Page 49 of New River Gorge(ous)
She sighs. “He loves kids, and we’ve been trying for over a year, and it hasn’t happened yet, and he’s been so disappointed. He never says anything, but I can tell.”
I’ve known Brooke’s friends for less than two hours at this point, but it’s clear as day that the man is devoted to his wife. His personality is exactly the opposite of mine, and he uses nine times as many words in a minute as I do, but he’d want to know.
I put my hand on her arm. “Paige, you need to tell him.”
“But what if I mess it up?” she whispers just barely above the breeze. “What if I lose the baby?”
I frown. Counseling emotional women is not something I’m equipped to do, but Paige is looking at me with vulnerability, and I can’t not say anything to her.
“There’s nothing you can do to mess it up. I can’t tell you why miscarriages happen, or why they are so common, but I think Connor would want to know. You don’t have to be alone in the earliest part of pregnancy just because society says you shouldn’t tell people.”
Paige stands on shaky legs, brushing leaves and detritus off her shorts. “Thanks.” She reaches into her small hiking backpack and extracts a water bottle. She takes a sip, then grimaces and clutches her stomach again.
I pull my backpack off and open up the front zippered pocket. I like the taste of ginger better than breath mints, so I always carry hard ginger candies.
“Here,” I say, holding out the ginger candies. “Ginger helps settle the stomach.”
“Thanks.” She takes the candies, unwraps one, and pops it into her mouth. “Do you…” She checks over her shoulder before scrunching her eyes shut, then whispering, “Do you think I could tell Connor someplace private?”
Finally,a patient who’s listening to me!
Paige reminds me of myself. She’s more quiet and reserved.
“Yes. There’s an outlook up ahead, and Brooke and I will leave you two alone for a bit.”
“Paige? Are you ok?” Connor’s voice sounds from on the trail, laced with worry.
“Y-yeah. Just needed a minute,” she calls back.
I lead the way back to the trail, with Paige following. Connor eyes me with suspicion, but then turns his attention back to hiswife. Strands of Brooke’s pink hair have escaped her braid and are blowing around her face as she waits behind Connor.
“Beck?” she questions. “What’s going on?”
“Just checking on her. She’s ok.”
“Yeah. Well, it’s weird that you went to check on her when she was using the bathroom,” Brooke says, and I don’t miss the hint of jealousy in her voice.
I slide my hand over Brooke’s. “I can’t tell you more, but I promise you, checking on her was the right thing to do.” I look back at Connor and Paige. Connor’s arm is wrapped possessively around Paige’s waist as he glares at me. I shake my head and am about to tell him, “Dude, I’m a doctor,” but bite my tongue. I suspect Connor’s whole outlook on life is about to change in a very big way.
“Everyone ready?” I call, mostly talking to Paige. She gives a subtle nod and a tight-lipped smile. With that reassurance, I start us off down the trail again.
It’s a quarter mile before we come to the first overlook off the trail. Paige and Connor have fallen a bit behind, so I stop and wait for them next to the side trail. Brooke starts to head down it, but I put my hand out on her arm to stop her. Her brow furrows.
Paige and Connor approach, so I drop my voice. “Let’s let the two of them experience this one alone, ok?”
“What is with you?” Brooke hisses.
“Please, just trust me,” I whisper as Connor stops short next to me, Paige’s hand tucked in his. I meet Paige’s eyes and tip my head toward the side trail. “We’ll give you some time to enjoy the view together,” I say in my regular voice.
Connor’s face flashes confusion, but Paige tugs him down the trail to the overlook.
They disappear down the side trail, and Brooke crosses her arms over her chest. “What. Are. You. Doing?”
“C’mon,” I say, touching Brooke’s arm. “I can’t tell you, but I think you’ll find out soon. We can wait for a while. They need some time.”
“Beck.” Brooke’s voice is full of derision. “This is really weird.”
I know I have a good reason for this, but there’s nothing else I can say, so I shrug. I spy a fallen log a few yards up the trail and stalk over to it. I sink onto the log, removing my backpack in the process. Brooke follows suit.
