"Lover At Last" - читать интересную книгу автора (Ward, J.R.)

тАЬYou have the most gorgeous accent,тАЭ the nurse said as they rejoined the traffic in the hall, sticking once again to their slow lane. тАЬItтАЩs so Old CountryтАФmy granmahmen would approve. She hates how English has become our dominant language here. Thinks itтАЩs going to be the downfall of the species.тАЭ

The conversation about nothing in particular helped, giving Layla something to focus on other than how long she was going to be able to go until she needed to make this trip againтАжand whether things were getting worse with the miscarriageтАжand what it was going to be like when she was forced to look Qhuinn in the eye and tell him she had failedтАж.

Somehow they made it back to the exam room.

тАЬIt shouldnтАЩt be much longer. I promise.тАЭ

тАЬThank you.тАЭ

The nurse paused by the door, and as she went still, shadows crossed the depths of her eyes, as if she were reliving parts of her own past. And in the silence between them, a moment of communion was struckтАФand though it was unusual to have something in common with an earthbound female, the connection was a relief.

She had felt so alone in all this.

тАЬWe have people you can talk to,тАЭ the female said. тАЬSometimes talking afterward can really help.тАЭ

тАЬThank you.тАЭ

тАЬUse that white handset if you need help or feel dizzy, okay? IтАЩm not far.тАЭ

тАЬYes. I shall.тАЭ

As the door shut, tears watered up her vision, and yet even as she ached in her chest, the crushing sense of loss seemed disproportionate to the reality. The pregnancy was only in the very beginning stagesтАФlogically, there was not much to lose.

And yet to her, this was her young.

This was the death of her youngтАФ

There was a soft knock at the door, and then a male voice. тАЬMay I come in?тАЭ

Layla squeezed her eyes shut and swallowed hard. тАЬPlease.тАЭ

The raceтАЩs physician was tall and distinguished, with tortoiseshell glasses and a bow tie at his throat. With a stethoscope around his neck and that long white coat, he looked like the perfect healer, calm and competent.

He closed the door and smiled at her briefly. тАЬHow are you feeling?тАЭ

тАЬFine, thank you.тАЭ

He regarded her from across the room, as if assessing her medically even though he did not touch her or use instruments. тАЬMay I speak frankly?тАЭ

тАЬYes. Please.тАЭ

He nodded and pulled over a rolling stool. Sitting down, he balanced a file on his lap and stared into her eyes. тАЬI see that you havenтАЩt listed your hellrenтАЩs nameтАФnor your fatherтАЩs.тАЭ

тАЬMust I?тАЭ

The physician hesitated. тАЬHave you no next of kin, my dear?тАЭ When she shook her head, his eyes registered true sadness. тАЬIтАЩm so sorry for your losses. So there is no one here for you? No?тАЭ

When she just sat there, saying nothing, he took a deep breath. тАЬAll rightтАФтАЭ