The Richman (Book 2) - First Impression

Leah and Ben arrive at a small building where the agency is based. Maybe they chose this place with operational cost considerations. Ben found the right parking space and Leah got off followed by her husband.

"Are you ready?" Ben asked Leah because she looked hesitant as she was about to step into the building.

"Yes." Leah sighed then nodded.

"Ok, let's go inside. We'll see what's inside the building." Ben took Leah's hand and they opened the door, to find a black woman with shoulder-length curly hair that seemed to be bouncy. A smile appeared on her lips as soon as Ben and Leah headed towards her. A typical smile that shows a row of white teeth.

"Good afternoon." She greeted them with a crispy voice and a wide smile.

"Good afternoon. Well . . . . I'm Leah Anthony and this is my husband, Ben." Leah introduced herself.

"Oh finally." The woman reached out to shake Leah and Ben's hands in turn, what a wonderful hospitality the young couple received. "I'm Amanda." The woman introduced herself. "Come with me, I'll take you to class." said the receptionist.

Leah and Ben stepped into a room of about ten people, with two heavily pregnant and some looking like a married couple.

Amanda approached a well-built woman who was sitting in the middle of the class. His curly hair is cut to the shoulder and he looks very friendly, his voice is also distinctive like a therapist or hypnotherapist. Amanda whispered to him and it suddenly made her look at Ben and Leah who were still standing by the door.

"Oh Hi ..." that fatty woman greeted Leah and Ben with a wide smile. "We welcome our new friends, Mr. and Mrs. Anthony." She pointed her hand at Ben and Leah while the others followed with wide-eyed gazes and smiles as they greeted them.

"Let's join, I'm Grace the founder of this agency." Grace walked over to them and gave them both a seat. "Please sit down and join."

Ben and Leah joined forces and sat between a couple of couples who looked a little odd because the formation was like one man with two women.

"This is not a polygamy class." Grace started to open the class. "And our new friend still looks very confused." Her gaze was directed at Ben and Leah who were sitting in an uncomfortable position at all, Ben looked more normal than Leah. Because Leah's eyes first fell on the girl with long hair in jeans and a lilac t-shirt with a dark purple cardigan. Her smile was sweet and several times Leah found her staring at Ben.

"In this class, we will only support each other, be it surrogacy mothers or parents because our goal is a very noble goal, together to create a new life, the birth of a tiny baby in this world," Grace said reassuringly.

"For some couples, this meeting is important, especially before deciding to take the step of surrogacy, you can get to know each other's perspective surrogacy mothers, because they are the tree of life where your baby will be deposited in their womb until they are ready to be born into the world," Grace added.

"I will give time for each of you to express your impressions during this time attending classes and also going through the surrogacy process." Grace gave them a chance and each of them recounted everything they had experienced.

Ben seemed to enjoy the stories that some couples shared with their chosen surrogacy mother. Meanwhile, Grace approaches Leah and Ben.

"Come with me, we have to talk," Grace said, she also took the two young women sitting there with her.

Grace, Leah, and Ben, as well as the two young women, sat in a room containing only the five of them.

"This is Susan and this is Shanon." Grace introduced the women's prayers in turn.

"They are surrogacy candidates for the two of you," added Grace.

"Um... but as far as I know there were four people yesterday." Leah seemed a little protested by the new reality she was facing.

Grace smiled briefly, "Mrs. Anthony, finding the right surrogacy isn't what you think. We have this agency and it's been around for eleven years. We've been through a lot, the surrogate mother before meeting a couple who would ask for their help, or even after seeing them. There are also several health factors that then make the replacement procedure unworkable. And in your case, three candidates are facing themselves, one for dealing with it, and the other two for medical reasons. Finally, their health condition is not as good when they were in their twenties." said Grace to explained to Leah and Ben the big line of surrogate mother.

Ben turned to Leah, "Honey ..." Ben squeezed Leah's hand, and Leah leaked Ben in disbelief.

"Susan and Shanon are potential surrogate mothers, they are young, they are intelligent and they have been thoroughly examined regarding their health, especially their reproductive health. Grace recommends.

"I'll leave you two to get to know each other." Grace chose to return to the big class while Ben and Leah seemed to be being held by the two girls to choose one of them.

"Em, sorry I think I have to talk to my wife." Ben took the middle ground. He pulled Leah out of the room and spoke alone.

"It's ok Sir." Shanon answered while Susan smiled at them.

Leah, who still looks quite confused after being so close to the two young girls, seems to need Ben's help to clarify her feelings. Ben Anthony himself did not really want this procedure, but the encouragement from his family and also the intention of his own wife was so great that Ben finally agreed to this procedure to have children. And now Leah seemed to be doubting her standing position, whether to continue or to withdraw from the initial stage of the surrogacy.

***