Prologue

"There's a problem with the image. Let's adjust the machine so that we can see your beautiful baby." Dr. Hansem said and pushed a few buttons on the sonogram machine.

"All set." He guided the [computer mouse-like thing] over her jellied abdomen to bring the baby in focus.

"It looks like...a boy!" he said.

The young mother smiled up at the green image from the tan patient table. The goteed man standing beside her grasped her hand.

"Our son."

***

"Thanks, Mr. and Mrs. Eaking. We'll see you back here in a month for your check up, okay? You too take care of yourselves!" Nurse Menow said and finished pencilling in their appointment as they left the industrial gray painted office.

"How did it go, Doctor?"

"Close, Rosemary. If the twin hadn't been hidden behind his sibling, they would have known it was a double pregnancy. I had only a second to change the image of her twins to the recording we made for the Jonsons's baby last week."

"I should go ahead and schedule the sale date then?"

"Yes. She's due in three months, and the transport from here to the testing facility should be smooth sailing."

"Wonderful." Go to next page. 1