Chapter Thirteen

“YOU WORE A skirt today.”

“Less awkward than trying to get out of jeans in front of you.” Georgia laughed. “All I need to do is pull my knickers off, and this”—she swirled her long skirt around her legs—“gives me all the privacy I need.”

“Away from the eyes of the perverts.”

“Hey, you said it, not me.”

Belle was pleasantly surprised that Georgia was in a joyful mood. She had cracked a number of jokes in the waiting room. Belle had half expected the mood to be sombre between them as embryo number two was transferred, but Georgia was very relaxed.

“How are you feeling?” Belle asked.

Georgia screwed up her mouth, thinking before she spoke. “I don’t know. Resigned, maybe. What will be will be. Mum reminded me I have a happy life, that if it doesn’t happen, it doesn’t happen. I’ll always wonder, but I think we’ll give it three goes, then give up?” She said it as if it were a question awaiting Belle’s approval.

“Your decision,” Belle said. “Your embryos.” She smiled.

Stella called them into the room and cracked a few jokes with them. “Dr. Cooper will be here soon, and the embryologist, so you know the drill. Get yourself comfortable, and up on the bed.” As she left the room, Georgia swiftly reached up and removed her knickers, put them in her handbag, and zipped it up. She was clearly feeling proud of her foresight. She jumped up on the chair, pulled her skirt up around her hips, placed the modesty towel over her, and spread her legs, ready for the doctor. It looked to Belle that Georgia was becoming much more relaxed about the process.

“It’s crazy—they give you a modesty towel, then ask you to be spread-eagled as they reach up as high as they can into you,” Georgia said, laughing. Belle blushed, though she was certain she’d cracked the same joke to Tash when she had been sitting on the IVF bed herself.

Dr. Cooper and the embryologist, this time a tall redheaded lady named Tara, entered the room from the freezer. They reported on the status of the embryo and confirmed the identity of both Belle and Georgia before requiring sign off. Then, the speculum was entered into Georgia.

“And it’s released,” the doctor said. “Now all we want you to do is relax in here for fifteen minutes, and then you’re free to go. And remember, avoid hanky-panky for the next few days.” He looked at Belle, who nodded in response. Pleased that everything was under control, Dr. Cooper, Tara, and Stella then left the room, leaving Georgia lying back in the chair while Belle kept holding her hand.

After wasting time chatting about anything and nothing, Belle finally looked closely at Georgia.

“You okay?” Belle asked pensively.

Georgia’s mouth turned upwards. “I don’t think I’ve heard someone say ‘hanky-panky’ since I was a teenager and started dating. My dad used to say it.” She cracked up laughing.

“Were you a bit of a naughty girl?” Belle asked, teasing Georgia.

“Hmm, I gave my dad his fair share of grief, that’s for sure. I dated a lot, my poor dad.”

Belle laughed. “I bet you did. I was such a good girl.”

“A good girl that was shagging the girls at her sleepovers.”.

“Oh God.” Belle smirked and then clarified, “One girl. I’m a one-girl girl, I’ve told you that.” They grew silent but looked at one another. The tension between them was evident to Belle, at least. She wondered whether Georgia had realised how important she had become to her. She wondered if Georgia had noticed her growing affection for her. She wondered what Georgia thought about her.

Breaking the mood was a tap at the door, and Stella hollered, “That’s your fifteen minutes; you’re free to go.” She handed Georgia the progesterone, and they made their way to the car.

“And another one down,” Georgia said. “I know I said I wasn’t going to analyse anything last cycle, but I did. This time, I’m pretending it didn’t even happen.”

“Good idea,” Belle agreed. “But do we still go for a celebratory lunch?”

“No,” Georgia said, and Belle was disappointed. “We just go for lunch.”

“Ah! You got me. I thought you were saying no to lunch.”

“Not at all. But today, no classy Italian place. I want to go to the greasiest burger place we can find.”

“Excellent. Did you have somewhere in mind?”

Georgia shook her head.

“Good, because I’ve got just the place.”

The two of them jumped into Belle’s car and made their way to a little hole-in-the-wall burger bar with a few tables and chairs scattered outside. Once they were seated, they barely drew breath until the big platters of burgers and chips were placed in front of them. Then, silence.

“This is amazing,” Georgia said about her beef and bacon cheeseburger when she finally spoke. Belle nodded in agreement but didn’t speak, enjoying her Mexican beef burger too much. At some point, they each cut off a portion of their burgers to give one another a taste and determined that the beef and bacon cheeseburger was the winner.

After the bill was paid, by Belle this time, she said, “Well, best get you home in front of the TV.”

Georgia didn’t argue. She told Belle that the idea of crashing out on the lounge sounded blissful. “Work has been so busy. I suppose it has been for you too.”

Belle rolled her eyes. “Crazy with the fashion gala. I’ve been living and breathing it. Are you still coming?”

“Yes, I’m really looking forward to it.” Belle had invited Georgia to the annual fashion gala which was on the following Saturday night. She figured it would take her mind of the IVF and give her an opportunity to spend some time with all the people she’d invited to the dinner party. It was always a fun night, a big night to look forward to in the fashion world. Belle really couldn’t wait.