"We've had something of an incident at the clinic." I said. "Apparently, one of our attendants has impregnated a patient."
"Impregnated a patient? You mean, raped a woman?"
I nodded.
"Can't you speak plainly and simply. Claude? Well, what is the problem? Have someone come in and give her an abortion." she said.
I shook my head.
"Can't be done. It's far too late, and there are other complications, complications for the patient," I added before she could ask.
"Too late. You mean no one noticed this patient was pregnant for months and months and months?"
"Yes, that's it. Alberta." She stared at me.
"As it turns out. Alberta, this patient happens to be the daughter of a very wealthy, powerful woman who, with her attorney, could create great problems for the clinic and... for us." I said.
I could hear her take a very deep breath. She brought her hand to her heart and sat back against the vanity table.
"For us?"
"Well, of course. I'm the head doctor. Alberta. Everything reflects on me no matter what."
"What about Ralston? Why isn't it just as much his fault?" she asked, now wiping her face more vigorously.
"That doesn't help us. Alberta. Of course he would share the responsibility, as you say."
"His wife isn't as involved in society. She doesn't do anything. It won't matter to her nearly as much." Alberta complained.
"Exactly."
"Well, what are you going to do. Claude? Will it be in tomorrow's papers ?"
"No. It won't be in any papers ever if we handle it the way I want to handle it. Alberta."
"And what way is that. Claude?" she asked, her face now cleared of the cream.
"I can keep the baby's birth relatively unknown. I'll conduct my own private and quiet investigation in the clinic as to who is responsible."
"Good," she said. "Then you can solve the problem."
"Well, not quite," I said "I would like to adopt the baby, like us to adopt the baby," I corrected,
Her mouth came unhinged.
"You and I have not been able to have our own child, and I thought--"
"Are you mad? Are you as crazy as the people you treat in that nuthouse? Adopt a crazy woman's baby!"
"She's not a crazy woman. Alberta. She is someone who suffered from acute depression, but she is well on her way to being healthy enough to go home and--"
"So let her take the baby home. too."
Her mother won't permit that. Alberta, and she has the wherewithal to carry out any threats she makes, believe me," I said, imposing a heavy, dark look on my face to impress her.
She thought a moment and then shook her head.
"Then give the baby away, to some adoption agency. It's as simple as that."