Marissa felt the rush of fluid inside her. Then she felt a hand on her shoulder. Opening her eyes, she saw that Linda Moore’s freckled face was inches from her own. “Are you relaxed?” Linda asked her.

Marissa nodded, but it was a lie.

“We’re ready for the embryos now,” Dr. Wingate told Tara. Tara went back into the lab. Then to Marissa, Dr. Wingate said: “You might feel a tiny bit of cramping with the insertion, but don’t worry. It will be just like last time.”

Marissa would have preferred he’d not made the comparison: last time the transfer had not worked. She heard Tara come back into the room. Marissa could picture the Teflon catheter, called a Tomcat.

“This is it,” Dr. Wingate continued.

“Remember to relax,” Linda said.

“Think of a fine, healthy baby,” Mrs. Hargrave said.

Marissa felt a strange deep sensation like a pain, but not strong enough to be called a pain.

“We should be within one centimeter of your uterine fundus,” Dr. Wingate said. “I’m injecting now.”

“Breathe deeply,” Mrs. Hargrave said.

“Relax,” Linda suggested.

Despite her hopes, Marissa didn’t feel optimistic.

“Perfect,” Dr. Wingate said. “I’m coming out now.”

Marissa held her breath as she experienced an extremely mild cramp.

“Now don’t move until we ascertain that the embryos have all been extruded from the catheter,” Dr. Wingate said. He and Tara disappeared into the lab.

“You feel okay?” Mrs. Hargrave asked.

“Fine,” said Marissa, as self-conscious as ever, always concerned someone else was about to barrel through the door.

“Now that it’s over,” Linda said, giving Marissa’s shoulder another pat, “I’ll be going. I think I’ll have a word with your husband on my way out.”

Good luck, Marissa thought. She didn’t think her husband would be approachable that day.

Dr. Wingate returned just as Linda was departing.

“All the embryos were planted,” Dr. Wingate said. Marissa felt the speculum being removed. He tapped her gently on the top of her rump. “Now you can lower yourself to your tummy. But don’t roll over. Just like the previous transfer: I want you to remain on your stomach for three hours, then you can roll over on your back for an hour. Then you’ll be free to go.” He pulled the sheet over Marissa’s lower half.

Mrs. Hargrave released the brakes on the gurney and started pushing. Tara held open the door to the hallway. Marissa thanked Dr. Wingate.

“You’re very welcome, love,” he said, his Australian accent suddenly more pronounced. “We’ll all be keeping our fingers crossed.”

As they came abreast of the waiting room, Marissa heard Mrs. Hargrave call out Robert’s name. The conversation with Linda must have been brief, as she was already gone.

Robert fell in beside them as Mrs. Hargrave pushed Marissa across the glassed walkway to the overnight ward.

“I was told everything went smoothly,” he said.