“She’s tried to bury it real deep now that Lou is married to Wade,” I said and pulled into a spot close to the entrance.
“Yeah, I guess that could be awkward.”
“And painful.” I turned off the ignition and said something I shouldn’t have said.Again.“Wanting someone you can’t have is like having a thorn in your chest, stabbing your heart with every beat.”
I froze. She froze. And then Daisy fumbled to unbuckle her seatbelt with the hand still wearing my best friend’s ring.
“We’re goingto be right in here today.” The nurse, Teddy, stepped aside so Daisy and I could enter the examination room.
For being a smaller, coastal town, the hospital had pretty exceptional ratings for its delivery unit and OBGYN doctors. I’d given Daisy a short list of other options I’d found in the area, including a smaller regional hospital closer to Portland and a midwife based a little south of Friendship, but Stonebar had good ratings and the first available appointment, so Daisy took it.
I’d asked if she wanted to see the hospital before making a decision, but she declined. So now, her eyes darted along the hallways, lingered on the faces of the nurses and doctors we passed, wondering which one was going to be hers, and once inside the room, scanned every corner searching for a red flag. And so did mine.
Maybe Daisy didn’t feel like she had time for any other choice, but I wasn’t going to let her settle. Thankfully, when my gaze found its way back to hers, she gave me a small smile. She felt comfortable here, and so did I.
“Have a seat, Mama, and we’ll take your blood first and then do your ultrasound.” Teddy patted the big chair in the center ofthe pastel-painted room. “And, Dad, you’re welcome to have a seat over there…”
Dad. Shit.“Oh, I’m?—”
“Can he stand by me?” Daisy cut in, her wide eyes swinging to mine. “I’m not good with needles.”
Wordlessly and without waiting for the nurse’s reply, my feet brought me right to her side.
“If you could just roll up your sleeve for me, Mama,” Teddy asked and began to unload vials and needles and syringes from the tub on the counter.
Settling onto the edge of the chair, Daisy managed to undo the first button on the cuff of her dress’s long sleeve, but the moment she saw Teddy prepping the needle about to go into her arm, her face turned white and her fingers stopped coordinating.
“Let me.” I stepped in front of her, using the excuse to help her as a reason to block off her line of sight.
As I worked free the second button, the color in her cheeks started to return, her focus now on me. On my fingers brushing over her skin. Now I fought to not fumble as I carefully rolled the cuff once, twice, and a third time, giving just enough tension to the fabric that it stayed when I pushed it above her elbow.
“I hate needles,” she whispered after I’d finished but before I stepped out of the way.
“Have you ever met a person who loves them?” I countered and lifted my brow.
“Good point.” She pushed out a deep exhale and then nervously tried to look over my shoulder. “Will you hold my hand?”
“I’d let them take my blood instead of yours if it worked that way,” I murmured, reaching for her right hand.
“If only.” Her fingers squeezed tight to mine.
“So how have you been feeling? Do you have any concerns you want me to note for Dr. MacDonald?” Teddy asked as sherolled over her tray. I noticed how she positioned it just far enough back from the seat that it was pretty much impossible for Daisy to see what was on it just by turning her head.
“I’ve been feeling pretty okay overall. No nausea or extreme fatigue. My feet have started to swell more consistently now.”
“That’s the worst, isn’t it?” Teddy empathized with a shake of her head. “Thank God both my girls were born in the middle of summer. I was going around barefoot the last four weeks because none of my shoes fit, and when I did have to go out, I ended up buying those horrible-looking toe socks, you know the ones?”
Daisy nodded, her eyes sinking to the needle in Teddy’s hand.
“I got the ones with rubber on the bottom so I could wear them out of the house, but I looked ridiculous. Toe socks in the middle of summer.” She laughed and shook her head, noticing then that her attempt to distract Daisy was fading, so she doubled down. “And don’t get me started on the cravings. All my youngest wanted from the womb was ketchup sandwiches. No burger or hot dog or chicken or veggies. Only ketchup and bread. My husband looked at me like I’d lost my mind every time I asked for one.” She laughed at the memory. “Make a fist for me, Mama.”
Daisy balled her hand, the one the nurse wanted, and the other one locked with mine. I squeezed her fingers back.I’m here. I will always be here.
“How about you? Any big cravings?” She was trying, I’d give her that. But the second Teddy uncapped the needle, Daisy was gone. Her focus was solely on the needle that you’d think, after decades or centuries of drawing blood, could be a little smaller than it currently was.
She tried to wait for Daisy to answer, but I wasn’t sure Daisy had even heard her question. Maybe that was the reason I spoke instead.Or maybe not.
“Ours only wants blueberries,” I answered, my voice a low rumble.
