“What on earth for?” Her grandmother’s look of pity strengthened Abby’s backbone. “I’m only going in for a chat and an ultrasound. It’s nothing.”
“You can’t lie to me. We both hate hospitals. Besides, I want to hear if the doctor’s initial diagnosis is correct.”
Abby didn’t stop what she was doing, hoping her grandmother didn’t notice the flinch in her shoulders. “Endometriosis? If it is endo, it’s not the end of the world, Nana.”
Her grandmother stilled her hand. “I hope that is all it is. The idea of you sick?—”
“I’m fine. Really. Don’t upset yourself.”
Her grandmother’s stricken look faded and she hugged Abby tight. “I know. But I like that I have someone to worry over.” She stepped back. “Pietro’s bringing the car around for you. I knew I’d have to remind you. Sometimes when your laptop’s open, you forget everything but your business.”
She kissed her nana’s cheek as she brushed past. “TellPietro I won’t be long.” She ran up the stairs to freshen up before driving into Florence for her doctor’s appointment.
“I’m almostone hundred percent sure of my diagnosis, but only a laparoscopic operation will confirm endometriosis. I’ll get the nurse to schedule a procedure, and if I find any lesions I’ll laser them off.” Dr. Molinari looked pleased with himself.
Abby at last had an understanding of why she’d been in so much pain during her menstrual cycle. She was suffering from endometriosis. If they could do something to minimize the pain she’d be pleased.
“We’ll try to fit you in as soon as possible.”
“That would be fabulous. My husband and I are trying for a child.”
The doctor’s head lifted and he stared at her with a pitying look.
“Do you know much about this condition?”
She shook her head.
He looked toward the nurse beside him and they shared a look. He pulled out a pamphlet and handed it to her. “Please read as much about the condition as possible. I’m sorry to have to inform you, but depending on the lesions and damage, some women find it difficult or near impossible to conceive.”
Her heart stuttered, she couldn’t have heard correctly. Did he just say she might not be able to conceive? But she was only twenty-three years old.
“Depending on the amount of inflammation and scar tissue, you may even need a hysterectomy.” At her anguished cry, he added, “That’s worst-case scenario. But even so, it may be difficult for an egg to reach your ovaries. Alternatively, we often find that the lining of the uterus is thinner in women with endometriosis, and this may make it difficult for the embryo to implant.” He must have seen theshock on her face. “But until I do the laparoscopic procedure we won’t know more.”
The nurse took her ice-cold hand in hers. “It is a shock, no? But let’s not dwell on what could be until the doctor has examined you internally.”
“So I might be fine?”
The doctor said nothing. The nurse merely gave her a worried look.
“Oh, one more thing. If you do find out you’re pregnant, you must come for a scan immediately. There is a higher risk of ectopic pregnancies.”
She looked at the calm faces sitting in front of her and wanted to smash their pitying looks. They spoke as if they were telling her she simply had the common cold. What they were telling her shattered her life into a million pieces of hurt. She might not be able to have children.
Dante’s children.
Her children.
Their children.
Once Dante bought Paulo Zanetti’s company, all he’d want her for was to provide him with a son. She put her hand over her mouth to stop the bile escaping. “I think I’m going to be sick.”
The nurse handed her a bowl and she threw up. She closed her eyes on the pain. Dante. She’d have to tell Dante. Would he think she’d deceived him? Would he ask her to leave? Tears welled in her eyes and she struggled to hold them back. “If I have the operation will it improve my chances of having children?”
“Yes, usually it helps by as much as forty percent.”
He was talking cold percentages when she had to deal with real emotions. Her world was crumbling around her, and she had no one to share it with.
“Look, let’s not get ahead of ourselves. Let’s wait and see what I discover. You might find you have a mild case. Paindoesn’t signify—one lesion in a painful position may mean a mild case or a more complicated one. Try not to worry.”
