Chapter 3

Tina was lying on the couch in Alices apartment, her hand on her face.

Alice: Are you okay?whats wrong?

Tina: My teeth are hurting me she replied, her face twisted in pain.

Alice: Come on, lets go see the dentist.

Tina: No, my dentist is out of town, he
wont be back until next weekoh, it hurts she cried.

Alice: Let me see she leaned over to her, OH, MY GOD, Tina youre bleeding. Come I will take you to someone I know. She took her hand and lifted her off the couch.

Alice drove Tina to the medical center on the east side of the neighborhood.

Alice: Dont worry, I just called there, the dentist will see you immediately, she owes me a favor.

Tina: A favor, how do you know her?
Alice: She dated my friend, Jessica briefly. I heard shes an excellent doctorand a hot one too. Alice smiled one of her wicked smiles.


They walked into the clinic and went into waiting room. There were so many people there that Tina thought it would probably take them forever to see the doctor. Alice gave her name at the counter and told Tina to sit down. The nurse came out a few minutes later. She called Tinas name and Tina stood up.

Nurse: Dr. Mendez is expecting you she said, please come with me. Tina followed her and Alice remained in the waiting room.
The nurse guided Tina to one of the rooms and sat Tina in the examination chair. The baby was moving inside her and her teeth and gums were hurting.
Nurse: Dr. Mendez is in between two patients. She will see you as soon as possiblejust sit here and relax, she said smiling and started preparing the room.

Tina was tired; she closed her eyes and was breathing heavily.
Okay Tina heard a voice saying behind her, we will have to do this fast. It was Dr. Mendez entering the room. She wore a white mask that covered her mouth and nose. She put on a fresh pair of gloves and sat down on a stool next to Tina.

Dr. Mendez: Hello Ms. Kennard, I am Dr.
Mendez.

Tina: Hi she could only see the doctors eyes.
Dr, Mendez: How are we today?

Tina: I am fineits just that my mouth hurts and my gums are bleeding. I am afraid to take pain relievers because of the baby, she said holding her belly.

Dr. Mendez: How many months are you? She said as she picked up the tools on the tray that the nurse had prepared earlier.
Tina: Six months she replied.


Dr. Mendez leaned over to examine her. She was now close to Tina, her hand gently touching Tinas cheek. Tina could smell her soft perfume, the scent excited her. She raised her head and looked up at the doctor examining her and met her eyes. The doctor was staring right at her. She had the most amazing eyes and Tina felt as if she was staring straight into her soul. She felt her knees weakening and her heart racing.

Dr. Mendez: Are you okay? she said in a soft tone, backing up, youre shaking.
Tina: Yes, Im fine. She didnt
understand why she felt that way, she only knew that she wanted her to lean closer again.
The doctor did so. She leaned over and Tina felt as if she was drowning in the doctors deep stare. She was so close, Tina could almost feel her breath on her neck. Her gentle touch ran shivers down Tinas spine. Tina was nervous. She told herself it was just the fact that she wasnt used to another woman besides Bette being so close to her.
The doctor backed up again, her hand still on Tinas cheek and said, it is very normal, your body is going through a lot of changes due to the pregnancy and those changes affect the gums as well. I wouldnt be worried, I will put some ointment on your gums, it will help ease the pain.

Tina: Is it safe for the baby? She couldnt stop looking into the doctors eyes.

Dr. Mendez: Its is perfectly safeI had the same problem when I was pregnant.

Tina smiled, she was curious to see the doctors face, all she could see were her eyes.

The doctor leaned over again, rubbing the ointment on Tinas gums and noticed Tinas excitement. She looked straight into Tinas eyes, they were both hypnotized. She felt a shiver down her spine as well. She paused for a moment and then said almost whispering, Im sure you will have a beautiful baby.
Tina couldnt respond. Your husband must be thrilled, the doctor continued.

Tina: Im not married she replied, her heart beating faster.
Please take off the mask, she thought. Let me see your face, she wanted to say, but couldnt.


The nurse entered, doctor, they need you in the other room.

Dr. Mendez: We are done, she replied, not taking off the mask.
She turned to Tina and said softly Miss Kennard, you will feel much better in a few minutes. I have given you a prescription for the ointment and another one for a cream to massage into your gums two times a day. Feel free to call me if there are any problems.
Tina: Thank you she said, still shaking.

The doctor left the room. Tina stayed seated for a moment, closed her eyes and could still feel the doctors eyes staring at her.


Alice and Tina went back to the apartment. Tina didnt say a word the entire ride home, she was gazing out the window. She couldnt stop thinking about those eyes, they haunted her.
When night fell, Tina lay in her bed, she massaged her stomach and sang a lullaby to her unborn child. Her feet were hurting her, I cant wait to meet you, my precious, she whispered to herself thinking of her baby and fell into a deep sleep.
In her sleep she dreamt that she was lying on the couch in the living room of her old house. She saw an image of a woman approaching her, it was the doctor, her face covered with the same white surgeons mask, wearing a white robe. Tinas heart was beating faster, the image floated in the air, her feet not touching the ground. Come closer she said to the image, Come to me. She lifted her hand up as a sign of invitation. The image leaned over her and held her hand. Tina couldnt take it anymore, her excitement was too intense, and she needed to see the face behind the mask. Eager to fulfill her curiosity, she raised her hand and pulled down the mask. Her heart skipped a beat when she saw the face behind it. It was Bette, the love of her life, looking at her exactly as she did the first time they met.

Tina woke up, still shaken from her dream, sweat dripping down her neck. Oh, Bette she whispered, will I ever get over you? Her voice was breaking. She fell asleep again crying into her pillow.