A few days later Emma sat in the waiting room at her doctor's office. Clay wanted to join her for the appointment, but she told him he didn't need to. He insisted, but was called in on a mission, which ended the debate. The lack of Clay's presence didn't worry Emma. Although she believed having her doctor check things out was a good idea, she didn't think the situation was particularly concerning.
"Emma Hayes." A nurse stood by the door leading back to the exam rooms.
Emma rose and followed the woman down the hall. Once they entered a room, the nurse checked Emma's pulse, blood pressure, and weight, then left her to change out of her clothes. Settling on the exam table, Emma hoped her doctor would arrive soon. Sitting naked in a paper gown made her antsy even if she had nothing to worry about.
Before long, a knock sounded, and the doctor entered. A tall woman, with dark hair and a soothing demeanor, Nancy Bradley had been Emma's physician for a few years. Emma appreciated the doctor's calm presence and sense of humor.
"Hello, Emma. How are you today?" Dr. Bradley pulled a rolling stool from the corner and sat.
"Hi, I'm okay."
"Good." The doctor glanced at the tablet in her hand. "Your chart says you've come in to have a lump in your breast checked. What's going on with that?"
"Yeah, so, there's a small lump on the outside of my right breast." Emma's hand fluttered up to her side.
Dr. Bradley nodded. "When did you first notice it?"
"Actually, my fiancé noticed it a couple days ago." A pink tinge colored Emma's cheeks.
The doctor smiled reassuringly at Emma. "It's very common for a significant other to find these things. Have there been any changes to it since then?"
"No, I think it's stayed the same."
"Let's take a look." Standing, Dr. Bradley pushed the stool away. "Lie back and try to relax."
Emma swung her legs onto the table and rested her head back against the flat pillow. Dr. Bradley tore the top of the gown to expose Emma's chest. Gently but firmly, she palpitated the side of Emma's breast, focusing on the lump. "Does it hurt when I touch it?"
"No." Emma did her best to not to tense up as the doctor examined her.
"And you haven't found any others?"
"No."
Dr. Bradley glanced up at Emma's face. "I'm going to give you a full breast exam to check myself, okay?"
"Sure." Staring at the ceiling, Emma waited for the inspection to be over. She didn't think there were any other lumps.
Finally, Dr. Bradley finished. "Alright, Emma, you can sit up."
Pulling the torn sides of the gown together, Emma rose to a sitting position. Her doctor's expression seemed solemn, and Emma didn't know what to think.
Dr. Bradley picked up her tablet again and began tapping on it. Then she looked over at Emma. "There's only the one lump, but I want you to go to the women's health pavilion in the medical center for a mammogram this afternoon."
Emma's hands gripped the gown where she was holding it in front of her chest. "A mammogram?"
"Don't look so worried. There are a number of things this could be, and a mammogram will give us a better picture. This doesn't mean you have cancer."
"Okay." Emma nodded in agreement, but to her a mammogram meant this was serious. For a fleeting moment, she wished Clay had been able to accompany her today.
"Why don't you get dressed while a member of my staff schedules you an appointment. They'll come back with the info once they've done that." Reaching for the doorknob, Dr. Bradley turned back to Emma. "I mean it, Emma. Don't get yourself too worked up."
Watching as the door shut, Emma continued to sit on the exam table. She debated who might be available to come with her for the test. Her father was on a job site today, and she didn't want to freak him out. Hannah would be her first choice, but Emma knew her friend had a science lab all afternoon as part of her beginning coursework for her graduate physical therapy program. Maybe Aunt Naima could come by from her shift in the emergency room? Since she worked in the same hospital, she might be able to. Emma hopped off the table, grabbed her phone, and sent Naima a message. Then she began putting on her clothes.
As Emma slid her feet into her flip-flops, there was a knock at the door. "Come in."
The nurse from earlier entered. "Here is your mammogram appointment information. You're scheduled in an hour, so you have time to grab a coffee or something in the cafeteria." She held out a pink slip of paper. "Do you know where you're going?"
Taking the appointment sheet, Emma glanced at it. "I think so. The building behind this one, right?"
"Yes. You can cut through the main hospital or go out the front door here and walk around. Mammograms are on the second floor."
"Okay." Emma tucked the slip into the pocket of her shorts. "Thanks."
"You're welcome." The nurse began cleaning the room and prepping for the next patient but stopped to smile at Emma. "Don't worry. They'll take good care of you."
Nodding, Emma slipped out of the room.