Most Wanted by Lisa Scottoline Page B

who don’t work for Families First?”
    Christine cringed, embarrassed at the implication. “Marcus, seriously? That’s uncalled for.”
    Marcus looked over, his blue eyes cold. “It’s a legitimate question.”
    â€œUnderstood,” Lucy was saying. “I’ll be happy to email you some names of my colleagues not employed by us.”
    â€œThanks.” Marcus folded his arms. “So, what would a couple do in our position? What should we do?”
    â€œIt’s completely individual. It’s up to you both. I’ve said that I think the risk in this case is low to baseline. I counsel couples who can’t tolerate a risk level above baseline, and others do much better with risk.” Lucy paused. “For example, I currently counsel a couple whose testing shows that their baby is anencephalic, which means that he’ll certainly die. They want to continue the pregnancy.”
    â€œWait, what?” Christine asked, confused. “What are you talking about?”
    â€œThe decision to terminate the pregnancy,” Marcus answered matter-of-factly.
    â€œWhat?” Christine asked him, incredulous. “You mean abortion? Who’s talking about that? I don’t want an abortion.”
    â€œIt’s just a possibility. We’re talking about possibilities.”
    â€œIt’s not a possibility,” Christine shot back, finding her bearings. “I don’t want an abortion. Do you want an abortion?”
    â€œNo, but we’re exploring it.”
    â€œI don’t want to explore it.” Christine noticed that both Lucy and Michelle had fallen abruptly silent. “Is that what this is about? You think we want an abortion?”
    â€œNo.” Michelle shook her head, her eyebrows sloping unhappily down. “Christine, on the contrary, my point in bringing Lucy into our session is to show you that your risk of a hereditary issue with your baby is low.”
    Lucy nodded. “That’s correct. That’s my sole purpose in being here. I would never dream of directing you, one way or the other. I’m non-directive by training as well as by nature. I view myself as someone who can offer you the best available information with which to make your decision. You make your own decision, as a couple.”
    â€œDo people abort for something like this?” Christine asked, surprised.
    Lucy nodded. “We have had patients terminate for less than this, and we don’t judge them. Some patients terminate pregnancies for reasons relating to the health of the child. Others terminate pregnancies of healthy babies for a variety of reasons. It’s well within the parameters of the law, in the first trimester.”
    â€œI’m not talking about whether it’s legal.” Christine didn’t want to get into a political debate, but she couldn’t hold her tongue. “I mean, I believe it’s a personal choice, but I don’t want to abort this baby.”
    â€œFine,” Marcus said abruptly.
    â€œGood, it’s settled,” Christine said, but she felt shaken to her core. She realized that Marcus must have been thinking about their getting an abortion, but it hadn’t even occurred to her.
    Michelle checked her watch. “Okay, folks, I believe Dr. Davidow is free, and he wants to touch base with you both.”
    â€œI’d like that.” Marcus jumped to his feet. He went to the door, and Christine felt the distance between them growing, with her on one side and him on the other, as if the tectonic plates beneath their feet were suddenly shifting, destabilizing their marriage.
    â€œMe, too,” Christine said, rising on shaky knees.

 
    Chapter Nine
    â€œI’m so happy to see you,” Christine said, surprised to find herself tearing up when she gave Dr. Davidow a hug as soon as she’d entered his office.
    â€œI’m happy to see you, too, Christine.” Dr. Davidow