Chapter 7

"Good morning, Mrs. Giles!"

Rebecca smiled at the enthusiastic greeting. "Good morning, Dani. Does Hunter have you answering phones now? Do I need to talk to her about working you too hard?"

Dani snickered. "Nah, it's all good. I'm just helping out in between sessions. Jonelle is still on maternity leave, so it's all hands on deck." Dani leaned in and dropped their voice. "I still have hands."

Rebecca snorted a laugh. "I'm glad you're here, actually. I wanted to tell you how proud I am of you, Dani. Physical therapist? That's impressive."

"Assistant," Dani corrected with a blush. "I have a long way to go if I want my DPT, but I've been really lucky getting to work with some great PTs, ya know? And, like, I couldn't have done it without… family."

Rebecca reached over the counter and patted Dani's hand. "That's what family is for. Keep up the good work! You think it's a long way to go, but you'll get there before you know it. Now, is the tyrant in?"

"Tyrant? I'll have you know I'm a very nice, very generous boss." Hunter winked at Dani and kissed Rebecca on the cheek. "Good morning, Rebecca. To what do I owe this pleasure?"

"Can we?" Rebecca gestured away from the front desk.

"Of course. Let's go to my office. Dani, could you let Mo or Patty know I'm tied up for the foreseeable?"

"You got it, Boss!"

Rebecca pushed Hunter as soon as they were in the hall and headed to Hunter's office. "Really? Tied up? Was that a Mistress joke?"

Hunter shrugged with a sly grin. "If the whip fits." She opened the door to her office and ushered Rebecca in. "Have a seat."

Rebecca settled in, crossing her legs as she looked around. Oddly enough, this was the first time she'd ever been in Hunter's office at the clinic. Sure, she had helped bring the clinic to fruition, but most of Rebecca's work can be done remotely. And since she had absolutely no idea how to outfit a medical clinic, she stayed behind the scenes and let the professionals handle the rest.

This office was definitely Hunter — with a bit of Ellie's touch. It was a corner office boasting a large window with a view of palm trees and mountains in the distance. A built-in made of balsa wood lined the wall behind Hunter, holding medical books that Rebecca couldn't fathom reading. The room itself was painted in a muted gray, offering patients a warm yet neutral environment.

"Approve?"

Rebecca brought her eyes to Hunter and lifted a shoulder. "Depends. Did you decorate, or did Ellie?"

Hunter quirked an eyebrow. "Ellie."

"Then it's perfect."

Hunter laughed heartily. "Have you always been this ornery?"

"Nah, it's getting worse as I age," Rebecca quipped.

"Lucky Cass," Hunter muttered playfully. She leaned her elbows on her desk and studied Rebecca when her joke was met with a frown. "I was just kidding, Becca."

"No, I know." Rebecca blew out a breath. "I am getting a little too ornery, Hunter. Cassidy told me she mentioned a meeting I had a couple of weeks ago to you."

Hunter nodded. "Yeah, I believe she called him an… asswipe."

Rebecca shook her head, a smile playing on her lips. "She has a new name for him every time she mentions him. The last one I heard was ‘douchecanoe.'"

Hunter sucked in her lips, trying really hard to suppress more laughter. She picked up a pen and wrote the word down. "I'm going to use that one." She cleared her throat. "Anyway, back to you."

"The… encounter bothered me more than I want to admit. I'm moody and restless. I snap at Cassidy when she doesn't deserve it. I'm having nightmares again. Not every night, but often enough that I lie awake until I can't keep my eyes open any longer, which I'm sure is giving me headaches. I've tried taking Excedrin PM, but…" Rebecca shook her head. "I know I need to talk to Aunt Wills, but if I'm being honest, I just want to forget all this."

Hunter got up and walked around the desk to stand before Rebecca. She took a penlight out of her lab coat. "How bad are the headaches?"

"Not too bad," Rebecca answered. "They just linger." She squinted when Hunter shined a light in her eye. "Hunter, I'm not here for a physical. If you could just tell me what is a good, homeopathic way to get more sleep, I'm sure these headaches will go away, too."

Hunter replaced the penlight and hung onto the ends of her stethoscope. "You know, a physical isn't a bad idea. When we get to be a certain… age, it's always good to get that fifty-thousand miles service."

Rebecca narrowed her eyes. "Did you just call me old and compare me to a car?"

Hunter chuckled. "I did not call you old. But I do think you need a well-woman's check-up. Pap smear, mammogram, colonoscopy. I'd also like to do a quick MRI."

Rebecca blinked. "None of that sounds homeopathic."

Hunter sat in the seat next to Rebecca. "Most of that is routine, Rebecca. However, considering your past head trauma and the symptoms you've described, I would like to look inside that brilliant brain."

"Do you think something is wrong?" Rebecca's pulse spiked. This certainly wasn't what she expected when she came here to see Hunter. Maybe a high-powered melatonin or something.

Hunter took Rebecca's hand. "Listen, I'm a doctor who has fun toys thanks to our friendly neighborhood philanthropists. I can get all this done today. Well, except for the colonoscopy. The prep for that takes, um, a few days."

Rebecca raised a brow. "You didn't answer my question, Hunter."

Hunter swallowed hard. That was Mistress. And not a happy Mistress. "I don't mean to alarm you, Becca. What you're describing sounds like PCS or Post Concussion Syndrome. The trauma you endured from… the MRI will show me any abnormalities or scars that might be causing the headaches. Though it could most likely be from stress since it all began around the time you had the bad encounter."

PCS. Wouldn't that be fucking great? Why couldn't Samantha just go away?

"You're not going to do the pap smear, are you?"

Hunter's brows raised to her hairline. "I was your surgeon, Rebecca. It wouldn't be anything I haven't seen before."

Rebecca tilted her head and stared Hunter down. "My legs weren't spread wide in stirrups with your head between them, and you sticking things in my vagina, Hunter. Not only would that be embarrassing for me, but I think it would make our next barbecue extremely uncomfortable."

Hunter's eyes widened comically, and she reached over to pick up her phone. She dialed an extension and waited. "Dr. Okoro, are you available to do a woman's wellness exam today? It's a… friend of mine. I'll take whatever appointments you have for the next hour or so… Great, thank you!"

She hung up, wiping a bead of sweat that had formed on her forehead. "All set. Dr. Okoro is a wonderful doctor. She's very attentive and engaging, so if you have any other issues you'd like to discuss with anyone but me, I encourage you to do so. We'll also knock out your mammogram and MRI today."

"You really have all that stuff here at the clinic?"

Hunter grinned. "Like I said, friendly neighborhood philanthropists. When Blaise Steele and the Sumptors back your clinic, you get all the good stuff." She patted Rebecca on the knee. "I'm going to do you a huge favor and ask Patty to help you prepare for this instead of Mo."

"Hunter, I would have run out to my car for a flog if you'd suggested Mo." Rebecca hesitated. "I should call Cassidy and let her know I'm here."

"Want me to give her a shout?"

Rebecca shook her head. "I'll do it. If you call, she'll automatically think something is wrong. And I'd rather not tell her about the MRI unless… unless it's necessary."

"That's your decision, Rebecca. I'll go find Patty and give you some privacy."

Rebecca waited until Hunter closed the door behind her before taking out her phone. "Just a wellness exam," she muttered to herself. It was useless to worry Cassidy over something that was ‘most likely' stress-related, she thought as she dialed Cassidy's number.

"Hey, babe! Great timing. I just sat down to eat my sandwich. What's up?"

A smile formed on Rebecca's face just hearing Cassidy's voice. It was so sweet and loving. Concerned and interested. There wasn't much Cassidy could hide from Rebecca as her face was too expressive, and her tone would change with her moods.

"Not much, baby. I was going to leave you a message, but I'm glad I caught you. I wanted to tell you I'm at Hunter's clinic."

"Are you okay?" Cass managed around the huge bite of sandwich she had just taken.

"Don't talk with your mouth full, baby. You're surrounded by kids, so don't teach them bad habits."

"Becca."

"I'm fine, worry wart. If you must know, Hunter said I'm due for my fifty thousand miles service." Rebecca heard a watery cough from Cassidy and laughed. "You just spit out your drink, didn't you?"

"Tell me she did not compare you to a car whose mileage just flipped to fifty k."

"She sure did. And now she wants to use all her fancy equipment on me. Probably so she can justify all her costly ‘needs' to Blaise and Eve."

Cass snickered. "Probably. Hey, let me just clean up here, and I'll be right there."

Rebecca tightened her grip on her phone in a panic. "No, baby, you don't have to do that."

"I know it's pretty routine, babe, but it's still gonna be stressful for you doing all those tests. I want to be there for you."

Rebecca smiled. She really is the sweetest. "You just want to watch them smoosh my boobs."

"Guilty," Cass laughed.

"First, you can do your own smooshing when I get home. Second, I don't think they'll even let you in there. And third, this whole exam is humiliating enough, Cassidy. If you don't mind, I'd just like to get it over and done with, pick up some pizza, and veg out on the couch."

Cass was quiet momentarily as she thought about everything Rebecca had said. She'd never had any of these exams yet, but she knew what went on in them. She could respect Rebecca's need for privacy. "Yeah, babe, okay. But how about I pick up the pizza? It's the least I can do since you're… wait. Hunter isn't doing all this to you, is she? Oh fuck, is she going to see your… you know… down there?!"

A bark of laughter from Rebecca rang out in the office. "Down there? Everything we do, everything you say to me, and all you can come up with is ‘down there'?"

"Well, I'm not going to say… p-u-s-s-y when I'm talking about Hunt! Or while I'm where I am. There are kids around!"

"Did you just spell pussy, Cassidy?"

"Shhh! Becca!"

Rebecca was having fun teasing Cassidy. She knew her wife was blushing and fidgeting on the other end. The good news was, they would use this later tonight when they were alone.

"You're crazy!" Rebecca snorted. "You literally just said fuck, but pussy is too dirty?"

"Baaaby!"

"Okay, okay. No, Hunter isn't doing the exams, Cassidy. A Dr. Okoro is."

"She?"

"Yes, she's a she. At least that's the pronoun Hunter used."

Cass let out a breath of relief. "Good. Me having to punch Hunter for looking at you really would have made the next barbecue awkward."

Again, Rebecca let out a belly laugh. "I told her that! Well, not the punching part, but the uncomfortable barbecue." She wiped the tears of laughter from her eyes, careful not to smudge her mascara. "I should go, baby. Patty will be here any minute to put me in one of those paper robes."

"Ooo, can you bring that home with you? I can play doctor and do my own exam on you."

"You're a perv, you know that, right?"

"Yep. But I'm your perv." Cass sighed. "Alright, I'll let you go. Will you call me when you're all smooshed out?"

"Yes, baby," Rebecca smiled. "I'll call you when I'm all smooshed out. I love you."

"I love you, too, Becca." Cass made kissy noises before hanging up, causing more laughter.

Rebecca had just put her phone away when the office door opened, and Patty stuck her head in. "Hey, Rebecca. Are you ready?"

"As I'll ever be."

"We're goingto start with the MRI," Patty explained as she guided Rebecca down the corridor. "That way, Hunter can look at the results while you get… serviced."

Rebecca threw her hands in the air. "You too?! Is this a body shop or a medical clinic?"

"Technically, it's both," Patty teased. "You do have a body, and we're about to look under your hood."

"Patty!" Rebecca tsked playfully. "I expected that from Mo, but not you."

Patty shrugged with a grin. "Mo has been rubbing off on me."

"I'd rather not hear about you and Mo rubbing things. I have to get naked here. That's embarrassing enough."

Patty laughed, escorting Rebecca into a warm, inviting room. The lights were dim, the ambiance calming. A soft, melodic tune was playing over the speakers. This room was definitely decorated by Ellie.

"Okay, young lady. You're going to take everything off." Patty walked to a cabinet and brought out a white, fluffy robe and a pair of socks. "Put these on and have a seat in the massage chair. I'll come to get you when they're ready."

Rebecca took the robe, noting how warm it was. Heated cabinets? She made a note to hug Ellie the next time she saw her, convinced this was all Ellie's doing. Who else made such an effort to make others feel comfortable?

"No paper robe?"

"Do you really think Ellie would go for that?" Patty asked with a raised brow.

"Ha! I knew it! That woman is a godsend."

"Girl, you're not lyin'!" Patty walked to the door, ready to give Rebecca her privacy.

"Patty? What can you tell me about this Dr. Okoro?"

Patty's smile was genuine. "One of the best you'll ever see. She studied in Nigeria and came here to advance those studies. Her specialties are in women's health and LGBTQIA cases."

Rebecca held up a hand. "Your smile was all I needed, but hearing the rest, I'm sold. Thank you, Patty."

"You bet. Get changed and relax. This will all be over before you know it, child."