Taken aback by Greg’s reaction, Dr Edward shrugged and raised his hands in surrender.
“Hey, it’s okay; you want me to examine her, I will. Just show me the way to a room we can use.”
My shoulders slumped in disappointment at Edward’s surrender; why couldn’t he stand by his opinion like a man? Why did he, like so many others, always give in to Greg especially when he started to lose his temper?
Appeased now that Edward had bowed to his will, Greg calmed down and answered in a much more controlled voice: “This way”, while motioning for Edward and me to follow him to the guest room.
It was only when he got to the bedroom’s doorway that he realized I had not followed him, but remained frozen at the beginning of the corridor. The false bravado I had managed to keep from the time Greg had picked me up had suddenly failed me, and I began to shake my head pleadingly as our eyes met and mine started tearing up once again.
“Greg, please no,” I begged, my plea coming out as a quiet breath.
He sighed and walked back to where I stood.
“Stephanie, please don’t make this more difficult for both of us than it has to be,” he said so quietly only I could hear him, and as I continued to shake my head, now more openly, he took me by my elbow and shook me slightly.
“Please stop it, Steph. Please don’t make me force you because the last thing I want is to get rough with you,” he pleaded, and this time when he ever so subtly pulled me towards the room, I offered no resistance.
Edward looked at me pityingly as Greg led me back into the room.
“Please come and lie down, Stephanie,” he requested softly, his tone conveying the message that he was just as uncomfortable with the situation as I was.
Just like I had done with John the previous night, I closed my eyes as I lay back; then, I had done so to try and block out the pain, but now I did so to block out the sight of Edward positioning himself at the foot of the bed, and of Greg standing by the doorway, a grim expression on his face, one foot tapping nervously, his arms folded across his chest.
As Edward started the examination, I arched my back and inhaled sharply, but forced myself not to make a sound although like Edward had predicted, the area was still sore and painful.
When John had worked on me, I had stifled my cries out of the fear of waking C.G, but now I refused to make a sound because I did not want Greg to know just how completely he had broken me with this final degradation.
Minutes later it was over. Edward’s prying hands were gone and I heard him straightening up, and then felt him covering me up with a sheet and only then did I open my eyes.
“There’s no sign of any external interference, and so basically I can only conclude that the abortion was not induced and was indeed spontaneous,” Edward addressed his findings to Greg.
There was a slightly angry edge to his tone, like he was mad at Greg for having made both us go through this examination all for nothing. I understood exactly how he was feeling as I was feeling the same way, and at Edward’s words, also turned an accusing glare at Greg.
“Satisfied now?” I asked sarcastically.
He did not answer me and instead turned to Edward.
“Come, let me get you your money,” he said quietly and they turned to leave the room.
Edward stopped at the door to turn back to me: “I’m sorry I caused you any pain, Stephanie.” Then he followed Greg out, leaving me to get dressed.
celebsteph@yahoo.com