Page 75 of The Artist
Belle
My days at the Gray Mansion were busy and went by fast. Councilman Jonah flew in with his wife Mila, who was Mason’s older adopted sister.
From what Aubri and Freya were able to sniff out, Khan and Jonah were communicating with the French government, but it wasn’t going well. My government was furious that two of their citizens hadn’t returned as planned. Freya informed me they had formally accused Khan of kidnapping me, which would explain his sour expression whenever I saw him.
On Sunday when the summit had ended, Victor chose to send Celeste, Isaac, and Simon home, but stay himself. So far, he hadn’t said a word to me, but I’d seen him running in the impressive park and playing chess in the library a few times.
Mason and I talked, but it was as if everyone were determined not to leave us alone.
On Thursday morning, I was with Freya and Mila in the entertainment room playing with Mila’s and Jonah’s three children, Hope, Faith, and baby Zen, who was a healthy seven month old.
A woman knocked on the door and entered, making us all look up.
“Oh, hey, Doctor.” Freya stood and went to greet the round woman who had to be in her late fifties and was holding a bag in her left hand. After taking the doctor’s free hand in a greeting, Freya introduced us. “Belle, this is Doctor Louise White, whom I’ve told you about. She moved here from the Motherlands a long time ago and specializes in female patients.”
“May peace surround you.”
“Thank you.” I smiled and thought of something nice to say in return. “May the sun shine bright wherever you go.”
“Oh.” She widened her eyes. “Is that a French saying?”
I looked to Freya and back to the doctor. “No, it was just the best I could come up with on the spot. You know, because you wished me peace.”
Both women laughed and then the doctor asked me, “I can’t be the first Motlander to use that expression with you, can I?”
Freya answered for me. “It’s a bit old-school. It’s something my mom would say.”
“Well, in that case I’ll continue using that greeting as I always had the greatest respect for Pearl.”
“You should. Pearl is special.” Mila, holding her son on her hip, had come over to greet the doctor as well.
“I’m honored to meet you, Mila. I’ve heard so much about you and I’m a big supporter of your husband’s work on the council.”
Mila placed a hand on her heart and flashed her incredible dimples as she smiled. “Aww, thank you. I’ll tell him you said so.”
Faith and Hope, who were five and seven, kept close to their mother.
“Here, let me take Zen.” Freya reached for the blond baby boy to help free Mila’s hands while I focused on the doctor, who was speaking to me.
“Belle, how about you come with me so we can start the examination?”
“Okay.”
“Did they tell you to fast for twelve hours like I instructed?”
“Yes.”
“Good, that’s helpful in terms of the blood sample.”
Doctor White led me down the corridors of the Gray Mansion in a way that told me she had been here often. “The ruling family has two main doctors. I’m one of them and see the females and children. Doctor Gonzales is the other doctor and we share an examination room and a lab in the basement. That’s where we’ll do the examination and tests. You can just call me Louise.”
Once we got to the room, she turned on an examination table that rose from the floor to hover in the air. When she saw me hesitate to sit on it, she smiled. “Don’t be scared, it’s steady enough. It’s just that Doctor Gonzales and the men in this family are so tall that I couldn’t use the original examination table. With my small size it didn’t work, so now we have the Flexi-Bed, which is much better because all I have to do is push it to where I want it. Look.” Placing her index finger on the edge, she adjusted the height and lowered the table effortlessly. “All I have to do is lock it and it won’t move a bit.”
I sat down and tried to answer all her questions.
“My last period? Hmm, I’m not sure.”
“Are you regular?”
