“You’re staying with Xander right now, right? I think I remember him saying that last time you were here. Has that changed?”
His cheeks heated and he glanced toward the further wall. Away from her knowing look. “I am, still staying with him.”
“Now, this leads to some questions that might be uncomfortable for you.” Wright looked back at her, questioning that because he thought these were the uncomfortable questions. “I tried to locate your previous doctor and records but haven’t had any luck. Do you remember the last time you saw a doctor?”
Wright thought about it. It was definitely before high school. At least six years. “I think middle school. I needed a vaccine or something but I think they did them at the school. It was right before my mom left.”
“You haven’t had a flu shot or anything since?” Wright could tell she was holding back the surprise at that.
“I don’t get sick very often.” That was probably due to the fact that he didn’t go anywhere but school and home. Realization struck him that he truly hadn’t been living much of a life. Just being at the Lawson’s was a whole new world for him. “My dad kept over-the-counter medications stocked at the house if I got allergies or anything.”
“Do you happen to remember the name of the doctor you saw when you did go?”
“I have no idea. Sorry.”
“It’s all good,” she said with a smile. “I think we should schedule a time for you to come back and we’ll get you updated on everything and get you on the books for yearly checkups. If you need me for anything else you can schedule between visits.”
“Sounds good.” Wright wasn’t sure how he’d be able to afford all these visits. He knew by the way his dad grumbled when bill collectors called or sent something in the mail about an old bill.
“I have one more question before you head out. It’s going to be personal, but I wouldn’t be doing my job if I didn’t ask.”
Wright looked up at her and tilted his head just slightly. He didn’t want to go over what happened to him or his life before a month ago. He wanted to forget it all. He was still waking up from bad dreams. Not quite nightmares, but bad enough that he woke with a start, often in the middle of the night. But Xander was always right there, holding him or close enough he could feel him in the bed beside him. He would take a few deep breaths and then go back to sleep. A few times, Xander had woken up with him and pulled him closer. Just like their intimate moments on Fridays, something Wright hoped would change now that he was cleared, they didn’t really talk about it.
“Are you sexually active?”
Wright coughed, not expecting that question. She had asked him the same thing last time he was there and the answer had been no. If he answered honestly now, she would know. She would know he was messing around with Xander, wanted to do more with him.
“I’m not here to judge you, Wright. Whatever your orientation, I want you to keep safe, okay?” She crossed her legs and smiled, placing her hands on her knee. Her posture was relaxed and it eased a little of the tension in his body. “I can dotesting in the office if you ever need it. I’m also going to suggest that you talk to someone, a professional, about what you went through. Not just this last event, but the years that you were mistreated.”
“I haven’t actually done anything, um, all the way.” He hoped she understood what he was saying. She nodded and he let out a deep breath. This was weird to talk about, but it was something that he realized he had questions about. “I want to, with, uh-” His eyes flicked toward the door and back to the doctor. She nodded and smiled, like she had already guessed. “We’ve done a few things. Nothing major because we were waiting for an all-clear here. And I want to. I’m just… worried, I guess?”
“About what?”
“That I won’t be good? I don’t know. It’s stupid.”
“It isn’t stupid,” she said quickly. “I can’t offer much advice in that department outside of tests and make sure to use protection when and if you do anything. But I am going to leave you with a referral to a colleague of mine that will talk to you. A professional. She lives out of state but is a close friend and colleague of mine, so I’ll send her an email to discuss online sessions with you.”
“I don’t even have a phone,” Wright said. He hadn’t thought about it in a couple weeks. It was like his entire life was gone. He didn’t have a family. His mom’s side of the family had never been around and his dad’s family lived across the country. The most he heard from them was a once-a-year phone call to say happy holidays. He didn’t have a job. Or a phone. There was nothing for him to start his life over.
“That’s fine,” she said. “I’ll give her Xander’s number, if you’re okay with that.”
“I guess.” Wright wrung his hands in his shirt again. He would need to find a job or something. He couldn’t just lay around anymore.
“Okay, good.” She stood up from her chair and moved to the door to let Xander come back in. She shut the door behind him once more but didn’t move to leave the room. “Xander, if you’re okay with it, I’m going to give your number to a colleague of mine to contact Wright.”
“That’s fine,” Xander said. He looked from her to Wright. His face was full of worry. “But I was actually going to take him after this to get one of his own. So I can send you the new number this evening.”
“What?” Wright shifted, crinkling the paper underneath him with every slight movement. “You don’t have to do that.”
Xander walked over to stand next to him and laid a hand on the back of his neck. “I want to. And you’ll need one now that you’re going to be helping out around the ranch. Everyone is required to have a phone on them in case of emergencies.”
“I’m… I’ll be working with you?”
“I’m going to let you two talk,” Doctor Pillar said. “It was nice seeing you again. I’ll send information over to you in a day or two, Wright. Call me if you need anything else.”
“Thanks, Doc.” Xander reached out his hand and shook her’s before she left the room. He turned back to Wright and stepped toward him, holding his hand out still to help him get off the table. “I talked to Patrick this morning when I got up to help with the horses. We have an event next week for the Fourth of July that he says you can help with. He’ll talk to you about it when we get back.”
They walked out of the room and down the hall to the exit. Wright shielded his eyes when they stepped out into the bright sun. It wasn’t even noon yet, but the temperature was supposed to be close to triple digits. In the next second, a hat was put on his head, pulled low enough to block the rough glare. He looked up at Xander and smiled. “Thanks.”
