“When was your last menstrual cycle?”
“It ended three days ago.”
“Have you ever been pregnant?”
“No.”
“Are you on any form of birth control?”
“No.”
“Are you currently sexually active?”
“No.”
Her pen quickly moved across her notes as she recorded each of Scout’s answers.
“I know they don’t have a scale here, but I’m a bit concerned about your weight, Evelyn. You’re quite thin. Do you diet?”
“Not by choice.”
Dr. Sheffield stilled. Her gaze slowly met Scout’s and understanding dawned. “When’s the last time you’ve eaten, sweetheart?”
“We just had lunch.”
“And before that?”
She swallowed. “The day before, when Mr. Patras offered me lunch.”
“Do you usually only eat once a day?”
Tears of humiliation blurred her vision. Refusing to be ashamed of who she was, Scout looked the beautiful doctor in the eye and admitted, “When I’m lucky.”
She closed her folder. “I see. Does Lucian know this?”
“I don’t believe so. Are you going to tell him?”
She sighed. “No, I don’t believe I am. Lucian’s been my friend for many years. I think you’ll find he can be difficult and demanding most of the time, but he’s a good person. I promise to keep this between us if you promise to see me in another two weeks and have a little more meat on your bones by then. Fine dining’s a vice of Lucian’s so it shouldn’t be a difficult task.”
“Okay.”
“Now, I was going to ask about your last gynecological exam, but I’m assuming you never had one of those either.”
Scout shook her head.
“Would you mind if I examined you quickly? I can’t perform a pap, but I can at least see if everything looks healthy.”
“Do I need to undress?”
“Only partially.”
“Okay,” Scout said and Dr. Sheffield stood to lock the door. Scout unbuttoned her dress and the doctor directed her to lift her arms. Dr. Sheffield examined her breasts and Scout’s cheeks flushed with heat. She explained how she should perform her own breast exams monthly and then instructed her to button back up.
Once her gown was back in place, true mortification set in. Lying back, she lifted her skirt and Dr. Sheffield looked at parts of her no one had ever seen. She wanted to crawl into a hole and die. The doctor touched her there and Scout thought she’d pass out from embarrassment. It lasted too long, but at the same time didn’t take more than a few minutes.
Dr. Sheffield removed her gloves and tossed them into the wastebasket as Scout adjusted her clothes back in place. Looking at her, worry marred the doctor’s otherwise perfect face. Her lips pressed together as she seemed to consider her next words.
“Evelyn, are you being coerced into this?”
“Excuse me?”
“Are you here of your own free will?” she asked, as if the words pained her to say.
Scout recalled her mentioning that she and Lucian had been friends for a long time and understood her discomfort at asking such a thing.
“I’m here because I agreed to be. Mr. Patras didn’t blackmail me or anything like that if that’s what you’re worried about. Why, is something wrong?”
“I hope you don’t mind my saying this, but you do understand that he expects to be intimately involved with you, to my understanding.”
Scout nodded. “That’s why he wants me to have a physical. Am I sick?”
“No, sweetheart, you’re not sick. You’re a virgin.”
Well, duh. “I know that.”
Dr. Sheffield’s little red mouth hung open for a moment, and Scout imagined this was likely the weirdest checkup she had ever performed.
“Does Lucian?”
“Well, no, but I don’t see why that’s any of his business.” And it wasn’t.
Dr. Sheffield rested her head in her hand and massaged her forehead. “Oh, Lucian,” she mumbled to herself. Taking a deep breath she sat up, professional mask back in place and said, “Okay, all we have left is the blood work. How are you with needles?”
“Fine.”
After her blood was drawn and capped off in neat, tiny vials, and the doctor had given her some reading material on birth control, which Scout would never read, they returned to the common area of the suite. Lucian was pacing by his desk and pivoted the moment they stepped out of the room.
“What the hell took so long?” he demanded.
“I do a thorough job. Don’t fret, Lucian, I’ll bill you for every minute of it.”
The doctor’s charming demeanor was back intact and her finesse with Lucian soon had him calming down. Scout admired the way she could maneuver him with such unfaltering poise. The doctor collected her belongings.
“So far, everything looks good. I’ll have the blood work back by the morning. You can call my office for the results. I’ll be sure to leave instructions with my front desk.”
“Thank you, Viv. I appreciate your promptness.”
Dr. Sheffield paused for a moment. She turned to Lucian and cryptically said, “You know, Lucian, a little patience never hurt anybody. Sometimes things are worth not rushing into.”