“Assuming everything with the bloodwork is okay,” she said, also getting to her feet, “we’ll see you back here in four weeks.”
“Four weeks,” I repeated.
When we stepped into the hall, Hilary waved in the direction of the waiting room, making it clear I was to see myself out.
“Have a good day, Ara,” she said in that chipper voice of hers.
“You too,” I replied, feeling distracted and confused.
The sensation stuck with me as I headed out, making me feel so weighed down that even Ramirez’s playful banter couldn’t distract me. Why did I have a bad feeling about this?
The uneasiness continued as I walked to work. I’d gone to the appointment early so I would miss very little, and when I looked at my phone, I was relieved to realize I would be less than an hour late. Not that Bruce wouldn’t notice.
Work turned out to be a good distraction, and by the time I made it home that night, my uneasiness had faded, and I was able to convince myself it had been totally unwarranted in the first place. Hilary was right. While there were things that could go wrong, they weren’t common, and the odds that I’d need surgery or that the baby had some strange genetic issue were slim. Plus, it didn’t matter. The surgery would be minor and quick if it needed to be done, and the recovery easy. And if the baby had a health problem, I wouldn’t be the one who had to worry about it. The adoptive parents would. All I had to do was carry the thing to term. Nothing else.
I slept well and woke to less nausea than the day before, which I was happy about, and arrived at work nice and early. Which Bruce felt the need to point out.
“On time today, I see,” he said, a fake smile plastered on his face that didn’t hide the irritation in his eyes.
“You are a master of observational skills,” was my curt reply.
He scowled, which I ignored.
It was a day of meetings that kept me so busy I didn’t have a chance to even glance at my phone until almost noon, which was when I noticed the multiple missed calls from Hilary. Preoccupiedby my next meeting, I hit the button to call her back as I walked to the bathroom, wanting to get it over with so I could concentrate on work.
She picked up almost immediately.
“Ara,” she said in a breathless voice, “I’ve been trying to get in touch with you.”
“Sorry, I’ve been in meetings all morning,” I replied.
“The Department of Fertility takes priority over your job. It’s in your contract.”
I paused outside the bathroom, pinching the bridge of my nose when I felt a headache coming on. This woman was seriously irritating. “What am I supposed to do if I’m in a meeting?”
“Keep your phone on and answer if there’s a call from me. Your co-workers will understand. It is, after all, the law.”
“Not all of my co-workers know I’m in the program,” I replied, glancing around to make sure no one was listening.
“And why not?” she snapped.
“Because it’s private. Personal. They don’t need to know my medical history.”
“This is public record, and it’s not like you’re going to be able to hide it forever. What happens when you start to show?”
“I’ll tell people when I have to,” I snapped, “but for now, it’s none of their business.”
Hilary let out a huff. “I don’t see the point in secrecy. Plus, you should be proud of the part you’re playing in saving the human race.”
It was my turn to huff. “What was it that you wanted, Hilary?”
“Oh, yes,” she said, as if just realizing she’d called for a reason. “We need you to come into the office right away.”
My entire body stiffened. “What? Why? What’s going on?”
“That’s a discussion for when you arrive, which should be as soon as possible.”
Dread pooled in my belly. Something was wrong. What was it, though, and how would it affect me?
