She hugged him long and hard. They, too, were twins. “I have water here in the cooler or I can go inside and get us something stronger. You looked tired.”
“Water’s fine. Let’s sit under the gazebo.”
They made their way across a huge deck and sat in the shade.
“Just visiting or did something happen?”
“Probably more than a visit.”
She touched his arm and left her hand there. “Tell me.”
“Do you know who Elise Preston is?”
“Of course. She starred inTake Me With You, one of my favorite movies, and it earned her an Oscar. She’s making another film,A Woman in Jeopardy,right here in Rockford. Why are you asking?”
“She stormed into my studio today and demanded I give her a session for infertility.”
“Ah. Something we both know a lot about.” For a few seconds shadows filled her eyes. He remembered that look from the days she wanted to give up.
They paused and listened to the happy banter of the twins. The boys were visible through the door to the pool from the grass.
“What did you say to her?” Fiona asked.
“That she had to make an appointment to see me. My first opening is a month away.”
“What’s she like?”
“She was entitled.” He explained how.
“That’s insulting.”
“But she wrote me an email later, apologized profusely and told me about her inability to get pregnant. It was sad.” He explained his response.
“Won’t it bring back bad memories to treat her?”
“I don’t know. I can’t spend the time with her that I spent with you.” In the three months it took Fiona to get pregnant—she’d been trying for years—Finn had either come over here daily or she’d met him at his practice for a session. He’d seen her every day until that glorious day when she said the magic words—I’m pregnant!
“You were a doll to do all that for me.”
“I’d do anything for you.”
“Back at ya, buddy.”
They were close, and until she met Tim, closer to each other than anybody in their lives. He’d never been jealous of Tim, though. It would be like being jealous of himself for loving someone.
“Did you meet her partner?”
“There’s no partner. It’s IVF. I’ve never treated someone during IVF. And as you know, I haven’t treated that many women for infertility.”
“But you’ve had successes with those you did.”
“Not that I can prove. But I know in my heart I helped bring four babies into the world.”
“What are you going to do about Elise Preston?”
“Talk to her on Sunday. See what she expects. Tell her my methods and see if she has enough free time to do it.”
“While making a movie? That sounds like a difficult task.”
