Free Vada Faith by Barbara A. Whittington

Coke can on the reception counter with a slight bang and went across to the display cabinet that held the products we used.
    Surprisingly, Joy Ruth hurried off to work on Dorene without any questions.
    “What’s the matter?” Dottie asked, trotting along behind me like a wounded puppy. “Did I say something wrong?”
    “No.” I snapped, looking at the array of hair products. I was furious at the woman. For showing up here unannounced and for talking about the surrogacy. Then pulling out that baby outfit. What was wrong with her? She might as well announce my intentions on the evening news.
    “Dottie,” I said, trying to calm myself down, “it’s just not appropriate for you to come in here and talk about me having a baby for you. This surrogacy is very personal and private to me.”
    I turned to say more and then I really looked at her. Her eyes were filling with tears and she looked pathetic. I just couldn’t be mad at her. After all she’d been through. Wanting a baby and trying so hard to have one. Then being discouraged and being childless.
    Maybe there was something wrong with me if I didn’t want to discuss the surrogacy.
    “Listen,” I said, sighing, “I haven’t told anyone yet, that’s all. I wanted to wait. Look,” I patted her arm, “it doesn’t matter, okay.” I picked up a bottle of the expensive hair spray and handed it to her. “Here’s what I used. You take it and try it. If you like it next time you can buy it.”
    “Oh, I’m glad you’re not mad at me. Honey, you are the sweetest person I’ve ever met.” She beamed at me. “I’m happy you’re having our baby. I can’t believe it yet. Within a year I’m going to be a mother.” She leaned over and hugged me. “It’s all because of you, honey. You’re the best thing that’s happened to me and Roy in a long time.”
    When I got the woman out the door with her parcels, Barry came up to me, snapping his fingers, “Hey,” he lowered his voice, “I heard what she said. You’re going to be a surrogate mother.” He ran his fingers through his thinning hair and smiled brightly. “Tell me I’m right. Come on, girlfriend.”
    Barry was the nosiest person I knew and of course he’d been eavesdropping. “Give, now,” he said with the same Richard Simmons perkiness he’d had all his life.
    “I’m only thinking about it, Barry,” I said, wearily. I was tired of trying to keep it quiet. “I haven’t told anyone yet.”
    “This is a great story.” He put his arm around my shoulder as I walked back to my station. “I could break it on the evening news,” he said, in my ear. “Then, you could appear on Live with Maddie Magill and explain what you’re doing. Her talk show is fun. People will love you for doing this.”
    “No!” I pulled away from him. I was afraid everyone in the shop was talking about Dottie Kilgore. I glanced around and could see that most of the women had gone back to what they were doing before she had arrived. Most of them were buried behind magazines. “John Wasper would never want this on television.”
    I took the broom and swept around my chair then picked up the small pile of hair with a paper towel. I thought of John Wasper who was putting up an oak shelf for Midgy today. “He’s not keen on this anyway.” I lowered my voice. “You just keep quiet about it for now. You hear?”
    “Fine,” he said in almost a whisper. He took a card from his wallet and handed it to me. “I won’t tell a soul until I hear from you. I promise. Call me, honey, and let us do this story. You’re the first person in Shady Creek to be a surrogate mother. This is big. People will be interested. This is exciting, historic. Women who can’t have babies will love it. You may persuade someone else to be a surrogate.” He was rocking back and forth on his feet, proud of himself.
    He was the kind of person you couldn’t help but like even when he was driving you nuts. John Wasper would never want me appearing