“I understand. Running that big business of yours, I doubt you have a lot of time to worry about what’s happening at my numerous checkups.”
She had a point, but that didn’t make me feel less guilty. Fortunately, she changed the subject and soon we were discussing her work again.
We arrived at the doctor’s office without my own ignorance being put on display, and I helped her out. It seemed like she was finally big enough to where she couldn’t get out before I crossed around the car to get to her.
We walked in and I took a seat while she went up to the receptionist desk. Looking around, I saw tons of pregnant women, ranging from still straight-sized, to Nicole’s level to full on ready to pop. Almost all of them had someone with them, either significant others, or mothers, or friends. There were one or two that were alone, and I couldn’t help but worry if they were okay. I hated the thought of Nicole having to be here alone and I was suddenly very grateful that she had invited me.
Not too much later, she waddled back to me and sat down. “Now it’s time to hurry up and wait, right?” She asked, laughing lightly.
“Is that the way it normally goes?”
“Normally go-” she sputtered. “Are you telling me that you don’t have to wait when you go to the doctors?”
“Well no, I have a personal one and I would never go there if I did.”
“I-I…” She shook her head and I couldn’t tell if she was impressed or disgusted with my answer. “I don’t even know what to say.”
“Does anything have to be said?”
“Well-”
“Miss Arden?”
Surprised, we both looked to the door leading to the doctor’s area to see a Nurse standing there, looking expectantly out into the waiting area.
“That’s me!” Nicole said, standing up and hurrying over. As she stood, she grabbed my hand and pulled me with her.
The contact, as innocuous as it was, sent fire licking up my arm and right down my spine. She really was something else, wasn’t she? But I didn’t have time to think about it much before we were shown into a room and told the doctor would be with us soon.
I sat down on the plain, plastic chair and looked around. The table for examination was covered with a papery sheet instead of an actual bed-linen, and the lights were mostly fluorescent. Was this how the other half lived? How decidedly unpleasant.
“Ah, my favorite part of all this, waiting for the doctor to arrive.”
“But that’s what the waiting room is for.”
She gave me another look. “You cannot tell me that your riche experience at the doctor is that much different from my poor one.”
“I didn’t think that it was until this moment.” I answered. “But I’m quickly learning that may be incorrect.”
She just shook her head, seemingly amused at my ignorance. “You wait in the waiting room until it’s almost your turn. Then they bring you to the appointment room until you wait some more until finally the doctor comes to see you.”
“That seems like a huge waste of time.”
“And now you know why the poor don’t go to the doctors even if they can get free healthcare. Taking the time off work and sitting around forever isn’t always affordable.”
“I guess I just never realized how much not having money could effect your life. I mean sure, I knew it meant you couldn’t buy whatever you wanted, or have certain things, but it seems even if you’re not completely destitute, even the simplest of things can be a struggle.”
“Now you’re getting it. They say money can’t buy happiness, but it can certainly buy health, security and peace for you and all of your descendants.”
I looked around at the plain room we were in and all the medical equipment present. I looked at Nicole’s clothes which had obviously been recently purchased to accommodate her growing stomach. I looked to the smile of her face and how stress wasn’t hanging behind her eyes like last time.
“Yeah, I guess you’re right.”
“Of course I am,” she retorted, batting her eyes at me in that adorable way that she had.
“Careful, I’m sure too much arrogance is bad for the baby.”
“Uh-huh, says the man who clearly is the biggest expert on babies.”
“Oh, clearly.”
We both laughed and continued to banter back and forth, passing time while the doctor did whatever it was that they were doing. But the entire time, I could hear my lawyer’s words playing in my head on a loop.
You know you’re being taken for a ride, right?
You’re just her meal ticket.
And every time I shoved them under, telling myself that was not what any of this away about, my mind would conjure one of my parents or close friends to tell me how crazy I was being.