"I see. Well, you've been examined before, so you know what to expect. This probably won't be any worse than that first exam. Right, Doc?"
"I'll make it as easy as I can."
Tiel gave the girl's hand a quick squeeze. "I'll be right over there if you-"
"No, stay here with me. Please." She motioned Tiel down for a private consultation.
"He's nice," she said, speaking in a low voice directly into Tiel's ear. "He acts like a doctor, and talks like a doctor, but he doesn't look like one, know what I mean?"
"Yes, I know what you mean."
"So I feel sorta weird, having him… you know? Could you, like, help me take off my underpants?"
Tiel straightened and looked at Doc. "Could you give us a moment, please?"
"Sure."
"What's happening?" Ronnie wanted to know when Doc stood up.
"The lady needs some privacy. From me. And you."
"But I'm her boyfriend."
"Which is exactly why you're the last person she wants observing."
"He's right, Ronnie," Sabra said. "Please."
The boy moved away with Doc. Tiel lifted Sabra's skirt and helped as she awkwardly raised her hips and worked her underwear down her thighs.
"There we go," Tiel said gently, taking away the damp garment, which Sabra had balled up to the size of a Ping-Pong ball.
"I'm sorry it's all icky."
"Sabra, starting right now, you're to stop apologizing.
I've never been in labor, but I'm sure I wouldn't approach it with near the dignity that you have. Are you more comfortable now?" Obviously not. She could tell by Sabra's grimace that she was in the throes of another pain. "Doc?"
He was there in an instant, pressing his hands on the mound of her stomach. "Sure wish he'd turn on his own."
"I'm hoping for a girl," Sabra told him on gasping breaths.
Doc smiled. "Really?"
"Ronnie would like a girl too."
"Daughters are grea
t, all right."
Tiel stole a glance at him. Did he have daughters? she wondered. She'd taken him for a bachelor, a loner. Maybe because he looked like the Marlboro man. You never saw the Marlboro man with a wife and family in tow.
Perhaps…? Tiel couldn't shake the feeling that she'd seen Doc somewhere before. His resemblance to the rugged models in the cigarette ads must be why he looked vaguely familiar.
When the pain passed, Doc placed his hands on the girl's raised knees. "Try and relax as much as possible.
And let me know if I'm hurting you, okay?"
"Oh, wait." Tiel reached for a box of hair coloring and opened it. Reading Doc's inquisitive expression, she explained.