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He hesitates, then kisses my forehead, places me on the couch gently, and backs away.
The doctor takes the throat swab. A few minutes later, he reads the test results and nods. “It’s as I thought. Any allergies I need to be aware of before I issue the prescription?" he asks me.
"No allergies," I say at the same time that my husband snaps, "She’s not responsive to penicillin."
I turn to him. "Oh, I forgot about that, but how did you know?"
He merely tilts his head. "I made it my business to acquaint myself with your medical history.
Of course, he did. He knows everything about me, and I should definitely be pissed, but in a roundabout way, I’m also pleased he remembered.
"Oh, that’s good to know. I can prescribe something in its stead." The doctor completes his examination and sits back. "I’d like you to come to my clinic tomorrow so I can draw some blood and run some tests."
"Blood? Tests?" Ed stiffens. "What’s wrong with her? What are you not telling me?"
The doc sighs. "It’s routine; nothing to worry about. I want to make sure she’s not anemic."
"Anemic?" Ed’s gaze narrows.
"It means lack of iron in the blood," I say in a soothing voice.
"I know what it is."
"Then you’ll know, it’s not serious, and I am prone to it. My vitamin D levels may have dropped, as well."
"What?" Ed looks down at me, then cups my cheek. "Oh, my god, that’s not good."
"It happens when you're a woman." I resist the urge to roll my eyes. "Especially due to my, uh, heavy cycles."
"When did you last have your period?" the doctor asks in a casual voice.
"Uh, three… No, four weeks ago, now." I hesitate. "Maybe longer." Now, it’s my turn to gulp. "You don’t think… No… I, uh, I’m on the pill."
"Best to take the guesswork out of it and take a pregnancy test."
"A pregnancy test?" My head spins.
Behind me, Edward’s chest hardens. "Why don’t you give her a full check-up when we see you tomorrow?" Ed growls.
I slap at his chest. "Excuse me, you could ask me if I want a full check-up done."
He squeezes his eyes shut, and when he opens them, there’s remorse in them. "Would you get a full check-up done? Please?" he adds in a cajoling tone. His eyes are soft, and there’s a plea in them. One I can’t turn down. Especially since I can feel the tension strumming under that massive chest of his.
"Okay." I turn to the doctor. "What time do you want me there?"
* * *
"There’s no way I can be pregnant." I wring my hands.
The doctor had emailed the prescription over to the pharmacy and he’d sent his team to pick it up. He’d also warned them that it had better have reached his home before we did. I exchanged glances with Adela, who merely shrugged and told me she would lock up the place before leaving for the night.
Ed called for his car, then carried me to it, placed me gently in the back seat and got in with me. I was surprised he wasn’t driving but I kept quiet. Best not to add to whatever gamut of emotions he seems to be experiencing. For a man who, until a month ago, had trouble conceding he felt anything—let alone, giving voice to his feelings—he seems to have done an about-turn. I’ve never seen him this perturbed.
Now, he makes me lay down in the backseat with my head in his lap. Then, he proceeds to caution the driver to go slowly, until we’re barely crawling along. He made sure I downed a bottle of water and some fruit before we left the office. And only because I told him I insisted I couldn't eat anything else.
I try to sit up, but he coaxes me to lay down again. His thigh feels like a column of steel covered with the smooth fabric of his pants.
"I really can’t be. I haven't missed a day of my contraceptive pills."
