Thank you all for the wonderful reviews! Here is the next installment.
Chapter 12
Callie took an anxiety pill just before she and Frank left for Molly's appointment with Dr. Smith. They saw the couple in the waiting room. Molly waved. "You made it! Good to see you."
Doug stood up since there were no more chairs. "Sit Callie get off your feet."
Callie was grateful. She took Molly's hand. Callie was really nervous. All these people! It was more crowded than Inner Peace had been. Callie closed her eyes and imagined she was at the beach. She visualized the waves crashing against the shore. The sun kissing her skin. Molly bless her, did not disturb her.
Doug whispered to Frank. "How is she doing. We were watching the last press conference and knew that Callie had been one of the victims?"
Frank whispered back. "She has good moments and bad moments. Sometimes we have to go minute by minute. She's in therapy twice a week right now. It seems to help."
"I'm glad that the bastard is dead." Doug said.
Frank smiled. "We are too."
"Molly Davis?"
Callie opened her eyes and stood up with Molly. "Sorry I was starting to panic and…"
"Don't apologize. I understand. My uncle used to coerce me into having oral sex with him. It started when I was seven. When I turned thirteen he raped me for the first time. We were living in New York at the time. Your father in law was the detective in charge of the case. I didn't remember him until I saw him at your party. I thought Frank looked familiar but couldn't place him. Now I know why. They are like twins." She went into the little changing area and changed into a gown.
She came out a few minutes later holding the back. Frank respectfully turned towards the window until she was seated on the exam table.
Callie, overwhelmed with emotion said. "I'm sorry that happened to you. Is that why your family moved to Boston?"
"Yes."
Frank hugged Callie from behind. "Well, I'm glad my dad was able to help you get closure."
"He was great. Very sensitive and diligent. He didn't miss a single detail."
A knock on the door interrupted their conversation. The nurse came in. "Let me check your vitals Mrs. Davis. Hello Doug, Callie, Frank."
Callie smiled. "Hi Shelly."
"BP is 118/68 and your pulse 74 that's great. The doctor will be in shortly."
Doug asked. "Have you come up with a name yet?"
Frank nodded. "We love the name Claire. Molly what is your maiden middle name?"
"Ann. why?"
Callie's eyes filled with tears. "That's my middle name too. I dropped Shaw."
Frank said. "So the baby will honor both her mother and her surrogate. I like it."
Callie said. "Me too."
Doug smiled. "Claire Ann Hardy, that's beautiful. We'll start calling her by her name when she can hear."
A knock on the door was heard and Dr. Smith stepped in. "How are you feeling Mrs. Davis?"
"I feel great." Molly said.
Dr. Smith turned to Callie. "How are you mom?"
Callie's eyes filled with tears again. Dr. Smith was so sensitive. He knew this was her and Frank's child and he was asking how she was doing from the rape. She answered. "I'm excited for the baby, I'm doing just ok. Still in pain from my kidney surgery."
"It will take time. Dr. Henry is a friend of mine. He's a good surgeon." He turned to Molly and helped her lie back. "So what have you been craving lately?"
"Peanut butter, apples, and chocolate."
Dr. Smith measured her tummy. Then he felt where the baby's head was. "I've heard stranger things. Try to limit the chocolate."
He pulled out a doppler from his pocket. He put some blue goo on Molly's tummy and Claire's heartbeat filled the room. "A nice healthy baby."
He turned to Callie. "I've had a cancellation today. Would you like to take it? You need to have your followup."
Callie had her followup tomorrow but with the PA. She didn't like that woman one little bit. She was relieved. "Yes please. When?"
"Right now. Stay here in the room you're going to need to put on a gown. "I'll be back after I inform the ladies at the front and my nurse." He changed out the paper on the exam table and left the room.
Doug said. "We'll let you guys go. We'd love to have you over for dinner next week. You, Callie, and Brooke. The kids have really gotten attached to her."
Callie smiled. "We'd love to."
They left the room and Callie went to change into a gown. She gingerly sat on top of the table. Down there wasn't sore like it had been for over a week. Her kidney surgery incision was what was killing her. She wished she'd brought her pain pills. Frank reached into his pocket and pulled out the pain pill bottle. "I knew you'd be due for another dose."
Callie was relieved. Frank found a small cup in the changing area and filled it with a little water and gave her the pill. Callie quickly took it. "Thanks. I'm so glad he had that cancellation. I didn't want to see the PA. She ignored us on that appointment that Molly saw her remember. It was as if she was put out by surrogacy."
"She may have a religious belief, honey. But I agree she was quite rude."
The nurse came in. "Mrs. Hardy I'm going to take your vitals."
Callie waited as the blood pressure cuff did its thing. The nurse finally spoke. "Your BP is 138/84, pulse 102, and your respirations 20. Are you in pain?"
"Yes. I just took a pain pill."
"I'll recheck it after the doctor sees you. He's going to remove your stitches, correct?"
Callie shuddered. "Yes."
Dr. Payne stepped back in the room. "Shelly please go get a suture removal kit please. I'll need you for the assist."
"Yes Doctor." Shelly left the room.
"The good news that I have to tell you is this. The lab results of your blood work indicated that your rapist did not have HIV. So you can rest easy there."
Callie gripped Frank's hand. "I hadn't even thought about that. Oh thank god."
"We do need to monitor you for a bit for other sexually transmitted infections, like syphilis and others. I'll have our lab draw your blood and we can check for those easily enough."
Callie trembled. "Okay."
The nurse came back in. "Here we are, Doctor. Sterile gloves are inside."
Frank helped Callie lie back. She put her feet in the stirrups and slid down to the end of the table. Callie had his hand in a firm grip. Her eyes were squeezed shut. Dr. Smith said soothingly. "I'm going to clean the area first Callie."
Callie managed to answer with a squeak. "Okay."
Callie felt gentle hands and something wet down in the most intimate of spaces. She didn't like it but it felt nothing like the rape. He was very gentle and very much aware that she was not a happy camper. He was also very quick about it.
"Now I'm going to remove the stitches okay. You shouldn't feel any pain. You're going to feel some tugs alright."
Callie whimpered. "Just give me a minute please."
Dr. Smith nodded. "Take all the time you need sweetie."
Callie took a couple deep breaths. She was still squeezing Frank's hand hard. "Okay."
Callie went back to her beach in her mind. She visualized the crashing waves, the smell of the sea air. Her hand loosened on Frank's just a bit. She took slow deep breaths and enjoyed the image of sun kissed skin. Callie wanted to take Frank to Bora Bora. It was so peaceful there. Maybe around Christmas.
"All done."
Callie opened her eyes. "Really?"
Dr. Smith smiled at her. "Really. You've healed very well. When do you get your staples out?"
"Today at two."
"Well you'd better get moving. It's twelve thirty and you guys need some lunch."
"We're going to grab a bite from a drive thru." Frank reassured the man.
"Alright, take care. Callie if you want to set up your annual exam I suggest you do that. When do you normally have that done?"
"November."
"The front desk will make your appointment. Have a good day."