Page 110 of Bae

“Of course. Did you have additional questions about the blood test results?”

We’d already gotten those results. Everything was good.

“No,” Rimmel replied.

“I read about your car accident. You aren’t having any kind of pain, are you?”

“I’m not having pain, but I am here because of the accident.”

The doctor motioned for us to sit down. Rimmel did, but I was slower to join them. I thought long and hard about just staying on my feet so I could tower over the doctor, but in the end, I decided that was probably the wrong move.

I was an asshole, but not all the time.

Besides, I’d like to believe this woman hadn’t known what was happening under her nose. I’d give her the benefit of the doubt until she gave me a reason not to.

“I’m afraid I don’t understand.”

“One of your employees, the one out at the desk right now, is the person who tipped off the press that I was here that day. She’s the one who called them and brought them all here.”

The doctor shook her head. “That can’t be. My staff knows our patients’ privacy is of utmost importance.”

“She pretty much just admitted it to me out in reception,” I said coolly.

Dr. Crawford picked up her phone and dialed for the receptionist. After several long moments, she hung up. “She’s not answering.”

I laughed. “I’m sure she’s already hightailed it the hell out.”

The doctor frowned. “Helen,” she called. A nurse appeared in the doorway. “Can you tell me if Bethany is out front?”

We all sat there in awkward silence while we waited for Helen to come back and tell us what I already knew.

“She’s not there,” Helen said, coming back into the room. “And all her stuff is gone.”

The doctor paled. “Thank you. Close the door on your way out.”

When we were alone, she straightened in her chair. “I’m shocked and very embarrassed. This is completely unacceptable, and I want to apologize profusely to you and your husband on behalf of myself and this entire office. Putting you in danger is the last thing I would ever want. I’m a healer.”

I studied the doctor as she spoke and then for several minutes after she finished. When I was done, Rimmel and I looked at each other, and I nodded once.

Rimmel pulled a stack of legal documents out of her folder. “This is a legal and binding nondisclosure agreement. I understand you are bound by doctor-patient confidentiality, but clearly, your staff doesn’t understand that.” The woman looked between my wife and the papers, but my girl just kept right on going. “I think you are a good doctor, and you know my history with the miscarriage… I would like to continue on here with you as my OB-GYN. However, I can’t do that unless you and your staff sign these.”

“You want me to sign an NDA?” The doctor seemed slightly offended.

“Yes. If you refuse, I will be transferring to a new, more discreet practice.”

“And I’m going to file a suit against this practice for endangering my wife.”

“You won’t win that case,” the doctor said, visibly upset.

I shrugged. “Probably not, but just the press will ruin your business.”

“How dare you!” The doctor jumped up from her seat. She glanced over at Rimmel. “I’ve always tried my best to accommodate you and give you the best care.”

“I realize that,” Rimmel said. “And that’s why I’d like to stay. But I can’t do that if I’m worried someone on your staff is going to tell the press my every move. If… when I get pregnant again, it won’t be just me, but my baby.”

The doctor sank back in her chair. “I’ll need to have my attorney look over these.”

“Fine. You have one week to sign them and return them to Anthony Anderson’s law firm. If you have any questions, you can contact him directly via the number on the documents,” I replied.

---