Some of her excitement waned and uncertainty flickered in her eyes. “Oh. Um. Okay.”
“This is a medical facility, yes?” I said, unable to resist.
The woman looked around like she was checking her surroundings. “Um, yes.”
“And HIPPA still exists, right? I mean, I am still entitled to a little privacy when it comes to my health, right?”
As if just realizing how intrusive she was being, a flush spread across her cheeks and she looked down. “Oh. Of course. Yes. I wasn’t thinking. I’m sorry, I just –”
I cut her off. “In the future, I suggest you think about yourcomments a little more before making them. I’d hate for someone who has a close friend who also happens to be an attorney to take offense at something you said. You could lose your job. Or worse.”
Her head shot up and alarm flashed in her eyes. “Oh. No. That would be horrible. I’m sorry. I am. I wasn’t thinking. I was just excited. That’s all.”
She was still mumbling excuses when I pushed past her. “I know my way.”
The interaction had given me some of the confidence I’d been faking when stepping into the building, but even so, I was relieved to see Vera at the security checkpoint. We’d barely spoken, but I’d been here enough that I knew I could count on her sympathy. Even better, as if she’d been watching my interaction with the greeter, Vera had her lips pressed together to hold in a smirk, and her large, brown eyes were flashing with amusement.
“Miss Murphy,” she said as I fished out my ID.
“Hi, Vera.”
She scanned it even though she knew who I was, checked it, then passed it back. She didn’t let go when I grabbed it, and my gaze flicked up to meet hers, and finding the amusement gone, I sobered.
“Good luck…”
The way she let it hang in the air made it clear she was leaving the statement up to my interpretation, and that combined with her sympathetic expression gave me yet another boost.
“Thanks,” I replied, the word not even a little shaky.
She released the ID, and I put it away, then headed for the elevator.
Ramirez was standing by the elevator, the button already lit up and his automatic weapon held loosely in his hands. For once, there was no teasing in his expression, no amusement. He looked almost somber.
“Going up?” he said in a quiet voice.
“You know I am,” I replied, but managed a roll of my eyes.
He glanced past me, focusing on something else as he whispered, “I’m sorry.”
Without looking at me again, he returned to his normal position.
The interaction was strange and unexpected, and it had me wondering if Owen had been right. Maybe more people disagreed with The Fertility Act than I realized.
The elevator dinged and the door opened, and I stepped inside, preparing myself for what was to come. The greeter’s jubilation would be nothing compared to what I now faced. Everyone from Department of Fertility Barbie, to Hilary, to the doctor would be ecstatic to see me, and that joy would be multiplied by a thousand if my test came back positive. Before that happened, I needed to be Zen. In control. Chill. I wouldnotallow them to see how much this affected me, but I also wouldn’t fake happiness. Ever.
The elevator stopped, a ding sounded, and the door slid open. I stepped out, my back straight and an expression of indifference on my face as I headed for the reception desk. When Department of Fertility Barbie saw me, she began tapping her finger against her tablet. Seconds later, her eyes widened, and her face broke out in a smile.
“I see it’s been two weeks since insemination,” she said when she looked up.
“That’s right,” I replied in a flat tone.
“I take it you’re here for a test?”
“That’s right,” I repeated, unwilling to say anything else lest I give away my real feelings.
Department of Fertility Barbie’s head bobbed even as she reached for her phone. “I’ll let them know you’re here. You can take a seat.”
I didn’t thank her before heading to the waiting room.
