Yeah.
Like Ace hadn’t already figured that out.
Chapter Twelve
After a quick lunch of a peanut butter and jelly sandwich eaten standing at her desk, May walked into Exam Room One.
Amka waited patiently on the table.
Down the hallway, a kid protested loudly while Ivy picked grit out of a scraped knee, followed by dramatic complaints about how football in the road had seemed like a great idea at the time. Nancy answered phones and managed to gossip while taking care of business at the same time.
May shut the door for privacy. “Hi, Amka. How’s it going?”
Amka smiled faintly. “Still upright.”
May returned the smile and stepped closer. “Tell me about your back.”
“It’s better.” Amka shifted on the exam table, adjusting carefully. “I’m still having spasms now and then, and there’s some aching, but honestly? It’s feeling a lot better.”
May nodded, watching her closely. “Okay. Then what’s going on?”
Amka’s hands twisted together. “I think I have cancer.”
May didn’t react outwardly. Patients jumped to worst-case scenarios all the time, but hearing it from Amka landed differently. She kept calm. “All right. Tell me why you think that.”
“I’ve been exhausted. Really exhausted.” Amka swallowed. “And my back still hurts sometimes. I just…don’t feel right.”
May sat and rolled her stool closer. “Anything else?”
A pause. “Maybe. I’ve lost about ten pounds, but we’ve been slammed at the tavern. I usually drop weight during tourist season and put it back on in the winter.” A faint grin flickered. “Like most Alaskans.”
May allowed a small smile. “Any fevers? Night sweats?”
“No.”
“Changes in appetite?”
“Not really.”
May mentally checked boxes as she continued. “Any new pain? Anything different from what you’ve already had?”
Amka hesitated. “My lymph nodes under my arms are killing me.” Her voice rose. “My aunt had cancer. They found it because of swollen lymph nodes.”
Outside the room, the clinic hummed along. Phones rang. Footsteps crossed the hallway. A drawer shut. Inside, May focused. “Okay. Let’s slow this down and take a proper look.” She moved through the vitals with practiced efficiency. Blood pressure excellent. Temperature normal. Pulse steady. Respirations even. Oxygen saturation perfect.
“So far, everything looks really good,” May said. “We’ll run blood work to be thorough, but I want to examine you. Go ahead and take off your shirt.”
Amka waved toward the gown. “I don’t need that. We’ve gone swimming together. You’ve seen me naked.”
“I know.” May kept her tone gentle. “I just want you comfortable.”
Amka tugged her T-shirt over her head. “I’m fine.”
“All right.” May stepped closer. “Show me where it hurts.”
Amka pressed along the outer sides of both breasts, then into her armpits. “Here. It’s sore, but not like muscle soreness. It’s different.”
May palpated carefully, methodical and precise. No palpable lymphadenopathy. No masses. No abnormal swelling. No heat. No skin changes. “Well,” she said slowly, “your lymph nodes feel completely normal. No enlargement at all.”
