The Fertility Factor

“I’m teasing,” she said with a laugh. “How was the date? Did you like Zack? Isn’t he great looking?”

And dumb, Lara mused. “Is he really an attorney?”

Carrie squinched her nose. “He hasn’t passed the bar exam yet. That’s really difficult, you know. But he does work as a document clerk at the district attorney’s office. What did you think of him?”

“Interesting,” she said noncommittally. To avoid more talk about him, she waved goodbye on her way to the door, then hurried forward to usher a patient into an examining room.

At Lara’s announcement that Derek wasn’t there and another obstetrician would see her, the woman frowned, but a tease colored her voice. “Dr. Cross isn’t supposed to have days off.”

I miss him, too. Lara kept the thought to herself, but that didn’t stop her from thinking about him during the next few hours. No matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t forget those moments with him. And then what about yesterday? Why had he touched her? Perhaps she was making too much of a gesture that meant nothing to him.

She returned to her station off the hall of examining rooms. Taking a seat behind the counter, she spotted a lab test Derek was waiting for and pushed buttons to print the results.

“Hello, Lara.”

Looking up, she smiled at Derek’s ex-wife. “Hello, Dr. Clayson.”

In her early forties, she appeared younger because of a faint sprinkle of freckles across her nose. “I haven’t seen you in a week. Are you working more hours at the hospital?”

“No, I’ve been here.” Though staff had scheduled hours, the doctors often were late or called back to the hospital because of emergencies.

“Congratulations, Rose,” another doctor called out as he passed by.

Something great must have happened to her. “I guess I should be congratulating you.” Lara sent her an apologetic look. “But I don’t know why.”

“It hasn’t been officially announced yet. I’ve been offered a position in Paris.” She mentioned a research facility known for ground-breaking accomplishments.

“That’s wonderful.”

“I’m quite excited.” As her name was called over the center’s paging system, she smiled. “Talk to you again.”

What had Derek thought about the news? Lara wondered. Rose Clayson’s decision to leave the country had to affect him and Joey in a big way. Standing, she snatched up the printout and pivoted away from the computer.

“I hope that’s what I’m looking for,” Derek said suddenly behind her.

Lara leaned back against the counter to give him her full attention. If only he’d kiss her again. Then she’d know he’d really wanted to. “Isn’t this your day off?”

“We detoured from our trip to the zoo.”

She noticed now he was dressed in jeans and a white polo shirt. Her gaze shifted to Joey, standing beside him.

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