beside me just as she practically was at the hospital. She looked at Dr. Bliskin, who sensed what she wanted and shook his head slightly.
“We’ll be fine,” he said.
I started out.
“Emma,” she called. I turned to her. “Don’t be frightened.”
“Why should she be?” Dr. Bliskin answered for me.
“I would be,” Samantha replied.
He smiled at me, and in his smile, I saw he understood everything. It was hard to explain it, but I could feel his self-confidence just as I could feel Dr. Davenport’s, only his had something extra. There was warmth attached.
Later, at lunch, Samantha wanted me to describe everything. I could see she was still annoyed that she wasn’t right there, practically lying beside me, experiencing everything I had. I wasn’t about to tell her some of the things Dr. Bliskin had said, either. Throughout it all, his questions revealed how surprised he was that I had agreed to be a surrogate, even knowing how much money I was offered.
“I don’t know as I can describe the tests accurately,” I said. “While it was going on, I closed my eyes and tried to mentally transport myself to a park. He was very gentle and considerate of my feelings the whole time. I think any woman would be comfortable with him.”
And then, the first time I directly challenged what she was doing and paying to have me do, I added, “I’m sure he could alleviate any woman’s fears about her own pregnancy. She would have no regrets.”
“If he assures us you’re in perfect health for what has to be done, he’s alleviated mine,” she said, smiling. Either she didn’t get what I was implying or she chose to ignore it. “Anyway, there’s nothing left to do but wait, which will hopefully be shorter than we expect.”
When it came time to leave to return to Wyndemere, she hesitated before we walked to the limousine.
“I wish I could take you away until this was over, but I should be at Harrison’s side during this troubled time.”
“I’ll help as much as I can,” I offered.
“That’s so sweet. I wonder if I would be the same if the shoe was on the other foot, but you’re not expected to do anything.”
When we arrived at Wyndemere, we saw half a dozen cars.
“Harrison’s medical associates paying their respects, I’m sure,” she said.
“What do I do?” I asked. What I meant was, How are you going to explain me? And how are you going to explain not being there before they arrived? Would she be out shopping at a time like this?
“Nothing. You simply showed up at an unfortunate time. Remember. You’re my college friend. We had some things that had to be done. No one will question us. Just relax.”
“Okay,” I said, and we entered.
We could hear soft conversation in the living room. When we stepped into the doorway, everyone stopped talking. Dr. Davenport was on the larger settee, two younger men in jackets and ties sitting beside him and two older men and a gray-haired woman in a jacket, skirt, and blouse outfit sitting on the other settee. Two more older men, who looked like they would probably be Dr. Davenport’s father’s friends, were standing.
“How’s Mother?” Samantha asked without waiting for me to be introduced. I thought it was interesting how in front of others, she would refer to Elizabeth Davenport as “Mother.” It implied a far warmer relationship than the one I had witnessed so far.
“Calmer,” Dr. Davenport said. He nodded at one of the men across from him. “Marvin is looking after her for me. You remember Dr. Wasserman, Samantha.”
“Of course,” Samantha said.
Everyone was waiting for her to introduce me, but she seemed stricken with a case of stage fright.
“This is Samantha’s friend from college, Emma Corey,” Dr. Davenport said.
“Oh, yes, sorry,” Samantha followed. “Emma was an exchange student from England who unfortunately has arrived to visit me at a difficult time.”
Everyone nodded at me, everyone but the older lady, who stared with skepticism.
“Exchange student?”
“Yes. Of course, she wanted to go home, but I assured her Harrison would appreciate her staying as long as she likes.”
“Where are you from in England?” the older lady asked.
“Guildford.”
“Yes, I know it well. I did some work at the Imperial College in London and took a few weekends there, but that was quite a while ago,” she said wistfully. She looked at the others, who nodded and smiled.
“This is Dr. Durring,” Dr. Davenport said. “She’s the head of our pulmonary department.”
“Hello,” I said.
“Friday,” Dr. Davenport told Samantha,