Accidental Surrogate for Alpha novel Chapter 417

#Chapter 417 – Sarah’s Story

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As Sarah and Jessica come to sit down at the table, I’m surprised to see Henry take the lead in speaking to them. I get a little cup of coffee for myself, and a bowl of sliced fruit – honestly, I’m going to be too distracted to eat much and listen interestedly to the start of the conversation.

I don’t know why I’m so surprised, but Henry really does shock me with how charming he is with Sarah and Jessica, immediately putting them at ease as he asks them very simple, easy questions about who they are and what they like. He doesn’t delve into any of the big questions that I’m sure we’ll get into soon where they lived, how they lived, and why they ran but instead 1 does a wonderful job of showing his interest in who they are as people.

As I sit down at my place next to Sinclair and begin to sip at my coffee, I’m interested to see how Henry concentrates his attention on Jessica. She’s so young and so shy at first, but his questions about what she likes – reading, and animals – and what she dislikes – cold weather, chores – really allow Jessica to open up. I see Sarah smiling warmly at her sister and then at Henry as she, too, sees Jessica shed her shyness and become the lovely, happy little girl that Sarah must know at home.

“Yes!” Jessica says, enthusiastic. “I love dogs! I wish I had one! We used to have one, but…” she hesitates, and then looks up at Sarah, biting her lip.

“Master Xander had lots of dogs,” Sarah says, smiling around at us. There was a puppy that we liked best of all we…called him our dog. Frisky, we said his name was.”

“Because,” Jessica says, laughing, ” He was always so playful! And he liked to get into trouble.”

I smile at the little girl, laughing and imagining her with the little dog. But I notice that Sarah’s face turns sad, and she looks away from Jessica, not wanting her to see. My own face falls as I realize that…this story must not have a nice ending. And that Sarah doesn’t want Jessica to remember that.

Luckily, Henry jumps in. “Well,” he says, raising his eyebrows at Jessica. Did you know that there is a mama cat, here in the palace? Who had her kittens just about a month ago?”

Jessica’s eyes go completely round as she gasps at the news. Henry leans forward, smiling at her.” Would you like to play with them?”

“Oh!” Jessica says, clasping her hands together and holding them tight under her chin. “Yes, please! Oh, I would like that very much!”

Henry looks over at my mate, who smiles and nods, letting him know it’s a good idea – and then Henry rolls away to a corner of the room, where he presses a button on an intercom and says a few words to whoever is on the other end.

As he does, I look over at Jessica who is beaming with excitement, and then down at my own baby, who sitting on my lap and blowing bubbles, grasping at the table cloth and generally exploring his world. When I look up at Sarah, I smile to see that her eyes are on Rafe as well.

She looks up and meets my eyes, her own face breaking out into a big smile to match mine. And I can see…a sort of pride there, in that she was able to help this little baby, to keep him safe with me.

Gratitude races through me first, and then, after it, a deep determination to give this woman everything she needs to build a life. She has given me everything – and I’m determined to give it back.

Before I can say anything, though, a young woman peeks through the door and we can all already hear the kittens mewing. Jessica gasps and stands right up on her chair, trying to get a better look as Henry beckons the young woman forward and directs her to the back of the room.

“Oh, Sarah,” Jessica says, her voice full of pleading as Sarah scolds her and tugs her down off the chair. “Please, please can I go and play with them?”

“If…that’s all right?” Sarah asks, looking around at the rest of us.