Page 12 of Nowhere To Hide
“Sorry, the room isn’t very big.Go ahead and have a seat on the bed, and we’ll get started.”
Charlie took a seat on the edge while Jo opened the closet and pulled out a portable sonograph machine.
“From what I’ve been told, you have a cut across your abdomen that has gotten infected.Is that correct?”Dr.Foster asked Charlie as Jo worked on getting everything set up for the ultrasound.
Charlie nodded and slowly lifted the bottom of her shirt to show her.Dr.Foster pushed her glasses up on her nose as she leaned in to get a closer look.
“It doesn’t look too bad.However, I would like to continue with an antibiotic ointment that you’ll apply to the wound daily.I can also write you an oral prescription, but I would have to submit that to our local pharmacy, and unfortunately, they would have to record the information of who it was given to.”
“Is there any way it will heal on its own with just the ointment?”Charlie asked as she lowered her shirt.
“Possibly.I’m okay with trying that first as long as I can check it every few days to make sure it’s not getting worse.We don’t want that infection to get out of hand and jeopardize the baby’s health.”
“Okay.I’ve been told I’m not going anywhere for a while due to the storm, so I can come back regularly to have it checked.And I promise, I won’t allow anything to hurt her if I can prevent it.”
“Perfect.”Dr.Foster smiled warmly at Charlie, and for the first time since she walked into my bar yesterday, she looked relieved.
“I would also like to do an ultrasound to check on the baby if that’s alright with you,” Dr.Foster continued, nodding to the machine Jo had finished setting up.
I moved to the side so I was out of the way as Jo helped Dr.Foster get everything situated while Charlie laid down on the bed.I wasn’t sure whether to step out and give them privacy or to stay so Charlie didn’t feel alone.It wasn’t like she had known me that long, but it seemed she was starting to trust me, and I didn’t want to lose that.If I could bring her even an ounce of comfort, I would.
“The gel on your stomach is going to be a little cold,” Dr.Foster warned as she held the transducer above Charlie’s bare skin.“I will avoid the cut as best as I can.Hopefully, the baby will be exactly where I need it to be to get the best images.How far along are you?”
“Around thirty-four weeks,” Charlie answered as the wand was gently placed on her stomach.I glanced at the screen Jo was holding and felt the corners of my lips curving up as I spotted the image of the baby’s head.
Jo pressed a button on the machine, and the sound of a racing heart filled the room as Charlie leaned forward slightly to see it.
“Heartbeat is nice and strong,” Dr.Foster noted with a smile as she slowly moved the wand across Charlie’s stomach.“We’ve got lots of movement happening as well, which is a great sign that the baby is doing well.”
Charlie closed her eyes and let out a heavy sigh of relief.I knew that it wasn’t my baby, but that didn’t stop me from grinning at the little face on the screen that was already warming a place in my heart.
Eight
Jason
“Itold you, I don’tknow where she is!”I screamed as I felt the sting across my cheek as the bone shattered from the fist that slammed into it.
