Rise: Populations Crumble, Book 2 by Gandy, A. (read book .txt) 📕

and I sympathize. I really do. However, the primary objective of this program is no secret. The human race is in trouble, and we can’t let perfectly healthy couples wait around for the mood to strike. Every month is a critical opportunity, right from the start.” She pauses, to see if her words are having any effect on us.

Patrick crosses his arms over his chest and stares her down.

Melissa is the first to look away, but she isn’t dissuaded. “I have no desire to be the bad guy here, I do hope you know that. But I also have a responsibility to ensure that this program pushes every couple to their best chance of conception. And we simply cannot have you two squandering your time in this way. So, this is your only free pass. If you have not tracked anything before next month’s fertile week begins, we’ll have to assign you to an intensive getaway until that changes.” She purses her lips and shifts her eyes between the two of us.

It’s all I can do not to let my anger show, so I look down to my lap. Patrick on the other hand, feels no such hesitation. “Listen, Melissa. I understand you’re in a tough spot. But Sadie is my wife. And I refuse to rush her before she’s ready. So, you can send us on an intensive getaway. Hell, you can send us to Mars if you want. But you will. Not. Force. This. Not until she’s ready. Do you understand?” He punctuates his anger with a fingertip to the top of her desk with each staccato syllable.

She leans back in her desk chair, but she doesn’t look intimidated by his display of fury. Instead, she focuses her attention on me. “So, Sadie, are you having some anxiety about physical intimacy? Is that the issue here?” She waves between us, as if the problem will materialize for her to diagnose.

“No.” I finally speak up with indignation. “I’m not having anxiety. I was just raised that you should get to know someone before you get physical with them. This program doesn’t change the way I was raised, and I’m not a girl who’s comfortable jumping into bed with someone I don’t know well.”

She shakes her head slowly. “Sadie, I’m disappointed. I thought you knew how important this program is for the future of humanity. There’s so much more at stake here than your small-town ideals. I do hope you’ll reconsider. Either way, you two can see yourselves out. I have another appointment.” She picks up her tablet, and brushes past us out the door without another glance.

I turn to Patrick, unsure how to take the abrupt ending to this unpleasant meeting. He reaches over and wraps my hand in his, thumb gently grazing my knuckles and leaving a pleasant tingle in its wake.

“Don’t worry about it, Sadie. They can’t force us, even if they send us on an intensive getaway. Who cares? This is not up for them to decide, and all the threats in the world can’t change what we decide. Okay?” He lifts his other hand and runs his thumb gently along my chin. “Do you mind if we run to the guest house before we head back? I’d like to run by the front desk and ask them if we have any letters.”

I force a smile for his benefit, but I’m not so sure they won’t try to force this, one way or another. One month. I let out a long breath. It’s not a lot of time, but I guess it will have to be enough.

✽✽✽

Patrick heads straight for the front desk, so I wander over to the dining room to see if they have any snacks set out this afternoon. To my surprise, Odette is already there, standing immobile in front of the side table which, to my delight, is covered in fresh baked goods.

“Hey, Odette.” I greet her as I grab a large plate—I’ve got to have room to get some snacks for Patrick, too—but she doesn’t respond. “Odette? You okay?” I ask, concerned with her seemingly catatonic state.

She startles as if jolted, and finally notices me standing next to her. “Oh, hello, Sadie. Am I in your way? I’ll go.” Her voice is flat, and she turns to leave with silent grace.

“Wait, don’t go! You haven’t even gotten a snack yet.” I point to the well-laden table.

She raises one eyebrow in surprise. “You’re right, I haven’t.” She gives me a tentative smile.

“What are you waiting for? Dig in!” I hand her my plate, and grab another. “So, no Dominic today?”

She stiffens at the mention of his name, but accepts the plate, and focuses on the pastries.

“Not right now—I needed some time to myself.” Her voice is all cool control, just like the rest of her.

“That’s hard to come by around here, but I understand. I used to spend a lot more time solo, at the ranch. Well, solo with Morgan, my horse,” I say wistfully.

“Yes, it is very difficult to find a moment to think.”

“I’m sorry to interrupt you. I’ll get out of your hair and let you get back to it.” My plate is already three-quarters full of flaky pastry goodness, while hers is still noticeably empty.

Odette lowers the plate, dropping all pretense. “Sadie, do you have feelings for Patrick?”

Her abrupt change of topic startles me. “Uhm, well . . . kind of? We’re still working on that,” I stammer, unsure what to say to her given the complexity of my relationship with Patrick right now.

She nods. “Well, Dominic isn’t a bad man. But I don’t love him, and he doesn’t love me. He still loves Carla, even though she’s married and already pregnant with another man’s baby.” Her eyes drift from the table down to her toes and, for the first time, I catch a glimpse of the pain underneath her icy façade.

“I’m sorry, Odette. That has to be incredibly difficult.” I reach out, resting a hand on her