Page 123 of Creed

He nodded. “Right, you’re helping her with the medical center tonight.”

“That's right, and they started putting the carpet we chose in today, so we need to order the furniture.” I rolled my last snickerdoodle in the sugar and cinnamon blend.

I never knew something could be built so fast, when I came it was just a foundation with a basement, but it was pretty close to done already. One day there was a bunch of humongous cement blocks and crane’s brought in, then a bunch of cement trucks were going in and out. Security was high that day and Ihad to stay home for safety reasons. I thought Creed would be really proud of it. It had three stories, the third story was for patient rooms, the second story was a surgical ward, the first story was for Zoey’s small medical practice and an office for Bolton, the basement floor was for rehab and physical therapy. Once it was open, operatives with mild to moderate injuries would end up at Creed’s Lake instead of foreign hospitals. That was as long as time wasn’t as big of an issue. For instance, broken bones, minor gunshot wounds, etc. It was also for the people they rescue to be checked out. The guys knew they couldn’t bring those injured in from places like the middle east, but definitely the ones injured south of the border. He also had a helicopter and about anything they needed for a successful mission. The jet was not for private use, and that was one thing that confused me. He didn’t think the people of Cold Springs noticed the jet and helicopter going in and out? They all probably thought Creed’s Lake was some kind of secret alien science lab or something. I understood they wanted to keep everything secret to keep groups like the cartel in the dark, but I didn’t think it would stay that way long. All someone had to do was fly over Creed’s Lake to see what was behind the gates. It seriously looked like a military base that just happened to also have homes built around the large lake. It was nothing on any given day to see a group of ten or fifteen men jogging together on the road like you would a military base. Physical fitness was a huge thing in our community. The buildings were big, and there was the landing strip and helicopter pad. I had no idea how they kept their secrets so far.

We finished up and Josh helped me load my supplies in my side by side. He went on and did whatever it was he did usually, and I went home to unload then take off for the medical center. Zoey put her notice in at the hospital and hadto establish herself as a family physician and surgeon with the ability to still utilize the small hospital in Clarity for more serious situations. She also had privileges at the big University hospital in Indianapolis. The two wives that were nurses were helping Axton scout for a few to be employed by Creed’s Lake. They were looking for nurses that were leaving the military. From what Creed told me was that nobody applied for jobs at Creed’s Lake. They were scouted and invited to an interview. Then if they felt it was a good match they would be hired. He had medics but that wasn’t what the medical center needed. The medics had to go on missions, and they needed nurses with trauma experience. Once it was all put together, Zoey would run the entire thing. Between seeing trauma patients, she would see everyone in the community as a family doctor. She would even deliver babies if the mothers wanted their babies born at Creed’s Lake. She was doing house calls while it was being built and she was way too busy. She couldn’t wait until the medical center was up and running.

Creed’s Lake was growing every single day. They were bringing in nurses, physical therapists, a part time orthopedic, a part time respiratory therapist, a radiologist and an anesthesiologist. All veterans as well. There would be opportunities for the girls I was teaching to work at the medical center. They needed medical assistants, receptionists, etc. Baros was excited because he thought it meant they’d bring in more girls, but before Creed left he told me a little secret. Baros was going to be very disappointed to learn that Creed was making Creed’s Lake a training center for abused women. Starting a brand new part of Creed’s Lake because of Callie. He wanted our community to be a safe place for women in abusive situations. They would be kept safe, offered an education, and on the job training. Then he would give them new identitiesand they’d start somewhere new with new job skills. I warned him that he was risking the privacy he wanted so bad, but it’s what he wanted to do. The women could learn medical skills, mechanic skills, office skills and computer training, along with other opportunities. They could save money for a new life and be prepared for lives as single moms. They would cycle through and move on, leaving space to take in new cases. It also meant more children in the community. Creed had a lot of dreams for Creed’s Lake and was constantly making offers to the landowners who owned the properties surrounding us. He even thought about some businesses outside Creed’s Lake. I knew he wanted to make his dad proud in heaven, and was growing as a businessman. He thought maybe with the medical personnel he was bringing in, there could be a medical center in Cold Springs to give them more work outside Creed’s Lake. He also thought starting a legal practice that anyone in the county and Creed’s Lake could hire for personal issues. One night, Creed went on and on with everything he wanted to do for veterans. He wanted to invest in them after they finished serving the military. If that meant helping them become business owners he would consider it if they had a good business plan. He also had to find ways to offset the cost of the Women’s Crisis program. That meant making smart investments and creating more lucrative businesses other than just building bikes. The missions paid well, but it was supposed to be a for profit business. Providing free services was expensive and he couldn’t expect operatives to take pay cuts to support non-profit programs.

I missed him so bad, and I was constantly walking around with an ache in my chest. I knew I was at my breaking point. My grief over Callie wasn’t something I was facing head on and Creed’s deployment just added to that grief. My little sister was really struggling with the loss of her friend, and my brotherwas prospecting. I wished he would just go back to his old life and forget Creed’s Lake. I knew he was training as if he was an operative and I had a bad feeling they would use him for more domestic cases. Things like the MC’s north of us and the battered women’s project. He already risked his life as a fireman and the whole thing made me nervous.

I was also dealing with Creed’s little gift for Addie. Creed wanted Nikko to be a very special dog. If anyone approached Addie with nefarious intentions, Nikko would tear them apart. So, Addie would be able to grow up with Nikko at her side when she left Creed’s Lake and be safe with her at her side. I wasn’t sure what situation an almost six year old would be in for that to happen, but whatever. She would only leave Creed’s Lake without us to attend school. They were at K9 training, and it was so beyond my understanding why Addie had to go everyday for thirty minutes until school started.

I arrived at the medical center and Zoey was already there unloading her car. The lab was complete, so I knew she wanted to start unloading the medical supplies she traveled with for house calls.

“Hey there, load me up.” I stood next to her car, and she started handing me a box.

“Thanks, this won’t take long, I promise.” She pulled out a few boxes and we walked toward the building. “How did your baking go today?”

“Good, but then I got cramps again. Do you think the new birth control isn’t right for me?” I asked. I was cramping and spotting but never did get my typical flow. It had been going on for a few weeks.

“What do you mean by cramping?” She tried to balance the boxes as she put her hand on the security panel.

“Well, I started spotting and cramping right before Creed left and it was like that for a few days. I started the pill on that Sunday, but the cramping and spotting just keeps coming back. I never did get my usual period. My last one was really light”

She opened the door and we both stepped inside. “Have you had any breast tenderness, nausea, or exhaustion?”

I set the box down next to hers on what would be the receptionist counter. “No, I’ve not been nauseated, but of course I’m emotional since Creed left, and of course I still have my moments with Callie’s death. My breasts aren’t sore really but I’m gaining there faster than anywhere else. I think I’ve just hit my breaking point. It’s a lot and I think I might be depressed. All I want to do is sleep. Do you think going from a very strict diet to trying to gain weight could be the issue? I’ve heard diet can cause issues with hormones.”

Zoey crossed her arms. “Remember when I prescribed those to you and suggested using a backup method for birth control until you started them?”

“Yeah.” It was a guilty whisper that left my lips. “So, you think…” I prompted her to tell me what she thought.

She giggled. “I think I need to unload my pregnancy tests from the car.”

My jaw dropped. “Are you serious?”

She nodded. “And I’d like to get some blood work. Spotting and cramping, along with your emotions and exhaustion are all signs of pregnancy. Not all women getnauseated right away and if your breast are swelling it’s a good sign.”

My heart was racing. “I thought I just had a light period. It did come, it wasn’t like my usual, but I did wear a tampon.”

She patted my arm. “Lets just take a test to rule it out. If it’s not pregnancy I’d still like to get your blood work. You may need a different dosage of birth control, and I can determine that better with the blood work.” She was smiling, but I was kind of freaking out.

“Lets get these boxes so I can give you the test. Sorry, you’ll have to use the porta potty out back since the plumber isn’t done with the restrooms yet.”

Ewe, but it was worth it. I could barely focus as we walked outside. I was scared and nervous suddenly, and my legs were like jelly as I walked.

“Do you really think I’m pregnant?” I asked as I tried not to drop any boxes. My brain was in a different place. I felt like I could pass out if she said yes. My hands were sweaty, and my heart wouldn’t calm down.

“I think it’s worth ruling out. The spotting is a good indicator and by your reaction when I mentioned a backup method told me there’s a chance. I should have given you a pregnancy test if I knew you were sleeping with Creed without a backup method. I gave you one the day you asked for the pill, but I should have given you one closer to your period, but I didn’t know you weren’t using condoms.” She opened the door, and we stepped inside. After two more trips to her SUV, she finally opened a box and handed me a sample cup. “Fill this up to this line and bring it back. Have fun.” She teased me for having to use the temporary potty for the construction workers.

Zoey was a very pretty young surgeon. She was a few years older than me and was married to a totally hot operative. She was a blond with a body every woman wanted. She was average height which was a few inches shorter than me, curvy, and had the prettiest whiskey colored eyes. I took the cup to the dreaded blue rectangular box and did my business. Thankfully the sinks inside were done inside the building so I could wash my hands. That was the only way I managed to get the job done by reminding myself there would be clean water and soap. I couldn’t believe I was taking a pregnancy test. I never took one in my life. My emotions were everywhere. What if I was pregnant and Creed left not knowing? What if he never came back? How would Addie take the news? My grandmother would be so upset, and all the other things I didn’t worry about when Creed and I knowingly had unprotected sex flowed through my already unstable mind. The more I thought about it, the more stupid I felt. I was never late for a period, they were never that light, and I only had it for two days. The tampons were uncomfortable, and I switched to a pantyliner. I guess with so much on my mind it didn’t occur to me that pregnant women still bled. I felt like the biggest idiot for not going to Zoey before I started the pill.

As I walked back up to the building then went into the unfinished bathroom, I cursed myself for not talking to Zoey sooner. I was convinced it was my body’s reaction to stress and even Bolton agreed during our sessions. She said stress takes its toll on our bodies. Dammit, Bolton! She was a doctor and should have told me to see Zoey.

When I walked out, I found Zoey in the lab organizing the drawers. I waited patiently as she finished the box she was on and opened a new one. “I thought the test strips were in that last box. Sorry, I’m not exactly organized yet.”

I opened a box. “These look like tongue depressors, alcohol pads, and first aid things.”

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