“Yes.”
“Yes?” he repeated. “Yes, what?”
“Yes…I have enough… sleep?”
Dr. Graham grumbled, and folded his hands on his lap. I willingly returned to my anti-social behavior, a temporary phase, but a pain in the butt for my physician. I promised myself that after I give birth, I will cheerfully explain to Dr. Graham my reasons for treating him like garbage. I will buy him a fancy blue pen as penance.
When I rose from the seat, I thanked Dr. Graham, and prepared my leave. He asked me if I was sure there was nothing I needed to tell him. When I re-assured him of my comfort, that’s when Dr. Graham asked me to sit down. He even offered a prolonged please.
I sat.
As usual, my concerned doctor is going to make a speech about how naïve, how inconsiderate, and irresponsible I am.
“Lola.” he said in a low voice. “I checked the weather for the month, there’s a high chance of snow by the end of the week.”
I didn’t budge or agreed, instead I let him carry on.
“Are you going to stay in town for the rest of the month?”
“Maybe.” I hinted.
There is no way I have the funds stay in a hotel for the entire month of my pregnancy. That’s how I lost half of my savings after my husband kicked me out. Of course sharing this information to my physician will drive him crazy, so I kept silent about it.
“I assume you will be staying with someone? Perhaps with your family or father of the child?”
Dr. Graham examined my face, he’s expecting my predictable reaction. Any second, I will burst into a panic attack like usual. His eyebrows rose when I made no emotional outburst to defend my case.
How strange, he did say the word family, and right now I’m clearly thinking of my husband. Where is the rapid heartbeat and the sweaty palms? Dr. Graham naturally took this as a bad sign, but I’m just as surprised as he is. Did Avalon have anything to do with my usual anxiety attacks? She saw I was a prisoner of my own past, mistakes, and fears. Did meeting her free me in a way I didn’t otherwise notice?
“Lola, are you feeling alright? You don’t seem like your usual self.”
“I’m fine Dr. Graham.”
I used his title to emphasize my seriousness.
“Actually I have never felt this good before.”
Dr. Graham noticed my optimism, he sighed and scratched the back of his head. His elbows fell on the burgundy desk I will always wholeheartedly admire. Dr. Graham dismissed our previous conversation and brought an alarming report.
“When I asked you about where you plan to stay, it wasn’t because I’m trying to pry into your business—this is different. My wife and I have a request, we hope you will say yes to.”
His wife—whatever happened to patient confidentiality? Dr. Graham continued.
“We want to invite you to stay at our home for the end of your pregnancy and shortly after your baby is born, at least until the road is open for you to safely drive home. They won’t be plowing the snow on the road you take anytime soon, it’s old, dangerous and a waste of the city’s money and yes—I checked. My wife and I would be more than happy to have you fill our empty home with a baby.”
While I expected something worse to come out of Dr. Graham’s lips, for once—I don’t find this one absurd. It’s a reasonable idea. The further I can get from the woods right now, the safer I am from the Elite. I think Avalon will approve of this. If this Elite arrives, they won’t find us in the city and I don’t have to worry about driving to the hospital or paying for a full week at a hotel. Of course, I won’t tell Dr. Graham that I did plan to stay at a hotel—that’s if I get approved for a loan.
“No! I want to be near my mother!”
Gasping at the voice trailing in my ear lobe, a surprised Dr. Graham asked me what was wrong. I thought he heard Serenata, but it was my reaction that surprised him. I dismissed his concern. I’m so stupid to think she could not listen to us.
“May I use the restroom?” I requested.
“Is everything alright? Are you feeling ill?” he inquired.
“No, I just drank a lot of water.”
I left the office and hurried into the restroom across the hall. I closed the door, locked it. I let the sink run and took in a deep breath.
“Serenata.” I called out cautiously. “We will be safe if we stay near the city. We don’t want an Elite discovering us.”
I made sure I spoke discreetly and looked at myself in the mirror. I imagined the person I looked at was Serenata. The water continued to run while I waited for her response.
“But mother is all alone.”
“Your mother told me to protect you and my child, do you know why?”
Serenata is waiting for my reply.
“Your mom is doing everything she can to make sure we are safe, and we have to help her.”
“I guess…your right. Staying here will please mother.”
To motivate myself, I nodded to my reflection. I turned off the faucet, and returned to the office. Dr. Graham’s hands neatly folded over his desk, waiting patiently for my return. I returned to my seat, and brought up his request. I looked away, and then back at him. It’s becoming a challenge to say I want his help. Dr. Graham held a neutral face, he’s so used to my rebellious character that he can’t imagine anything beyond the word no.
“Can I think about it?” I replied. “What I mean to say is, I want to accept your offer, just give me a day to pack my belongings.”
“Really?” he said surprised.
He released the manly grip over his hands, his pale cheeks grew bright as a cherry. Dr. Graham is so overjoyed it’s like I told him unicorns really do exist.
“Well then…”
Abruptly, the door knocked. Before Dr. Graham had the chance to respond, the door swung opened. Without my doctor’s permission, a man invited himself in. He looks far from being a pregnant patient, but his face looks strangely familiar. He casually stepped foot into the office but halted when he noticed I was in the room.
“Sorry…” he murmured.
His hazel eyes pressed on me, and went back to Dr. Graham. He scratched his blond hair, and tried to wrinkle up a smile. I took great notice of his pale relaxed shirt with wrinkled jeans, and muddy, dirty—grass stained boots. He’s far from being a nurse.
“What did I say about entering without permission!” yelled Dr. Graham. “How many times do I have to tell you not to come into my clinic with those boots again?!”
Dr. Graham has never looked this frantic before. The man glanced back at me with flushed cheeks, and apologized. He hesitantly told Dr. Graham he will wait for him in the hallway.
I pretended I was one of Dr. Graham’s potted plants, and blankly stared at the ceiling. Dr. Graham smoothed back his hair, fixed his tie, and sat back on his leather seat.
“I’m sorry you had to see that” he said.
“It’s okay. I didn’t know you can get this upset.” I teased.
“That was Jeremy—my son. As you can see, he runs a farm and doesn’t know when to keep those dirty boots out of my clinic!” he shouted so his son could hear.
I thought he resembled someone, it’s Dr. Graham himself! I nodded out of common courtesy, and dismissed myself.
“Hold it right there. Are you going to fetch your belongings?”
“Soon.” I replied. “I need to get something done first.”
“There should be snow by the end of the week, don’t take your time.”
“I won’t.” I paused.
It’s time I confess what I’ve hiding from him since day one. I might as well come out clean before I’m properly introduced to his wife.
“There’s a…cat you see.”
“You don’t have to explain.” he groaned. “That backpack of yours is bursting with feline hair. If you need someone to babysit your secret pet, my son can do it—”
“I don’t know.” I said promptly.
I’m not going to drop Kinoki to some str
anger’s house—even if he is Dr. Graham’s son.
“He has a few horses, goats, chickens—but no dogs. Your cat will fit right in.” he assured.
“I still don’t—”
“Well since you’re going home to pack up, Jeremy can help you. He was supposed to visit his mother, but today he can drop off your belongings at my house—”
“No-no, that’s too much—” I stuttered.
“What’s too much?”
“There’s no need—”
“No need for what?”
“You’re interrupting me!” I cried.
“You’re the one interrupted me!” he quoted.
Could it be his son’s intrusion that is making Dr. Graham this bossy? Now that I think about it, he mentioned that his wife wants me to stay. My cheeks burned, Dr. Graham has been venting out to his wife about my sour attitude and all the embarrassing lies I came up with!
“I can pack my belongings myself.” I insisted, hoping it will redeem me.
“Lola, you already accepted my help, and you can’t lift heavy objects. Is being so stubborn worth risking your own child?”
“No.”
“Then it’s a plan, the sooner the better. Wait here.”
Dr. Graham left his leather chair and walked out of the office. He closed the door so I wouldn’t hear him talk to his son. It’s not like I need to, I imagine his son is refusing and groaning at his father’s demand. I feel very uncomfortable of the idea. I naturally planned to have no visitors in the cabin, especially by a man who got yelled at by his own father and showed no guilt.
The door opened with Dr. Graham reaching for my appointment card and handing it to me. I looked at the date on the card and smiled, it’s my expected birth week.
“Well it’s settled, he’ll be accompanying you.” he added ushering me out of his office.
“I can do it myself.” I said resisting Dr. Graham’s gentle push towards the exit.
“Now, now—you’ll be a mother soon. Once you have your baby, I’ll stop losing my hair, and we won’t be having these kinds of arguments anymore.”
Like a salesman, Dr. Graham escorted me out of his office and shut the door in my face. I found his son waiting across the hall. He glances at me, then at my belly, and finally looks away. I figured Dr. Graham must have used the pregnant woman card to guilt trip him. Jeremy’s face remains rock solid, he even looks irritated. To save myself from the awkwardness, I skipped the introduction and made my way back to the waiting room. His steps echoed behind, cautiously taking each step slower than mine. Something made him edgy, and I don’t like it. He makes me feel like I’m a monster waiting to devour him.
When a familiar receptionist occupied the front desk, things just couldn’t get better. The receptions is Natalie, the poor woman who fell victim through one of my panic attacks. When we made eye contact, her eyes swiftly went back to the computer screen. By the time I reached her desk, Natalie didn’t greet me, instead, she’s pretending I’m not here! Okay—so she’s still mad at me—who wouldn’t after I gave her a heart attack by snatching my appointment sheet off her hands. A part of me I wants to explain myself and tell her that I’m now free from the shackles of anxiety. As a form of apology, I decided to wait as long as she wants me to. I used the time to admire her slim, aqua tone glasses.
In my optimism, I spoke too soon. My passive-aggressive receptionist just rolled away from her desk, and is blindly looking into the file cabinets.
In my long wait, Dr. Graham’s son came to mind. I found him leaning against the wall with his arms crossed, staring at me, my belly, and then looking away. What a bother! There’s plenty of pregnant women here, what form of psychology did Dr. Graham perform on him to gawk at me in such a manner? I ignored my irritation once again, and looked back at the receptionist—now gone! I sighed and started to recite the four more weeks of pregnancy in my mind. It’s no use getting upset, I deserve it. When she finally re-appeared from who knows where, she rolled her eyes and sat down.
“Give me one second.” said Natalie, reaching for another folder to blankly stare at.
“I think she’s waited enough.” said Jeremy, sneaking up behind me.
Natalie jumped at the darkening voice, hovering behind me.
“Jeremy! I-I’m sorry, I’ve been busy.” she explained.
Immediately, her face turned that of a red lobster.
“It’s ok, she really was.” I added, hoping that our next meeting will be a peaceful one.
When she handed my paperwork, I gracefully and gently accepted those sheets like they were secret documents belonging for the CIA. Thanks to Jeremy’s intervention, I saved some time for the ride home. But as I walked into the parking lot, my perspective changed.
“Is that your vehicle?” he said.
The sight of my truck broke our silence.
“Yes.” I answered.
“You always drive home alone?”
“Yes.” I repeated.
“Well, it looks like I’m driving you home then, give me your keys.”
“What?” I said gripping my keys.
“Judging from your small truck, and your huge belly, I doubt you have any room to fit and drive.”
I immediately notice he has no problem speaking his mind, especially when he regarded my belly as huge. It looks like the apple doesn’t fall from the tree. Dr. Graham successfully passed his heritable sarcasm to his son. Jeremy whistled a low tune at the mud stains, and the dents on my truck. I bet he doesn’t approve of women driving trucks.
“Thank you for your concern.” I started. “But I’m not letting you drive my truck.”
His father is a formidable opponent to boss me around, but not his son.
“I don’t want to drive your truck.” he replied. “Actually, it wouldn’t hurt you to give that poor thing some rest and a good cleaning. Dad said I’m supposed to bring your luggage to his house and pick you up tomorrow morning.”
“No—actually I never agreed to that!” I exclaimed.
That bingo playing Dr. Graham! I give in to one request and he continues to pull tricks up his sleeve! I looked at the window to his office and imagined him chuckling in his burgundy desk whispering checkmate.
“That’s what dad said I should do.” he continued. “Either way your truck is going to be here tomorrow morning for you to drive around as you please. Give that poor truck a break, I’m dropping you off, taking your stuff, and picking you up tomorrow morning. It’s not so hard is it? It’s really easy.”
Of all the nerve, he’s making it sound like my opposition is over something irrelevant! I took in a deep breath, and shook my head giving him my keys. I followed him to the vehicle beside me, how ironic, an even larger truck. It’s not just a recent model, but silver and clean. Jeremy’s truck is the yang to my truck’s yin, and it looks like we have a problem.
“How do you expect me to climb into that monster?” I said folding my arms.
Jeremy laughed. “Here let me help you.”
He opened the passenger door and offered me his hand. I looked at his hand like I haven’t seen one in decades. I tried to think of a time my husband offered my hand, but I couldn’t remember a single moment. When Jeremy noticed my stalling, I gave him my hand. When I reached to close the door, Jeremy stopped me and closed it himself. This must be what people call a gentleman trait. I instantly found this act attractive.
I rubbed my belly, imagining the gender of my baby. If I have a boy, I will raise him to treat everywoman with respect, and offer his hand when they need it. If I have a girl, I will raise her to be strong for herself, but allow a man to fulfill his duty to protect her.
The door closed on Jeremy’s side and he started the engine. The engine didn’t grumble and cackled like my old truck, it just growled like it was clearing its throat.
With my truck disappearing from my sight, we left the clinic.
As soon as we drove out of town, my directions became the only conversation starter. Since I don’t
have to drive, I enjoyed the sight of the locals in their coats and ugly sweaters. The holidays bring this town together, there is laughter in the faces of everyone we pass by. I wonder if I can be like them, after my baby is born, nothing can hold me back from pursuing a happy life. This past month just the word family made me shrink. Now it doesn’t matter, Avalon helped me accept something I’ve been running for so long, reality.
If I never stepped into the woods, and met Avalon, I wonder if perspective of life would remain as bitter as it was. After moving to Washington State, I didn’t mix well with the locals. Everything I did was done with a stubborn, and defensive heart. Now I’m humbled to accept Dr. Graham’s hospitality and his son’s help! In such a short time, things have changed—I have changed.
As if tears had a scent, Jeremy took a glance at me, but I quickly blinked the waterworks away. He glanced back at the road, not saying a word. Avalon, it’s cold out there.
How are you?
Chapter Twenty-Two
Farewell
“He’s beginning to remind me of my husband…”
The first hour on the road is beginning to affect me in a particular way. I held it in this long, but now I don’t think I can—not when my baby is currently using my bladder as a recliner!
“Can we stop for a minute?” I said, with increasing urgency.
“Are you crazy?” he said glancing at me. “Were in the middle of the highway, what for?”
“I have to pee.” I yapped.
“Why didn’t you say anything before we left the town?”
“It’s not something a single rest stop can treat.” I breathed.
“You can’t hold it in?”
“I’m in no position to control my pee. My baby is squeezing my bladder to the brink of exploding. Even if I were to skip water for the entire day—there’s no escape. If you won’t pull over, then you might as well drive me back to town, and admit me to the hospital because my bladder will be bursting any minute now!”
“Okay—okay! Give me a sec!”
Now Jeremy’s the panicked one, he kept an eye out for nearby vehicles and slowly pulled to the side. I have never sounded so vivacious! The third trimester doesn’t just compress your belly, but your patience quickly follows along.
The Birth (The Black Wing Book 1) Page 18
