“Oh,” I said, nodding. I didn’t say more, because I wasn’t sure if I would recommend the job. I thought about those women in the article I’d read in Dr. Salovich’s office. If they interviewed me now, I’d say it’s a big-time commitment with no privacy and plenty of physical risks but great pay. And it’s really important that you like your intended parents, because if you like them, you’ll feel much happier giving them the baby they always wanted.

“What will you do after the baby is born? Do you have another job?”

“I’m a trainer at a dog daycare in Minneapolis,” I said.

“Oh, cool, I love dogs.”

“I know,” I said, “they’re my babies.”

“Until now.” Sarah pointed at my belly.

“Ha, yeah,” I said, looking down. This thing in my belly hadn’t felt like a baby until about a month ago, when I was six months pregnant. I’d been at work, and it was around ten in the morning. My stomach suddenly growled, and I rubbed the area where I’d felt it. I assumed I was just craving food until it happened again and I saw it: a weirdly shaped roll flashed under my shirt, like those cartoons of a mole digging a trail under the dirt. And it felt like a tiny fist had punched me from the inside.

Sarah continued talking, but I wasn’t paying attention. I thought about the many times the baby had kicked since that first time, and how I’d rubbed my belly and talked to it, trying to settle it down. Sometimes I imagined what the baby looked like, and the closer I got to my due date, the more excited I was to see her. Whenever I had thoughts like that, I tried not to get too attached. “It’s a baby,” I said, interrupting Sarah, “but not my baby.”

“Oh, I’m sorry,” said Sarah. “I didn’t mean to hurt your feelings.”

“No, that’s okay,” I said, reminding myself of the plan. “After it’s born, I’m going to go back and finish college. To go into accounting.”

“That’s great,” said Sarah. “Bob’s an accountant.”

“Awesome,” I said, looking for Bob again. “Does he like it?”

“Yeah,” said Sarah, also looking for Bob.

Ruth walked over and handed me a chocolate chip cookie and a cup of cold water.

“This is Sarah,” I said.

“Nice to meet you,” said Ruth, smiling at me like, Oh, what an accomplishment, for me to make a new friend.

The instructor called everyone to order. Ruth walked back to our spot on the floor, but I stayed to ask Sarah for her phone number. I was looking for a piece of paper and a pen when Ruth called my name and pointed at the diaper-changing area for the next lesson. I shook my head and told her to wait a second.