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“Oh, hell no, Dr. Adams. If I have to deal with her, so do you,” she sasses as she grabs my arms and pulls me back. ‘She’s freakishly strong,’ I think to myself, which is quickly followed by, ‘Stop thinking about your dental hygienist in any other manner than professional.’
“I can hear you,” Collette says in an annoyed tone, from the room behind me, which makes both Meghan and me laugh quietly.
“Come on. Inside,” she giggles, pushing me into the small cleaning room.
When I step back into the room, Collette is glaring daggers at me. “I’m just going to…assist.” I throw her an unapologetic grin before stepping over to the counter and grabbing Collette’s chart, flipping open the file and glancing down at the information from her last appointment. It was a year ago.
“You need updated X-rays,” I say aloud before looking over my shoulder. Meghan is already there, the lead bib fitted across Collette’s chest, and the paper placed in her mouth for bitewing X-rays.
“On it,” Meghan says with a wink. “Care to step out?”
It takes only a few minutes for Meghan to take the images we need, readjusting the paper and the machine between each one. I watch her work effortlessly, getting everything done and in a timely manner. It’s probably so she can get rid of my cat stealing ex that much quicker.
When she completes the X-rays, we both slip back into the room, and Meghan gets to work. Occasionally, she asks me to add notes in the chart, but for the most part, everyone is quiet. There’s no small talk that usually takes place during appointments. In fact, it’s an uncomfortable silence; one that speaks of untold secrets and strong dislike. It makes me adjust the tie at my neck in an attempt to suck in a few extra breaths of air.
“It’s okay, Patty dear. I’ll only be a minute,” we hear coming from the front office. Meghan and I glance at each other at the exact same moment and know what’s about to happen next.
“Meggy Pie, are you here?” her Grandma bellows down the hall, moments before popping her head in the doorway. “Oh! There you are!”
“Yep, here I am. Working,” Meghan replies sarcastically without looking up from her task inside Collette’s mouth.
“I was just in the area,” Emma says with a bright smile. “We were out of KY.”
I choke on air. “KY?” I ask, giving my full attention to the old woman before me.
“Oh, yes. I’ve developed a liking for the one that also warms your–”
“Why are you here again?” Meghan interrupts loudly.
“To invite you to dinner tomorrow evening. That is, if you’re not doing the good doctor tomorrow after work,” Emma says, followed by collective gasps.
“What?” Meghan gasps.
“What?” Emma asks innocently.
“You just said I was…doing… Nick,” Meghan says, mortified.
“No I didn’t,” Emma insists, even though we all clearly heard her. “I said if you weren’t doing anything with the good doctor tomorrow night,” Emma adds, an ornery, evil glint in her light green eyes. “Your mind is always in the gutter.” Emma glances down, as if noticing the patient for the first time. “Oh! Is that Collette Cartwright? I’m surprised to see you, dear. You let your ex near your mouth with his tool?”
Now I really am choking on air.
Quickly, I realize I’m not the only one who took her seemingly innocent statement and turned it into a porno. Meghan’s face is beet red, and Collette looks completely mortified. And Emma? Well, if the grin on her face is any indication, I’d say her “seemingly innocent” statement was anything but.
“I’m sorry Grandma, but I have book club tomorrow,” Meghan says, getting back to work on finishing Collette’s cleaning.
“Book Club? Have they added erotica to their reading list yet? Irma Daniels keeps trying to get me to join her little club, but I just can’t read without the good stuff,” Emma says, waving her hand dismissively. Turning to me, she adds, “It’s like having to read Playboy without the pictures. Boring,” she sings.
“Anyway, I should go. If you’d rather go read and discuss books where the hero and heroine don’t even dip the pen in the inkwell, then you just go right ahead. Grandpa and I will be at home, giving the dog a bone,” she says with a wave goodbye.
“But, you don’t have a dog,” Meghan refutes.
“I know,” she grins widely and winks before walking out of the room.
“Did that just happen?” Meghan asks, her wide green eyes locked firmly on mine.
“‘Fraid so, Meggy Pie,” I tease, unable to stop the laugh. She hates it when I call her that. “Let’s get this appointment finished so we can get on with our nightlife.”
* * *
