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“A little.”
“Implantation or…?”
“Retrieval. You?” I asked.
The woman shifted in her seat.
“Implantation.”
“Congratulations.” I smiled. “You must be thrilled.”
“Hopefully, the embryo takes. It’s still a long road ahead. It’s not our first time, but we want our baby strong and healthy. Doctor Riley is the best. He’ll make sure our baby is… pure.”
Pure?
“Good luck,” I said.
The receptionist called out when I picked up a magazine. “Grace? Dr. Riley is ready for you.”
I shot off the couch too fast, nearly tripping, and followed the nurse inside. Half an hour later, I was lying in a paper gown as Dr. Riley performed the ultrasound.
“Any new donors on the list?” I asked.
“Yes, a new list was uploaded to your account at the clinic this morning.”
I hadn’t had the time to check my account. I still didn’t have my laptop, and I’d been too busy planning my escape.
“From your experience, Dr. Riley, do you think it’s better to find your own donor or one from the clinic?”
“You can call me Stephen in here too, Grace.”
Dr. Riley was dating—sort of dating—my Aunt Mary.
“If you’re having second thoughts about the clinic’s donor reputation—”
“No, I’m not. I’m just asking from your experience.”
He moved the ultrasound, focusing on the screen.
“Looks like we shouldn’t worry about that yet. I’m sorry, Grace, but there are too few follicles and no matured eggs. They’re larger than the last cycle, but still not viable. You’ll need to go through another IVF cycle, and we can try next month.”
I sank into the hard mattress, dejected.
“Grace, the best thing you can do for yourself is relax. Pressure and stress can be detrimental to your health in different ways. Take time off work. I know you can. And do something fun for yourself. While you’re doing that, see if you have a good friend willing to be a donor. Best friend.”
“I know you know my history, Stephen, and I’m not asking Hunter.”
“Why not? I heard he’s back.”
“It’s complicated. Too complicated.”
“Well, you know what’s best for you, but don’t get yourself down. And I’ll see you at the neighborhood party.”
“You’re coming as my aunt’s date?”
“Something like that.” He winked.
Dr. Riley was one of the youngest and most brilliant fertility specialists in the state, and my twice-divorced Aunt Mary has been seeing him for the past ten years. She lived in my neighborhood, and although Stephen lived in her pool house, he was my aunt’s steady boyfriend.
