Page 88 of Seven of Hearts

I had never seen her like this before. When the doctor said that the results from her first test were less than optimum and asked that Leah do the second, much longer, glucose screening the following day, we thought for sure it was just a “better safe than sorry situation.”

On top of the bad news, Leah had to fast before the test. Hangry and scared was a diabolical combination.

“I know it’s a lot to take in, so we’re going to tackle the next steps piece by piece,” the doctor reassured her. “But it’s not your fault. Your body is just working overtime to take care of the baby, and it’s forgetting to take care of you too. You didn’t do anything wrong. Okay? Gestational diabetes is not at all uncommon, and it’s manageable. It just means we make a different game plan.”

Shit.Leah was shaking. Her fists were balled up and her breathing was shallow. I draped my arm around her and gently stroked her bicep while the doctor went on about the lifestyle and meal plan she would need to follow.

“Now,” the doctor said with a sigh. “Usually we give you a week or two to try to manage it with diet and exercise. But after looking at the intake form with your current diet and levels of exercise, there’s not much I think you could change unless you started running marathons.” She tried to offer a warm smile, but it fell flat with Leah.

“It’s going to be okay,” I said discreetly, hiding it with a kiss to her hair.

But Leah didn’t make any effort to acknowledge me or the doctor. She looked halfway between numb and terrified as she stared at the tray of blood sugar testing supplies.

“So. Let’s talk about testing your blood sugar at home,” the doctor said. “I’m going to go over the how-tos of everything with you, but don’t worry about remembering all the numbers. We have a take-home packet for you and some supplies here so we can go through the process together.” She picked up a small tubular object. “This is your lancing device.” She held out each piece as she went and showed how they went together. “It’s what pricks your finger to get a few droplets of blood.”

Leah’s eyes went wide. “Wait. You expect me to do that to myself?”

The doctor lifted an incredulous eyebrow. “How else do you plan on testing your blood sugar?”

“Your sarcasm can take a backseat. She’s scared and this is new. An ounce of empathy will go further than giving her an attitude,” I snapped.

The doctor looked up at me, opening and closing her mouth as she tried to conjure some snarky retort, but it never came.

Leah leaned on me as we watched each step of how to test her blood sugar and dispose of the lancets and test strips.

“I can’t do this,” Leah whispered when the doctor turned her back to type out the insulin prescription and send it to Leah’s pharmacy. “I have passed out every single time I’ve gotten blood drawn here. Do you remember when you had to literally carry me out of here during the first glucose test because I was still woozy? How the hell am I supposed to take care of Gio and Ellie when I have to pass out four times a day?”

She hunched forward and dropped her head into her hands. At least it was Friday, and Gio and Ellie were going to a friend’s house after school so Leah didn’t have to pick them up until after dinner.

The clouds over our heads cast morose shadows as we left the doctor’s office for the second time with our tails between our legs.

“Let’s grab something to eat,” I said as I opened her door. “I know you’re starving.”

Leah hadn’t been able to eat for twelve hours before the test, through the three-hour duration of the test, and the hour it took for us to get the results and the next steps from the doctor.

“I’m not hungry,” Leah said as she buckled her seatbelt. “I’d rather just go home.”

I slid in behind the wheel and shut the door. “Sweetheart, not eating isn’t the solution. It’s going to make you feel worse.”

Leah just rested her head on the window and closed her eyes.

It was time to bring out the big guns. “If you’re a good girl and eat lunch, we can go to the thrift store and hardware store and hunt for pieces for the house.”

Her eyebrow lifted, and she peered out of the corner of her eye.

“Afterwe go to the pharmacy,” I added on.

Leah huffed. “I can’t believe you’re bribing me with furniture.”

“Kylie was hunting for some pieces for one of her events and told me that there’s a Moses basket bassinet at an antique store over in Morehead.”

“Now I know you’re just making things up,” she said with a sigh.

I slowed to a stop at a red light and handed her my phone. “Open my messages. Look at the picture she sent.”

Leah swiped through my phone and opened my text thread with my sister. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw her face shift from annoyance to surprise.

“I told you so,” I teased her. “Ky said it’s pretty sturdy but it might need to have the joints reinforced and a new liner put on.”

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