Shock

"I just realized there's something we forgot to ask about," Deborah said as they walked down the main hallway.

"Do I have to ask, or are you just going to tell me?" Joa

"We forgot to ask how or when we were going to be paid."

"It's certainly not going to be in cash," Joa

"I know that!" Deborah grumbled.

"It will be by check or wire," Joa

"All right, but when?"

"The contracts we signed stipulated we would be paid when we had performed our service, which we've now done. So they'll pay us now."

"You seem to be more trusting than I," Deborah said. "I think we should inquire about it before we leave."

"That goes without saying," Joa

The two women came to the threshold of the waiting room and glanced around the generous space. Nearly every seat was taken. There were spotty areas of hushed conversation but in general the room was surprisingly quiet for being so crowded.

"Well, no Dr. Donaldson," Deborah said. Her eyes swept the room once again to be certain.

"So, let's have her paged," Joa

Together they approached the central desk. The receptionist was an attractive, young, amply endowed redhead. She had pouty, full lips like many of the women gracing the covers of the magazines displayed in the grocery checkout line. Her nameplate said ROCHELLE MILLARD.

"Excuse me," Joa

The book disappeared as if by magic. "Can I help you?" Rochelle asked.

Joa

"Are you Joa

Joa

Rochelle's eyes switched to Deborah. "Are you Miss Cochrane?"

"I am," Deborah said.

"I have something for each of you from Margaret Lambert, the comptroller." Rochelle opened a drawer to her right and pulled out two envelopes with cellophane windows. Neither was sealed. She handed them to the surprised women.

After exchanging a covert, conspiratorial smile, the two women peeked inside their respective envelopes. A moment later their eyes met with new smiles.

"Bingo!" Deborah said to Joa

"The first part means a thousand thanks in Italian," Joa

Leaving the confused receptionist, Joa

"I feel a little like a thief taking this kind of money out of here," Deborah said sotto voce as they wended through the crowded room. Like Joa

"With this many patients here I think the Wingate can afford it," Joa

"That's just the point," Deborah said. "Although I suppose those people choosey enough to demand a Harvard coed's egg can't be hurting for cash."

"Exactly," Joa

"It's hard to feel altruistic getting a check for forty-five thousand dollars," Deborah said. "Maybe I feel more like a prostitute of sorts than a thief, but don't get me wrong, I'm not complaining."

"When the couples get their children, they'll be thinking they got the better deal by a long shot."

"You know, I think you are right," Deborah said. "I'm going to stop feeling guilty."

They emerged into the crisp New England morning. Deborah was about to descend the stairs when she became aware that Joa

"What's the matter?" Deborah asked with concern.

"I just had a pang down here in my lower abdomen," Joa

"Do you still feel it?"

"Yes, but it's better."

"Do you want to go back and see Dr. Donaldson?"

Joa

"Are you all right, Joa

Joa

"Let's go page Dr. Donaldson,' Deborah said. She grasped Joa

"It doesn't feel that bad," Joa

"Are you sure?"

Joa

"How does it feel now?" Deborah questioned.

"Pretty good," Joa

"Don't you think it would be a better idea to go back in and see Dr. Donaldson, just to be on the safe side?"

"I want to get home," Joa

"He warned you about pain?" Deborah asked with surprise.

Joa

"Did he have any suggestions for what to do for it?"

"He thought ibuprofen would suffice, but he said that if it didn't, I could have a pharmacist call him through the clinic's telephone number. He said he's available twenty-four hours a day."

"That's strange they gave you a warning about pain," Deborah said. "Nobody warned me, and I haven't had any. I think maybe you should have insisted on local anesthesia like I did."

"Very fu

"Where did you have stitches?"

"At the peephole sites."

"Are you going to have to come back here to get them removed?" Deborah asked.

"They told me any medical person could do it," Joa

They reached the car and Deborah went around to the passenger side to open the door for her roommate. She even supported Joa

"You're never going to convince me," Joa