Page 37 of The Choices I've Made
“No one forced you to come back here, Jake,” she said as we walked slowly back to the X-ray machine, my arm wrapped tightly around her waist.
Although I hadn’t been here in years, the place still looked the same. Sure, some upgrades had been made. New flooring and upgraded computers, but it still felt the same, smelled the same.
“You’d think that, but it’s funny how family guilt can get a man running back to his roots.”
“Because it’s such a horrible place to be,” she said snidely.
We reached the door leading to the X-ray machine, passing the few exam rooms that made up the clinic.
“I never said that.”
“You didn’t have to. It was clear how you felt by your actions.”
I let out a heavy sigh as I helped her onto the table.
“Less than twenty-four hours, and we’re back to the same argument we were stuck on twelve years ago.”
“Oh, I’m not stuck,” she insisted as those stubborn arms of hers folded in front of her. “I’ve moved on.”
Adjusting her foot, I felt my own eyes roll around my head. “Obviously.”
A palpable silence between us followed. I shifted her ankle around, trying not to hurt her any further, while she sat completely still, staring at the bland white wall in front of her.
Grabbing the heavy lead vest from the closet, I paused, realizing what I had to do next.
Clearing my throat, I tried my damnedest to get into the zone. The one where people became patients and nothing more.
But, seeing Molly’s face, the obvious annoyance splashed across it and how hard she was trying to ignore me, I knew any semblance of professionalism was out the door.
But I tried anyway.
“Any chance you’re pregnant?” I said as casually as possible, placing the vest across her chest and abdomen after she moved her arms.
Her eyes immediately darted toward mine. “Excuse me?”
My lips pursed together as I held my hands up in the air, defending my innocence. “I have to ask,” I explained, “before I can run the films.”
She shook her head. “Unbelievable.”
“Is that a no?”
“It’s a no, Jake. Do you have any more invasive questions?”
“Nope, just the one.”
“Okay.”
“Okay,” I said. “Don’t move.”
“Kind of impossible with this heavy thing lying on me.”
I wanted to add some snarky comment but chose the righteous path for once, vacating the room to capture the images of her ankle. It took only a few seconds, and I returned once more, finding Molly in the exact position I’d left her.
And pissed, as usual.
I, on the other hand, was considering which show tune to whistle. I didn’t know why, but hearing how sure she’d been about an impending pregnancy had me feeling lighter.
Happier.
