“I wasn’t asking for prophecy,” I say. “I was asking for information.”
Inside, I’m thinking:We’ve known each other for four minutes and you’re already narrating my life arc.
The nurse beside him stills. Interested. I clock that immediately. Always know who’s on your side.
“I just think it’s important you’re aware,” he continues, warming to his theme, “that many women later regret not continuing a pregnancy when time is limited.”
I smile. Pleasant. Polite. With just enough teeth to be noticed.
“With all due respect,” I say, “you don’t know my circumstances, my support system, or whether I even like children before ten a.m.”
Which is generous of me, frankly.
The nurse’s lips twitch.
“I’m simply trying to ensure you don’t make a hasty decision,” he says.
I think of the list on my phone. The colour-coded calm of it. The fact I have, in fact, been thinking about this for days.
“I agree,” I reply. “That’s why I asked for options, not guidance from the Book of Revelations.”
The nurse coughs. That is absolutely a laugh.
The GP clears his throat, finally sensing the room. “Termination is available within the legal timeframe, of course.”
“Thank you,” I say, because this is what I came for. “That’s all I needed. Available. Not recommended. Not discouraged. Just… available.”
Inside, something settles. Information received. Box ticked.
He looks faintly ruffled. “I wasn’t discouraging.”
“Good,” I say brightly. “Because that would be inappropriate.”
There’s a pause while he recalibrates. I imagine a small internal reset button being pressed.
“Shall we discuss antenatal care?” he asks, tone corrected.
“Yes,” I say. “That would be lovely.”
The nurse hands me a leaflet as I stand. As she does, she murmurs, barely audible, “Handled that beautifully.”
I smile at her. “Practice.”
And it’s true. Years as a receptionist for one of the most successful urban planning firms in London has trained me well. I spend my days managing egos in expensive suits, deflecting unreasonable demands, and keeping control of rooms where everyone assumes they’re the most important person in it.
Once you’ve calmly handled a senior partner who believes the rules don’t apply to him because he owns three sports cars and a house in Tuscany, a slightly judgemental GP barely registers.
Turns out you can ask a simple question and still end up batting away someone else’s assumptions.
Useful skill.
I have a feeling I’m going to be using it a lot.
5
Fringe-gate
Geoff
