Pulling a chair to Dr. Yang, Matthew propped her feet in the chair to cause increased blood flow to her vital organs anyway.
“Is she okay?” one of the waiters asked, stooping beside them at the commotion of Dr. Yang losing consciousness. “Do I need to call 911?”
Natalie started to say yes, but Dr. Yang’s eyelids fluttered and she grabbed hold of Natalie’s arm.
“No ambulance,” she muttered, so low Natalie strained to know what she’d said.
Further concern filled Natalie. “You’re sure? You passed out. At the minimal, you need labs.”
The woman shook her head. “Not sick.” Her hand lowered to her belly and she weakly smiled. “Just pregnant.”
Natalie’s eyes widened and she stared at the woman in surprise. “Oh.”
“Congratulations,” Matthew said from where he knelt next to them, but Natalie couldn’t tell if he meant the word or not.
“I’ll call for an ambulance if you think I need to.” The waiter looked to Natalie for instruction.
She eyed the pale woman, whose color was slowly returning. “You sure you’re okay?”
Kim scooted onto her elbows and paused. “I will be when this nine-month deal is up. I’ve heard of morning sickness, but this light-headedness is ridiculous.”
“Is your obstetrician aware you’re having light-headedness?” Matthew looked ready to catch the woman if she so much as wobbled.
Kim nodded and gave a heartfelt sigh. “He thinks I need to suck it up. Don’t I know that other women work right up until birth, plop that baby out, then go right back to working?”
Horrified, Natalie stared at the woman, who had now maneuvered herself into a sitting position with her legs down off the chair.
“Let me guess,” Matthew ventured, understanding dawning. “Your obstetrician is your husband?”
Kim smiled. “Bingo. He’s a wonderful man, a wonderful obstetrician, but is struggling with empathy for his wife.”
“Sounds like you need a new obstetrician,” Natalie recommended, struggling with empathy for the man.
Kim shook her head. “Lee is going to deliver our baby at home. It’s what we both want. I can’t imagine anyone other than him delivering our child.”
Kim braced her palms against the floor and pushed herself, slowly standing. She stood still a moment, testing the waters, then smiled. “I shouldn’t have made him sound such a tyrant. Pregnancy hormones and these waves of dizziness have made me cranky.”
Both Matthew and the waiter moved alongside Kim as she sat back at the table.
“I’m fine. I’ve kept you two from the conference long enough.” She glanced at the waiter’s name tag and smiled at him. “Jack’s going to get me a glass of orange juice, and when I’ve finished it I’ll catch the next presentation.”
Natalie felt guilty leaving Dr. Yang, and advised the waiter to call for help if needed, but they did go slip into the presentation. They were twenty minutes late, and a few heads turned when they slid into their seats. Natalie didn’t care. There were worse things in life than being associated with a man you had admired from afar for years, and had fallen into immediate lust with upon meeting.
Natalie and Matthew stayed through all the morning sessions and logged in their continuing education hours. Lunch was sponsored by a pharmaceutical company that manufactured immunizations.
“I’d like to attend the presentation given by Dr. Fielding on in-utero cleft palate repair this afternoon, but perhaps you’d like us to get lunch on our own?” Matthew offered as they reviewed the conference itinerary.
Natalie’s gaze lifted and fires danced in the honeyed depths of her eyes. “You mean, on our own as in Room Service?”
He laughed. “I actually meant us meeting in the lobby and renting bikes to ride up the boardwalk to a place I know that has some killer seafood.”
Her face was so expressive it was easy to watch her surprise that he didn’t immediately take up her offer. Part of him wanted to do just as she’d suggested, but he also wanted to take her for some sunshine, rest and relaxation. He had the feeling she worked too hard.
Had the feeling?
Dr. Luiz had gone on and on about her. Natalie deserved the promotion she’d soon be getting. In that regard, Matthew was glad the hospital hadn’t met his terms. Natalie would probably have been devastated if had he gotten the job.
“Obviously, you learned nothing from last night.” She gave an exaggerated sigh. “But, since I have to eat, I’ll meet you in the lobby in twenty minutes,” she promised. “But if I have to get on a bicycle for the first time in a zillion years, the food better be as good as you say, and I’m adding this to the list of things you need to make up to me later.”