p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""Oh my God! You're perfect!"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"Emma was startled by the commotion. She opened her eyes and in front of her sat 2 grown men./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""What the fuck are you looking at?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"The 2 men scooted back into their seats out of shock./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""I'm sorry. I was just-"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""Neal just leave her alone," the man with glasses chided, "She looks like she's had a long day."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"Emma rolled her eyes and crossed her arms, "Yeah, you could say that."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"The city bus jolted forward, moving the passengers with it. It was quiet for a little while and Emma was growing increasingly more uncomfortable with the man staring at her. But before she could retaliate he spoke up./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""I'm sorry. It's just you have the most beautiful eyes I have ever seen and your cheek bones are immaculate. Your hair is also really nice," Neal tried pointing out./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"She rolled her eyes, "Look I'm not really looking for a relationship right now, just focusing on mourning at the moment."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"Neal's face softened in concern, "I'm sorry for your loss, but I'm not looking for a relationship. Me and my fiancé here, John, we're pretty happy together."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"Emma narrowed her eyes, "So why the compliments on my appearance? If you plan on kidnapping me… I can't even decide if I'm willing to go back to jail for your murder in retaliation or I'll just accept it because my life has gone to shit."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""Neal stop. She's clearly not in the mood," the fiancé stated./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""This might be our only chance, John."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""She doesn't even look like she can vote Neal!" he argued back./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""Look, clearly, y'all have some problems to work through. So, I will leave you be," she answered as she got up to leave./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""No wait!" the one she had come to know as Neal piped up, "How old are you?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"Emma narrowed her eyes, "What's it to you? You cops?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"Neal and John fervently shook their heads, "No, no. Nothing like that."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"They exchanged glances, as if arguing silently before Neal rolled his eyes, "First, how old are you sweetie? This conversation is pointless if you're not old enough."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"Emma crossed her arms, "I'm legal. That's all you're getting."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"John sighed in defeat as he waved on for Neal to continue./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""We're looking for a surrogate," Neal spat out./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""Neal!"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""What?! She's exactly what we've been looking for! And you just gave me permission!"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""You could've eased into it."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"Emma cleared her throat in an attempt to butt in, "Before you even speak another word, lets expand upon that surrogate thing. Are you talking about like a surrogate mother? As in carry a baby in my body?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"John shrugged sheepishly and Neal nodded, "Yes, we're looking for someone willing to carry our child. You wouldn't have to do anything but give birth to him. No responsibility, we won't come after you for anything. And you'll be helping out a thankful gay couple. We would be so-"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"Emma stood up from her seat as the bus was approaching the next stop, "Let me stop you there. Even if I wanted to do this, which I don't, I already have enough shit going on in my life. So, the answer is no."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"The doors to the bus opened and Emma was well on her way to exiting when Neal blurted something out./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""We'll pay you!"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"She stopped in her tracks and turned back to face the men. She needed the money. After Ingrid died in the car crash, she lost nearly everything. All she had to show for her time in Boston was a newly earned high school diploma and the death certificate for the only mother figure she had ever known. She was able to stay in the house until the end of the month, but after that the landlord was gonna put it back up for rent. She was an orphan, barely legal, no connections, no friends, no money, and nowhere to go. If they were offering money, she'd take it./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"She sat back down and cocked her eyebrow, "I'm listening."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"Neal grinned enthusiastically, while John sat beside him with concern written all over his face./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""We will pay for all the hospital bills, and you will receive a $75,000 pay out once the child is delivered. We will pay for everything from conception to birth. Anything you need. We don't know your living situation, but you are welcome to stay with us at our home in Back Bay. Or we can get a place of your own in the city. We just-" he paused for a moment to catch his breath, "We just want a child."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""And I will have no legal or financial responsibility for this hypothetical child?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""None at all. When the child is born you'll sign over parental rights and he's ours."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"She thought about it for a moment before agreeing, "Alright. Yeah, I'll do it, but I want some cash today."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""Done," Neal stated./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""And about that place for me to stay? How soon can you get it?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""As soon as you want. We can go choose something right now if you want. Our lawyer can draw up the contract and we can go sign you a lease," he replied./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""Nothing is of too much a cost," John piped in./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"Neal smirked, "Now look who's all to eager to join in."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""Well she clearly is no longer weirded out-"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""No, no, this is still plenty weird," Emma interrupted./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""Well you certainly look more open to the idea now, so why not secure the deal. We've been trying to find a surrogate for a while now," he replied./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""Why not just adopt? There's plenty of kids in foster care that need a home," she offered up./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"Neal took over again, "Oh we want to, I myself was in foster care for a bit, but we each are also the last heirs in our bloodlines and would like to have a child to carry it. Then when they're old enough, we can adopt, and they'll know we pay the younger more attention because they need it not because we don't love them. I just- I know how it feels to feel like you come in second to something that doesn't really matter. So we figured that spacing out the kids would make sure they never felt like that against each other."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"Emma took a moment to ponder and shrugged, "I guess."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""Well, now that that's settled," John said with a curt clap, "Lets get off at the next stop and we can walk over to our place and call over our lawyer."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"Emma shrugged again, "Fine, but if you've got all this money laying around to pay me, get me a place to stay, an on call lawyer, and yet you still ride the bus."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"John and Neal exchanged glances before Neal spoke up, "Well we have lots of money because I'm an environmental law lawyer and John's a pediatrician, as for the no car thing perhaps the environmental lawyer thing would explain why. You know save the trees and all that."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""Well if you got the money I'll take it and be out of your hair in 9 months."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"Emma was startled by the commotion. She opened her eyes and in front of her sat 2 grown men./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""What the fuck are you looking at?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"The 2 men scooted back into their seats out of shock./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""I'm sorry. I was just-"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""Neal just leave her alone," the man with glasses chided, "She looks like she's had a long day."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"Emma rolled her eyes and crossed her arms, "Yeah, you could say that."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"The city bus jolted forward, moving the passengers with it. It was quiet for a little while and Emma was growing increasingly more uncomfortable with the man staring at her. But before she could retaliate he spoke up./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""I'm sorry. It's just you have the most beautiful eyes I have ever seen and your cheek bones are immaculate. Your hair is also really nice," Neal tried pointing out./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"She rolled her eyes, "Look I'm not really looking for a relationship right now, just focusing on mourning at the moment."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"Neal's face softened in concern, "I'm sorry for your loss, but I'm not looking for a relationship. Me and my fiancé here, John, we're pretty happy together."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"Emma narrowed her eyes, "So why the compliments on my appearance? If you plan on kidnapping me… I can't even decide if I'm willing to go back to jail for your murder in retaliation or I'll just accept it because my life has gone to shit."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""Neal stop. She's clearly not in the mood," the fiancé stated./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""This might be our only chance, John."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""She doesn't even look like she can vote Neal!" he argued back./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""Look, clearly, y'all have some problems to work through. So, I will leave you be," she answered as she got up to leave./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""No wait!" the one she had come to know as Neal piped up, "How old are you?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"Emma narrowed her eyes, "What's it to you? You cops?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"Neal and John fervently shook their heads, "No, no. Nothing like that."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"They exchanged glances, as if arguing silently before Neal rolled his eyes, "First, how old are you sweetie? This conversation is pointless if you're not old enough."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"Emma crossed her arms, "I'm legal. That's all you're getting."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"John sighed in defeat as he waved on for Neal to continue./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""We're looking for a surrogate," Neal spat out./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""Neal!"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""What?! She's exactly what we've been looking for! And you just gave me permission!"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""You could've eased into it."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"Emma cleared her throat in an attempt to butt in, "Before you even speak another word, lets expand upon that surrogate thing. Are you talking about like a surrogate mother? As in carry a baby in my body?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"John shrugged sheepishly and Neal nodded, "Yes, we're looking for someone willing to carry our child. You wouldn't have to do anything but give birth to him. No responsibility, we won't come after you for anything. And you'll be helping out a thankful gay couple. We would be so-"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"Emma stood up from her seat as the bus was approaching the next stop, "Let me stop you there. Even if I wanted to do this, which I don't, I already have enough shit going on in my life. So, the answer is no."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"The doors to the bus opened and Emma was well on her way to exiting when Neal blurted something out./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""We'll pay you!"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"She stopped in her tracks and turned back to face the men. She needed the money. After Ingrid died in the car crash, she lost nearly everything. All she had to show for her time in Boston was a newly earned high school diploma and the death certificate for the only mother figure she had ever known. She was able to stay in the house until the end of the month, but after that the landlord was gonna put it back up for rent. She was an orphan, barely legal, no connections, no friends, no money, and nowhere to go. If they were offering money, she'd take it./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"She sat back down and cocked her eyebrow, "I'm listening."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"Neal grinned enthusiastically, while John sat beside him with concern written all over his face./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""We will pay for all the hospital bills, and you will receive a $75,000 pay out once the child is delivered. We will pay for everything from conception to birth. Anything you need. We don't know your living situation, but you are welcome to stay with us at our home in Back Bay. Or we can get a place of your own in the city. We just-" he paused for a moment to catch his breath, "We just want a child."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""And I will have no legal or financial responsibility for this hypothetical child?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""None at all. When the child is born you'll sign over parental rights and he's ours."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"She thought about it for a moment before agreeing, "Alright. Yeah, I'll do it, but I want some cash today."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""Done," Neal stated./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""And about that place for me to stay? How soon can you get it?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""As soon as you want. We can go choose something right now if you want. Our lawyer can draw up the contract and we can go sign you a lease," he replied./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""Nothing is of too much a cost," John piped in./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"Neal smirked, "Now look who's all to eager to join in."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""Well she clearly is no longer weirded out-"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""No, no, this is still plenty weird," Emma interrupted./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""Well you certainly look more open to the idea now, so why not secure the deal. We've been trying to find a surrogate for a while now," he replied./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""Why not just adopt? There's plenty of kids in foster care that need a home," she offered up./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"Neal took over again, "Oh we want to, I myself was in foster care for a bit, but we each are also the last heirs in our bloodlines and would like to have a child to carry it. Then when they're old enough, we can adopt, and they'll know we pay the younger more attention because they need it not because we don't love them. I just- I know how it feels to feel like you come in second to something that doesn't really matter. So we figured that spacing out the kids would make sure they never felt like that against each other."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"Emma took a moment to ponder and shrugged, "I guess."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""Well, now that that's settled," John said with a curt clap, "Lets get off at the next stop and we can walk over to our place and call over our lawyer."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"Emma shrugged again, "Fine, but if you've got all this money laying around to pay me, get me a place to stay, an on call lawyer, and yet you still ride the bus."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"John and Neal exchanged glances before Neal spoke up, "Well we have lots of money because I'm an environmental law lawyer and John's a pediatrician, as for the no car thing perhaps the environmental lawyer thing would explain why. You know save the trees and all that."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""Well if you got the money I'll take it and be out of your hair in 9 months."/span/p