Thankfully, we don’t have to wait long before the doctor calls us in. I hobble in on my crutches, my stomach doing backflips, Colt right behind me. We take a seat in the pristine white office, and the doctor settles behind a large desk, flipping through some files as an awkward silence hangs between us.
I glance at Colt, silently asking what we should do. He just shrugs, so we sit and wait.
“Deliah Norman,” the doctor finally says, his voice cutting through the stillness.
“Yes, that’s me,” I reply.
He lowers the file and peers at me over his glasses. “And you must be the other half,” he says, eyeing Colt like he doesn’t recognize him, which makes me smile a little.
“Yes, sir,” Colt answers, sounding almost…nervous.
That’s so unlike him.
“Right. Doctor MacNamara sent me your files from New Jersey. Looks like you’ve had a rough go of it, dear.”
“Yes, sir,” I echo automatically.
He chuckles, setting the file down. “First things first. Stop with the ‘sir.’ I know I look intimidating, but I swear I’m nice. Call me Pete. ‘Doctor Doherty’ is way too formal, and ‘sir’ is definitely out.”
“Okay, thanks, Pete,” Colt says, his shoulders relaxing a little.
“Right,” Pete continues. “You’re here to talk about your options for starting a family?”
“We’re hoping to find out what steps we need to take,” Colt says.
“Perfect. First, I’ll need to review the eggs the New Jersey hospital harvested. We’ll fertilize them with Colt’s sperm to create embryos. Then, we implant them into a surrogate and wait to see if the pregnancy takes.”
He leans forward, folding his hands on the desk. “The first thing you need to do is find the right surrogate. She’ll need to undergo medical testing before implantation and, just as importantly, a psychological evaluation. It’s not just about carrying a baby. She has to be strong enough to hand the child over when the time comes. Not every surrogate can.”
I swallow thickly, nerves creeping in.
“If we have three eggs, do they all get placed at once, or do we get three separate tries?” I ask. Colt nods like he’s been wondering the same thing.
“We’ll fertilize all three at once and implant them together. Sometimes, one takes, sometimes more. It’s possible you couldend up with twins or even triplets. It’s also possible none take. That’s the risk.”
I nod slowly, unease curling in my gut.
What if none of them take?
Colt squeezes my hand, and when I glance at him, he gives me a steady look.
He’s thinking the same thing.
Pete offers a kind smile. “It’s important to be aware of the risks. But it’s just as important to stay positive. This path isn’t easy. However, if you stick together, communicate, and keep your focus on why you’re doing this, you’ll give yourselves the best shot.” He pauses. “Any other questions?”
“No, I think we’re clear,” I say. “Find a surrogate and go from there, right?”
“Exactly. Once we’ve found her, we’ll start on prenatal vitamins and prep her for the embryo transfer and counseling. It’s a process, but it’s worth it.”
I nod, hope sparking in my chest.
We could have a baby at the end of this.
Maybe even three.
Or…none.
Pete walks us through more of the medical details, handing over a stack of brochures and pamphlets. Despite the sheer amount of information, he talks to us like a friend, and somehow, I trust him completely.
