Page 14 of Third and Ten

BLAKE THE SNAKE

Thanks for the unsolicited sermon, Padre.

I’m just saying, if you can’t have both, settle for one?

JD

I’d rather not settle.

BLAKE THE SNAKE

Suit yourself, bro. At least give the whole stalker approach a rest, though.

JD

Yeah, thanks. I’ll start there.

CHAPTER 5

TENLEY

“No offense, but I want my doctor,” says yet another expectant mother.

I press my lips together and force a smile. “I’m sorry, Mrs. Thibodeaux. Dr. Simms had to go to the hospital. But I am well qualified, I promise. I’m a nurse practitioner and a certified midwife, and I’ve attended tons of deliveries at birthing centers and in hospitals.”

She regards me thoughtfully as she rubs her belly.

“But I understand if you’d feel more comfortable waiting for Dr. Simms, especially since he’s been taking care of you all this time. I just wanted to introduce myself and offer my help.”

It’s disheartening, but I can respect my patient’s wishes, especially when she’s so close to delivery and grasping at any semblance of familiarity.

“So, what you’re saying is that if I insist on waiting for Doc Simms to get back, I’ll be here all afternoon?” she ventures.

“That’s probably the case,” I reply, turning my hands palms-up, hoping to seem slightly less threatening.

“All right,” she finally acquiesces.

I give her a more genuine smile this time, doing my best to put her at ease by asking questions and making small talk. Once she divulges that this is her fourth baby and that she’s had some complications in the past, I have a greater appreciation for her hesitance to accept a new caregiver. But by the end of the exam, I feel like she’s at least given me a smidgen of her trust. We’re on friendlier terms, anyway.

“How many kids do you have, Nurse Tenley?” she asks as I walk her back to the lobby.

“Oh, none for me. I enjoy working with you mamas and your littles so much that I haven’t even found the time to look for Mr. Right,” I deliver my rehearsed joke. “And I suppose he’s a pretty important ingredient.”

She chuckles and pats my shoulder reassuringly. “That’s how it was for me. I’m a chemical engineer and a recovering workaholic. I never thought I’d even want kids, and then—out of nowhere—I met my husband, and he somehow managed the impossible task of sweeping me off my feet. Now here I am, forty-four and on baby number four.”

I smirk. “Eh, my feet are planted pretty firmly,” I counter. “I think I’ll just settle for spoiling my nephew and getting my newborn fix at work.”

“Be careful, before that statement falls on your nose one day,” she replies with a wink.

I laugh and bid her good luck, and I’m pleasantly surprised when her next appointment block appears on my column of the schedule. It hasn’t been easy winning patients over, but I’m finally making some headway.

I finish up my charting around noon, just as a few of the staff invite me to lunch. Although I would usually make an excuse not to go out, I’m flattered by the gesture and join them at a Mexican restaurant not far from our clinic. And, aside from the exercise in willpower to abstain from the bottomless chips and margaritas, I genuinely enjoy myself.

After a surprisingly amusing lunch, I drive home and find my mom in the kitchen. “Hey, Mama,” I greet her.

“Oh, hey, baby,” she replies, adding an air kiss near my cheek once I come near. “You’re home early today.”

“Yeah. Dr. Simms is pretty good about making sure we don’t have to come back after lunch on Fridays. How is everyone today?”

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