Page 46 of Coerced Kiss
“Who was that?” Giorgio asks, regarding me with suspicion.
“Anya’s neighbor, the old lady who caught us and thought we were making out in the street.” I pocket my phone. “She wants to talk.”
He narrows his eyes. “About what?”
I open the hatch and get out. “I’ll find out tomorrow.”
CHAPTER
THIRTEEN
Anya
To say I’m apprehensive when I walk into the ob-gyn’s office on Monday is an understatement. She wouldn’t have insisted to see me in person if something wasn’t wrong. On top of that, I had to call Ms. Price on Saturday and not only ask if I could come in to work late but also for an advance on my salary so that I could pay for the doctor’s visit. She didn’t like either, and that only adds to my anxiety.
The doctor stands from behind her desk when the secretary shows me into her office. She extends a hand and gives me a friendly smile. “Ms. Brennan, thank you for coming.”
I clear my throat and shake her hand. “Thanks for making time to see me.”
She points at the visitor’s chair as she rounds her desk and takes her seat again. “Please, sit.”
Settling on the edge of the chair, I clutch my handbag in my lap and wait for her to get settled. The calendar on the corner of the desk draws my attention. I add together the days of themonths and multiply the total by the value of each day to calm me while she shifts papers around and pushes files aside.
After she pulls up something on her computer, she fits a pair of glasses and peers intently at the screen. “Are you still experiencing the dizzy spells?”
“Yes,” I say, swallowing. “Is it serious?”
“Not if we manage the condition with a treatment.”
My throat closes up. “What’s wrong?”
“Your red blood cell count is on the low side.” She looks at me, her warm smile intact. “Are you normally anemic?”
I frown. “No.”
“It often happens with pregnancy. Either your diet is insufficient in iron, or your body isn’t absorbing enough minerals.” She glances at her screen again. “You said you suffered from nausea and vomiting. How’s that going? Are you still sick?”
“Yes.”
“Just in the morning?”
“All times of the day.”
“Mm. That can also be a cause of not getting the nutrients you and your baby need to be healthy. Are you taking the vitamins I recommended?”
“I took the folic acid until my twelfth week.” I couldn’t afford the rest. “I thought eating a healthy diet would be enough.”
Pulling a prescription pad closer, she scribbles something on the page. “You need to take an iron supplement. I’m going to prolong the folic acid vitamins until the end of your term as well.” She tears off the page and hands it to me. “These are good brands. Take one of each every morning. We should do another blood test in two weeks to see if your red blood cell level has improved.” Standing, she adds, “Call me if the dizziness persists.”
The blood test I did on Friday cost a whopping five hundred dollars. With the consultation fee, the bill amounted to little less than seven hundred.
I stare at the sheet in my hands. I can barely afford to buy food. “What will happen if I don’t take the supplements?”
A baffled look comes over her features. “If you don’t get enough iron, the consequences can be serious for both you and the baby. When you have anemia, your body doesn’t have enough healthy red blood cells to carry oxygen to your tissues and your baby. If untreated in severe cases like yours, it could increase the risk of complications such as preterm delivery.”
“Thank you,” I say through numb lips, getting to my feet. “I appreciate your time.”
“You’re welcome,” she says, going to the door and opening it for me.