Chapter 3

third person pov:

Catherine Barlowe leaned back in her office chair, rubbing her temples as she reviewed her latest research notes. The study on adolescent cognitive development was yielding fascinating results, but the data compilation was proving to be more tedious than she'd anticipated. With a sigh, she glanced at her watch. When she saw the time she smiled, it was time to head back home.

Living close by campus was a necessity, so of course Catherine bought a house in Connecticut. She knew college students would seek out her cheap rent. She also knew that college students don't read leases closely.

Catherine packed up her things and headed out, the brisk autumn air, a welcome change from the stuffy confines of her office. As she approached her house, she saw a petite figure struggling with suitcases outside the entrance. The girl looked up, and their eyes met.

"Hi there, do you need some help?" Catherine called out, quickening her pace.

"No it's okay I got it, thank you," the girl replied, her voice exuding exhaustion.

Catherine took the suitcase from her anyway, noting its light-weight. She smiled to herself. "You must be my new roommate. I'm Catherine."

"Nice to meet you, I'm Erika," the girl said, smiling shyly.

Catherine did a double-take. Erika looked impossibly young, she was expecting someone at least a little older. "Erika, it's great to meet you too."

Catherine unlocked the door with her spare hand letting them both into her home. Erika walked in, taking a deep breath before stepping inside. The door creaked slightly as she pushed it open, revealing a narrow hallway that seemed to stretch on endlessly. The faint scent of lavender and aged wood greeted her, a mix of old and new that felt unfamiliar.

It was huge compared to her home back in Okinawa. Her footsteps echoed softly on the wooden floor as she moved forward, her eyes wide with curiosity. The walls were adorned with very few framed photographs and paintings.

Catherine broke her daze, "So let's sit before you get completely settled in and go over the lease agreement."

Erika nodded. She left her suitcases along with her bag by her seat on the couch. Catherine took a seat right next to her.

"Did you read the agreement completely and thoroughly?" Catherine asked in the least bossy way she could.

Erika's eyes shifted over to Catherine quickly. Catherine could see the embarrassment on her face that practically answered that question for her.

"I didn't read it completely, but my mother signed it, so everything should be fine." Erika replied, looking away from Catherine. Erika thought that this was about the pay times and whatnot.

Catherine looked perplexed, "Why did you not sign it?" she asked.

"Oh because I'm not 18 yet. If I was I would have just signed it" Erika stated while tilting her head with confusion at Catherine's new expression of slight shock, "Is this because of the rent times, because I assure you all would be paid on tim-"

Catherine cut her off slightly, "No it's not about that, it's just there's a very important, clear portion of the lease that has an agreement to compensate for the rent."

"Oh. What is the agreement?" Erika's eyes were wide with anticipation as she asked.

Catherine sighed with a slight sad smile, "Well, throughout the years I focused heavily on my career, and though I've become very successful, I now want nothing more than a family."

Erika nods, though still in a state of puzzlement. She can't help but wonder what this conversation will lead to.

"But when I tried to have a baby, the doctor said I was infertile. And adoption is a hard, long process that requires a lot of time that my career doesn't allow for." Catherine focused on Erika's reactions before continuing. Her big brown eyes glistened with confusion, but also wonder. Catherine couldn't help but be intrigued by her.

Erika took the moment of silence from Catherine as an invitation, "I'm so sorry, but I'm also confused," Erika said, tilting her head once more out of instinct.

"Oh yes, let me get to the point, so in the lease it details that for two hours a day you will agree to act as if you were my child, my baby." Catherine finished.

Erika's eyes widened in shock and confusion. "Your... baby?" she echoed, her voice barely a whisper.

Catherine nodded, her expression earnest but gentle. "Yes, Erika. I know it sounds unusual, but it's a condition of the lease. For two hours a day, you'll spend time with me, doing things that a child might do with their mother."

Erika sat back, trying to process what she'd just heard. She had expected college life to be challenging and different, but this was beyond anything she could have imagined. "What exactly would I have to do?"

Catherine leaned forward, her voice soothing, but stern. "Well, we can start slow," Catherine gets up leaving the living room and heading to the kitchen, "look," she said as she was walking. Catherine grabbed a bottle along with a pacifier.

Erika's eyes shift quickly to Catherine's moving body. She looks as if she has seen a ghost, "So you want me to use those?" Erika questioned.

"Yes, the idea is to create a bond, to give me the experience of having a child, and in return, you have to pay no rent." Catherine replies as she sits back down. She pulls out the plastic covering the pacifier and offers it to Erika.