Old wounds

Chapter Three

Inside the cab, just a few minutes from the café, Emily couldn’t help but feel uneasy. Thinking about the conversation she had with Becca that morning didn’t help at all.

“I don’t trust that spoiled rich girl,” Becca had said with disdain after Emily told her about the text.

“She just wants to meet up. It’s no biggie,” Emily said defensively.

“Why couldn’t she just send you the money? That’s if she even wanted to help.”

“I don’t know,” Emily shrugged.

“See? That alone is suspicious. Why ask to meet at that overpriced café?”

“Becca, please don’t be like this,” Emily said, suddenly feeling low, the highs and thrills leaving her.

“I’m just trying to look out for you, Emily,” Becca responded, and Emily nodded.

“I think I should go alone,” Emily said, not wanting any more of this sudden sense of doom.

“Hey, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to make you feel that way. I’m just trying to help,” Becca said with an apologetic pout.

“It’s okay. I just figured it would be better that way. She doesn’t want a crowd, seeing as she picked the most luxurious café for a meeting place. Besides, I trust Vanessa.”

Those were the last words she had said to Becca before leaving her house.

Trust. Could she really say she trusted Vanessa? She hadn’t felt that way since the day Vanessa broke the news of her engagement to Richard.

The memory was still fresh in her head, painting a vivid picture of the moment she got the news.

“Emily! I got engaged!!” Vanessa had screamed at the top of her lungs, making Emily jerk.

“Oh my God, Vanney, that’s amazing!” Emily had screamed back, surprised but happy for her best friend.

“So, who’s the lucky guy?” She had asked the question that altered the course of their friendship to this very day.

Richard’s name left Vanessa’s lips, and Emily’s world tilted. The café chatter dulled into a meaningless hum, her throat tightening as she forced a nod. She should be happy. Vanessa was. But the pounding in her chest said otherwise.

Sitting there, watching her best friend describe how she was getting married to her lover, tore her apart. But she couldn’t tell Vanessa that her soon-to-be husband was the rich guy she had been secretly seeing for a year.

Emily had kept her mouth shut, listening to her best friend talk about her dream wedding, which broke her down. It took everything in her not to sob. Not even her absent-minded friend had noticed her change in mood.

Confirming the engagement from Richard was the straw that broke the camel’s back.

She had tried to maintain their friendship even after the marriage, but Vanessa had found out about her and Richard just a few months in.

All hell had broken loose. Emily tried explaining that she had ended things with Richard when she found out about the engagement.

However, Vanessa was furious that she hadn’t known earlier and had said something about Richard still being in love with her. Emily hadn’t paid much attention to it. He shouldn’t even think about her name.

That had turned their relationship sour. And now, with her nose deep in debt, she had no option but to come running to Vanessa. Her ex’s wife. Like a dog with its tail between its legs.

“We’re here,” the cab driver said, dragging an absent-minded Emily from her thoughts.

After paying the fare, she stepped onto the curb and walked closer to the building, where Café Majesty was written boldly on the large signboard above.

As she reached the entrance, the automatic doors slid open. Peeling her eyes around in search of Vanessa, her gaze came to an abrupt halt when she spotted her.

Emily immediately started feeling self-conscious. Walking toward Vanessa, who had already seen her and was waving her over, she couldn’t help but feel a pit in her stomach. When she got closer, they hugged, and the scent of Vanessa’s expensive perfume filled her nostrils.

“It’s been so long, Emily. You look well,” Vanessa said once they were seated, her lips widening into a smile.

“Thanks,” Emily anxiously, drinking in the sight of the woman sitting opposite her.

As they placed their order for overpriced cinnamon rolls and coffee, Emily couldn’t help but feel self-conscious about her clothing.

Her baggy jeans and T-shirt did little to flatter her, especially when compared to Vanessa, who looked stunning.

Vanessa's glowing skin, slick blonde hair, and two-piece jumpsuit looked like something she’d seen a model wear on a fashion runway. She was glowing and effortlessly fabulous. In contrast, Emily felt like the help.

“I know you’re wondering why I asked to meet up,” Vanessa finally said after a series of small talk, raising an eyebrow in seriousness.

“Yes, I thought maybe…”

“I need your help, Emily, so I’m willing to make you a deal,” Vanessa said, cutting her off.

“What deal?” Emily’s brows furrowed in suspicion, her fingers playing with the teacup as she suddenly lost her appetite.

“You need my help. I have the money to save your house, and I’m willing to let you keep it, too,” Vanessa responded after taking a sip of coffee, knowing full well how much Emily hated to owe.

Emily felt even more uneasy. What was Vanessa playing at?

“What do you want, Vanessa?” she asked, her tone sharp.

“Oh, come on, Emily, don’t be like this,” Vanessa said, sadness in her voice. Her expression suddenly softened as she reached across the table, engulfing Emily’s hands in hers.

“I need your help, Emily… it’s Richard… my marriage…”

Emily saw Vanessa’s eyes cloud with tears, shocked at her sudden outburst and display of emotion.

“What’s going on? Are you sick? Did something happen?” Emily asked, worry lacing her voice as her strong-girl facade cracked.

“My marriage is in shambles, and it’s because of me.” The tears she had been holding back now flowed freely. It was a good thing she had arranged this meeting miles away from home, Vanessa thought.

“Something is wrong with me…” Her lips curved sadly. “I can’t have children, Emily. We’ve done everything, been to the best doctors, but the problem is me.”

Vanessa snatched her arms from Emily’s and wrapped them around her torso, crying.

Emily felt her heartbreak. She hadn’t known what her friend had been going through.

“I’m sorry, Vanessa. I had no idea you were struggling,” Emily said, adjusting her chair to sit closer.

“But what do you mean when you said you needed my help?” she asked, stroking Vanessa’s hair.

What could she possibly have that could help her billionaire friend? It couldn’t be money.

A small smile curved at Vanessa’s lips, disappearing just as quickly before Emily noticed. She lifted her head and whispered,

“My womb is too small to carry a baby, Emily.” Her eyes bored into Emily’s as she spoke softly.

“And even if I do get pregnant, there’s a 90% chance I’ll lose my life and the baby’s.”

A tear dropped from her eyes as Emily inched closer to comfort her.

“Please, Emily, say you’ll help me,” Vanessa pleaded, tugging at her arm.

“I don’t know what you want from me. How can I agree when you haven’t told me yet? What if it’s something I can’t do?” Emily replied, confusion written all over her face.

“I need your help to make me a mother.”

Vanessa’s words echoed in Emily’s mind, her face turning pale. She tried to process it, but her thoughts went blank.

“I need a surrogate mother,” Vanessa clarified. “A baby will save my cold, drowning marriage… and it will heal me.”

Emily’s eyes widened in disbelief. She shifted her chair, putting much-needed distance between them.

“What are you asking of me?” She needed to hear it. Those unthinkable words.

“I don’t want just anyone as a surrogate, Emily. I want you.”