Deina waddled toward the large man and turned her head.“Pointy ears?”
He grinned.“Yes, ma’am.”
She was going to ask where else he was pointy but realized that it would be harassment, and her horniness was her problem.
He helped her up onto the exam table.“So, you are nearly to the finish line?”
“Yup.”
“Are you ready for the baby?”
She smiled.“Read the file.”
He paused.“Oh.Surrogate.Have you met the parents?”
“No.They have had losses before and didn’t want to hope until the child was viable.I am hoping someone has told them by now.”
He checked and nodded.“The father has been told.After this scan, he is going to notify his spouse.”
“Oh, that’s going to be a bit of a shock for her.”
“The best kind.”
He helped her lie back and covered her thighs as she got the dress up and out of the way.
“How are you managing?”
“I am managing.I will be happy to see my feet again.”
He administered an ultrasound and got some images.“Do these go into the file?”
“They do.I want them to have a full timeline of their baby.”She sighed.“You are the new doctor.”
His eyes crinkled at the corners.“Yes.I used to do battlefield work, but this is far more challenging.”
He took readings from her belly and paused.“Have you been feeling tightness recently?”
She was wary.“Yes.Why?”
He smiled.“I think you have begun labour.”
“Aw, damn.I was trying to go to the finish line.”
“The baby looks to be about ten pounds, so be happy it isn’t going to keep going.So we can either book you into the maternity centre on Fifth or Aksalla General Hospital.”
“I am registered with the maternity centre.When do I have to go?”
“When the contractions are about five minutes apart.Are you all right?”
“I am good.I am going to spend the afternoon hanging out with my mother and little brother.”
He looked at her and set his jaw.“I am giving you a pager.If you hit it, there will be transport to the maternity centre within three minutes.”
She chuckled.“I don’t think it will advance that quickly.”
“You never know.This is your first?”
“Yes.I was a clone, so I needed proof of concept.There are also some familial complications.”
