The Impossible Castle by M. Gregg Roe

Author:M. Gregg Roe [Roe, M. Gregg]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2019-11-15T22:00:00+00:00

It was the distinctive way the young woman’s frown creased her cheeks that triggered Gabriel’s memory of once meeting her. She had been unfriendly toward him then, and that didn’t seem to have changed. Valinka was Kora’s cousin, several years younger, somewhat plump, and decidedly taller. Olive-skinned, she had shoulder-length, wavy auburn hair and dusky brown eyes that were currently looking his way. Gabriel thought the woman might actually be pretty if she ever smiled.

“This is just a preliminary meeting,” Kora told them. “Nothing will be decided, and there is no hurry.” That last part was Kora’s way of trying to placate him. She had taken his lack of any overt objection as approval to proceed with her plan. But Gabriel had wanted more time to research the matter and think it over.

Sitting across from the two of them, Valinka nodded once sharply, but with her arms crossed in front of her ample chest.

He had to admit that it was the perfect solution in one respect: If Valinka agreed to be their surrogate, then the child would also be related to Kora. It was another example of Kora’s problem-solving skills and practicality.

“Valinka eventually wants to have a child of her own,” said Kora, with a strained expression. “That might be part of the agreement.”

That emphasized the complication that Valinka disliked men as a gender, not just Gabriel. She was currently living with another like-minded woman who was somewhat older. Valinka had no interest in him as a sexual partner, and the feeling was mutual.

“Is there any way to … increase the odds?” Valinka asked. “I want to do it as few times as possible.”

“I’ll look into it,” said Kora, now frowning herself. “A positive attitude probably helps.”

That remark set Valinka off, and Gabriel sat quietly as the two women began to argue, something that they had obviously done many times before. His mind soon began to wander, and it startled him when Valinka suddenly rose to her feet. He remained seated as Kora showed her cousin out.

“She will agree,” Kora said as she resumed her seat next to him.

“She will?” Valinka hadn’t looked at all happy when she departed.

Kora snuggled up to him, and he put his arm around her. “Valinka is vain. She wants her children to be good-looking and intelligent. She doesn’t think much of you, but my plan is to introduce her to your mother and sister.”

Gabriel began to laugh. That might well convince Valinka.

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