How to convince him?
Maybe she’d send him an email. She rarely wrote her own, but she did have a private account. She clicked into it.
Dear Mr.McKenna.
I apologize profusely about the episode in your waiting room. It was totally wrong of us to make a scene. I’m afraid my infertility has caused me to be emotionally volatile. Your article said you’ve experience with it, so you know it can be monstrous.
Could you give me a second chance? I’ll wait the month for you to see me. But also, if you have a cancellation could please squeeze me in?
Thank you for considering this email from me.
Elise Preston.
She lay back against the pillows and sighed. A headache stirred in the back of her brain.Please God, not another migraine. I’m too raw for it.
Closing her eyes, she dozed. She didn’t know how much later before the chimes on her email awoke her. She snatched the iPad up.
Dear Ms. Preston,
You’re forgiven for your abrupt appearance at my studio. Yes, I’ve had experience with infertility, more than I’d like. I know how debilitating it can be. That’s why I’ll come in on Sunday when my studio is usually closed and meet you for a session. Plan for an hour and a half, as the first part will be filling out forms and an interview. Ten o’clock. Let me know if you can make it then.
Finn
She typed,“I’ll be there. Thank you so much.”
* * *
After work, Finn made a spontaneous decision to stop at his sister’s house. She lived on the same side of the city as the collective. He drove up to the three-story home and as usual admired the treed setting. He heard noise out back and followed it. Out here, the sun shone brightly on this June day. He found Fiona in the pool area with her twins. They were splashing wildly in the shallow end.
“I got you,” Joey cried out.
“No,Igot you.” This from Jason.
“Did not.”
“Did too.”
“No bickering you two,” his sister called out. “Why don’t you swim across the pool for Mommy.”
They both took off, using a clumsy arm over arm stroke that would be perfected by practice. They reached the side at the same exact moment.
And saw Finn.
“Uncle Finn,” Joey screamed climbing out of the pool.
“Uncle Finn,” Jason also shouted. And hefted himself to the side, too.
Both boys launched themselves at him. Two wet bodies clung to his legs. He loved their affection-and was glad he’d changed into shorts before he left work.
“All right guys,” Fiona said. “Go dry off on the jungle gym. I want to talk to my brother.”
“Will you play with us in the pool afterward?”
“I will. I promise.”
The boys obeyed and Fiona handed him a towel. “Want to change into one of your swimsuits since your shorts are wet?”
“Nah. These’ll dry. Feels good in this heat.”
