Total pages in book: 50
Estimated words: 46461 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 232(@200wpm)___ 186(@250wpm)___ 155(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 46461 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 232(@200wpm)___ 186(@250wpm)___ 155(@300wpm)
“Everything looks good,” the doctor said as he offered a hand to help Emmanuell sit up. “You’re at thirty-two weeks, and the plan is still the same. I’d like to schedule you for a C-Section so there are no surprises and we can have a team ready to assist with each baby.” The doctor was a buddy of Doc’s. Guy’s name was Jeremiah Redding. Seemed like a decent guy, and he treated Emmanuell with respect and coddled the shit out of her.
“I’m scared,” Emmanuell whispered, looking up at the doctor, then back to me. She had a death grip on my hand.
“We’ll take good care of you, young lady. I will do everything in my power to make sure you and all three of these little ones are safe and sound.” He smiled gently at her, patting her hand. “Tell Doc if you need anything. He can get ahold of me any time of the day or night.”
She gave a half-hearted laugh. “How is this all even possible? I had no idea motorcycle clubs were so well connected.”
Dr. Redding chuckled. “I’m sure not all of them are, but Salvation’s Bane is home to two doctors in our community. With that comes connections. Both men are very respected by their peers, which helps smooth the way.” He looked at me. “I can see you’ve been taking care of your girl. She’s in much better shape than she was at our first appointment.”
I nodded my acknowledgment. Emmanuell clutched my hand in both of hers now. This was our fourth visit to Dr. Redding in as many weeks. She was still nervous around the man, though she said it was just doctors in general. I got the feeling she was ashamed at how rundown she was when she’d first seen both Doc and Dr. Redding.
“Thank you for taking on my case, Dr. Redding.” Emmanuell was always respectful and grateful whenever we were here. “And thanks for not turning me into social services.” That got my attention. Dr. Redding just looked shocked.
“My dear, Doc explained your situation. This is in no way your fault. Getting medical care outside of an emergency room without insurance or an ID is difficult nowadays. You had no idea what you were facing at the time. Now you do. And you’re doing what I and Mr. Leigh here tell you to. You’re eating well. You’re resting. You’re letting him take care of you. Yes?”
“I just feel so bad I wasn’t doing what I should have to keep the babies healthy.” She sniffed.
The doc addressed me. “Has she been depressed or is it only when she comes to see me?”
I thought about it. Really tried to remember our interactions over the last three weeks. “She hasn’t seemed to be. There’s been a lot of baby shit going on, so she’s been busy, but when we’re alone, she seems content. She smiles and laughs.” It was the highlight of my day when she laughed. “Doesn’t complain about me smotherin’ her with my overprotective instincts.” I’d barely let her out of our room unless I was with her. Which was hampering my ability to look into Goldstein, but I honestly hadn’t thought about it much other than to email Giovanni Romano and have him pick up where I left off. “Ain’t no expert, but she hasn’t seemed depressed to me. Just the opposite.” I looked at her. “I got the feeling you were happy to be doing something proactive to make sure the babies were healthy. Was I wrong?”
“No! I’m extremely happy I’m doing the right thing. Now. I just feel guilty that I wasn’t before.”
“Honey, you’re doing great. I promise.” Dr. Redding smiled kindly at her. “You’re doing what you have to for these children to make a fine entrance into the world. You’re taking the vitamins I prescribed. You’re eating regularly from the foods I recommended. You keep your appointments the way you’re supposed to. And you’ve surrounded yourself with good people who are willing to help you and be your support system. That last is the very most important.”
He sat on a stool in front of Emmanuell, lacing his fingers together as he rested his forearms on his knees. “I’ve known Doc for more than twenty years. We were in the Air Force together. Did Para Rescue together. And we went to med school together. I got out after doing my service in the military, but Doc stayed on for a while before leaving to do Emergency Medicine as a civilian. He’s one of the best people I know. If he’s part of an organization like Salvation’s Bane, it’s because he believes in it.” He grinned. “You may not realize it, but when you stumbled into their compound, you found the best protectors for you and your children you could have possibly run into. Yes, you were in rough shape for a woman carrying triplets when you found them, but you were living in a less than ideal situation.” He shrugged. “Now? You’re there. With that club. Those men and women. I talk to Doc a few times a week, and he always tells me how well you’re adjusting. It had to be scary to put your trust in people you didn’t know. But you did. You’re doing everything in your power to help yourself and your children.” Dr. Redding gave me a knowing glance and a slight grin. “Just keep letting your man help you. I promise you, social services were never even a thought for me. You don’t need them. All you need are friends and people who care about you.”