Page 41 of The Next Of Us
It wasn’t even the first time I’d had a patient as sick as this one, but it was the first time I’d missed all the signs.
Like a boxing champ who was making plans to step down, I was offered one last fight.
Nadine stirred beside me, turning toward me to burrow in.
And I had lost.Epically.
Voice husky with sleep, she murmured, “Good morning, baby.”
I pulled her closer.
How could I go out like this?
16
Options
Nadine
Every chair in the waiting room was taken.An older couple huddled together, their fear and anxiety almost palpable.My heart ached with empathy.And trembled with fear.No matter how much time I had with Aaron, it would never be enough.
I had hoped having a morning appointment would mean the doctor would not yet be running behind, but it was not to be.
My eyes stung with fatigue.Aaron had been up, dressed, and ready to go half an hour before his alarm was set to go off.His lips pressed firmly against my brow woke me, his soft words telling me to go back to sleep ineffective in light of the strain on his face.
I laid my palm against his cheek.“I love you.We have a plan in place.We’re going to make changes, okay?”
He nodded, closed his eyes, and pressed his forehead to mine.He forced a smile.“I’m a big boy, Dini.Don’t worry about me.What have you got going on today?”
“Doctor’s appointment this morning, working at the Garden Center this afternoon.”
His brow furrowed.“What’s the appointment for?”
“Follow-up for my dry husk coochie.”
He grinned, and my chest loosened because this one was genuine.“Didn’t seem all that dry this week.”
I laughed.“No, you took good care of her.”
He wagged his eyebrows, the strain on his face momentarily absent.“I’ll keep up the good work.”
“You do that.”
I didn’t even try to go back to sleep.
“Nadine?”
My head jerked up at the sound of my name and I followed the nurse into a small room where I continued to wait.How many hours of my life had I spent waiting?Waiting for the kids to come out of school.Waiting for the kids while they attended lessons.Waiting for Aaron to come home from work.
A brusque knock sounded and then the door swung open.
Dr.Miller’s face brightened.Ensuring the door closed tight, she turned to me.“Nadine, how are you?”
As I answered, she took her seat, typed my name into her database, and scanned our last appointment.“Ah, yes.Perimenopause.How’s it treating you?”
Complaints were made, empathy and recommendations given, and still unasked questions hung in the air.
“What else?”
