The Surrogate's Secret (9 page)

Laughter broke out, and Rafael stopped the caterwauling and bestowed his famous impish grin to all who stood near.

Andrea, still smiling, spoke first. “Carrie-Anne`s fairness takes after you Sheri, but I’m pleased to see that your dark-haired son resembles more the Rivera side.”

“If you’re talking temperament, then I agree.” Sheri chuckled but quickly stopped after she realized exactly what she’d said. A throat clearing had her glancing towards Maria, who had moved to wait by the open door. 

Andrea chuckled, obviously enjoying Sheri’s banter. “Miguel, I’ve had Juan move me from the master suite and they’ve set it up for you and Sheri to move into. We’ve had some quick renovations done, but you must change anything that isn’t right for you. You’ll have more privacy there, but this whole house is now your home.” She turned to speak to Sheri. “I mean it, Sheri. Please know you are free to make any changes you wish. In my mind, it is I who am your guest and happily ensconced in the guest suite.”

“Mamá, what are saying?”

“Miguel, do not argue. As newlyweds, this is your home, and should be run as you please. If you’d rather, we can leave things the way they are for now, but as soon as you feel it’s time, Sheri and you must take over.” After her proclamation, Andrea looked to each person in the room, her stare halting with Maria the longest.

Oh Lordy?
Sheri’s hand rose to her mouth where her index finger’s cuticle still hadn’t healed from her last chow-down.  Mortified, all eyes on her, she stuck her hand behind her back. “Can we leave things as they are for now? I’d just like to help you.” Sheri wondered if her voice sounded as shaky to their ears as it did inside. Butterflies, peaceful until now, began fluttering around in her tummy.

“As you wish,
my dear. My main concern is to be allowed time with the children. They grow up and leave home so quickly, that every moment is precious.” Tears appeared and were rapidly blinked away.

Instinctively
, Sheri reached over and patted the woman’s shoulder until she had her attention. “I understand, Andrea. I would love your help with the rug-bunnies. Without my friend Charly, I don’t think I could have coped in Washington. It’ll be wonderful to share their care with you here, you and Maria.” 

Maria
’s moving towards Andrea at the sight of her tears had motivated Sheri to include her in the babies’ care. Sheri was rewarded with a look of approval from Miguel who’d stood in the background during the interlude.

Satisfaction produced an agreeable mask for Maria until she glanced at Rafael, and then her face stiffened once again. She turned
an intense gaze on Sheri, her expression full of curiosity.

Uneasiness ate away the happiness that had built up over the short visit so far. Sheri shivered and turned away.

After the babies were settled in
to the newly refurbished nursery, Sheri joined Miguel in their private sitting room.  “Miguel, I feel weird about your mother giving up her suite for us. Is that a tradition in Chile?”

“Not always. It’s different for a woman who’s unlucky and marries into a family where a tyrant rules. Mamacita is an angel. We are fortunate.”

“Mamacita? I’ve heard you refer to her that way many times. It must have a special meaning.”

“It means little mother
. Words ending in ita or ito signify the gender of the person and the size, or as in my case, it’s used as a term of affection.”

“
The custom is sort of special, isn’t it?”

“Si. One day Rafael will refer to you in such a way. You will like that, no?”

“Si.” She laughed, and noticed his eyes narrow as he moved to perch on the arm of the walnut-brown leather sofa where she lounged.

“Sheri, I want to start off our life here in Chile the way we mean to go on. Tonight, may we be together as husband and wife?” His hand reached
out, and his fingers slid through the soft tangle of curls swirling over her shoulders.

She stood up and turned her back to him, but he soon followed. He loomed over
and his arms gently scooped her to him, his breath on her neck creating an army of goose bumps. Lips, soft and warm, moist and hot kissed their way from her ear, down her throat to her neck. Meanwhile, his nimble fingers worked at the collar of her blouse to give him access to more of her delighted skin.

Leaning back for him to take her weight became a necessity as her knees lost their power to hold her upright.
With a snarl, he whipped her around and the onslaught of his mouth devouring hers became more important than breathing.

The
handsome devil kissed the way every woman dreams of being kissed. He sucked and licked and entwined her tongue with his, inviting her to perform with him. How could she resist? Never in her life had she experienced heat building from normal to boil-over in seconds. Every nerve in her body, starting from her head to her to stomach, mostly between her legs, screamed ‘hallelujah’! 

His arm encircling her waist snuggled her close, and his hand on her bottom angled her directly to where his hardened body moved to explore her contours. At that
moment, she could have climbed him like a monkey scaling a tree. Flushed and palpitating, every female part of her anatomy begged for more. It must have been the whimpering moans that stopped his play. She’d never know.

He framed her face, and she felt his hands tremble.
When he went to speak, he started once, but then had to clear his throat so his initial whispering became clear. “I can’t stay with you right now, Sheri.”

The way he said her name was foreplay in itself.

“Juan is waiting to take me to the office. But, mi esposa, rest this afternoon, for tonight we will be very busy.” With a final kiss on her forehead, he left the room, a distinct shuffle noticeable.

She hugged herself and grinned. A firm believer in equality of the sexes, Sheri decided, since she’d be suffering from unrelieved horniness, so should he. 

Then her mood darkened. Once again, she’d missed the opportunity to come clean. The man hadn’t even given her a chance to talk, not that she could have said anything with her eyelashes glued to her cheek and her mouth devoid of any liquid whatsoever. 

Should she be upset that he’d just taken it for granted that she would fall in with his plans for later? How could she? With that darn secret eating away at her principles, how could she even think to start fresh and make love to her handsome husband?

How could she not? If she refused him, he’d know there had to be a problem then he’d question her and she’d tell. She knew she would.

It all came down to trust. Could she trust him not to take her babies away? She winced when the next thought hit her. Trust worked both ways.
Right now, he sure as hell couldn’t trust her.

Miguel veered off to the kitchen to meet with Juan.  He took a few deep breaths to calm his blood from pumping into the swollen area in his overheated body that he now had undeniable proof worked perfectly. Glad no one else could observe his satisfied smirk, he got rid of it.

The room where he spent so much of his childhood hadn’t changed much. Every time he tried to talk Maria into letting him update her space, she
Boo-hooed and made such a stink that he gave up. Not that he argued very hard. He loved the bright multi-colored small-tiled counters and larger red-tiled floors.

The bay windows housed a collection of cacti that she’d cultivated for years, and the plant stand
Miguel and Juan had built for her as a Christmas present when he was twelve, still held the place of honor in front. As a home to exotic violets and orchids from all over the world, the affect from the various smells and gorgeous blooms evoked such pleasure, that to this day many family meals and coffee breaks were shared at the small table nearby. Maria’s one weakness, her love for these flowering plants, had everyone in the family scouring catalogues to order her different species to please the severe woman they all adored. 

Miguel came towards the cooking area and
Maria stood at the sink, her hands busy peeling a large potato. The black dress she wore came as close to a uniform as his mother would permit. Stubborn, Maria insisted on looking the part for her position. Shoulders rigid and back straight, Maria didn’t turn as Miguel walked towards her, but she did stiffen.

All his life, this woman had been both a beloved auntie and a strict nanny. He had no doubt she loved him fiercely and would protect him
with her life.

She’d warned him of Margarita, had known her for the heartless bitch she’d turned out to be, and he’d ignored her pleas to step carefully, to take his time. In those days, full of himself, he’d thought he was infallible. He knew better now. An unprecedented lesson, but one he’d aced.

Everyone knew that males in Chile were revered and loved above all else. The women in the families, nannies included, treated the boys much differently than the girls. Cosseted and spoiled, adored and made to feel that the world revolved around their likes and dislikes, they reached manhood with a cultivated degree of self-assurance that bordered on entitlement. They knew the world loved them. It’s what they grew up being told.

To learn different from one’s own fiancé penetrated into the very male essence, then shattered and twisted a gallant spirit into
impenetrable hardness. He knew he’d changed, and this woman who’d always treated him like a royal prince would know it also.

She turned, wip
ed her hands and hugged him to her. “Miguel, I’m so glad you are safely home. Tu mamá, she missed you. She worked hard to be brave and accept Felipe and Mary-Anne’s death, but it took such a toll on her poor sick body.” She smoothed the collar of his open-necked blue work shirt while continuing her gentle harangue. “The tears wouldn’t stop. Like a river, they flowed until I believe she ran dry. We had to bully her to eat and to sleep, instead of all day long crying and praying. She needed to build her strength. Once she knew her babies were coming, she began to eat and care for herself. They are her reason to return to her old spirit.” Her hand searched her sleeve for the hankie he knew she kept hidden and once she found it, she used it furtively.  “But you are home now and everything will be better.”

“I’m here to stay, Maria. No more assignments for me.”

“Gracias Dios! Was it horrible dealing with Felipe’s estate?”

“Not really. Most everything had been finalized between the insurance company and his clinic. As it should be, all went to his babies. Since so much time had passed, the bulk of the paperwork had been completed. Sheri had done most of the research for the necessary information they requested.” His searching look told him little of what she thought, and he had to know. “Tell me. I know you’re dying to. Will my new wife be good enough for the Rivera family?”

His wording broke through her normally austere look and made her smile slightly.

She
stared him down, something no other person could do since he’d reached manhood.  “Isn’t it a bit late to seek my approval now? What’s done is done. Best we live with it.” As she moved to turn back to the sink, Miguel grasped her and made her face him again.

“Something is wrong? You’ve acted strangely ever since you saw her. Why? She’s lovely and a wonderful mother. Why have you been so distant?”

“I haven’t—”

“Maria por favor. It’s me
.
Miguel
.” Frustrated, he slammed his hand on the counter like he did as a small child when he didn’t get his way. “Look, we’re married, and I like the girl. I have to make this work if we want to keep those babies here where they belong. She is their blood mother, and until I can attain a legal adoption, she has full rights over their future. Please, my dear, treat her well.”

The slight dampness of her hand against his cheek didn’t deter from the gentleness. “Si, Don Miguel. It will be as you wish.” With her eyes averted, he heard her capitulation, but couldn’t help but see the worried frown as she sucked her bottom lip under her teeth.

The back door opened noisily. “Miguel, I have the car in front waiting.” Not a fool, Juan obviously noticed his wife’s posture. “Has Maria’s nattering and fussing kept you?” He wagged his finger at his wife.

She snorted and turned back to her work, but not before Miguel heard her muttered Spanish words that referred to her husband as an old fool. Used to this behavio
r, Miguel grinned at Juan who grinned back.  “You did say you wanted to go to the office today, didn’t you? Since the calls have been non-stop, I’ve no doubt there’ll be a pile of work waiting for you.”

“I’m sure you’re right.” With a hug from behind and kiss to her cheek, Miguel left his snarky housekeeper, and within twenty
minutes, he arrived at his big office complex.

B
efore he could open the main door, three of his workers rushed out to welcome him and guide him inside. The chorus of greetings warmed his heart, and so too did the hugs and backslaps from each person he passed.  It felt good to be esteemed. He never took such a thing in his stride. These employees weren’t the regular run-of-the-mill kind of people. They were all highly trained, hugely motivated, and skilled in their individual areas.  To earn their respect took more than a large paycheck and a big Christmas bonus.

Once they’d given him a hero’s welcome, they left him to get on with the piles of work they all knew he faced.  He soon became embroiled with the business he’d built into a world-class company.

For the rest of the day he cleared massive amounts of problems that had built up since he’d been away. While in Washington, he’d availed himself with a laptop, a blackberry and his cell phone, but it wasn’t quite the same as being in the room with his managers and watching their expressions as, one by one, they gave him presentations on each of their specific areas.

After lunch, feeling exhausted, he decided to call it a day. Much of the decision rested with knowing Sheri and his new family awaited him at home. Just as he’d finished packing away his papers, his personal cell phone rang and a woman’s hysterical voice ranted Spanish in
to his ear. “Miguel, you must help me. I’m in trouble.”

“Calm down and tell me who it is. I can’t help you if I don’t know.” Wails cut him off and he lost patience. “Stop
crying or I’ll hang up.”

“You don’t even recognize me? I’m
in trouble. Please, you must help your Margarita for old time’s sake. Come to me. I beg of you.”

“Margarita? Call someone else. I’m not interested
.”

“No one else will do. It involves your friend
, Nick.”

“Nick? What’s going on? It better be good or I’m hanging up now.”

“He’s been hurt. The man I married turned out to be an impostor; a Colombian spy and they have imprisoned your friend once more. I can’t save him alone. You must help me.”

“You’d better not be messing with me, Margarita, or I swear, I’ll make you sorry we ever met.”