Fertile Ground by Rochelle Krich Read Free Book Online

and uncomfortably warm. Lisa was perspiring, too, and her head was beginning to throb.
    “Ladies and gentlemen, can I have your attention, please? Ladies and gentlemen?” Making herself heard was difficult, but after a moment the crowd quieted. “First, I want to assure you that nothing irregular has been going on at the clinic. You—”
    “If nothing’s wrong, where’s Dr. Gordon?” Clerman demanded. “Why isn’t he here to answer our questions?”
    “Dr. Gordon will be here soon,” Lisa said, hoping she was telling the truth. Matthew hadn’t mentioned that he’d be late, but he had said he needed answers soon. Was he searching for them right now? “False rumors have oBviously been spread about the clinic,” she continued, careful to make eye contact with the reporters. “We intend to find and expose their source.”
    “How do we know they’re false?” a woman asked. “They switched embryos before, at that other clinic.”
    A murmur of agreement rippled through the crowd.
    “But not here.” Lisa cleared her throat. “These rumors are unfounded. In the meantime, we need your cooperation. If you’re here for a scheduled appointment, please wait in Reception. If not, there’s really no reason for you to stay.” A polite way of saying. Go home.
    “I’m not leaving until I have answers!” Clerman yelled.
    Lisa continued to speak, to reassure. She was interrupted several more times by women and men shrill with anger and fear, but after a while the accusations stopped,
    and though only a few people took her advice and went home, she felt she’d achieved a relative calm. With help from Selena and Grace and the other nurses, she dispatched the more agitated patients and their spouses to examining rooms.
    On the other side of the still-packed hall, she saw a familiar face topped with a thatch of wavy, dark brown hair. At six feet two inches, Sam Davidson towered above the crowd, and she could easily read his mouthed “What the hell’s going on?” God, she was happy to see him! A moment later he was at her side.
    “Nice of you to show up!” she whispered, her relief tempered with irritation. “It’s almost ten o’clock.” She felt as if a day had passed, not a little over an hour.
    “Flat tire. Sorry—I tried phoning in, but the lines were jammed or something.” He scanned the crowd. “What’d we do? Advertise a Wednesday half-off special on in vi tros?”
    “I wish. Rumor is we’ve been switching embryos.”
    Sam pushed his wire-rimmed eyeglasses back against his nose. “Bull!” he exclaimed, but concern flickered in his gray eyes. He looked around again. “They all seem pretty calm.”
    “You should’ve seen them twenty minutes ago.” She adjusted her banana clip and wiped her brow. Her throat ached from speaking so loudly and she was desperate for a cup of coffee.
    “Why are you handling this?” Frowning, he centered his black suede yarmulke on his head. “Where’s Matt? And where’s Ted?”
    She shrugged. “Grace said Matt phoned and told her he’d be late. Ted was in earlier, but left to do a procedure at another hospital. How’s your schedule today?”
    “Tight, and that’s without the nine o’clock I missed. But I’m all yours if you want me. Professionally, of course.” He winked, then smiled reassuringly.
    “I need Ava, but she’s somewhere up the coast, lucky woman.” Lisa sighed. “I tried to persuade everyone without an appointment to go home, but most of them won’t budge. You can help with that. If they insist on staying,
    have them wait in Reception. I figure we can see our regular patients and divide today’s emergencies among you, me, and Ted when he gets back.”
    “Sounds like you’ve got everything under control. Not that I’m surprised.” He smiled again. “Mart’s lucky to have you—personally and professionally.”
    “Thanks.” Sam always made her feel good. For the first time since she’d left the lab, her spirits rose. “I’m