Doctor Steamy

by Kristen Kelly

Fast and fluid I pumped that pretty little mouth of hers like I was running a marathon. But I didn’t want it to end. Not this. Not our life together. Since the moment we’d met—and yes I’d grown to accept that love at first sight did indeed exist—this woman had been destroying me little by little.

  I flinched but not quick enough. It spurted all over Mattie’s face and likely down her throat. To my surprise she kept sucking and manipulating on my balls. So much so that I had to stop her when I grew too sensitive. I gasped, pulling out. “That’s some suction you got, baby.”

  She laughed. “I know huh. I thought sex was pretty good before but now...I want it morning, noon, and night.”

  “Good thing you moved in with me or you’d be jumping Nonna’s cat.”

  “Speaking of Nonna. When is the sweet darling coming to live with us?”

  “A few months after the wedding, which by the way, we need to talk about that.”

  “I told you, Steven. We can get married anytime, but I’d rather wait until the baby comes. Is that a problem?”

  “Nope.”

  I want a big wedding.

  “It doesn’t really matter to me when we marry, since my family won’t be there. I thought we could elope.”

  Worst idea ever.

  Rolling herself out of bed, her back was to me when she started to dress. As she bent over to pull on her pants, I couldn’t resist tickling. It made her squeal.

  “Hey! Stop that.”

  “Just testing the merchandise,” I said.

  “Wasn’t that what you just did?”

  “I don’t know. Did I? Maybe we need to practice more.” I rustled in the bed sheets for the boxers I’d been wearing while Mattie slipped on a loose-fitting smock in a blue-flowered print. “There isn’t much planning with a simple ceremony,” she continued pulling her long hair out of her shirt. “But if it would make you happy, Steven, we can set a date right now.”

  “Sounds good to me.” Wearing just my boxers, I ran into the kitchen, took the calendar off the door, and brought it into the bedroom. I handed it to her.

  “You sure are eager. That’s good. I guess.” She flipped through the pages. “Hmm. We break ground here and the baby is due here.” She took a deep breath. “I guess it doesn’t really matter since it’ll be months before the building is up and ready.” She bit her lip. “Got a pen?”

  I grabbed a sharpie off a cup on my bedside table. “Here...”

  “How does April 29th sound?”

  “Is that enough time?”

  “Steven, is something else on your mind besides when we get married?”

  “I want to give you the wedding of your dreams, Mattie and to be honest, yeah, I want all your family there too. I think it would be a mistake not to invite them. A big one.”

  “Steven, you don’t know them like I know them.”

  “But I accept them and you should too by now. They’re your family.”

  “I do accept them.”

  “Do you?”

  She let out a breath. “You do not know what a fiasco this could turn out to be. You don’t know them. When my cousin Shelley got married, my Uncle Henry rode in on a zebra. A freaking zebra, Steven.”

  “So they’re a little eccentric. We’ll make a rule. No zebras allowed.”

  “And when my cousin Stanley got married, you know what my grandmother did? My sweet kind grandmother who would never go out in public unless she had silk pantyhose, full makeup and perfectly arranged hair.”

  “What did she do? Get a little tipsy? Honey, it was a party. Even older people are allowed to...?”

  “Steven, she did a strip tease to the Macarena song.”

  I let out a chuckle. “You made that up.”

  “No. We had no idea at first. People were dancing and having a good time. Booze was flowing. We didn’t even notice what she was doing until she’d stripped to her bra and underwear. When we tried to stop her, she threw up all over my uncle.”

  Now that had me rolling in laughter. “That really happened?” I finally asked.

  “It did. They’re nuts, Steven. Absolutely crazy.”

  “Know what I think?”

  Hands on her back, she lowered herself into a chair by the window. “Please tell me.”

  “I saw how protective they were at the hospital and you must love them too because you invited me to Sunday dinner. By the way, we still haven’t done that yet.”

  “I know. I was...waiting.”

  “Well don’t wait too long.”

  “Next Sunday. Promise. Oh wait. We have plans with Kyle and his new friend. Oh well.”

  “Doesn’t matter. Back to the wedding with your family. You can’t tell me people didn’t have a good time.”

  Her mouth curved into a smile. “Those weddings were fun. It does make me sad to cut them out of the whole thing. To be honest, my mother is already planning and I haven’t had the heart to tell her. I want to elope but...” She took a deep breath, stared down at the calendar. “How long do you think we have to book the hall?”

  “A year. At least.”

  “Okay. How about April 26th 2021?

  “Perfect.” I pulled her into my arms. She moaned into my mouth as I kissed her.

  “And Steven,” she said into my chest hairs. “Oh my, you smell nice.”

  I let out a chuckle. “You were saying...”

  “Oh. Right. Please tell me if my family’s meddling gets to be too much for you. I mean, ever. I’ve had boyfriends leave me once they met my family.”

  “Fools,” I muttered. “I’m not going anywhere, sweetheart.” I lifted her chin. Peering down into her shamrock green eyes I saw the life we’d have together filled with fresh faces, well-meaning relatives, zebras maybe, and lots and lots of love. What more could any man, or child, ask for in their life? “Let’s just take it one day at a time, shall we?”

  “Alright.”

  Chapter 21

  Mattie

  The pains started in the morning but it was nothing unusual, nothing to worry about, and nothing out of the ordinary for a first pregnancy. At least that was what I told myself.

  I took a deep breath. Then another, and another. First babies were known to take a very long time so I went about my day straightening up the kitchen, tidying up the bedroom, and packing my bag for the hospital.

  But it was out of the ordinary.

  I felt it. The pains were too sharp. Too intense to be early labor, plus I wasn’t due for another month. I wanted to deny what I was feeling because I’d been having Braxton Hicks pains all week long; they mimicked actual labor. The pains weren’t exactly unbearable so maybe I was in early labor. How would I know since I’d never had a baby? Still, something felt...off.

  After I’d thrown in a load of laundry, I left to meet Kyle for lunch at our favorite Bistro. There was no way I was canceling. Besides, I was so looking forward to one of their famous juicy burgers. Not frozen. Fresh and right off the grill. My nausea had only subsided in the last few weeks. I’d been living on saltines, tomato juice, and rice, the only things I could keep down until recently. In addition to that, this was the only time I could fit a lunch date into my schedule. My clinic didn’t open until four o’clock on Mondays and the closer I got to delivery, the less opportunities I’d have to spend with my best friend. Add in a newborn, breastfeeding, doctor appointments, and the new Mission I was building, and who knows how often we’d get to see each other.

  The restaurant was packed and Kyle waved me over. I found him seated in a booth in the back. Two salads and two glasses of water were on the table. He rose to his feet as I approached, letting out a whistle. “My but you’re huge. You look about ready to pop, Mama.”

  After seeing the expression of disdain on my face he quickly added, “But you do look radiant by the way,” he said pushing a chair in my direction. I murmured my thanks. “I ordered your salad to save time because I know how pressed for time you are these days.”

  “Very thoughtful of you,” I said, t
rying to mask my pain. “I meant to be here fifteen minutes ago but you know how it is with us pregnant women. Always in the bathroom.” I rolled my eyes. “I swear he’s bouncing on my bladder. So fun.”

  “I’ll take your word for it.”

  The waitress handed me a menu. “The gentleman said you’d order the main meal yourself, and I need to know what kind of salad dressing you want.”

  “Ranch please and I’ll have one of your awesome Smash-burgers. Plain. No fixings.”

  I could taste it already. Simmering on my tongue with greasy sweetness. Swiss cheese oozing out the sides of a homemade multi-grain bun.

  “Very good.”

  I handed her back the menu.

  Kyle grinned from across the table.

  “What?”

  “Oh nothing.”

  “It is something. You look pretty happy with yourself. Something you want to share?”

  Kyle let out a chuckle.

  “I’ve never seen so...radiant is it? Are you pregnant too, Kyle?” I giggled at my own joke.

  “Why does everyone keep telling me this? Can’t a guy be happy without attributing it to some other person?”

  “Ah ha! So there is someone in your life.”

  “I didn’t say that.”

  “Okay, then stop smiling. I dare you.”

  He attempted a frown, but then burst out laughing.

  “See. You can’t do it. It’s like you have sunbeams shooting out of your ears. I’ve never seen you like this. It’s...nice.”

  “Yeah, I guess it’s hard to hide. So glad I took him to Sunday dinner. I almost canceled.”

  “Why?”

  “Why do you think?”

  “Oh.”

  “But I sure was surprised your mother took to David as easily as she did. She kept feeding him and feeding him and he kept eating and eating because he wanted to make a good impression. He had such a belly ache when we got home. Poor guy. I told him that’s how Goldwaters express their love, by feeding us, that he’s been accepted now.”

  “It was pretty funny,” I admitted.

  “It was. She’s even naming one of the puppies after him.”

  “I saw that. She was pretty smitten with David.”

  “And not a bit surprised,” Kyle added. “Although I think the rest of the family was flabbergasted. At least your uncles were. They hardly said a word.”

  “They’ll come around. If Mama likes him, they’ll all like him.”

  “That’s my guess too. By the way, how did Doctor Russo take the big news?”

  “News?”

  “About the baby.”

  “Oh.”

  “You did tell him about the paternity test, didn’t you?”

  The waitress arrived with our salad dressings and burgers.

  “He doesn’t want to know, Kyle.” I took the top off my bun, doused the burger in ketchup, and replaced the lid. Then I cut the burger in half.

  “Really? Why not?”

  “I don’t know. Something about proving to me he’s fine with it either way. He says being a father is more nurture than nature and he doesn’t want to be biased either way. These days he’s all about proving to me he’s a changed man.”

  “Took him long enough,” Kyle said.

  “Well, I didn’t exactly make it easy on him.”

  “Still, you don’t leave your pregnant girlfriend in the middle of her pregnancy.”

  “All water under the bridge now.”

  “I guess.”

  “Don’t you like Steven?”

  “Disappointed mostly. Let’s just see how he treats you in the long term.”

  I guess I can understand that. Ooh!” A sharp pain hit me in the groin. Harsher than before. This time I had a hard time concealing my discomfort.

  “Mattie...?”

  Another pain hit me hard. A gush of fluid rushed down my leg.

  Kyle threw down his napkin in a panic. He scanned the room, shouting, “Is there a doctor in the house?”

  I tried to rise and within seconds Kyle was at my side. Taking my elbow, he hoisted me upward. “Mattie... Are you?”

  “I didn’t even get to take a bite of my hamburger,” I whined.

  Chapter 22

  Steven

  I was standing at the admittance desk, reading a list of triage names to see who needed my attention. Double glass doors slid open at my back, a rush of cold air following. I swiveled around to see who was arriving by ambulance when my heart stopped dead in my chest.

  “OhMyGod, Mattie!”

  I dropped the roster. “Shit! That’s Doctor Goldwater,” I told the paramedics. “Mattie? Mattie, darling, wake up and talk to me.”

  Her blonde hair trailed along the pillow, body covered in a pale green sheet. Motionless.

  “What have we got?”

  “She’s in labor, Doctor Russo. BP 110/60 Breathing erratic. Pulse hundred-and-twenty. She’s bleeding too.”

  “Damn! Get her into OR Stat! I’ll call Doctor Harvey from Pediatrics and whoever is on call for OBGYN. Get her in there. Now!”

  With my heart twisted into knots, I could do nothing but stare after them. Helpless. For all my medical training, all my hours in the ER, all the conferences I’d attended, I’d almost always focused on one subject. The heart. I knew next to nothing about obstetrics. Feeling helpless and utterly alone, I watched the paramedics roll Mattie away, down the hall, through the heavy double doors that lead into the West wing, closing behind them with a thunk. It felt like my heart had just been ripped from my chest, the lump in my throat choking me. God, please help her. Help our child too but if you have to take one...What am I thinking? I know I don’t deserve your mercy but please...God, please save them both.

  A few minutes later, Kyle showed up at my side. I held up a finger, indicating I’d be right with him. I was on the phone with the hospitalist. Even though I knew he’d take care of all necessary arrangements, I called each doctor individually myself to make certain there was nothing they needed. Needed me actually, but each and everyone said there was nothing I could do. Hanging up the phone, I turned to look at Kyle.

  This guy looks a wreck. I guess he’s scared for his kid.

  “She okay? Where is she? Where is she, Doctor Russo? Can I see her? I need to see her.”

  “She’s on her way to surgery, Kyle. Most likely they’ll have to do an emergency C-section. What happened? Tell me everything and don’t leave anything out.”

  “No idea. We were having lunch one minute and the next she was screaming in pain. Bleeding all over the floor of the restaurant too. Oh man, I never saw so much blood. Is that normal?” He grabbed my sleeve. “Tell me that’s normal for having babies. I have to know.” The wild look in his eyes echoed my feelings exactly.

  “No, Kyle. No, that’s not normal.”

  “Shit. I knew it.”

  All sorts of things went through my head. Appendix rupture. GI bleed. Any number of things could be happening right now. Even though I was a doctor, I felt uncharacteristically panicked. Knowing the person I loved more than anyone in the world could possibly die made me painfully aware of how fragile life could be. And the child. Perhaps he or she wasn’t mine, but I already loved the little guy. Or gal. What the hell was I going to do if I lost them both? I took a deep breath, calming my nerves. I needed to keep my anxiety intact. For Kyle’s sake.

  “Kyle, why don’t you go down to the cafeteria and get yourself a cup of coffee,” I said. “She’ll be okay. You’ll see. I’ll go check on what’s going on.”

  He clutched onto my arm. “But, but... She needs me, Steven. I should be there. I should...”

  I took him by the shoulders and turned him around. “You’ve been here before right? You know where the cafeteria is?”

  “What? Um, no.” His feet didn’t want to budge, but I pushed him in the direction of the cafeteria anyhow.

  The familiar fragrance of lilac shampoo invaded my space. “I’ll take him,” said Nurse Eileen appearing at my side
like an angel. She linked her arm with Kyle’s and didn’t let go. “Come with me.”

  Kyle looked down at her hand.

  “Please,” she said sweetly. “I’ll show you where the cafeteria is.”

  “Go with the nurse, Kyle.”

  “Oh. Okay,” he said, looking a little lost but allowing her to lead him away. The soles of their shoes made clapping sounds across the hard linoleum floors.

  “I’ll meet you there after I find out what’s what,” I called after them.

  WHEN I SAW KYLE SEATED in the cafeteria an hour later, I hesitated before entering the room. After talking with Harvey and the Neonatal Specialist, we were hopeful the baby would pull through, but he was so small. So very small. I wondered how Kyle would take the news.

  I sat down across from him frowning at the torn up papers all over the table. Apparently he’d been busy.

  “Sorry it took so long,” I said.

  Kyle pushed the papers into a pile. “Haven’t done this sort of thing since I was a little kid. Used to help me relax.”

  “Did it work?”

  “Nope.”

  He continued tapping his fingers rhythmically on the table. “How is she?”

  “Weak from losing too much blood, but she’ll be fine. Pulled through like the trooper she is.”

  “And the baby...” he said looking hopeful.

  “Not so good. He was born severely anemic, almost went into cardiac arrest but he pulled through at the last minute, the little champ. He’s okay so far, but we won’t know for a few days yet if there is any permanent damage. .”

  “A boy...”

  “Yeah, a son.”

  Kyle leaned back in his chair. “I’m so glad Mattie is okay. I don’t know what I would do if I lost my best friend.”

  I patted his hand. “She’ll be fine. I promise you.”

  “Thank you, Doctor Russo.” He hung his head in his hands.

  “There’s one more thing I have to tell you.”

  Kyle looked up.

  “The baby needs a blood transfusion and we’re having a bit of a crisis here with the blood bank I’m afraid. The hematologist is looking into it right now, but if the blood came from a parent that would be even better.”