I watch as Brad leans over today’s patient, Trinity.She had her braces put on a year ago and has at least six months of treatment left before she has her new smile.
I blink as the memory of her last appointment flashes back.Brad took extra photos, explaining that the originals had been lost.I don’t know how that happened.I’m very particular about loading them.
Glitches happen, I suppose.
I glance at the computer and remember, while he was taking the photos, he sent me out to get the x-ray machine set up.
We never x-ray after the braces are on.
Yet, it made sense given Trinity’s files were deleted.Brad is nothing if not meticulous.
“How’s your mom and dad?”Brad asks.
“Gwood,” Trinity answers.“Mwee gwoin twoo Hwwawai what kwisswas.”
“Nice.”Brad swaps dental tools as I push the suction into another section of her mouth.“You’ll have to get some surf lessons.Hot tip: don’t wear a bikini.”
Trinity giggles and blushes.“Gwoing up Dwiamond Wed.”
“Diamond Head?”I ask.“It’s a great hike.”
Trinity nods.
“Tell your dad to keep an eye on you.You’ll fall in love with one of those soldiers based on the island and run away to Maui to get married.”Brad chuckles.
“Gwoss.I’m fwiftween!”Trinity laughs.
My attention drifts as a cold shiver drifts over my skin.My imagination is on fire.
Jake is brushing off on me.It’s his job to question everything, but I can’t live like that.I don’t want to go around not trusting people and being suspicious.Most people don’t.
We have a lot of kids coming to our clinic because this is what we do and have for years without a Louisa situation happening.
And Mary Beth.
Adults make up around seven percent of our brace’s clients, but the rest are teenagers.Over sixty percent of those are girls.I’m sure with those statistics the chances of one or two of those missing girls being a client are high.
I bite my lip.
I’m trying to make myself feel better.
It’s all a big coincidence.
