Page 128 of Save You
But the apathetic expression in her eyes tells a different story.
“Hi,” I say quietly, not wanting to startle her.
Lydia looks up and sees me in the doorway.She summons up the energy for a weary smile.“Hi, Ruby.”
For a moment, I’m not sure what to do, but settle for sitting down next to her on the sofa.I resist the urge to make small talk, to ask her how she is, or if everything’s OK.I just wait.
After a while, Lydia swallows.“You said I could ask you if I needed any help.”
For a moment, I’m confused, but then I nod hastily.“Yes, right.Anything at all.”
She glances uncertainly toward the living room door, like she’s keeping an eye out for someone.She’s probably afraid of my parents or Ember coming in or overhearing us.I budge over a fraction toward her.
“What is it?”I ask.
Lydia exhales audibly.Then she straightens her back and sits up tall.“I’ve got a checkup tomorrow, and I need someone to come with me.”
It takes me a second or two to realize what she just said.“You want me to go with you?”I ask in surprise.
She takes a shaky breath, presses her lips tightly together, then nods.“You’re the only person who knows.”
“Is there something wrong?Does it hurt or something?”
Lydia shakes her head.“No, it’s just routine.But I…don’t want to go there alone.”
I wonder how hard it was for her to come here and ask me that.This is the first time I’ve really understood how lonely Lydia must be.I’m the only person she can ask to go with her to an appointment that must be scary, and nerve-racking.
There’s only one answer to her question, and I give it like it’s the most natural thing in the world.
“Of course I will.”
The only word to describe the room is “sterile.”The walls are white and there’s only one picture up.On the left-hand side, there’s a desk in front of a wide window with closed blinds; to the right, there’s a pale blue curtain screening off one corner.I presume Lydia’s going to have to undress behind there soon.
We’re sitting on the two chairs in front of the desk, watching Dr.Hearst as she types on her computer at lightning speed.
At first it was weird to be here with Lydia.But the moment she was asked by a nurse to pee into a little cup, I realized that we were long past the point of embarrassment.
Now Lydia is fiddling with her tartan scarf and squinting at the door.Maybe she’s toying with the idea of getting up and running away.As her eye catches mine, I give her a reassuring smile—or try to.I don’t know exactly what my job here is, so I try to act the way I’d want her to if our roles were reversed.It seems to work, because Lydia’s shoulders relax a tiny bit.
Once Dr.Hearst has finished with the computer, she rests her hands on the desk and leans toward us slightly.Her face is friendly, however severe the bun holding up her dark hair may be.She has lots of laugh lines; warm brown eyes; and a pleasant, calm voice.
“So, Lydia, how are you doing?”she asks.
I watch Lydia as she looks back at the doctor.
Suddenly, she makes a kind of hysterical sound that was probably intended to be a laugh.But she quickly pulls herself togetherand clears her throat as if nothing ever happened.“Not too bad, I think.”
Dr.Hearst gives an understanding nod.“Last time, you said the sickness was very bad.How is that going now?”
“It’s better.I haven’t been sick at all for a week.But sometimes it really hurts when I stand up after a long time sitting down.Is that normal?”
Dr.Hearst smiles.“That’s nothing to worry about.The ligaments in your womb are under a lot of strain now, making room for the baby.I can prescribe you magnesium, which should help with the pain.”
“OK, that sounds good,” says Lydia with relief.
After the conversation, Dr.Hearst sends her behind the curtain to undress.I stay in my chair, staring at the painting over the desk, while she examines her.I’m trying to figure out what the shapes and colors are meant to represent but stand no chance.It’s one of the weirdest pictures I’ve ever seen, all in yellow, red, and blue.I wonder if it was done by a child.
I hear Dr.Hearst say, “Everything is as it should be.The cervix is nicely closed, and so long as you have no cramps or bleeding, it should all be fine.”
