“Uh. I’ll have the cocoa,” Brooklyn said.When in Rome.
“Just sparkling water for me,” Virginia answered, taking off her coat and slinging it over the back of one of two modern upholstered chairs opposite the doctor’s desk.
“Perfect. I will be right back. Dr. Alcott will be in any minute now.”
Brooklyn took a seat. “Well, I’ll tell you one thing, I’m way less nervous now.”
“Talk about rolling out the red carpet.”
“Actually, I scoured the Google reviews and everyone had wonderful things to say about the staff. I just didn’t know it was going to end up being so true.”
Beverly appeared moments later with their drinks, delivered on a glossy white serving tray. “Please don’t hesitate to let Dr. Alcott know if there’s anything else you need.”
“Did I hear my name?” A sweet and fluttery voice came from behind them, and a tiny woman wearing a white lab coat ambled into the room. She came to a halt right in front of Brooklyn. “Ms. Monroe. Truly, we are honored that you’ve chosen our little clinic.” She turned. “And let me guess, you’re her sister.”
“Guilty as charged. I’m Virginia.”
“Splendid,” Dr. Alcott said. Sitting in her chair, she took a moment to address both Brooklyn and Virginia again, with an easy grin and a calming presence. She was what Brooklyn imagined Mrs. Claus might have looked like in her late forties, with a flush in her cheeks and kind eyes. “Normally, this is the time when I ask a new patient what brings them here, but I think we all know what Brooklyn Monroe wants. To have a baby. On her terms. On her own.”
“Yes. Exactly.” It was so nice not to have to explain herself for once.
Dr. Alcott swung her chair around and pulled out a three-ring binder, which she gently placed on the desk in front of Brooklyn. The cover had photos of dozens of smiling babies, and it made Brooklyn’s heart swell. “This will be your guide during this journey. It contains everything you need to know about the sequence of events that will happen over the next several months. And most important, it includes a phone list for key staff. If you ever have a question, or doubts, or are worried about even the slightest thing, I want you to call us. We are here for you.”
Brooklyn scooted forward on her chair and opened the binder. Inside was tabbed sections with titles like “Schedule”, “Appointments”, and “Lab Work”. It was all highly organized and very thorough. “This looks wonderful.”
“So as soon as you’re ready to put your trust in us, we’ll start with the basic fertility assessment. Blood work, exam, and ultrasound. After that, we’ll start you shopping for a donor in our database and we’ll decide on best course for insemination. At every step, our in-house psychologist will be available for counseling if you’re feeling unsure or are encountering any emotions you hadn’t quite counted on. And of course, I’m here to chat whenever you need me.”
“It all sounds amazing.” Brooklyn loved having so much support and reassurance, but there was also this little voice in the back of her head that was expressing doubt. Perhaps she simply needed to get more comfortable with the idea. Coming to the clinic today had been a big step, one that was worth acknowledging.
“What’s your success rate, Doctor Alcott?” Virginia asked.
“I’m proud to say we average 88 percent within three cycles. Depending on when we start, you could be pregnant by late winter or early spring.”
Brooklyn’s heart leapt at the prospect, despite that stupid little voice in her head. “I guess I’ll just go ahead and make my first appointment then.”
“Wonderful. Beverly will be happy to get you all squared away at the front desk.” Dr. Alcott stood and reached out to shake hands with Brooklyn. “And thank you, Ms. Monroe. We can’t wait to help you have a baby.”
Brooklyn and Virginia returned to reception, where a perpetually upbeat Beverly booked Brooklyn’s appointment for her fertility assessment, the week after Thanksgiving.
“I’ll call you if we have any cancellations and can get you in any sooner,” Beverly said.
“Perfect. Thank you.”
Outside, Brooklyn and Virginia waited by the curb for Virginia’s driver to pick them up. “Well?” Virginia asked. “Pretty awesome, huh?”
“Yes. I don’t think I could have asked for anything more.”
Virginia squeezed Brooklyn’s arm and looked her square in the eye. “You could be pregnant by Valentine’s Day. Just think about that.”
Brooklyn smiled and nodded. “I know. Crazy, right?”
Virginia cocked her head to one side and narrowed her gaze on Brooklyn. “You’re having doubts, aren’t you?”
Her sister knew her so well. Too well. “No. Not really. I’m just…” She wasn’t sure what she was, other than 99% convinced that this was the right thing to do and 1% undecided if this was her best path forward.
“I hope you know it’s totally normal to question this. The minute I found out I was pregnant with Dallas, I freaked. We’d spent four months trying to get pregnant, and then the minute I saw the plus sign on the stick, I panicked and asked Tom what in the hell we were doing.”
“Really?”
