Chapter 16
“Please remove your jacket and lie down,” he instructed. She did just that and the nurse walked in. “Can you move your top up a little and your pants a little down?”
She adjusted the article of clothing like he asked and watched as he washed his hands at the sink. When he walked back to her, he rubbed his hands together.
“I am warming them up,” he informed her.
“Don’t people say that cold hands make a warm man?” Her words made her chuckle slightly.
“I think they do, but moms don’t appreciate it when my hands are cold. The gel is cold enough for them as it is.“]
“Derrik’s hands were always so warm. I was bothered by them. I mean, who likes holding a hot plate all the time?” she muttered and Dr. Parks hummed and went on with his exam.[]
“Your little Bean seems to be doing well. I am going to use the Doppler to listen to its heartbeat.“[]
Within seconds, she heard the galloping sound again and she closed her eyes to enjoy the moment. “Sounds good,” Dr. Parks affirmed and she opened her eyes to look at him. He cleaned up her stomach and then held out his hand to help her sit up.
“Can you roll up your sleeves?“]
She moved her sleeve up. He wiped her arm with an alcohol pad. As tingles ran up her hand and across her chest, she bit her lip and fought off a groan. He made quick work on the injection and placed a bandaid over the spot.[]
“Is it normal for a pregnant woman’s sex drive to increase?” she asked as she rolled down her sleeves.
“Yes, it is quite normal,” he answered right away.]
“What about reacting to simple touches?” she asked keeping her eyes away from him.]
“Touches?” he repeated as if he didn’t understand.[]
“I find that I am becoming sensitive… I am turned on more and more, even by simple touches,” she muttered and her face turned red.]
“Yes, that is normal as well. Your body has a high amount of hormones right now, so things will change drastically. If things are not as usual, don’t worry too much. My advice is to enjoy it,” he sounded a little strange as he spoke. Pandora looked at him. “Would you like an appointment later in the day next week?“]
Pandora frowned as she put on her jacket.[]
“That way, Mr. Leonard can come along, too?”
Pandora furrowed her brow in confusion. Her father hated doctors‘ office and there was no way he would want to come to his daughter’s pregnancy checkups. There were some things a dad shouldn’t know about their daughter, so why would Dr. Parks think that he would come along?
“Your husband is okay with this, right? With you being pregnant?” Dr. Park’s question finally put her thoughts in the right place.[]
“He is fine. Sorry, I lack sleep,” she muttered quietly. For some reason, Pandora didn’t want her doctor to know that she was divorced and had random sex with a guy she didn’t know. That, too, in Vegas. There was only so much embarrassment she could handle. At that point, she had reached her limit with the good doctor.
“Pandora,” he called and she smiled, looking at him. “You need to rest. Sleep is the most important part of your routine right now.” He stopped and sighed a little. “Call my office and let me know if the sickness continued.” And just like that, the softness in his voice was
gone and he reverted back to being a concise and practical doctor.
“I will
She walked out of the office and stopped in her tracks when she saw Mackenna sitting on the bench, crying into her hands.
“She’s not my friend. She is not my problem” she told herself as her feet dragged her in the other woman’s direction. “Everything alright, miss?” she found herself asking.
Mackenna looked up at her in surprise and then glanced at the office door behind her.[]
Her eyes snapped back to Pandora. “No, nothing is alright!” she yelled out. “I am meant to have a baby. It was mine and…” she waved her hands around and dropped them in her lap. “Why do you get to keep a bastard child and mine was taken away from me? That is not fair!” she screamed.[]
“Mackenna,” she said, raising her hand but the other just sneered at her.]
“It should have been you that lost your child, not me. I know who the father of my child is, but you don’t,” she lashed out.
“You should have walked away.” Pandora chastised herself.
“It should be me who is pregnant. I deserve a baby. You don’t. Why do you get to have one?”
“Miss Smith!” came a harsh voice, making Pandora jump. She turned to see Dr. Parks looking worried, but his mouth was pressed into a harsh line.
“What?” Mackenna yelled at him. “You are the one responsible. You killed my baby.”
“Miss Smith, you have been asked repeatedly not to come here. We are all sorry for your loss but it has nothing to do with me or this establishment.
“Yes, it was. You’re just lying. I was pregnant and I know it.” Mackenna sobbed. “Why are you taking my babies away from me?
You were not pregnant. You had a condition called a phantom pregnancy, which could be brought on by stress and grief of losing a child the year prior.”
Fuck you, asshole!” Mackenna screamed. “I hope you’re happy, you whore,” she sneered at Pandora before walking away
way.
T’m sorry,” Pandora sighed and rubbed her face.
“No, Mrs. Leonard. I am the one who is sorry. She has come here multiple times over the past month. You are not the first patient she has harassed. Today was enough proof to seek a restraining order we requested. The police might contact you and ask for your statement. If you don’t feel comfortable coming here again, I will understand and refer you to someone else.
Cun
