Chapter LII
''Are you sure you don't want to take a look?'' Dr. Patrick Turner asked, examining the ultrasound monitor.
''Yes, I'm sure,'' Anna answered firmly.
''Would you at least let me turn the sound back on?''
''No,'' she replied, still staring at the ceiling.
''Miss Smith...'' Dr. Turner said gently, turning the monitor off and looking at her. ''...I know it's none of my business, but...if I am to be your doctor for the next few months, I'd prefer you be honest with me.''
''What do you mean?'' Anna asked, finally looking up at him.
''Well, something tells me that you don't want to be here,'' he replied simply. In his years as an OB-GYN, he had seen everything, from unwanted teen pregnancies to telling someone that, after years and years of tears and prayers, a strong heartbeat was audible. He had seen it all, and regardless of the patient or the situation, he could always tell whether the mother-to-be was happy with the news. But this young woman was a little different. He could see that she was glowing like so many women were when they were expecting, but something was missing. It didn't quite feel right - as if she was holding something back somehow.
''Dr. Turner...''
''You don't need to tell me, of course, but I need you to understand that my job is to make sure both mother and baby get the best possible care during pregnancy and delivery. And I can't do that, not really, if I don't know what is truly going on - anything I should know that might be affecting your health, physical or otherwise, in any way.''
Anna stared at him for a moment, but she knew that he was right. She hated the fact that John wasn't here with her, but she didn't have any other choice. She had spent a very uncomfortable night on the extra bed in John's hospital room. Robert had woken her up early in the morning, and then driven her home to have a quick shower and breakfast before driving her back to the hospital for her first check-up. So here she was, lying on the examination bed with Robert sitting outside, making sure that she would go through with the appointment, and with a handsome doctor who could sense that something wasn't as it should be. Dr. Turner was here to help - to make sure this baby would stay safe and healthy until John came back to her - so she finally broke down and told him everything.
xXx
''I'm sorry,'' Dr. Turner said, when Anna was done with telling him everything that had happened in the last year. She had been planning to tell just about John's current situation, but when she had started talking, she had been unable to stop. And he hadn't seemed to mind listening to her.
''It's not your fault,'' Anna smiled while blowing her nose into the tissue he had offered her.
''So they didn't tell you how long he will be under?''
''No. They said it's for the best - that it will help him heal - and I know they're right. But part of me is still frightened that he won't come out of it, and...I just don't know what I'd do if he didn't. I don't think I could bear it...''
''Miss Smith, I'm not going to lie - I have no way of knowing what is going to happen with him. But I do believe that he would want you to take the best possible care of yourself and this baby while you wait for him to recover. I know I would, if it were me.''
''You're right...he would want that, too.'' Anna smiled shakily, feeling a little calmer due to his encouragement.
''So...shall we try again?''
''No.''
He opened his mouth to protest, and she realized that she needed to clarify.
''Dr. Turner, I agree that I need to ensure that our baby is healthy and that everything is progressing as it should. But this is John's and my first baby together. I want him to be here with me for everything...and I mean everything. This is our pregnancy, not just mine, and he has the right to experience it with me - to sit by my side and look at that monitor, seeing for the first time what we created together and hearing the sound of our baby's heartbeat. I want everything about this baby to be about us, not just me. So until he is able to experience everything with me, I need you to promise that you won't give me any important information, except for what I really need to know. Do you understand?"
''I think I do.''
''Good.'' Anna smiled. ''So...is there anything that you can you tell me?''
''Well...'' he chuckled, turning the monitor back on ''...I can tell you that you were right about the time of conception. You are about 6 weeks along.''
So she was right - they had made this baby on the day that John had come back from Birmingham early and gone crazy in the shower. Anna smiled to herself at the memory.
''Anything else?''
''Well, let me see...'' Dr. Turner turned back to the monitor, relieved to see her smile. ''...No, no - I can't tell you that...'' he muttered under his breath, aware that Anna could hear him. ''...or that either...'' He continued examining the monitor, then gasped suddenly. ''...oh...!''
''What?'' Anna finally looked at him, while trying not to look at the monitor next to him.
''...I definitely can't tell you this without the father present.'' He chuckled and turned to her.
''Dr. Turner...'' Anna laughed at his mischievous smile. ''Is she all right?''
''She?'' He raised his eyebrows and turned the monitor off.
''Yes, she.'' She smiled and slowly sat up as he put the equipment away.
''Mother's intuition?'' he asked, sitting down at his desk.
''Father's,'' she explained. ''John somehow got it into his head that it's a girl, so...'' She chuckled, recalling John's certainty, and sat down opposite the doctor.
''I see,'' he said, writing something down.
''So...is everything all right?'' she asked, after a pause.
''Yes.'' He looked up. ''Everything looks fine and appears to be right on schedule.'' He could see the relief in her eyes. ''But considering what you are going through right now, I would like you to come see me every week, and I do mean every week. We don't want any surprises, all right?'' He gave her an encouraging smile.
''All right.''
''I mean it, Miss Smith. I'm going to keep a close eye on you and on her...'' They both chuckled. ''...so that when Dad is ready to meet her, everything will be as it should be.''
''Thank you...thank you so much,'' Anna said, fresh tears in her eyes. It meant so much to her that he not only understood her wishes, but that he respected them. "And please...call me Anna."
''My pleasure.'' He stood up and escorted her to the door. ''And if anything feels off, anything at all, please call me immediately.''
''I will, thank you.''
''Take care, Anna, OK?''
''I'll do my best.'' She smiled. ''See you next week?''
''See you next week.''
beta: annambates! you are the best! **** THANK YOU!
HI! :)... ;)
