The Surrogate Wife novel · Chapter 6 of 16

Chapter 6: Courtroom Three

Tuesday morning was cold and bright.

Noah had been home since Sunday.

Home meant Peter's house, because the order still said so.

Kendra had not been fired.

I knew because Elaine had posted a photo of her pushing Noah's stroller along the water with the caption, Our angel.

I got to the New London courthouse at seven.

Nobody saw me go in the side door.

Harriet was waiting in her chambers with two cups of tea.

"You don't have to do it this way," she said.

"Yes, I do."

"You'll be sitting on my bench for the morning calendar. When your matter is called, you say what you need to say, and you step down."

"I know the rules, Harriet."

"I know you know them. I'm reminding you that you're allowed to breathe."

At eight Isaac knocked and came in with the folder under his arm.

He stopped when he saw the robe on the hook behind me.

"You're really doing it."

"I'm really doing it."

He came close and straightened the collar of my blouse, though it didn't need it.

"The ER nurse signed an affidavit," he said. "The officer's report is in. And I have the 911 recording."

"Ethan's call?"

"Four minutes of your son singing the boat song to his brother."

I had to look at the window for a second.

"Don't make me cry before I go out there."

"You're allowed," he said. "Just not in front of Elaine."

Keep reading free with an account. Start The Surrogate Wife from Chapter 1, then sign up free to read the rest of this chapter.