until the doctor hung up. A short while later, she got up and went around the desk to get to Charlotte.
She took both of her hands in hers and led her to her feet. “Here, why don’t I walk with you to the doctor’s office?”
Charlotte’s eyes were full of tears. “You won’t get in trouble?”
Libby patted her hand. “Don’t worry about it.”
Outside the doctor’s office, Charlotte lingered, and it took her a full minute to straighten her back and square her shoulders. Then, she offered Libby a small smile before the door swung shut. Libby lingered for a while longer and then hurried outside. The waiting room was still empty, and steam still rose from the Styrofoam cup on her desk.
Libby sat down and took a few tentative sips of her tea.
By the time the web page finally loaded, Libby was still thinking about Charlotte’s sad face and her own lonely childhood. She blinked, reached for the mouse, and skimmed through the information. With a frown, she picked up her phone,and her eyes kept darting back and forth as she followed the steps.
When the familiar icon for the app blinked on her screen, Libby let out a quiet whoop. Hastily, she leaned sideways in her seat to make sure no one heard her. Then, she straightened her back and jabbed her phone. It took a few moments, but once Annie’s familiar red dot appeared, Libby sagged in her seat.
According to the tracker, Annie was in the Falmouth Public Library next to Mullen Hall School. Frowning, Libby refreshed the app and zoomed in on the map. When it didn’t change, and the red dot remained unmoving, Libby set her phone down on her desk. She leaned back against her chair and stared at it.
It didn’t make any sense. Annie wasn’t a big reader, and she’d never shown any interest in any of the local institutions in Falmouth. On the contrary, she’d made her disdain for the small town known from day one, everything from mocking the name to rolling her eyes at any of the traditions. For weeks, Libby had barely been able to keep Annie’s scathing remarks from being heard by inquisitive ears. It hadn’t been easy.
During those first few weeks, Libby spent many nights curled up on the couch with a glass of wine in one hand and her phone clutched in the other. A few times, she’d even dialed the social worker, only to hang up before it even rang. Annie had tested her patience, her limits, and everything in between.
