The Friends We Keep

“Yes,” she said as calmly as she could.

“All right.” The receptionist nodded toward the door leading to the examination rooms. “She’ll need to give us a urine sample.”

“No problem.” Gabby turned to Makayla. “You’re going to have to pee in a cup. Have you done that before?”

The teen looked blank and shook her head. “Why?”

“They’ll confirm the pregnancy and test for other things in your urine,” Gabby told her. “Sugars and I’m not sure what. The doctor can explain it. Let me take care of this and I’ll walk you back. There’s a whole process.”

Gabby passed over her credit card, then signed the paperwork. It occurred to her that she wasn’t sure of her legal standing when it came to the underage teen. Would she count as a guardian, because she sure wasn’t a parent.

A problem for another time, she told herself.

She and Makayla went to the restroom. Gabby walked the girl through the steps to secure the urine sample, then went back into the hallway to wait.

As she stood there, the receptionist walked up to her with her clipboard. “I want to confirm a couple of things. The date of her last period is unknown?”

Gabby nodded. “She doesn’t keep track.”

“But she does know the dates of intercourse?”

Gabby raised her chin. “I think so. Yes.”

The other woman nodded. “And her date of birth is correct?”

“May 2, 2001.”

“That’s what I needed.”

All polite words, Gabby thought as she waited. But there was tone.

She almost couldn’t blame the other woman. Gabby knew she would have been thinking fairly judgmental thoughts herself, if she saw a pregnant fifteen-year-old. What she wanted to tell her was this wasn’t her fault. That she’d been the one to insist on the no-boys-upstairs rule. That when she’d tried to express her concern about the kiss, she’d been dismissed. That she was the stepmother, with all of the pain but none of the power.

But no one was listening, she reminded herself. Everyone was busy living her own life. They didn’t have time to do much more than judge and move on.

Makayla emerged from the bathroom. She had her sample cup in her hand.

“Over here.” Gabby pointed to the collection tray. Makayla put it down, then returned to her side.

They went back to the waiting room.

“What will happen at the appointment?” Makayla asked when they’d sat down.

“The doctor will ask questions about your health and listen to your heart. Then she’ll give you a pelvic exam.”

“What’s that?”

Oh, God. “Have you ever been to the gynecologist before?”

“No. Just my pediatrician.” Her big, blue eyes were so trusting. “Is it different?”

Gabby held in a groan. “It is. She’s going to have to examine you and feel where the baby is.” Why hadn’t she thought to ask before? They could have gone online together so Makayla would be more prepared.

Makayla drew back. “You mean she’s going to touch me...there?”

“Dr. Mansfield is really nice. You’ll like her. She was my doctor when I was pregnant with the twins.”

“No way,” Makayla said, coming to her feet. “I won’t do that.”

The other women in the waiting room glanced at them.

Gabby rose. “I know it’s uncomfortable to think about, but it’s for the sake of the baby. Don’t you want to make sure he or she is okay?”

“I guess.”

They both sat back down. Gabby wished they could be anywhere but here.

“You wear a weird hospital gown and there’s a paper blanket for your lap,” she said. “I can stay in the room, if you want, or wait outside. It’s up to you.” She glanced at the teen only to find her head bent. “Makayla?”

“You should stay,” the girl whispered. Tears dripped onto her lap.

Gabby lightly touched her back. “I’m sorry. I know this is a lot. The exams get easier, I promise. But the first time, everyone is embarrassed. It’s a strange thing to go through, but we all do it.”

“Thanks. I know it will be worth it when Boyd and I have our baby.” She sniffed and raised her head. “We’ll be a family.”

Not anything Gabby wanted to hear.

One crisis at a time, she told herself. Today she simply had to get Makayla through her first appointment. She would deal with the rest of it later.

*

Hayley arrived early at Latte-Da. She wanted to be able to pick a good table, one that would allow her to see Rob arrive. She didn’t want to be surprised by having him walk up from behind.

She ordered a latte at the counter, then took her seat. She pulled out a book so she could pretend to read. As if she were a normal person, doing okay. Just out on a Saturday morning, enjoying herself with a latte and book.

The truth was very different. She was tired, so desperately tired. How could she sleep when the bed was so empty? Plus she hadn’t been eating very much and without the right nutrition, it was nearly impossible for her body to heal.