Evergreen Tidings from the Baumgartners by Gretchen Anthony

Author:Gretchen Anthony
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Park Row Books
Published: 2018-08-21T16:01:56+00:00

23

Violet

“WE’RE RIGHT HERE, ED. Why on earth wouldn’t we go in?”

Violet and Ed stood outside a dark wood-paneled door, the words NextGen Cryolabs the only identifiers on its small, discreet nameplate.

“Your checkup is in twenty minutes. We’ll be late if we stop.”

When Kyle had given Violet the name and location of the sperm bank yesterday, she’d immediately recognized it to be in the same building as her nasal-toned neurologist. She didn’t believe in signs, but if she did—well, no. She didn’t believe in signs.

“For heaven’s sake, Ed. When was the last time it took an elevator twenty minutes to go up two floors?” She reached for the doorknob, but he stopped her, his hand on hers.

“What’s going on, Violet?”

He didn’t know, of course, because she hadn’t told him. She was making the plan up as she went along. Her first excuse had come as soon as they stepped on the elevator.

“You pushed the button for seven,” he’d said. “Dr. Hartz is located on the ninth floor.”

She thought fast. “Oh, didn’t I tell you? Kyle Endres told me to check out a practice on seven. Said it was highly recommended by the medical students when he was in school.” She shot out of the elevator as soon as its doors opened, knowing Ed would have no choice but to follow.

“Yes, but what is it, Violet?”

She could hear him struggling to catch his breath behind her and she made a mental note: Explore couples’ yoga.

“Just what I told you.” She glanced over her shoulder. He was several paces behind. “Kyle said it was very popular. The least we can do is stop by.”

Ed finally caught up as she slowed to read the office numbers. Suite 710. She’d found it.

Ed read the nameplate aloud. “NextGen Cryolabs. NextGen—why on earth would Kyle be sending you to—” Ed turned to look at her, and she watched as the gears of his mind turned and caught.

“Explain,” he said.

Oh, for heaven’s sake. “Cerise may have said she would no longer answer my questions about baby’s father, but she specifically did not prohibit me from finding the answers on my own.”

She reached again for the doorknob, but Ed inserted himself in front of the door.

“Violet, this is madness.”

“Oh, madness, is it? And do you suppose it’s mad of me to wish to proactively protect my grandchild from a host of genetically derived health risks?”

She felt the bees begin to stir in her head but she pushed them away, forced them quiet.

“My father was dead and gone by the time we discovered his secrets. But they come out. And when they do, they take innocent lives with them.”

She’d said these words before, but they burned just as much today as they had the first time they’d exploded from her lips.

Ed sighed and dropped his head. He used to be her champion, her stalwart against this awful pain. But somewhere over the years, he’d grown tired. Looking at him now, he was nearly exhausted.

Violet had learned this awful truth—that

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