Page 67 of Irish Betrayal

Blair swallowed thickly. It was one of her biggest fears and what had her feeling such horrible guilt. What if she and that poor woman at his flat, Mindy, weren’t the only ones? Was there a young girl out there somewhere that held Peter in their heart like a perfect secret?

“I understand, Linda. Of course, you should inform them. I wasn’t thinking. I will tell you that my boyfriend’s family has some pull at Trinity College, and I believe Dr. Samson will be leaving Oklahoma sooner than he planned.”

“Once the Dean of OSU is made aware that there might be a potential problem with why Dr. Samson asked to teach here, she will undoubtedly send the information on to Trinity’s Provost. Universities aren’t the police, but they are responsible for every student’s well-being.”

“Thank you, Linda. Truly.” Blair couldn’t wait to tell Daniel. It didn’t solve all of her issues regarding what she needed to do about Peter, but it was a start. Putting him on the radar of more than one school should keep him watched and under suspicion until she could find her way through the mess.

“Now, young lady, get to the doctor’s appointment that you promised to go to. Or admin won’t be the only call I make today. I happen to know that Katy Stanton is friends with your mother.”

Blair smiled and rolled her eyes, waving goodbye. She really didn’t want to take the time to run to the clinic because her stomach had been feeling better. She had been strict with her diet for the past month, eating no gluten or dairy and sticking to extra helpings of raw vegetables, chicken, and fish.

She knew people were supposed to take out one possible allergen at a time, but she was exhausted from her stomach acting up and ditched them all. Blair knew that once she was back in Scotland and Ireland, her stomach should right itself anyway.

She dropped her heavy bags in the Jeep’s passenger seat, deciding to drive across campus to the clinic to save time. She had just finished helping one of Linda’s student teachers in the lab and didn’t have time to walk. Lab was part of her master’s curriculum, but she’d do it even if it wasn’t. Being inside a giant greenhouse was her happy place.

After she filled out the paperwork and showed her school ID, a nurse led her to the restroom for a urine sample. Probably a good thing after Daniel’s visit.

She only had to take off her jeans. The nurse said the doctor would want to poke around Blair’s belly.

Blair texted her friend group and sent a long message to Daniel about her talk with Dr. Bartel. He instantly replied.

Daniel: Video call me the moment you can. I can’t wait to hear your voice and see your face. Being back in Dublin without you sucks.

Blair: I will! I’m at my doctor’s appt now. Birth control

Daniel: Fuck yes! And…

Blair: And my stomach. Gotta go. Doc’s here.

The doctor walked in smiling, introduced himself, and shook her hand. Dr. Mitchell was older, short, pudgy, balding, and Blair instantly liked him.

“Good morning, Blair. Your chart says that you’re deaf but can read lips fluently. Let’s test that. Blair Barr is short.”

Blair snorted in amusement. “I’ve my mother to thank for the lack of stature.”

“See. Now I know you can, in fact, read lips, and you know that I’m old but not blind. Yet. So, your stomach’s been giving you fits?”

Blair explained her theory that it was food-related and what she’s been doing to combat the symptoms, and that it had seemed better lately. “I would also like to get on birth control today.”

“What forms of birth control have you used in the past?”

Blair felt her cheeks blush. “Well, condoms, but the first one broke. That was,” she thought back, “a bit over three months ago. I was a virgin.” Blair! You idiot! “And um…condoms last weekend. And a few times without anything.”

That was more embarrassing than the time she peed her pants on the playground at school. Way more.

“I won’t belabor the error of your past attempts with birth control,” he said using air quotes around attempts, “but I think I better wait for your urinalysis before we go further.”

If Blair could hear, she imagined she’d be hearing an alarm bell go off. The doctor’s words held a distinct note of warning.

“I’ve had this stomach issue for a while now. I mean…” she felt the vibrations in her throat weakening, meaning her volume had dropped and in her panic, she wasn’t sure if the doctor could even hear her.

In her panic, she started signing. Dr. Mitchell tapped her hands and held up his hands for her to stop. He reached for a prescription pad and pen and handed them to her, giving her an encouraging nod to continue.

Blair rubbed her forehead, trying to brush off her confusion and write, throwing all embarrassment aside. I’ve spotted a few times since the first time we had sex. If you’re insinuating that I might be pregnant and that’s the cause of my stomach bothering me, I would have to disagree.

“I understand you’re probably experiencing some shock over the thought. I’m asking, as your doctor, that you take a deep breath. Panicking never helps. I will still examine you. I just believe in having as much information as I can before I touch a patient. Speeds things up,” he winked.

“Tell me, Miss Barr, if the test comes back positive, will your partner welcome the news? Will you?”