Page 64 of Fierce Hearts

"Please, call me James." He set his bag down. "I understand congratulations are in order, but perhaps under complicated circumstances?"

Sofia's smile didn't reach her eyes. "You could say that."

"Well, let's start with some questions, shall we? When was your last menstrual period?"

I sat beside Sofia as she answered Dr. Gatlin's questions about her cycle, medical history, and family health background.

"Any nausea, fatigue, breast tenderness?" he asked, making notes on a small tablet.

"All of the above," Sofia admitted. "The nausea's worst in the morning, but it comes and goes throughout the day."

Dr. Gatlin nodded. "I'd like to draw some blood for testing, and then we'll do a physical examination."

I watched as he expertly tied a tourniquet around Sofia's arm and found a vein on the first try. Sofia didn't even flinch as the needle went in.

"I'll run these for HCG levels, blood type, antibodies, and the standard panel," he explained as he labeled the vials. "We'll need to get you started on prenatal vitamins immediately."

"I already picked some up," I said, earning a surprised look from Sofia. I'd stuck them in the pantry for now, wanting to make sure with Sofia that they were the right ones, but I didn't want to overwhelm her just yet.

Dr. Gatlin packed away the blood samples. "Now, Sofia, I understand you've prepared a room for the pelvic examination?"

She nodded. "Upstairs, first door on the right."

"Would you like Grayson to stay or wait downstairs?" the doctor asked.

Sofia hesitated, then looked at me. "You can stay... if you want."

"I'll stay," I said firmly.

The room Sofia and I had prepared was a guest bedroom with a neatly made bed, a pile of still wrapped medical sheets on the end, a hospital gown, a rolling desk chair at the foot of it, and a bunch of pillows at the ready.

Dr. Gatlin washed his hands thoroughly in the adjoining bathroom while Sofia changed into the gown while I turned away.

As if I'd not seen her naked body several times, but this was not the right place. When she sat on the edge of the bed, her face was carefully blank, professional—the face of someone who'd been on the other side of this equation countless times. She set up the pillows in a way so that her body was angled right when she laid down fully.

I stood awkwardly by the door until Sofia patted the space beside her head. "You can sit here."

Dr. Gatlin returned, pulling on gloves. "Alright, Sofia, if you could lie back and place your feet wide. I see you've got the pillows set up nicely, makes this much easier for me."

I took her hand as she positioned herself, and she squeezed mine tightly.

"This will be uncomfortable, but I'll be as quick as possible," Dr. Gatlin assured her as he got some supplies from his bag.

When Sofia winced and her grip tightened painfully on my hand, something burned in my chest.

"Is that necessary?" I demanded, perhaps more sharply than needed.

Dr. Gatlin remained calm. "It's just a cervical scraping for testing. Unfortunately, pelvic exams are never pleasant, but this is standard procedure."

Sofia's free hand reached up to touch my arm. "It's okay, Gray. I'm fine."

I nodded, forcing myself to relax, but I didn't look away from her face, watching for any sign of distress.

"Everything looks good so far," Dr. Gatlin announced as he finished the examination. "I'll have these results for you very soon, and then we can discuss a complete prenatal care plan."

"Good, thank you," I said as he rose, still packing things into his bag, taking care with the samples from Sofia.

"How about we head out so Sofia can get dress?" he suggested, and I nodded, casting Sofia a glance before following him out into the hall.

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