After a moment the door opens and I look up to see the doctor walk in. I gasp because it’s not my normal female obstetrician, but a male doctor I’ve never met.
“You must be Clara. I’m Doctor Rogers,” he says, walking over and shaking my hand.
I pull my knees together and try to sit up. I’ve never had a male doctor before and I try to think about how to politely tell him to get the fuck out of here before my husband walks in and murders him.
“Where is Doctor Pace?” I ask, looking through the half-open door. The nurse that’s normally in here when the doctor examines me is talking to someone else.
“She’s out today. I’m filling in with some of her patients here for routine exams.” He looks at my chart and his eyebrows draw together. “Looks like you’ve gained quite a bit of weight since your last appointment.”
“Excuse me?” I’m freaking pregnant, what else is supposed to happen?
“You’re young, though, so I guess you aren’t worried about your figure.” He mumbles something about my metabolism slowing down, and anger makes my cheeks flush.
“Oh well,” he says as he walks around to where my knees are firmly pressed together. “Now if you’ll just relax we can go ahead and get started. We can discuss the weight gain after.”
I don’t like his guy, and I want Rex here with me. I’m just about to say he can’t start until the nurse walks in, but the door bangs open. My hulking beast of a husband nearly knocks the door off the hinges as he stands there staring at the doctor.
“Get your fucking hands of her,” he seethes.
Doctor Rogers backs away with his hands up. “Sir, I was just going to do a routine exam on your daughter. Please, there’s no need for violence.”
“First of all, that’s not my daughter, that’s my wife. Second, you can see by the way she’s sitting there with her legs locked together that she’s uncomfortable.”
The doctor looks back at me and then to the door behind Rex. The nurses from the hallway are standing there watching him. My usual nurse has a smirk on her face. I’m wondering if she saw this coming.
“Unless you got a female doctor to look at her lady business, we’re gonna be on our way.” He moves between me and the doctor and I have to bite my lip to keep from laughing. Did he just call it my lady business?
“I was just—”
Rex cuts him off with a growl. “You were putting your hands on my wife, and you’re lucky I’m not going to rip them from your arms. Now get the fuck out of this room and think about how you speak to pregnant women before you open your stupid mouth. I hear you tell my wife she’s gained too much weight again and I’ll make you eat your own asshole.”
The nurses in the hall are snickering now, too, and they seem to be having a good time watching how this played out. They know how possessive Rex can be, always walking in with me with his hand on my belly. Always asking what they’re about to do before they touch me. He’s crazy when it comes to who can touch me, so I’m not the least bit shocked he’s acting like this. And apparently neither are the nurses.
Doctor Rogers backs out slowly until he’s in the hallway. Then before he says another word he makes a break for it. The nurses are left in a fit of giggles as Rex comes over to wrap his arms around me.
“You okay, baby girl?”
“Yeah, I think you scared the poor man.”
“I’m not gonna stand by and let another man see the heaven you’ve got secreted away down there. Hell, he’ll take one look and be ruined for all other women. I can’t chance it.”
He leans down and gives me a kiss right when my nurse clears her throat. We look up and she’s smiling at the two of us.
“He’s only here for the day and we can’t stand him. Thanks for the entertainment. Your chart looks good, and Doctor Pace will be back tomorrow. You’re all set, Clara.” She winks at me before she whispers a “thank you” to Rex on the way out. I breathe a sigh of relief.
“Now let’s get you home so I can show you just how perfect your body is,” he says, picking me up in his arms.
“I might take a lot of convincing,” I say, picturing his head between my legs.
“It’s a tough job, but I think I’m the man for it.”
He sure is.
Epilogue
Epilogue
Eight years later…
I put my truck in park when I get to the dance studio. It’s a little place on Main Street that I converted for Clara a few years ago. When our daughter was old enough to ask for dance lessons, Clara knew she wanted to be the one to teach her. That led to her getting her certificates and then opening this studio. I like to come by after working at the docks and watch her teach. She’s so happy and lights up whenever she sees a child learn something she’s taught them.