Chapter 30
Beth sighed as she stepped back and took a look at the tree. Christmas was fast approaching, and she loved having Kyle around to give her house extra life this time of year. He had put up the Christmas lights two weeks earlier, and today they had gone to a Christmas tree farm and cut down their own tree. As the snow was falling outside, Beth decorated the tree listening to Christmas songs. She put the finishing touches on it, thinking about what she wanted to get Kyle. He had given her a few ideas, but she wasn’t quite sure what she would end up getting.
Kyle entered with Copper, and sat down on the couch.
“The tree looks great.”
She sat next to him. “Thanks. It’s been a lot of work, but I’m happy with it. The last few years I haven’t done any decorating for Christmas, and I missed it. I might have to dig out a few cookie recipes too.”
Kyle moaned. “Homemade Christmas cookies are the best. I hope you have a gingerbread recipe.”
“Of course. They’re my favorite. You can help me decorate them. We’ll have to do that next week sometime so they are fresh for Christmas with my parents. Dad likes them too.”
Since Beth had patched things up with her mom, they had been talking more and accepted an invitation to go to her parent’s house for Christmas Eve. Beth wanted to spend Christmas day at home with Kyle.
Kyle rubbed Copper’s ears. “I’ve decorated a cookie or two in my day. I think I can handle helping you with that project.” He looked at Beth. She instantly smiled. Kyle had a way of doing that to her. She looked at the tree, and then the pile of boxes next to it.
“I’d better get those boxes put away. I know I won’t have time in the morning or after work for it.”
“Let me help,” Kyle said, getting up off the couch.
They brought the boxes downstairs and she headed to bed. It was early, but Beth was still tired. They had been doing a lot on the weekends, and she wanted to be well rested for work. The winter months were always busier at the doctor’s office with people getting sick. They were just starting on the peak time for the flu. Beth got a flu shot every year, and more people had been coming in to get theirs.
Beth was out before Kyle came to bed. In the morning, she woke up to find Kyle’s arm over hers. He was holding her hand. She slowly moved him off her to get up and go to the gym before work. Beth pulled on a sweatshirt and her work out pants. She drove to the gym and did her usual five-mile run. The gym offered energy bars, and Beth took one to eat on the way back home.
Kyle was up making coffee when she got back. The smell of beans roasting made her stomach turn. Beth made a face, and Kyle laughed.
“What was that for?”
Beth covered her mouth. “Is that a new kind of coffee?”
“Nope, same stuff I always make. I thought you liked coffee.”
“I do, but that really stinks.”
“Maybe it will smell better once you shower.”
“Yeah, I guess.”
Beth got ready for work, and came back downstairs. Kyle had the coffee pot out, but it still was not appealing to Beth. She waved him out of the way.
“I’ll just grab a cup of orange juice for the drive to work.”
“Sure.” Kyle gave her a kiss. “I’ll see you tonight. I’m making a few stops after work, so I won’t be here right away.”
“Sounds good. Love you.” Beth kissed him back, and gave him a tight hug. She loved the feeling of his arms giving her a squeeze in return.
Beth got to the clinic and reviewed the day’s schedule. Doctor Baker chose to schedule lighter in the winter months, knowing people called in needing to be seen right away for various seasonal colds and other bugs. They had just over a dozen scheduled appointments, but by the end of the day, Beth expected to see double that.
They got through the first few appointments before taking a short break. Beth felt sluggish, brushing it off as not getting her morning coffee in. She still didn’t feel like having any, but paid for a can of pop in the staff lounge. Doctor Baker came in with a cup of tea. She was glad he wasn’t a coffee drinker. She talked with him briefly about the upcoming Christmas party.
It was time for the next appointment. Beth grabbed her clipboard and went to the waiting room to call back the next patient, a girl in her early twenties. Beth took her weight and height before bringing her back into an exam room.
“What brings you in here today, Alice?”
“I haven’t been feeling well for a few weeks.”
“What has been the issue?”
She fidgeted in her seat. “I am tired all the time. I’ve been throwing up since last week, usually just part of the day.”
“Have you been around anyone with the flu?”
“Not that I know of. Would that change my appetite?”
“It could. Usually people eat less when they are sick.”
“I’m eating the same, but there are some things that make me sick.”
Beth nodded. “Anything else you want me to know or would me to pass on to the doctor before he comes in?”
Alice looked like she was going to cry.
“Yeah. I, um, haven’t had my period. I don’t remember when I had it last, but I know it’s been a while.”
Beth felt the color go from her face. She stood up and took her clipboard. Alice looked at her strangely.
“I’ll let him know. He’ll be in shortly.”
Beth left the room and ran to the staff bathroom. She threw up, and closed her eyes. She should have realized what was happening sooner. She stepped out of the bathroom stall and splashed some cold water on her face. Beth looked at her watch to make sure she wasn’t late for the next appointment. She still had about ten minutes.
Beth wanted to make confirm her suspicions, so she headed down to the lab. She hoped Mandy was working there today. Mandy would keep a secret. Beth let out a sigh of relief she saw Mandy at the desk.
“Hi Beth. How’s it going?”
“Ah, okay. Say, can I ask you a huge favor?”
Mandy looked up from her paperwork.
“Sure.”
Beth looked around. “Can we go in back?”
Mandy nodded, and Beth followed her back to the area where they drew blood. Mandy crossed her arms in front of her chest.
Beth brought her voice low, almost a whisper. “Can I have you run a full panel blood test on me?”
Mandy’s arched a brow to Beth. “Yeah, I can do that. A Jane Doe?”
“That’d be great. Thank you for this.”
Beth rolled up her sleeve and sat down. She couldn’t watch as Mandy drew a vile of blood from her arm. She put a cotton ball in the bend of Beth’s arm and reached for the tape to keep it in place.
“I’ll get you the results before lunch.”
“I really appreciate this. Hopefully it’s nothing.”
Mandy nodded. “Well, we’ll soon find out.”
Beth headed back to her station just in time to grab the file for the next patient. She got through the next three appointments before it was time to take lunch. She sat at her desk updating the system with the day’s appointments when Mandy walked up with a blank manila folder.
“The results for that test you asked for are in there. Let me know if you need anything else.”
Beth smiled and reached for the folder. “Thanks again. I’ll owe you.”
“I’ll remember that. See you later.”
Beth sat back down. She was scared to open the folder. She finished typing in the last bit of information on the file she had open. Beth put the work aside, and opened the file from Mandy. She gazed over the numbers until she reached the one she wanted to know. The test confirmed what Beth already knew. She was pregnant.