Free The Offering by Angela Hunt Page B

earn?”
    I nodded. “If the pregnancy is successful, it’ll add up to more than sixty thousand dollars. And I can be frugal—I don’t need maternity clothes; I still have things from when I was pregnant with Marilee. So I could keep most of the money from the clothing allowance.”
    He crinkled his nose as he read the fine print details I hadn’t mentioned. “What’s this support group payment?”
    â€œThey have a monthly support group for the pregnant women. When I get pregnant, I’ll get a hundred bucks a month for going to the meeting.”
    â€œAre you sure you’ll have time for that?”
    â€œI’d make time, Gid. Imagine being paid a hundred dollars just for sitting in a room. And they’ll give us money for health insurance we won’t need because we’re already covered through Uncle Sam. Tricare takes care of everything that’s pregnancy-related.”
    Gideon picked up the contract and sucked at the inside of his cheek for a moment, his brows angled downward. “This is what you sign?”
    â€œYes.”
    â€œAfter you cut through the legalese, what are you required to do?”
    â€œCooperate, mostly. Natasha wrote in clauses to cover issues I feel strongly about.”
    â€œSuch as—”
    â€œWell, I agreed to have up to five separate IVF transfers of up to three embryos each, but I refused to participate in selective reduction. If I get pregnant with triplets, triplets is what I’ll carry. I won’tlet them terminate one of the babies just because I might have to go on bed rest.”
    His brows drew together. “You said you wouldn’t risk your health. And how are you going to get anything done if you have to go on bed rest?”
    I pointed to the contract and gave my worried husband a sweet smile. “The intended parents will supply a housekeeper if I end up in bed, so I won’t have to risk anything. Every detail has been spelled out, including the financial arrangements. At regular intervals I’ll be paid from an escrow account the agency oversees. Natasha insists on that so no one can accuse the agency of selling babies. The couple will be paying me to carry their child, not to hand over a baby after nine months.”
    Gideon lowered the contract. “You’ve already made up your mind, haven’t you?”
    â€œAbout doing this, yes. I know I can do it, but I don’t want to do it if you don’t approve.”
    â€œAnd which couple would you want to work with? The people from Orlando or the French folks?”
    â€œI don’t know. Want to choose for me?”
    He laughed. “Not so fast, baby girl. Some things you have to decide for yourself.”
    â€œBut it’s so hard! I mean, okay, couple number two is out, but couples one and three seem like they could be wonderful parents.”
    A look of inward intentness grew in my husband’s eyes, then he reached out and tapped the last folder. The French couple’s file.
    I clapped. “I was hoping you’d pick them.”
    â€œWhy?”
    â€œI don’t know. They just seem sort of . . . elegant. And they’re older, so if they don’t get a baby soon, they’re probably not going to get one at all.”
    Gideon pressed a kiss to the nape of my neck. “Right now, I’m not so worried about other couples. I’m thinking you and I should spend some quality time together.”
    I giggled and slipped my arms around his neck, laughing as he picked me up and carried me to our bedroom.
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    A week away from Christmas, Mama Yanela’s grocery looked as though it had been caught up in a festive frenzy. Jenna offered free samples of pastry and Cuban cider at the bakery counter while Mario arranged a row of suckling pigs belly up in the meat display case. Mama Isa wore a bright red Christmas sweater and gold spangles in her dark hair and Tumelo occasionally stepped out of