Broken Things to Mend (Power of the Matchmaker) by Karey White

Author:Karey White [White, Karey]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: General Fiction
Publisher: Orange Door Press
Published: 2015-12-31T23:00:00+00:00

A woman in a pink pantsuit unlocked the door of the Sisters Family Health Clinic and disappeared inside. Celia had tried the door ten minutes earlier and had been waiting on a bench across the street since then.

A bell rang as she opened the door and the pantsuited woman turned to her in surprise. “Did you have an appointment?”

“No. Not yet.”

“We’re not actually open until nine.”

Celia’s palms were sweating and she could hear the blood pounding against her ears. “I was hoping I could talk to someone before it got busy.” She lowered her voice as if she didn’t want the empty waiting room to hear of her shame. “I need to see a doctor who delivers babies.”

The woman’s eyes traveled to Celia’s stomach, but since it wasn’t yet giving away her secret, she looked back up at Celia’s face.

The bell above the door rang again and a man entered. Everything about him was square—gray hair was combed over his box-shaped head and he had a stocky, cube-shaped body. “Good morning, Lacy.”

“Hi, Doctor Vernon. You’re here bright and early.”

“Didn’t get a chance to finish up yesterday’s paperwork.” He headed down a hallway.

When he was gone, Lacy turned back to Celia. “Have you seen a doctor about this yet?”

Celia shook her head. She had known this was going to be hard, but the reality of standing here in this doctor’s office, knowing she was going to have a baby, knowing she would have to answer questions she didn’t want to answer and have her body examined in ways she didn’t want to think about became too much to handle. She hugged her arms tighter around herself.

“What insurance do you have?”

The question pushed Celia over the edge and a tear slid down her cheek. “I don’t have insurance.”

“There are a couple of places in Bend that might be able to help you. There’s a Planned Parenthood...” Celia shook her head and took a step back. “Or if you don’t want that, there’s a Volunteers Clinic that charges on a scale depending on your income. I can write down their information for you.”

“I don’t have a car.”

Lacy sighed. “I’m not sure we can—”

“Is there a problem here?” Dr. Vernon was about the same height as Celia, but his girth filled the doorway to her right.

Lacy answered before Celia had a chance. “She thinks she’s pregnant and wants to see a doctor, but she doesn’t have insurance and says she doesn’t have a way to get to Bend.”

The way Lacy spoke made Celia sound like a difficult child and a first-class loser.

Dr. Vernon’s face was kind, his voice gentle. “Come on back here and let’s have a talk.” He turned to Lacy. “Have Karen start with my first appointment if I’m still busy.”

“Of course, Doctor.”

Celia followed Dr. Vernon down the narrow hall and into his dated teal and brass office. He motioned to a chair across the desk from his. “Please, have a seat.” He picked up a box of tissues from the credenza and handed them to Celia before he sat down.

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