just wearing the same kind of dress; she was wearing the exact color and the same sandals.
“We’ll look like twin sisters,” she said.
“Why did you buy two exactly the same?”
“Oh, often I do when I really like something, two pairs of the same shoes, two of the same hats, and yes, two of the same dress. I hate when I can’t wear something because it needs cleaning or has a tear. Whatever.” She laughed. “I’m so spoiled, and now, for a while, so will you be.”
Would I? Did I want to be?
We went down to breakfast. Mrs. Marlene looked like she had been up all night. While Samantha rattled on about what we would do once we were free after the medical exams, Mrs. Marlene continually glanced at me. Our eyes often met and we exchanged knowing glances. I thought and felt Mrs. Marlene agreed that Samantha’s exuberance was coming from her nervousness and her desire to ignore what had happened at Wyndemere.
I couldn’t help but wonder if Mrs. Marlene fully understood why I was here and what I was about to do. How much had Samantha and Dr. Davenport actually shared with her? Did she approve? Disapprove? Would she ever tell me? I had no doubt she would worry about losing her position if she said anything negative about it to Samantha. Dr. Davenport had made it clear I was not to do so.
When it was time for us to leave, Samantha lingered beside me until Mrs. Marlene left the room. I had the feeling she didn’t want me to talk to Mrs. Marlene or Mrs. Marlene to talk to me without her present. Was it always going to be like this? Or was she just going to be this worried about me talking to anyone until I had completely agreed and had the embryo transfer? Even if that were true, would I be any different if it was I and not she who was having this done? Probably not, but I couldn’t see myself doing it unless it was the only way I could have a child.
Parker was waiting for us. All the way to the hospital, Samantha was obviously filled with more trepidation than I was. In a real sense, she was going to be having these tests, too. If I failed, she failed, at least for now.
When we arrived at the hospital, it was clear that Dr. Davenport was something of a hero there. Everyone moved quickly to get me processed. At times, I felt like this was more of an emergency than a routine examination. Even Parker looked surprised when we emerged much sooner than he had anticipated. We got back into the limousine to be brought to Dr. Bliskin’s office.
“There was one book I confess I read from cover to cover,” Samantha said as we drove on. “Once Harrison and I decided we wanted a child now.”
“What was that?”
“It’s called My Mommy Brain. You don’t have to read it, though—I can tell you everything,” she said. “And I’ll be right by your side should you have any of the symptoms.”
“What symptoms?”
“Nothing to be afraid of. A woman’s personality has to change a little if she’s pregnant, don’t you think? For you, it’s only going to be nine months. For me, it’s the rest of my life.”
Didn’t she think I might have a baby of my own someday?
“I’d like to read that book, too,” I said. “Who gave it to you?”
“My husband.” She thought for a few moments and then nodded. “Okay. I’ll give it to you after you’re pregnant.”
I wondered about it.
“Did your husband give it to you before or after you decided to do this?”
She smiled. “I really don’t remember,” she said, but I thought she said it just a little too quickly.
Something in that book might have frightened her. After all, how many women were going to deliberately seek out a surrogate to carry their own child? Surely, this was not Dr. Davenport’s intent when he gave the book to her. Perhaps he felt responsible, however. If my theory was right, he was the one to introduce her to all the medical possibilities because he feared he had ruined their chances to have a child.
When I thought about this, the part of my father in me wondered if I should have asked for more money. Chances were that I would have gotten it. But as strange as my father might find it, I would have felt guilty afterward, and certainly after meeting