Page 8 of Doctor Do-Over

“What? It hasn’t been that long.” I would know if I was sick that long. With all of my medical issues, I keep a daily account of my symptoms in a journal. I start thinking back and find she’sright. I haven’t been journaling because I fall asleep before I can even get the pen to paper. “Shit, you’re right.”

“Come on.” She helps me up, and Eddie helps me too by allowing me to lean on him for support.

We make our way out of the bathroom. We are rounding the corner to head for the doors when something hits me. Pain radiates through my chest, and I hear Eddie growling. I look down to see three red spots that look like blood rolling down my shirt as I hear someone yelling.

“Help,” I cry out as I fall back. I don’t feel like I was shot, but that’s what it looks like.

I hear a commotion around me, people yelling and screaming, but it sounds like it’s coming through a tunnel. I feel Eddie’s fur under my fingertips before everything goes black.

My eyes flutter for a moment before the last memory hits me, and I come up screaming, grabbing for my chest. I pull at the hospital gown and look over to see Cortney sitting in a chair before she jumps up. Eddie moves to sit beside the bed, and I reach through the bars to touch his head.

“What happened?”

I look down and don’t see any injuries. My chest aches, but not in the way I’d expect if I had been shot. I look under the collar of the gown and notice several bruises forming on my chest.

“You fainted after being shot with a paintball gun.” She starts crying. I see the red paint on her hands. “I thought you were dead.”

I shake my head in confusion. “Why would someone shoot me with paintballs?”

“It’s probably the same person who broke into your suite and vandalized it.”

“What?” I sit up again as the door opens.

“Hello, Ms. Westerbrook, I have some test results to go over with you. Would you like your agent to stay? I’m Doctor Brandson. I treated you when you came in, but I’m having another physician come and consult. I understand you have several previous medical conditions. But when you fainted, we needed to find out why.”

I can hear nervousness in his voice. He’s older, close to my father’s age at fifty, with gray hair and a clean-shaven face.

“She can stay.” With my medical conditions, I’m trying to think of anything that could have caused this level of concern.

“Hello, I’m Doctor Harker.” A female doctor enters the room, smiling softly at me. “I was asked to consult on your case.” She has an American accent, and it soothes me a bit.

“Ms. Westerbrook, did you know you are pregnant?” she asks, and I suddenly feel lightheaded and dizzy.

I lie back in the bed, covering my face as tears begin to fall. I completely forgot to get the morning-after pill. I’ve been so busy with signings I didn’t even think about it. I’ve thought about Tanner a lot, but not the fact he took me bare so many times.

“No. No, I didn’t know.” I hiccup. “I didn’t know. It was only a couple of times one night. I forgot.” I sob harder as I think about it all. I’m alone and pregnant.

A hand gently touches my shoulder. “It’s okay. We can help if you need us to, but we need to talk about what happened today and your health.” Her voice is soothing and soft.

I look up at her. “I’m not aborting my baby.” My hands go to my stomach to protect my child. I’ve been told for years by my parents that I shouldn’t get pregnant. Even some doctors have said it, but they also said I had to be cautious if I did decide to have children.

“I wasn’t suggesting that, but I’m glad.” She smiles down at me. Her eyes are glassy too. “I’ve never regretted being a single parent.” She squeezes my shoulder, and I sit up. My other hand is buried in Eddie’s fur. I need the connection to him to help calm me.

“I’ll take over, Dr. Brandson,” Dr. Harker instructs the older man, and he nods as he walks out. “I’m not normally here. I’m doing a fellowship for a few more months before moving on to my next hospital. You’re lucky I was here and understood your conditions when your agent explained them. Can you tell me a bit about what happened when you fainted? I need to determine whether it’s related to the pregnancy or your existing condition. We also need to determine what we are going to do to help you through this pregnancy.”

“They always told me I should be very careful with having children. One doctor told me I shouldn’t do it. Is my baby going to be okay?” I hiccup as I continue to sob.

“Your baby will be fine as long as we monitor you and determine which of your medications are safe to take while pregnant. With your connective tissue disorder, we’ll also want to fit you with a support belt as soon as you start showing. I’ll help you find a local doctor who can treat you or wherever you are from.”

“I don’t know if I want to go home. My brother and father will freak the fuck out.”

“Well, you tell me where, and I’ll help you.”

“Thank you.”

“What are we going to do about the tour?” Cortney says from the foot of the bed. “We still have to do Paris, and now we have to find a new hotel and get you some bodyguards.”

Both Dr. Harker and I turn to Cortney. “What?” I ask, confused. “I thought the person who paintballed me was just?—”

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