Page 39 of Defended By Bam
What a loaded question. “As good as to be expected I suppose. It’s been a strange week for sure.”
The doctor stood, cupping my shoulder with a warm smile. “No shame in needing a little help getting through a hard time. But you don’t have to take anything you don’t want. If you decide you want to try later, just give us a call. Let me get my assistant and we can do the exam.”
“Wait, one more question before you do.” He turned and my face heated but I wanted to know his medical opinion. “When you do the exam, will you let me know when it’s safe to uh…be active again?”
I expected a knowing grin or something, but instead he simply replied, “No problem, but I’ll have to do the exam first. Be right back.”
Blowing a breath through puffed cheeks, I waited for them to return. They were back quickly, and the doctor got straight to work but said, “The pregnancy test was negative. But we’ll get you on something before you leave so you don’t have to stress going forward.”
The procedure was moderately uncomfortable, but he was much gentler than some others I’d had. The assistant was quiet but quick with his requests. I was thankful they didn’t try to fill the silence with small talk.
After a full exam, including some pressing around my ribs and collarbone, he washed his hands and said, “Okay, all done here. There’s some wipes on the counter to clean up and you can get dressed then I’ll be right back. Did you decide on the birth control?”
I sat up with his help and shrugged. “I took the pill years ago. But I don’t have a car right now to get to the pharmacy. Maybe I should do the shot?”
“I can give you a ninety-day supply of the pill, or I can do the shot. Up to you.”
Thinking about all the variables that could happen, I settled for the shot.
After he left and I got dressed, I waited only a short time for the assistant to come give me the shot and tell me to make sure to have another in three months, then the doctor returned.
Once the assistant was out of the room, he pulled up his chair. “Alright, there was some definite trauma and scarring. Since we’re running tests, I’d just let your body heal for now. But it’s really up to you and your comfort level once those results are in. I didn’t feel anything obvious elsewhere, but we can do some x-rays just in case.”
“No, I’ve cracked ribs before. I don’t think anything is broken, just bruised.” That time he took me to the hospital, I had two cracked ribs, so I remember how it felt. Plus, I wasn’t sure how much more prodding I could take. “Um, you know my unique situation, so how will my tests be done?”
Dr. Hanes stood. “Thanks to my cousin, we have an in-house lab for most things.” He leaned against the counter, crossing his arms. “Some things we still have to outsource, but routine thingscan be done right here. But it’ll take a few days for most tests. I’ll let you know as soon as I get results. In the meantime, try to take it easy, hydrate, eat well, light exercise is fine but don’t overexert yourself. And like I said, if you have any anxiety or depression that isn’t manageable, we can get something for you.”
“Thanks. I’ll keep that in mind.” I hadn’t been to a doctor besides the few hospital visits and urgent care, but at the close watch of Marshall, in a very long time. Even so, they had never been so kind and attentive.
He held his hand out and helped me from the exam table. “You feeling okay? We have to keep you here for a few minutes after any injection to make sure you don’t have any side effects.”
“I feel normal. But thanks.”
“Your period may be irregular for a couple of months while you adjust to the shot but if you have severe breakthrough bleeding, give us a call, okay?” He opened the door and waved me out.
I turned as I left the room. “Thanks. Really, thank you so much.”
He smiled again. “My pleasure. You take care and keep Bama in line for me, okay? And you’re free to go.” Then he took off down the hall, entering another exam room.
Looking up, I found the sign that pointed to the exit and followed it around. When I opened the door, my heart clenched at the sight: Sadie snuggled up to Bama as they both stared down at his phone, smiling.
Marshall never sat with her and certainly wouldn’t hand over his phone for anything. Even though so much was still up in the air, seeing them like that filled me with hope and comfort in the decisions I’d made recently. The biggest being to trust this man.
Chapter 21
Bama
Sam wouldn’t tell me what he found, but I wanted to respect Brooklyn. Had it been anyone else, I would have pressed for info since most of the clinic is funded by us. He did lead me to believe that I was right to give her some space.
The days following, I made sure to be available, but Hammer had talked to Jameson and didn’t want us back in Pensacola until they knew if anyone had suspicions about what happened at the stockyard.
It had been a week since Brooklyn was seen and they’d been cooped up in my house the last couple of weeks now, with the exception of the clinic. I knew it could be a little rowdy at the clubhouse on Friday, so instead, we got up early, ran to the storeand grabbed a bunch of drinks, sunblock, bathing suits for them, and bug spray plus some snacks and sandwiches and headed to the beach down in Gulf Shores for the day. The drive was about an hour, but I didn’t like swimming in the bay. It was hot but the weather was perfect, and the water was warm.
Sadie had a blast in the ocean, and I took some strange pride in having been the first one to show her the ocean. Brooklyn mentioned they’d been to the lake a lot. I loved camping and fishing and there were plenty of good lakes around, too, but camping was better in the spring or fall. Summer was for the beach.
Even though our dad wasn’t the best, we’d been to the Georgia coast a few times over the years and he even took us to Panama City Beach a couple of times, too. I loved the gulf and didn’t plan on moving away. Seeing my girls playing and relaxing put me at ease, and I hadn’t realized how tense I’d been.
Helping grow the club, dealing with Hammer’s mood swings, shifty customers, the Bloody Scorpions, then suddenly taking care of Brooklyn and Sadie had me a bit more wound up than I realized. But spending time with them both made me realize this was a piece I’d been missing. They both felt like home. And at least at that moment, the only thing I had to worry about was keeping them from getting sun burnt.
