Free Surrogate and Wife by Emily McKay Page B

Jake had spent their wedding night the traditional way. Making passionate love.
    Funny, she’d never felt less satisfied.

Seven
    I n the month since their marriage, Kate had certainly kept her distance.
    She worked long hours, which Jake, of course, had expected. She went to the gym almost every day for prenatal workout and yoga classes. And when she was home, she spent most of her time in her room, “resting,” she claimed, which made sense, because he knew pregnant women needed lots of sleep.
    All of that he could put up with. If only she’d let him help her. With anything. But she wasn’t letting him.
    He’d offered to help with her laundry. She’d refused and started sending it out to be done. He’d tried to cook dinner for her in the evenings. She insisted on eating microwaved frozen meals. Every morning he had a pot of hot decaf brewing by the time she emerged from her bedroom fully dressed. And every morning she walked right past it on her way out the door to Starbucks.
    Yes, he’d pushed too hard the morning the guys from that station came over. He knew that now. For the life of him, he couldn’t explain why he’d pushed at all. All he knew was that when Kate entered the kitchen dressed so primly, he hadn’t been able to resist trying to ruffle her a bit. Maybe because he remembered how good she’d felt in his arms when they’d kissed. Or because he didn’t like the thought of her coming to breakfast dressed so formally every morning for the next six months. Or maybe he’d just wanted to kiss her again and couldn’t resist finding out whether she wanted that, too.
    Frankly, he didn’t know what to do anymore.
    Which was why, one Thursday night after work, instead of heading home, he stopped by Beth’s and Stew’s to get their advice.
    â€œWe haven’t seen you in a while,” Stew said as he flipped a vegetarian hamburger on the grill in the backyard.
    â€œIf I’d known you were making burgers, I would have gotten here early enough to claim one.”
    Stew laughed. “You’re welcome to one. But only one.” With his spatula he gestured to the three burgers sizzling on the grill. “There’s no way I’m taking food out of the mouth of a pregnant woman. You know what I mean?”
    Jake chuckled and nodded. But the truth was, he didn’t know what Stew meant. That was the problem. That was why he’d come here this evening for Stew’s advice.
    Carrying buttered hamburger buns for Stew to grill, Beth greeted Jake warmly, as she always did. He couldn’t help noticing her clothes. Sure, she was a full month farther along than Kate, but Beth was already wearing in long, flowing maternity dresses, designed toshow off her belly. Kate, on the other hand, was still dressing to hide her pregnancy. Something she wouldn’t be able to get away with for much longer.
    Beth set the buns down by the grill, then shot a pointed look at Stew. Not too subtle.
    Especially when Stew cleared his throat a few seconds later and asked, “So how’s Kate doing?”
    Funny, he’d been about to ask them the same question. But apparently Stew and Beth didn’t know any more than he did. “Okay. I think.” He ran his hand down the back of his neck. “Has she always been so…”
    He wasn’t sure exactly how to finish the thought tactfully.
    â€œDifficult?” Beth piped up.
    â€œClosed off?” Stew supplied.
    â€œI was going to say ‘unwilling to accept help.’”
    Beth nodded. “Yep, that’s Kate for you. She’s always needed to do things her own way. Frankly, it’d be annoying, if she wasn’t usually right.”
    â€œShe won’t let me do anything for her. It’s driving me crazy,” he admitted.
    Stew chuckled.
    â€œWhat?” Jake shot an annoyed look at his friend.
    â€œMan, this must be killing