Chapter 385

Accidental Surrogate Chapter 385-Long Miles

I gasp a few hours later when I see the gigantic RV that rolls up out front of the

clinic.

“Seriously?” Hanks says, crossing his arms over his chest and staring at it,

somewhere between impressed and revolted by the extravagance. “The gas

mileage on that thing must be horrible

“Ohhh,” I say, laughing and swatting him on the arm with one hand, the other

holding Rafe’s carrier where he’s already bundled and ready. “Don’t spoil my

fun, Hank – you’re just jealous because you’re not coming.”

“Yes,” Hank murmurs, giving me a good-natured side eye. “Yes, there’s

absolutely nothing I want more in the world than to be cooped up in a tin can

with Roger and Cora for forty-eight hours. You’re right.”

I laugh when I consider this point, stepping closer to Hank and wrapping him in

a one-armed hug that he’d probably rather avoid. But we’ve grown a lot closer in

the past few days, working together, and well? If he’s going to be my friend, then

he’s going to have to get used to a great deal of affection.

“You’ll be all right here when we’re gone?” I ask, pulling away.

“Ah, don’t worry about me,” Hank says with a little smirk and a shrug. You guys

have bigger things on your plate.”

“When I come back,” I say, looking at him seriously now, hoping he understands

how much he means to me – to all of us. “We’re going to do big things, okay?

Help a lot of people. With the gift, and with your skills.”

“That’s all I want, Ella,” Hank says seriously, giving me a nod and a little smile

that’s likely the most emotion I’m going to see from him anytime soon. But then

his eyes drift to Cora and Roger who come through the door of the clinic and I

know…well, I know that what Hank says about this being all he wants is a little

bit of a lie. And my heart aches for him because I know now, for sure, that he’ll

never get it.

I purse my lips a little, trying not to let him see me pity him. But he catches me in

the act.

“Don’t,” Hank sighs, shaking his head at me. “I’m good, Ella. I really am.”

“I know,” I say, putting a hand out to his shoulder. He gives me a sad little smirk

before turning back into the clinic – intent, clearly, on busying his mind so that

he doesn’t have to think about her. Cora and Roger call brief goodbyes to Hank

before coming to my side to admire the RV.

“It’s huge,” Cora says, her eyes wide.

“It’s not so big,” Roger says with a shrug. But Cora and I both roll our eyes at

him as Sinclair parks the vehicle and climbs out of the driver’s seat. Cora and I

didn’t grow up with much as kids, and we’ve certainly never been on a vacation

like this – with a whole fancy vehicle reserved just for us.

I’m so incredibly excited I can barely contain it.

“Ready?” Sinclair asks, opening the door to the living compartment of the RV

and pushing a button that activates a little metal platform that lowers itself to the

ground so that Henry can wheel onto it.

“Yes!” I say, taking Cora’s hand and pulling her with me to Sinclair’s side. ” Is it

nice? Are there enough beds? Is there a kitchen? How do you -”

Sinclair just laughs at me, shaking his head as Henry maneuvers himself onto

the lift. “Just go in, Ella,” he says, nodding towards the door with the short flight

of stairs. “Explore. Let yourself be surprised.”

I eagerly do as my mate suggests, hurrying up the steps and gasping with

excitement again as I look around. It’s absolutely gorgeous inside, and

everything is so shiny –

“Oh, wow,” Cora says, her eyes as wide as mine as she climbs in after me. “This

is…amazing.”

My sister comes with me as we wander around the space, admiring the

gorgeous kitchenette with its white leather table space, the little living area that

comes after that, the adorable, cleverly designed bathroom that makes the most

of the minimal space allotted to it. But I really gasp when I see the bedroom

tucked away in the back –

with its king-sized bed, and plush downy linens.

“Oh my god,” I say, quickly unbuckling Rafe from his carrier and groaning as I sit

down with him on the bed which is as comfortable as it looks. “Oh, I missed big

beds – ”

“Um, Ella,” Cora says, smirking at me from the doorway. “What do you think

you’re doing?”

“Huh?” I ask, confused.

“That’s my bed,” she says, her wicked smirk growing.

“What!?” I gasp, and then I groan as I remember Sinclair’s promise to her – a

big bed for her and Roger. “Well then where do I sleep?!”

“Out there,” Sinclair says, appearing in the doorway behind Cora. “The couches

transform – one into a queen for me and you, and the other into a twin, which

my dad will take – ”

“Noooo,” I moan, tossing my head back and settling deeper into the pillows.

“Can I sleep in here with Cora and Roger? I won’t take up much space – you

can take the baby and -”

“No chance in hell,” Roger declares, pushing past Sinclair into the room with

little travel bags filled with his and Cora’s stuff which isn’t much, considering we

haven’t had access to any of our possession since we left the bunker. Roger

places the bags on the ground and snaps his fingers at me when he straightens

up. “Up, Ella. That’s my bed.”

“No, I need it,” I whine, pouting at him.

“Ella,” Cora says, unable to keep the mischief out of her eyes even though she

pretends she’s serious. “I’m pregnant. I need my rest.”

I sigh then, glaring at her for playing the pregnancy card.

“Fine,” I growl, making them all laugh as I huff my way back to the living room.

“But this queen-sized bed better be comfortable,” I say to my mate as I pass

him.

“Fit for a Queen,” he says, following me back into the main living area of the RV

and giving Roger and Cora a moment alone.

To my surprise, Henry has already settled himself at the front of the RV, locking

his chair into a space where the passenger seat should be. He gives me a little

wave before turning back to a set of maps. I take a moment to admire the

ingenuity of the vehicle and how cleverly it’s been made accessible for someone

in a wheelchair.

“You two ready?” Sinclair says, wrapping an arm around my shoulder and

looking down at Rafe, still in my arms and looking happily around at all of the

bright lights.

“Yes,” I say, meaning it as I give him a big smile. “How long do you think it will

take to get there? To the temple?”

“We’ll probably get there sometime tomorrow,” Henry calls over his shoulder and

Sinclair nods in agreement. “Oh,” I say with surprise. “So where will we sleep

tonight?”

“A campground somewhere,” Sinclair says with a shrug. “We have to see how

far we get. It’s part of the adventure, and part of staying anonymous. No

reservations for people to know where we’ll be staying.”

“Do you think,” I say, glancing out the windows. “That we’ll be followed?”

“I don’t,” he says, placing a finger beneath my chin and turning my face back to

him. “It’s all right, Ella,” he says softly. “You can relax. Enjoy it. You’ve worked so

hard lately – let me… let me give this to you, as well as to Cora.”

And a soft smile finds my face as I realize that Sinclair’s willingness to take this

trip was about ensuring that Cora and Roger get the answers that they need,

but that it’s also about me. About us. About giving us a minute as well to just…

breathe. To have a nice couple of days.

I nod to him, letting him know that I understand.

Roger comes out of the bedroom area, Cora close behind, and he claps his

hands, asking if it’s time to get started. I settle myself down on one of the little

grey couches, eager to see what happens next, and Cora sits next to me,

likewise buzzing with excitement.

Then, as one, our mates turn towards the front of the RV and take a step

towards the driver’s seat.

“Um,” Sinclair says, putting out a hand and settling it on Roger’s chest, stopping

him. “Where do you think you’re going?”

“To…drive,” Roger says, as if it’s obvious. Sinclair lets out a sarcastic little

laugh. “Funny,” he says, gesturing towards where Cora and I sit with his other

hand. “Go play checkers with your mate, Roger.”

“How can I do that, Dominic,” Roger says, his voice deadpan, “it will be very

distracting to be playing a game while I’m driving.”

And then the two of them start to bicker about who is going to drive, making

Cora and I dissolve into laughter.

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“Do you think there’s really checkers?” I ask her, looking around at all the clever

little compartments around me.

“I hope so,” she says, starting to open a drawer which I gasp to see is indeed

stacked with a bunch of games – most of them magnetic so that we can indeed

play them while we’re driving.”

Because I’m going to need a distraction if we’re going to listen to that all day,”

she says, nodding towards the brothers who still continue to fight.

It takes them about fifteen minutes to come up with a driving plan that they both

find equitable and Roger sits down next to Cora in a huff, letting Sinclair take the

first shift.

“Red or black?” Cora asks him with a smirk, unfolding the board and placing it

between them. “Black,” he sighs, scowling a little and looking jealously at his

brother in the front of the RV.

“Poor baby,” Cora coos, running a hand through Roger’s hair. “Don’t worry – you

can have your turn soon.”

His scowl deepens, making me laugh, and then – with a lurch – we’re on our

way. My stomach twists with excitement. A road trip! I can’t even begin to think

of anything I want to do more with my family right now.

“I get winner,” I declare, leaning back against the cushions with Rafe sitting

happily in my lap as Roger and Cora begin to play. I’m looking forward to this

relaxing little vacation, but deep down?

I’m most excited about Cora getting answers to her questions. Soon, I think, my

stomach giving an excited little twist. Soon we’ll know the answers to so many

mysteries about this baby.

Mysteries I’m absolutely dying to have solved