Total pages in book: 90
Estimated words: 85950 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 430(@200wpm)___ 344(@250wpm)___ 287(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 85950 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 430(@200wpm)___ 344(@250wpm)___ 287(@300wpm)
Every man in my life, my dad, stepdad, the twins, and, of course, Cash, told me what I did was incredibly dangerous when I relayed that story to them that evening at dinner. I was urged, not so gently, to consider my safety over everyone else before jumping in to help people.
“You won’t be able to help anyone if you’re dead,” Donnie had muttered, but I didn’t let it bother me. He was always the moodier one of the two.
I didn’t let their irritation change me. If there’s a need, I will always be the first one to step forward and offer a helping hand. I don’t do it for recognition. I help because it’s what’s right. It does bring me a sense of satisfaction, but that always comes secondary.
The problem with helping everyone else is that I rarely have time to focus on the things in my own life that need repair. I woke up three days ago with the decision in my head that I need to put myself and my own well-being first for once. As I showered, I told myself I was in my “no” era. If helping others interfered with my own goals and plans, then it was going to get a no from me. I was no longer going to inconvenience myself to make others happy. I was no longer going to make myself smaller so others could shine brighter.
It's why I made this doctor appointment a couple months ahead of my normal annual schedule.
“Adaleigh?”
I tilt my head as I look at the nurse standing in the doorway. I know she means me. I’m the only person in the room. Any other time in my life, I’d be perfectly fine waiting fifteen minutes in an empty waiting room. I’d consider that they were busy in the back or some other kind of emergency has happened, but I’ve sat here stewing while the nurse and receptionist gossiped about a vacation one of them was planning.
“It’s Adalynn,” I correct, enunciating my own name. “Does it say Adaleigh on the file?”
The nurse narrows her eyes at me before looking down at the chart. I don’t miss her calming intake of breath.
I should probably ask her if she needs a minute to familiarize herself with my history as much as she seems familiar about a ski trip to Breckenridge in the winter, but that would be mean. I may be in my “no” era, but I’ll never be hateful out of spite.
“No, ma’am,” she says, her fake smile in place. “I apologize about the wait. Can I get you to step on the scale?”
“Weight is up a couple of pounds,” she says in a tone that somehow manages to sound both professional and chastising at the same time.
I’d like to see her go through a hard time while working at a bakery and see if the leftover treats didn’t end up in her mouth at the end of the day.
I hold my head higher, not saying a thing as she escorts me to a room.
“Shouldn’t I be meeting with Dr. Glade in her office?”
“Dr. Glade sees her patients in the exam rooms. She’ll be with you shortly.”
I don’t see Dr. Glade shortly. It’s forty-five minutes before the hateful nurse sticks her head back in to let me know the doctor had to shoot over to the hospital half an hour ago for an emergency C-section.
“She should only be another fifteen minutes or so. You can wait, or would you like to reschedule?”
I can tell by the inflection of her voice, she wants me to leave and come back another time. She probably didn’t pay much attention to my personal information past letting me know I’ve gained six pounds since I was here eight months ago.
“I’ll wait,” I tell her.
Monday is my only full day off and I was lucky enough to grab this appointment only because someone else canceled last minute.
Fifteen minutes actually turns out to be an hour, but I’m not angry at Dr. Glade when she gently knocks on the door before stepping inside.
“I hope everything went well in surgery,” I say genuinely.
She gives me a smile. “Mother and baby are both healthy.”
A wave of relief for someone I don’t even know washes over me.
“That’s great news.”
“What brings you to the office today, Adalynn? You’re two months early. Do you have concerns?”
“I tried to get pregnant last month and it didn’t happen,” I blurt, feeling a little uncomfortable.
I use my right hand to cover my left because there’s no ring on that finger, but Dr. Glade doesn’t miss a beat.
“Was this your first month attempting to get pregnant?”
I nod.
“Were you on birth control prior to this?” She glances down at my record.
“I haven’t taken it in months. It bloated me, and I was exactly… I wasn’t having… I mean, I wasn’t sexually active until recently.”