First Comes Marriage. Sophia Sasson

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СКАЧАТЬ better than she did. Maybe she had pushed too hard? She should go back; it was rude to leave her own party and perhaps a little grumpy. After all, the band would be there soon... Surely, there was a way to salvage the evening? The original purpose of the barbecue was to convince the townspeople she meant well; maybe she could still make that happen.

      She interrupted Raj. “Listen, I’m rather in the middle of something right now—do you mind if I ring you later?”

      He paused. “Well, I suppose that would be all right, although now is the best time for me.”

      “Sorry, but I really need to go.”

      “Meera...”

      She stabbed the end button and immediately regretted it. Raj hadn’t done anything wrong. Oh, well, she’d explain it to him later.

      She walked back to the barbecue and saw the band setting up. People were sitting down and eating, and loud conversations drifted to her ears. There was general merriment in the air. It was exactly as she planned it, except it wasn’t. Jake had done this.

      She wrinkled her nose as she approached the grill. Jake was placing fat, bloody pieces of meat above the coals. Bile rose in her throat, and she clutched her stomach, resisting the urge to throw up.

      He held out a plate to her and she stared at him in horror.

      “Relax. I saved you a tofu burger before I put the meat on.”

      She smiled gratefully and took the plate. There was the sweetness again, the way he thought about her needs. Not many men would be that considerate.

      “Who are they?” Jake pointed at the band.

      “Don’t worry, I thought the meatless meal would be enough of an experiment. The band is from Richmond—they do country music. The online reviews said they’re quite good.”

      He smiled mischievously. “Well, then, you’ll have to save a dance for me.”

      A shiver ran down her spine. She looked down shyly. “I don’t dance very well.”

      He leaned forward and whispered, “Don’t worry, I’ll teach you.” His breath warmed her ear.

      “Jake, these burgers are yum-mum-mee.” While Meera was staring at her feet, Gloria had sidled up to Jake and put her hand on his arm.

      Meera smiled brightly at her. Best fake smile, Meera—time to mend fences. Gloria was wearing extremely small shorts again, showing off miles of legs that ended in wedged heels. Ah, note to self: pointed heels get stuck in the mud, wedges are the way to go. She would have to go shoe shopping soon; retail therapy might be a good antidote to the stress of Bellhaven. Gloria had paired her shorts with a red-and-white-checkered shirt tied in a knot above her belly button, and a pink cowboy hat completed the look. She and Jake would make a picture-perfect, all-American couple.

      “Mmm... This is so good, Jake—what did you put it in?” Gloria purred. She leaned in, and Jake took a step closer to the grill, away from her.

      “It’s just beef, Gloria, nothing special.”

      Oh, I can’t watch this. Meera excused herself, much to Gloria’s delight and Jake’s apparent dismay. She headed over to see the band.

      “Dr. M., can I talk to you for a minute?”

      Meera turned to find a young woman standing behind her. The girl was red in the face and heavyset. Meera frowned. The raised rash on her face could indicate a medical problem. “Of course. Come with me.”

      Meera led her to the cottage, and she looked around nervously as she hurried along. “Please don’t tell anyone I’m talkin’ to you.”

      Meera ushered her into the living room. “Don’t worry. If I’m here as your doctor, I won’t repeat anything you say unless you ask me to.”

      “Okay. My name’s Lily...” She still seemed anxious. “I have this problem, and I can’t tell anyone else in town...”

      Meera nodded and scanned the young woman’s body, looking carefully at her face. “You’re pregnant, aren’t you?”

      Lily’s eyes widened. “You can’t tell anyone!” Her voice was panicked.

      Meera put her arm around Lily soothingly. “Like I said, this is confidential. Nothing you tell me will leave this room.”

      Lily relaxed visibly. “You promise? You can’t tell a single soul in this town.”

      Meera nodded.

      Lily collapsed on the couch. “How did you know?”

      “The rash on your face looks like pruritic urticarial papules and plaques of pregnancy. And your weight.”

      “Everyone thinks I just got fat, but the rash is new and I... Is the baby okay?”

      Meera went to her bedroom and brought out the medical bag her father had given her. She opened it and began taking Lily’s blood pressure. She asked Lily some questions and did a brief exam, pressing on her belly. “The rash can happen with pregnancy, and I think you’re fine, but I need to do an ultrasound to be sure. If you’re right about your last period, you’re about thirty-two weeks along.”

      Lily shook her head. “I can’t come to the office for an ultrasound. Rose would blab about it to the whole town.” She paused and touched her cheek. “I haven’t told the baby’s father—that’s why I haven’t seen Dr. Harper. I can’t have this town knowing...” She stopped and looked down. “It’s a little complicated.”

      Meera squeezed her hand. “If you haven’t seen a doctor since you got pregnant, it’s really important we do an ultrasound and run blood tests to make sure everything is all right. Come to the clinic tomorrow after twelve. Rose goes to lunch and Dr. Harper goes home to check on his wife around then. Wait in the car until you see them leave, then ring the bell and I’ll come get you. They’ll never know.”

      Lily nodded gratefully. “Thank you, Dr. M. I had no idea what to do or who to go to. Jake said you’re a good person...” She sat up straighter. “I know the town doesn’t want you here, but please don’t let them run you off.” She put her arms around Meera and held her tight, taking her by surprise. Meera had never been hugged by a patient before. And I haven’t even done anything for her.

      She let Lily leave the cottage and followed several minutes later, watching as the young woman rejoined the crowd.

      She hasn’t seen a doctor since she got pregnant! Maybe being an outcast isn’t such a bad thing. Then people who need privacy, like Lily, can come to me, and I can focus on those who really need my help. She felt a spring in her step as she went back to the barbecue.

      She had to remember to thank Jake for sending Lily. The fact that she’d gone to him when she hadn’t told anyone else in town said a lot about the type of person Jake was.

      The band was in full swing and from the look of it, everyone seemed to be having a good time. There were several people on the dance floor, yelling with delight and teasing each other. Perhaps all was not lost. She took in the gleeful faces and grudgingly wondered whether Jake was right. Maybe it was too much to expect the town to rethink СКАЧАТЬ