He was an impressive man in his 40s with a penetrating gaze and assured manner. Elasa kissed him at the outset. He was the one who had won her suit for legal personhood, and it seemed they remained close. “Shep Shepherd, and Elen Elf,” she said. “Or Mr. and Mrs. Shepherd.” “That's amazing,” Moncho said, smiling. “She could pass for my daughter if she tried.” “Elen is nice too,” Elasa said. “Mona was sorry not to be able to introduce you to Shep, but they moved up the schedule and she had to go immediately.” “And now she's five months pregnant,” he said, laughing. “Farther than she went before.” “Before?” Elen asked. “Mona was the donor of the egg from which Bela formed,” Elasa explained. “The embryo was transplanted to me so I could have most of the pregnancy and birth the baby, but I could not conceive him. I have no genes of my own to offer.” Shep digested that. No wonder the two women were so close. That was actually Mona's baby. “This body I'm in made Bela,”
