The Surrogate He Discarded

Isobel bade Leanne goodbye and was on her way to the nursery to check on the twins when Judy stopped her.

”Can we talk?”

There was something different in Judy’s voice.

No sarcasm. No defensiveness.

Just hesitation.

Isobel studied her for a moment before nodding.

”Of course.”

She followed Judy down the stairs, to the side door that opened into the garden.

The evening breeze rustled through the trees, carrying the sweet, delicate, and fresh fragrance of flowers.

Near the edge of the lawn stood a wooden swing beneath the sprawling branches of a flowering Lanete tree.

Hundreds of tiny firelights had been wrapped around the branches, glowing like countless stars that had fallen from the sky and settled among the flowers. 𝘧𝓇ℯℴ𝓂

The warm golden lights flickered gently in the evening breeze, casting a soft glow over the garden.

Judy sat down and pushed herself forward with her feet.

The swing moved back and forth, its chains making a faint creaking sound.

With every movement, the firelight shifted across Judy’s face, sometimes illuminating her features and sometimes leaving them in shadow. The golden glow softened the usual sharpness in her expression, revealing the hesitation and guilt she had been trying to hide.

Isobel remained standing beside her.

Neither spoke.

After several moments, Judy’s movements gradually slowed until the swing barely moved at all.

She stared at the ground.

”I’m sorry.”

Isobel looked at her.

The warm lights reflected in Judy’s eyes, making the moisture gathering there sparkle. The glow softened her delicate features, giving her an almost ethereal appearance.

Judy swallowed.

”I know I’ve said that before, but...” She paused, searching for the right words. ”I don’t think I ever really apologized.”

Isobel said nothing.

Judy’s fingers curled around the iron chain.

”I was cruel to you.”

Her voice trembled slightly.

”I blamed you for things you had nothing to do with. I looked at you and saw...”

She stopped, her expression tightening.

”I saw the person that should have caused my mother pain. I saw a reminder of something I was angry about.”

She gave a bitter little laugh.

”And because you were the easiest person to blame, I blamed you.”

Isobel’s eyes softened.

”You were an innocent victim,” Judy continued. ”But somehow, I expected you to carry the consequences of it.”

She finally looked up at Isobel.

”That wasn’t fair.”

The words hung between them.

For perhaps the first time, Judy allowed herself to look directly at the shame she had been avoiding.

”You didn’t steal anything from me, Isobel. You didn’t betray anyone. You didn’t ask for any of this.”

Her eyes began to glisten.

”Yet I treated you as though you had.”

Isobel’s throat tightened.

Judy quickly looked away, embarrassed by the tears threatening to fall.

”I think I was so angry about what happened to our family that I forgot there was another person who had been hurt by it.”

She took a shaky breath.

”You.”

Isobel’s eyes grew wet.

Judy wiped quickly beneath one eye.

”I can’t change how I treated you before. I can’t take back the things I said.”

”You don’t have to,” Isobel said quietly.

Judy looked at her.

”It is all in the past. What matters is the present.”

A small, sad smile appeared on Judy’s lips.

”You really are too kind.”

There was no trace of the sarcasm that had once accompanied those words.

Isobel stepped closer and rested her hand on the swing’s chain.

”I am no saint, Sis.”

Judy froze.

I am no saint.

The words struck somewhere deep inside her.

It was the same words she used before when Julian asked her to accept Isobel.

”Your mother was the saint. She accepted me like I was her own, not the daughter of her rival.”

”Who am I, not to forgive you?”

There was no accusation Isobel’s voice.

No reminder of their past. Just acceptance.

Isobel gave the swing a gentle push.

Judy’s lips parted.

”Thank you for forgiving me.”

Judy lowered her head.

A tear finally slipped down her cheek.

”And I’m sorry it took me so long to understand that.”

Isobel didn’t answer.

She simply continued pushing the swing.

The silence between them no longer felt uncomfortable.

It felt like something healing.

After a while, Judy took a deep breath.

”I don’t want to be angry with you anymore.”

Isobel stopped.

Judy looked at her with a fragile smile.

”You’re my sister.”

The words were simple, but they seemed to cost Judy more than any apology.

”And I’d rather spend the years ahead getting to know you than waste them being angry about something neither of us can change.”

Isobel’s eyes filled with tears.

She squeezed Judy’s shoulder.

”Then let’s start now.”

Judy laughed softly, wiping away her tears.

”Now?”

”Now.”

For a moment, they simply looked at each other.

Then Judy smiled.

”All right.”

Judy stepped off the swing and hugged Isobel.

She felt so warm. Like the fell of her teddies when she was young.

The tension that had existed between them for so long finally seemed to loosen.

”There’s something else.”

Isobel raised an eyebrow.

”I’m leaving tomorrow.”

”So soon?”

”My husband is sick.” Judy sighed. ”And my in-laws are already complaining that I only recently married, yet I’ve spent so much time at my parents’ home.”

”I understand.”

”I won’t be able to attend your welcome celebration at the end of the month.”

Isobel’s smile faded slightly.

”I was hoping you’d be there.”

”So was I.”

Judy reached out and linked her arm through Isobel’s.

”But that doesn’t mean I’m getting out of celebrating with you.”

Isobel was quiet for a moment before asking, ”Where does your husband live?”

”Fiorenza.”

”Fiorenza?” Isobel’s eyes brightened with curiosity. ”You met him there?”

Judy shook her head.

”We met at a business convention here in Ambrussia. He was attending on behalf of his family.”

Isobel smiled faintly.

”I’ve never been outside Ambrussia,” Isobel admitted. ”Maybe someday I’ll visit.”

”You should.”

Judy’s face suddenly lit up.

”Dad and Mom have a seaside villa south of Fiorenza. It’s their vacation home.”

”A seaside villa?”

”Yes.”

Judy’s smile widened.

”You can come with them the next time they visit.”

She gave Isobel’s arm an affectionate tug.

”I’ll show you around Fiorenza myself.”

Isobel smiled.

It was a simple invitation.

But somehow, it felt like much more.

Judy wasn’t merely inviting her on a trip.

She was making room for her in her future.