The Nurse's Newborn Gift. Wendy S. Marcus

about me being strapped to a bed in an isolation room for the rest of my pregnancy?”

      His smile grew. He didn’t even try to hide it. “I find you amusing, Krissy. Always have.”

      She looked away. “Not always.”

      A woman carrying a small child walked in and got in line behind Spencer. Krissy leaned to the side to see her. “May I help you?” She needed a little break from the soon-to-be godfather of her baby.

      Spencer stepped away, far enough to respect the woman’s privacy while Krissy checked her in. “You’re all set.” Krissy gave the woman a friendly smile as she handed back her insurance card. “A nurse will be with you in a few minutes.”

      No sooner had the woman left to find a seat in the waiting room, Alfonso returned. Perfect timing. Krissy held out a little plastic tray and he set his urine specimen on it. Then she placed their new patient paperwork on a clipboard, hooked on a pen, and handed it to Spencer. “Do the best you can to help him fill this out. When you’re done, I’ll take you back.”

      While Spencer and Alfonso took two chairs in the waiting room, Krissy accessed the computer system to see if Kira had already set up a new patient file for Alfonso. Of course her ever efficient sister had. Then she walked Alfonso’s urine specimen back to their small lab, slid on a pair of latex gloves, and completed a dipstick urinalysis. After waiting the required length of time, she loaded the normal results into the computer on the counter.

      “Hey,” Kira said from behind her. “Why aren’t you out at the desk?”

      Krissy turned around to face her. “Why didn’t you warn me Spencer was coming in today?”

      Kira walked over to grab the phlebotomy tray. “Because I didn’t know he’d be here. He called the answering service over the weekend. They’ve been having problems getting immediate appointments with the general practitioner they’d been using. He asked if we could complete a physical exam on a new player today. He said someone on the athletic training staff would be bringing him over.” She handed the phlebotomy tray to Krissy. “Since you’re here, I need blood drawn in room three. Orders are here.” Kira handed Krissy her laptop. “I’ll go get started on the physical exam for Spencer’s soccer player.”

      “No need.” Krissy stood. “I’ll do it.”

      “You sure you feel up to it?” Kira studied her. “When I say feel up to it, I mean mentally and emotionally. He had you pretty upset the other day.”

      “If Spencer is going to be a part of my baby’s life, I need to learn how to deal with him.” She walked toward the door. “Best I do it in a medical setting where there’s resuscitative equipment available.”

      After drawing five tubes of blood from a middle-aged female and packaging them to be picked up for processing, Krissy freshened the paper liner on the exam table in room nine then returned to the waiting room. “Alfonso Gianelli,” she called out.

      Alfonso smiled and stood. Spencer stood, too. When the men approached, Krissy said to Alfonso, “Are you okay with him going in with you?”

      Alfonso looked at Spencer who said something in Italian.

      Alfonso turned back to Krissy and said, “Yes.”

      Krissy looked up at Spencer. “How do I know what he’s saying ‘yes’ to?”

      “I’m here to translate,” Spencer said. “Word for word.” He walked past her. “Where do you want us?”

      Krissy walked them back to the scale and took Alfonso’s height and weight. Then, with his back to the eye chart—because Krissy didn’t trust him not to cheat—Spencer helped translate Alfonso’s letters for the eye exam. After that Krissy walked them to the exam room where she completed a hearing exam and took Alfonso’s temperature, pulse, respirations, and blood pressure. Spencer watched every move she made.

      After going through the physical exam health screening questions—with Spencer’s help—and entering all of the information into her laptop, Krissy took an exam gown from the drawer and handed it to Alfonso. “Please tell him to take everything off. The gown opens in the back.”

      No sooner had she escaped to the hallway, Spencer caught up with her. “Hey,” he said, gently taking her by the arm. “Is there someplace we can talk in private?”

      “I’m working.” Krissy tried to pull away.

      He released her. “I know. So am I. It’ll only take a few minutes.”

      Fine. Krissy switched the plastic markers to the right of the door to red, indicating the patient was ready to be seen by the doctor. Then she led Spencer into the staff lunchroom. Once inside she closed the door, picked up the receiver on the wall-mounted phone, and called the front desk. “I’m taking a break in the lunchroom if anyone needs me.”

      After hanging up, she crossed her arms over her large belly and turned to look at Spencer. “You have two minutes.” She glanced at the clock on the microwave. “Go.”

      He reached into the front pocket of his slacks and took out a folded up sheet of paper. “I know you’re supposed to be resting. Which I hope you’re doing?”

      Since he looked more concerned than confrontational, she told him, “I am. And I’m taking it easy at work, too. Believe me, Kira makes sure of it.”

      “Good. Figuring you might be too tired to do it yourself, I did some research,” he held up the paper. “From what I’ve read, a woman in her third trimester of pregnancy, which you’re in, should take Lamaze classes to learn how to breathe and cope with contractions, even if she’s thinking of getting an epidural.”

      Wow. Of all the words that could have come out of Spencer Penn’s mouth at that moment, Krissy never would have expected to hear ‘Lamaze classes’ and ‘epidural’ tossed into a conversation.

      When she didn’t respond, because, wow, she was still trying to process what’d just happened, Spencer kept right on talking. “This is a list of local hospitals and their birthing classes, everything from baby care to breastfeeding.”

      Krissy fought back a smile. Did Spencer Penn really just say the word breastfeeding? This entire encounter could only be described as bizarre.

      Either he didn’t pick up on her amusement or he didn’t care. “Your doctor’s office probably gives Lamaze classes, most do. You should find out about that when you go for your first appointment there. Is Kira going to be your coach?”

      “My coach?”

      “Come on, Krissy. You’re killing me.”

      He rubbed his hand over his head and Krissy wondered if his hair was as soft as it looked. Jeez. Where the heck had that come from? She shook her head to clear her wayward thoughts and get back on topic.

      “Haven’t you thought about who’s going to be in the delivery room with you?”

      No, she hadn’t. In fact, she purposely worked very hard to occupy her mind so she didn’t have to think about it, which was getting tougher and tougher as her delivery date approached. Of course Kira would do it if she asked, but her sister already had so many responsibilities. Too many responsibilities. Yet the thought of going through it alone...she looked away from him through the window to the parking lot outside so he couldn’t see her fear. “Boy, you’re taking this godfather stuff pretty seriously. I’d kind of figured your responsibilities wouldn’t start until after the baby is born. So you can relax.” And back off. Unless...she swung back around. “Unless you don’t trust me to do what’s best for my baby.” That had to be it. “Unless you don’t think I’m capable of managing—”

      “Whoa.” He held up both hands. “Calm down. I’m not here to upset you, I’m trying to help.”

      “Well I don’t need your help. And I don’t need Kira’s help. I’m going to do this on my own. I can do it on my own. I will do it on my