Page 172 of Solanum

Sali cracked up, dropping her hand over her face. I wasn't far behind. Their silliness and warmth settled any remaining worry that I harbored.

"Well, Nor, seems like you're in good hands tonight."

"I am." Nora smiled, her eyes on me again. "But just for tonight."

"Did you tell her about Friday?" asked Sali, as if suddenly remembering something.

"Oh. Um…" Nora shook her head, glancing to Maggie then me.

"What is it, baby?"

"I have to have my physical exams before going back to work." As soon as she said it, she covered her face with her hand and a swell of emotions grabbed her.

I leaned up on my elbow and saw my own furrowed brow in the small camera on the bottom of the screen. "Honey, what's wrong?"

"She's very worried about going," Maggie said, her voice soft. She rubbed circles on Nora's stomach with her eyes on me. "Anita helped us move her appointment to Doctor Lewis instead of her previous doctor."

"She'll be really good with you, Nor," cooed Sali, her forehead pressed against Nora's hands. "We'll all go with you."

Nora shook her head, and any calmness she carried vanished with the topic.

"Look at me, Kitten," I crooned in the tone she loved and listened to.

It took her a moment before she lowered her hands. Tears welled in her worried eyes and she leaned her head on Maggie's shoulder.

"What time is your appointment?"

"Two," she said, her voice soft.

"I'll go with you, okay? I'll be back tomorrow, and I'll put in for the day Friday."

"Wilkinson won't let you. You just got back. It'll be—It will—" She choked then hugged Maggie's arm when she gave her a squeeze.

"It will be fine, honey. I'm going with you, okay?"

She nodded, sniffling but her tears didn't tumble as harshly as I expected.

"Awesome. Doctor Lewis will get a four-pussy deal." Sali rubbed her hands together. "Maybe we'll get a discount."

All three of them laughed despite the heaviness of the moment.

"Sali, Harper, and I all see Doctor Lewis," explained Maggie, her eyes on me then.

"Is she a general practitioner?"

"She's a specialist OB/GYN, but has a small caseload of general practice. At least that's what Anita told us. It might also be that stubborn over there refuses to see any other doctors except the two of them." Maggie jabbed her thumb in Sali's direction.

"Damn right," she muttered, meeting Nora's gaze. The two of them shared an intense stare, and Sali tapped her chin. "You'll like her."

Nora nodded, though fatigue seemed to take its hold. Her spiritedness faded, and she settled into Maggie's hug.

"Sleepy, Nor?" I asked, and she nodded. "Did you have dinner yet?"

"We had pot roast that Harper made," she said, her expression brightening a fraction. "It was so good. Then brownies with ice cream because Olivia wanted it." She smiled then. "She has the best dessert ideas."

"Where do you think she got that from?" Sali grinned proudly. "Not from Katie who prefers soy burgers and grass cakes. Ben brought the fried food to that kid and I brought the dessert."

I laughed along with them.

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