I frowned. This was a new patient consult, but I didn’t remember there being three names. Only one way to find out what I was in for.
Three elementals filledthe space across from me. A young married couple sat at the forefront, and in the middle, with achair positioned a little farther back, was the man’s formidable grandmother. She was trying to give me the hard-assed matriarchal stare, making my lips threaten to break out into a smile.Sorry, Mrs. Green, the head bitch shaped me. Your intimidation slips off me like water off a duck’s back.
Unfortunately, her energy was affecting the couple, who were my patients. They had barely said a word other than a polite greeting. Violet was a pretty brunette, dressed in a high-necked dress that fell to her calves. Owen was her nervous newlywed. His white button-down, tucked into his black slacks, was as stiff as his posture. He looked like he’d just rolled out of school, not the bakery he ran for his grandmother.
“This isn’t really my area of expertise,” I offered. “I can get you the name of a good fertility specialist.”
Mrs. Green narrowed her gaze. “No. Only you. I don’t want to risk their shame getting out.”
My jaw ticked. “Infertility is not shameful, and you are only adding to their stress.”
“I am his grandmother. I raised him.”
Why did these grandparents think that giving the barest amount of affection was currency to control our lives? I was over playing family politics—both my own and other peoples’.
“Leave.”
Violet blinked back tears and moved to stand. I lasered her with my hardass Roberts’ stare, which made Mrs. Green’s look like child’s play. “Not you. Sit.” Violet’s ass bounced into the chair as Owen’s mouth fell open. I turned my gaze to the woman trying to dominate the appointment. “Maggie will serve you refreshments in the parlor.”
She scowled. I leaned back and folded my arms. We entered a stare off, but both of us knew who would win. I needed nothing from her. She, however, couldn’t say the same.
She huffed and stood. “I need to speak to your grandfather,” she snapped as she squeezed Owen’s shoulder before leaving the room. I watched the door snick closed and waited until her footsteps retreated up the stairs before turning my attention to the couple in front of me.
I opened a new patient file on my laptop, added in their full names, address, and dates of birth. I needed the notes for their referral.
“How long have you been trying to conceive?” I asked.
“Two years,” Owen answered.
“Are your periods regular?” I asked Violet.
She nodded. “Every twenty-four days.”
“How often do you sleep together?”
“Every night,” Owen answered.
Okay, so they were having plenty of sex, which would make conception highly likely, and after two years, it suggests something else was happening. I could take a quick look at his swimmers under the microscope and do a scan of her abdomen, but I didn’t house the specialist equipment needed for further investigation.
“Any other medical issues?” I asked.
Violet glanced at Owen. I narrowed my gaze and waited for them to spill the beans.
“I have allergies,” Owen said.
“And I have hysteria,” Violet whispered.
She had what? “Can you expound on that?”
“Hay fever mainly, although I sometimes get a flare-up in October from spores,” Owen went on.
“That’s great, but I meant your wife and her hysteria.”
Owen’s cheeks flushed, but I didn’t have time to deal with the fragile male ego.
Violet’s eyes fell to her white-knuckled hands twisted in her lap. “Mama Green says I’m dramatic and unstable.”
Mama Green needed a reality check, and depending on Violet’s next few answers, her ass kicked.
