“Well shit I say let’s not waste this good time. Babe hurry up and get us to the doctor, afterwards I’m treating my girls to dinner and a movie.”

“Good, because I could eat a bus.”

………………………………………….

Bette’s day was so chaotic she hadn’t had time to stop and catch her breath. So when she walked to her next patient’s door and saw that it was Mrs. Wilkins, she hadn’t bothered to look up at her.

“Ok Mrs. Wilkins, I see you’re here because we’re at the end of your first trimester, correct.” Bette asked still with her face buried into the chart as she honed in on the stool across the room.

“Yes.” Tina smiled at her.

Bette had finally looked up at her and asked her the normal questions she’d ask any of her patients and waited for the normal responses she’d get and make sure to address any concern she’d felt arise in their explanations. But she never deviated from her usual questions, nothing ever tripped her up, not even this stunning beauty in her office.

“Why don’t you lie back and we’ll take a look at the growth of your baby just to make sure everything’s going according to plan.” Bette turned around to get her gloves.

Tina busied herself with undressing, she laid them carefully across the back of the chair, choosing to hold the cufflinks in her hand, tightly. Bette turned back around and went about examining her carefully, mindful as usual to make sure to ask if anything felt wrong or if Tina had any concerns.

Bette stepped away from her and began her usual speech about making sure Tina took her vitamins daily and to be mindful her of environment, like smoking, dust and cat dander, all of  which Tina had said earlier she was allergic to. Just as Bette sat back onto the stool looking up at Tina she asked her again, “Ok Mrs. Wilkins, are there any other questions or concerns you would like for me to address?”

“Yes, just one,” Tina saw the way Bette crossed her arms across her chest readying herself to give her a complete and comprehensive answer. “Please, call me Tina.” she said looking directly into Bette’s eyes.

Bette smiled at her own need for formality, it was a habit she’d learned from childhood, a consummate form of respect, “Ok, Tina it is.” she smiled back at her as she exited the room.

TBC……………………………………