Chapter 13 #2
Dr. Marsh shows up within the hour. She sets up in the chapel, although she knows the club officers don’t like her doing that.
She’s an older woman, sixty if she’s a day.
She’s still alert, sassy, and doesn’t care what anyone says.
The second her eyes land on me hovering just inside the doorway, she points at the hallway.
“Get out, Jinx.”
“Doc, I’d rather stay,” I say stubbornly.
“I know, but I want you out. You can hold her hand and worry over her all you want once I’m finished. But right now, I’ve got a bunch of personal medical questions I need to ask, and women can’t always answer honestly with their partners lurking around.”
“I’m not fuckin’ lurkin’,” I tell her indignantly. “This is my baby too and I want to be involved.”
Her voice softens a bit. “You can be involved, just not right now. I’ll come and get you when I’ve finished the exam.”
So, I tuck my tail between my legs and go out into the fuckin’ hallway. Truth be told, I don’t want to make my old lady uncomfortable.
Queenie brings me coffee, giving my shoulder a squeeze. “Everything’s going to be okay, Jinx. You’ll see. Your old lady isn’t the first woman in the world to get pregnant.”
“Did they throw Rock out back in the day when you were pregnant with Jasper?”
“They didn’t have to. Back then men didn’t dare come into the exam room for anything gynecological or pregnancy related.”
Taking a sip of my coffee, I tell her, “Nora was bleeding and cramping. You had four kids. What do you think that means?”
She looks up at me with her hands on her hips. “It could mean something or nothing. The only way to find out is to let Dr. Marsh finish her exam.”
I nod, still not liking the idea of being separated from my old lady. I stand there, right outside the door sipping my coffee, just to have something to do.
Queenie gives my arm one last squeeze and trots off. Queenie isn’t much younger than Dr. Marsh and is about Nora’s size. She gave birth to four boys who turned out to be big strappin’ bikers, so I hope my old lady will be fine too.
When Dr. Marsh finally waves me in, Nora’s lookin’ better with color back in her face and she holds out her hand for me to come and sit near her.
I’m guessing whatever Doc found wasn’t bad news.
Relief and pride war for top place in my emotions as I stride across the room, take her hand, and squat down beside her.
“Here’s where we are right now,” Doc says, packing her bag while she talks.
“Spotting this early is common. The cramping only happened a couple of times, and it’s eased up already.
Everything I can check without a full medical set up looks fine.
I’ll order an ultrasound just to make sure, but everything’s looking okay. ”
“It happened after sex. Did she tell you that, Doc? Maybe we shouldn’t…”
“Nora mentioned that and it has no bearing on her condition. Sex is safe until a physician tells you otherwise.”
She snaps the bag shut and turns to look at Nora. “But let’s err on the safe side by putting you off your feet for twenty-four hours. Then if you have a reemergence of symptoms, let me know and I’ll schedule you to come into the clinic. Understood?”
“Yes, of course,” Nora replies. “I’ll do my best to take it easy for one day. How hard can it be to do nothing?”
Looking over at her and remembering that stress equals biscuits, I say, “For you, I suspect it’s gonna be harder than you think, sweetness.”
“Thank you for coming,” Nora says. “I didn’t… I haven’t had anybody to ask questions of about this.”
Dr. Marsh responds warmly, “Now you have me, honey. And you’ve got Jinx and the other old ladies in this club. You’re not doing this on your own anymore.”
“You’re right and I’m grateful for the support.”
“I’ll schedule that ultrasound for you, unless I hear from you sooner, we’ll make it in two weeks,” she says.
“Thank you for coming so quickly,” I tell Dr. Marsh.
She picks up her bag, and glances at me. “Jinx. Walk me out. I want to talk to you privately.”
Nora didn’t hear that and my heart sinks, wondering what bad news the doc is gonna tell me.
At the front door, she stops and turns to me. “I wanted to take a minute to caution you about this overprotective bit you’re doing.”
“I just want everything to be okay, for Nora and the baby to be healthy.”
“I get that, but the extra stress of watching your anxiously hovering every minute of the day is not what your old lady needs right now. I need you to dial it back a notch and give her room to breathe and enjoy this pregnancy. Do you understand what I’m telling you?”
I hesitate long enough to make her repeat herself. “Jinx, women have been doing this from time immemorial. I know it can be worrying, but you have to trust she knows she’s doing the best for her and the baby’s health.”
Swallowing thickly, I nod. “Yeah, I get what you’re laying down, Doc. I won’t let my worries become hers.”
“Good man. Just chill out and keep your eyes open. Nora is young and healthy. Nothing is going to happen that we can’t manage.”
I hold out my hand and we shake. “Thanks, Doc. We’re lucky to have you here for our womenfolk.”
“I’m happy to come anytime I’m needed. You know that, Jinx.”
She’s out the door before I can respond. I watch her walk out to the parking lot and can’t help but wonder how many women she’s treated in the course of her lifetime, how many babies she’s delivered.
***
After I get Nora settled into bed with a stack of books and some snacks and drinks, I head down to the basement. Jasper and Slate are already interrogating the cartel guy when I arrive. He’s been fed, watered, and zip-tied to a chair that’s bolted to the floor.