Hi, gang. Sorry to take so long. It's not the most exciting section, but hopefully it'll be worth something to ya.
Thanks for your patience.
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(Part 13)
(Dr. Cameron’s office)
Following the directions Alex had written on paper, Dee Dee easily found Dr. Nina Cameron’s office within fifteen minutes. She was the first to arrive and besides the receptionist, she was the only person in the waiting area. As she signed in at the desk, the receptionist greeted her with a smile, and after reading Dee Dee’s last name, she told her that Dr. Cameron was expecting her and would see her shortly.
As she took a seat to fill out the necessary forms, Dee Dee looked around the room; a warm and inviting waiting room, on the top floor of the three story building. The décor consisted of two plush teal green sofas, with two matching overstuffed chairs. The walls were a soft peach color with various artwork of garden scenes; some with young children and babies with their mothers. Various magazines pertaining to pregnancy and childcare occupied the cherry coffee table, as the matching end tables supported peach vase-like lamps.
As Dee Dee filled out the forms, she came across the information for the person to contact in case of an emergency, and she immediately thought of Rick. His name always came first, even before her mother’s name. Not only because he lived closer, but for the simple fact that most of her emergency care was usually from a work related incident, and he was there with her as her partner and friend. She knew now that she’s married, her husband should be the person to contact, but she felt that this was quite a predicament for her. She didn’t want to depend on Alex for anything, and her parents and Rick were thousands of miles away. After a few minutes of thinking about it, she thought it be wise to put Alex’s name on the sheet, because if he’d ever found out she didn’t use his name, there could be hell to pay. She decided to put Celise Grey; the closet thing to a best friend, as the second person to contact in case Alex couldn’t be reached.
As soon she handed in the forms, the nurse; a tall blonde whose name tag identified her as Toni, escorted Dee Dee to a room. After taking her vitals, weighing her, and going over the information of her medical history, the nurse took blood samples then asked Dee Dee to step into the ladies room to collect a urine sample. After she returned to the room, Toni excused herself while Dee Dee changed out of her clothes, and into a cloth gown, opened in the front as instructed. Sitting on the examination table; with one hand holding the gown closed, Dee Dee nervously toyed with the hem of the gown with the other hand. Unlike her checkups with Beth; her doctor and friend, this visit would be far from a routine checkup, and it would be performed by a total stranger. She regretted the fact that she allowed herself to be bullied her into seeing a doctor of Alex’s choosing; one that was there to try and persuade her to terminate her pregnancy. As it was, she knew of no other doctors and she needed to see one to get a definite answer for her own piece of mind. As she let out another sigh of disappointment with herself, she heard a light knocking on the door. Toni stepped inside with Dr. Cameron close behind. The doctor was about 5ft. 8in. tall, with a slightly chubby build. Her complexion was near the hue of an almond, her hair was an accumulation of short dark brown waves, and she appeared to be in her early forties.
“Mrs. Turnan? I’m Dr. Nina Cameron. How are you, today?” As the doctor extended her hand in greeting, her dark eyes showed a sign of friendliness that matched her smile.
“I’m okay.” Dee Dee answered simply and quietly. Although she didn’t feel total trust with Dr. Cameron, she sensed that she may not be the merciless physician she’d conjured up in her mind. But, she remained leery of her for the moment.
The doctor took a seat at the desk and read over her new patient’s files. Turning to face Dee Dee, Dr. Cameron noticed that she didn’t seem too anxious about hearing the results. Her other patients were always eager to find out the test results right away; whatever the outcome. Nina Cameron knew something was wrong. “Mrs. Turnan? May I call you D’Andrea?”
“Yes, if you like.” She quietly replied. “But I also go by Dee Dee. It’s a nickname, and it’s what I’m used to.”
The doctor stood and walked over to her patient who had a gloomy expression.” All right, Dee Dee it is. Now, is there something wrong? Are you not feeling very well right now?”
Mrs. Turnan felt that she’d burst if she didn’t tell someone about how she actually felt, and what fears lurked within her soul. This was a professional woman; Dee Dee knew she was supposed to keep every single word spoken within her office in her office, and she needed to know that she had doctor/patient confidentiality with Nina Cameron. “Actually, I…really need to talk to you about something. Before you do the exam, would it be all right if I spoke with you in private?”
“Of course.” Dr. Cameron replied.
The nurse excused herself to leave doctor and patient alone in the room.
Dee Dee took the deepest of deep breaths, as she began to possibly risk suffering more at the hands of Alex by telling the truth. She didn’t know whether Dr. Cameron would report to him with every single detail of their conversation or not, but before she could change her mind, she forced the words out. “I know my husband told you we’d terminate if I’m pregnant. But it’s not true. I don’t care what Alex says. I’m not having an abortion.” A tear trailed down her cheek. “He’s the only one of us that doesn’t want to be a parent. He’s putting his career ahead of everything else.” More feeling of dread came over Dee Dee; as she still didn’t know if Dr. Cameron could be trusted not to tell Alex, but after a brief hesitation, and rebuilding her nerve she managed to continue. “There is no way you can talk me into it, either. I’ve waited a long time to have a baby, and if I can do it now, I will.” More tears formed as her crying grew more intense. “I don’t know how I’ll cope with Alex not wanting the baby, but I’ll just deal with it as time goes along.” The ideas of dealing with Alex on such a massive topic as keeping the baby he wants aborted; plus the fact of being in such a horrid marriage would make the situation even more dreadful. Without warning, the thoughts of it all caused her to break down with a flood of tears.
Nina Cameron was quite surprised by Mrs. Turnan’s announcement and after handing her a tissue; she placed a consoling hand on her patient’s shoulder. “So, Alex is bullying you into having an abortion. What else is going on?”
Mrs. Turnan didn’t answer.
“Come on, Dee Dee. I need you to be honest with me. If you need help, I can’t give it to you unless you let me know what’s wrong. Did your husband make it certain that I’d advise an abortion?”
Dee Dee wiped away her tears and answered the question. “Yes. He was definite that you’d do it if he asked you to. He told me to come here, find out if I’m actually pregnant; and if so, to make plans for an abortion.”
Dr. Cameron felt compassion for her patient’s misfortune. “Dee Dee. I have no control over what decision you make.” Nina took a seat after she pulled her chair in front of Dee Dee. “Listen to me. When a woman comes to me, saying she wants to end her pregnancy, I suggest that she sees a counselor to make sure that an abortion is what’s really right for her. Some women have gone to counseling and decided to keep their babies. Some, even if they became pregnant as a result of rape. The only time I’d even suggest terminating would be because the fetus isn’t alive, or if the pregnancy is a life threatening situation, for the mother.”
Dee Dee felt a little more at ease with the doctor and proceeded to find out more about her relationship with Alex. “Dr. Cameron? How well do you know Alex? He’s never mentioned you before yesterday, and I just wondered if you’re very close friends?”
The doctor sighed heavily and began to answer the questions. “I don’t know him very well at all. We meet through a mutual friend a few years ago, at a party. I know from his reputation that he’s a great scientist of tropical diseases, and that he seems to be quite dedicated to his work.”
“Well, I thought you must be pretty close, since he was sure you’d convince me to have an abortion.”
“Alex knows that I’m a surgeon and he decided that I’m a convenience for him. I haven’t heard from him in ages before yesterday, when he called about you. I’m sure I’m the only doctor he thought of in a pinch.”
Dee Dee was most curious as to why the doctor was willing to see her. “I have to admit I’m quite confused. Why did you agree to see me, if you have no intention of taking Alex’s side?”
“Well, like I said, I believe in counseling. And I also believe in prenatal care as soon as possible. Either way, I knew that we needed to be sure if you’re pregnant or have may have a medical problem. I never know how I might be able to help a woman, unless I get to know her. After getting to know you, I know that you definitely want to have a baby and that you need some support in your decision.”
Dee Dee sighed with a huge sense of relief. She actually felt comfortable with Dr. Cameron, now.
“Do you feel better; now that you’ve told me how you really feel?” Dr. Cameron asked.
“Yes. I actually do, because I was really afraid that you’d go against me. I don’t really know anyone here; including any ob/gyn, so I haven’t built a solid trust with anyone.”
The doctor smiled brightly. “Well, I’m here to be trusted. You can talk to me about anything; whether it be medical topics or not.”
“Thanks.” Dee Dee smiled. “I feel much better knowing that.”
“I’m glad. Now, let’s talk about how you’ve been feeling lately.” Dr. Cameron sat at the small desk, and glanced over a sheet of paper from the folder. “I see you put a check mark by a few of the early signs of pregnancy. Missed period, nausea, dizziness, mild, fatigue; and you took a home test. And, it was positive, right?”
“Yes. But I have a question about the test.” With Alex’s announcement of his vasectomy, she had to ask. “Is it possible to get a false positive?”
“Although not very common; as matter of fact, it is possible. It may sound a bit unbelievable, but things that cause a false positive include marijuana, aspirin, or birth control pills in the system, soap or protein in urine or a hormonal imbalance. I personally haven’t run across a patient with a false positive, but a colleague of mine has. Why do you ask?”
Without going into detail, Dee Dee only replied that she was curious; that she’d heard it was possible. Still unsure of if she was pregnant or not, she had mixed emotions. If she wasn’t pregnant she’d be disappointed, but at the same time, relieved that such a fiendish being didn’t father her child.
The manila folder in Doctor Cameron’s hand, held all the answers Dee Dee needed and wanted. She could feel her heartbeat exceed its standard pace as Dr. Cameron came closer with the folder in her hand.
“Okay, Dee Dee. Let’s get the answers to what you came here for.”
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