How Jerry and Betty Became the Least Entertaining Couple in the Neighborhood (Sixth Section)
Dr. Lillian Woolgrave clicked images on her screen while waiting for Betty to finish dressing. She came out from behind the privacy screen tucking in her shirt. “Well?”
Woolgrave sat back but kept her hand on the mouse. “Well, you’re right, you are pregnant.”
“You don’t sound sure.”
Woolgrave turned the monitor so both women could see the screen. It displayed a tiny fetus magnified. “I’m sure you’re pregnant.” She clicked her mouse and a green dot appeared on the image. A slide of her hand and the green dot drew a circle around one section of the fetus.
Before Woolgrave could explain, Betty titled the monitor for a better view. “What am I looking at?”
“The fact that I’m showing you your fetus and highlighted it doesn’t concern you?”
Betty stared her PCP in the face. “The fact that I called your office, said I think I’m pregnant, and it doesn’t feel right doesn’t tell you I’m concerned? I’m past concerned, Lillian. I want to know what’s going on with me, with my marriage.” She turned back to the image. “What are you showing me?”
“You mentioned that sex hurt the last few times?”
“Would you believe me if I told you I think he grew an inch and developed a mallet head since he got back?”
“Have you talked with Dr. Koss about this? Anybody else at NASA? Shouldn’t they be the first to know?”
“Going to tell me what I’m looking at?”
Woolgrave’s mouse circled areas within the existing green circle without leaving marks. “The fetus’ spinal column isn’t developing normally. My first thought was Spina Bifida, but there’s something not right there. Mind if I schedule you to see a specialist?”
“What’s not right?”
Woolgrave hesitated. Betty turned to face her. Woolgrave stared back, pursed her lips, blinked a few times, twitched her lips as if tasting for the correct words, and inhaled deeply.
“Lillian, what’s not right?”
Woolgrave nodded towards the image and increased the images magnification. “See these?”
“It’s growing spikes? Out of its spine?”
Woolgrave watched Betty’s reactions carefully. “How come you haven’t asked me about its gender yet? Most people ask about health and gender before I show them anything. From you, nothing. How come?”
Betty stood. A hand went to her stomach. She pulled it back suddenly as if it delivered her an electric shock. “Kill it. Get it out of me. Now. Can you do that now? Here?”
Woolgrave’s intercom blinked. “Yes, Bob?”
“Dr. Koss on two, Dr. Woolgrave.”
“Take a message. I’ll call back.”
Her deskphone, mobile, and her desktop rang simultaneously and before she flicked the intercom switch to privacy.
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