Chapter 45

• Two weeks later, Emma found herself in Katie's living room, surrounded by children's toys and family photos. What had begun as a formal surrogacy consideration had evolved into something more personal—a genuine connection between two women with different life experiences but shared understanding.
• "Tim took the kids to his mother's so we could talk," Katie explained, serving tea in mismatched mugs. "Though I apologize for the dinosaur invasion in the living room."
• Emma smiled at the plastic triceratops on the coffee table. "It's nice, actually. Seeing a real family home."