Page 19 of One Night with the Doctor

Yeah… they weren’t going to go away just because Callie desperately wanted them to be. But that issue went on the backburner as soon as Ginny opened the door, her face tear-streaked.

‘Ginny?’ Callie stepped into the house, instantly popping an arm around her client’s shoulders. ‘What’s the matter?’

‘I’m… I’m…’ Ginny led them into the house, her shoulders heaving, fresh tears streaming down her face. She led them into her bedroom and picked something up off the bed. ‘I’m pregnant,’ she wailed, holding up a home test kit with a little pink plus sign in the test window.

‘Oh, hey, hey,’ Callie crooned as Ginny dissolved into more tears.

She sat her down on the bed and took a seat next to her client, putting her arm around Ginny’s shoulders again and rocked her slightly, letting her cry it out. ‘It’s going to be okay, really, it is.’

After a couple of minutes Ginny’s weeping settled to a few spasmodic, hiccoughy breaths and Callie made the introductions.

Sebastian smiled and said, ‘Why don’t I make us all a cup of tea?’

Counselling clients for a bunch of years had taught Sebastian that not much beat the restorative powers of a good cry but a cup of tea came close. Sometimes those things were better than all the drugs and all the talk in the world.

‘A cup of tea would be fabulous,’ Callie agreed, glancing at him gratefully as Ginny nodded.

Sebastian found his way to the kitchen aware they were following. ‘Here. Let me,’ Ginny said from behind as he proceeded to open up a bunch of cupboards, looking for mugs.

Ginny took over, fussing around and there was silence as they all sat and took their first sips of tea. Sebastian was fine with letting the silence build figuring that Callie, the one who knew Ginny the most, was best placed to lead the conversation.

‘So, you… don’t want a baby?’ Callie asked tentatively after another sip or two of tea.

Ginny immediately recoiled from the question, her hand sliding to her belly, her expression horrified. ‘Of course I want a baby, but…’

Sebastian nodded encouragingly as he prompted, ‘But?’

Ginny’s upper lip wobbled. ‘I’m not fit to be a mother, am I? Not the way I am.’

‘Oh, no, Ginny. No, no, no,’ Callie put her mug of tea down. ‘That’s not true.’

‘It is true,’ Ginny insisted. ‘I’ve already been taking drugs that have probably harmed it. I’ve been on the Internet all afternoon. The meds for my condition have been known to cause birth defects and low birth weights, even prematurity.’

Ginny started to cry again, her hand tightening on her abdomen. ‘And I can’t go off them, Callie, I just can’t. I can’t go back to the way I was. It’ll kill me. I won’t be any kind of mother if I can’t even take my kid for a walk in the park or down to the shops for an ice cream. And what kind of mother does that make me?’

‘The best kind, I’d say,’ Sebastian interrupted.

Ginny stopped abruptly at his deep calm voice. ‘What… what do you mean?’

‘You’re already thinking like a mum. Worrying about your baby. Putting its needs first. That’s what the best mums do.’ Ginny rallied a little at his words and he pressed gently on. ‘How far along are you, do you think?’

Ginny sniffled and shook her head like she hadn’t even taken that into consideration. ‘My periods are always so erratic. I just don’t know.’ Her fingers scratched at the rim of the mug as she grew worried again. ‘If I go off my meds they might even… take my baby away from me.’

Callie reached over and squeezed Ginny’s hand. ‘That’s not going to happen, Ginny. It’s not. That’s why you have us, right, Sebastian?’

She flicked a glance at him and Sebastian got the message loud and clear. ‘Right,’ he said with a nod, smiling reassuringly at a distressed Ginny.

‘Remember how we always talk about taking one day at a time? That’s what we’re going to do here. Nothing will change with that. Now… where’s Brad? Does he know?’

‘At work. He didn’t know I was taking the test. I didn’t think it was going to be positive.’

‘Right.’ Callie stood. ‘I’m going to make a phone call and we’ll get you in for an ultrasound right now.’ She checked her phone. ‘Reception is terrible. I’ll go outside. While I’m doing that, Sebastian’s going to talk to you about pregnancy and managing your condition.’

She looked straight at him all businesslike and Sebastian nodded imperceptibly. No wonder Callie was spoken of so highly. She clearly cared effortlessly for both the emotional and practical needs of her clients.

‘I’m so sorry,’ Ginny murmured as Callie strode out of the house. ‘You must think I’m stupid.’

Sebastian shook his head. ‘Not at all,’ he said with a gentle smile. ‘Okay,’ he drained his tea. ‘Let’s talk facts, yes?’