PS01 - Tall, Dark & Lonely (21 page)

“Really?” Ephraim seemed enthralled with the subject.

“Murphy,” the nurse called.

“Oh, that’s us,” the man said, grinning. He helped his wife up and walked her out of the room. He threw a smile at Madison.

“Good luck, Detective.”

Madison stopped a groan. The man thought they were trying to make a baby. Well, it was probably better than the truth that she

hurt herself with a sex toy.

“Simply fascinating,” Ephraim murmured.

“It’s just childbirth, Ephraim. You can probably watch it online.”

“Really?” he sounded excited.

“You didn’t know that?”

“No, I got bored with the internet when it came out years ago. I just use it now to send in my work. You’ll have to show me

later.”

She sighed, “I promise.”

“Excellent,” he said cheerfully.

From beneath her veil of hair she said, “I don’t understand why you’re so excited about it.”

He looked around the room happily. “Marc would have loved this.”

“Your brother?” He never spoke about his family and she didn’t feel comfortable bringing it up, knowing it was probably a

painful subject for him.

“Yes, when his wife Hannah was in her first confinement he was really excited. We both were. We thought he could go in

during the birth.”

She pushed her hair away from her face to watch him only to find him watching her. He brought her hand to his mouth and

kissed it.

“So, what happened?” She didn’t want him to stop talking, granted she didn’t want him to stop kissing her either.

“Well, we made plans. He had his favorite chair brought into the room so he could sit back and watch.” He chuckled. “Hannah

found out and made sure that we were both kept out. She hired five footmen to guard the door to keep him out.”

“I bet he didn’t like that.”

He laughed louder. She liked hearing him laugh. It sent pleasant shivers down her spine. “No, he yelled and threw a fit. He

reminded them that he was the Duke and he would not be kept out.”

“Did it work?”

Still chuckling. “No, his sister-in-law came out. Bertha, a big woman, threatened to box his ears and told him to sit down or

she’d make sure that he’d never get another chance to put a babe in his wife's womb again.”

“What did he do?”

“Oh, he sat down of course. Bertha was a formidable woman” He leaned in closely. “She scared me.” She smiled, forgetting

her pain and discomfort for the moment.

“So, he gave up?”

He shook his head. “Oh no, not Marc. He bid his time wisely. For the second and third babe he feigned disinterest in the births.

We went to his study to drink and play cards and told the servants not to bother us until the babe was out and ready for

holding.”

“What happened with the fourth?”

“The fourth, that one was the key. The servants were now used to us hiding out in the study. That baby was part of his big plan

and trust me when I say he worked damn hard to make sure she got pregnant again. He was anxious to see a birth.”

“When Hannah’s water burst I helped him hide behind the changing screen. I made sure all of the candles were brought

forward so no shadows were cast. I wished him well and headed for the study where we were supposed to be playing cards.”

“So, he saw the birth? He must have been so happy.”

Ephraim chuckled. “Oh no, sweetheart, he was very angry.”

“Why?”

“He passed out as soon as the head appeared. Flat on his back and no one even knew that he was there. I found him two hours

later while the house was in an uproar searching for him.”

She laughed softly. “I’m guessing that’s why they had another child.”

“Yes, he wanted another chance. This time when he went into the room to hide, Bertha was ready for him with a broom stick.

She chased him out of the house through Rotten Row.” His whole body shook with laughter. “I’ve never seen him run so fast in

my life.”

“Did she get him?”

He leaned over laughing harder. She saw his head nod. She couldn’t help laughing along with him until it hurt. “Ouch!” That

stopped his humor. He sat up, putting his arm around her.

“Are you okay?”

She nodded. “It’s just a little pain.”

“Madison Soloman,” the nurse announced.

“That’s me,” she said before turning to Ephraim. “You don’t have to come in.”

“Are you sure?”

She nodded. “I’m sure.”

“Okay, I’ll be waiting for you here.”

She stood up and bent over quickly, clasping her stomach. “Ow!” Before she could sit back down Ephraim had her scooped up

in his arms.

“Which way?” he asked the nurse.

“T-This way,” she answered nervously.

Madison buried her face against his chest. “I know, sweetheart, this is more embarrassing. I’m sorry.”

“It’s okay,” she mumbled against his chest.

*******

need for that. The woman just had her head between Madison’s legs, but he wasn’t going to say anything since Madison seemed

relieved.

Once she was dressed, Ephraim leaned against the exam table while she sat with her legs hanging over the side. “Is she okay?”

The doctor turned around. “Tell me how this happened again.”

Ephraim cursed under his breath. He knew she wasn’t going to believe that he’d been too rough taking her virginity. He hated it

more because it made him look like an asshole.

“Huh?” Madison’s cheeks turned a fiery red.

The doctor folded her hands in her lap and leaned back in her chair. “I can only help you if I know what happened. I know what

didn’t happen. I know this did not occur during natural intercourse.”

“Huh?” Was the only response Madison could manage. She was so embarrassed.

“This doesn’t leave the office, am I correct?” Ephraim asked.

“Of course.”

“I don’t want it written down either,” he said.

“We’ll see if it’s pertinent, but I need to know.”

“Huh?”

Ephraim cursed again and wrapped an arm around her shoulders. “It was an accident. She was…she…er…” he looked back at

the closed door to make sure that it was still closed. "She used a device to break her hymen. She slipped and landed on it

pushing it all the way in rather quickly.”

The doctor winced. “And why did she do that?”

Okay, this was time for the big lie. Something more believable than Ephraim was afraid bloodlust would take over if he did it.

His mind froze. Why did women do that?

Madison came back to life. “He didn’t want to hurt me. I-I freaked out in the beginning because he felt too big.” He had to stop

himself from grinning, he really did. “And I was crying and he said he didn’t want to hurt me. So, I thought it would be better if

I did it myself only I slipped in the tub and landed on it. I just wanted to break through so it wouldn’t hurt my first time.”

“I see.” Ephraim saw the humor in the woman’s eyes, but she didn’t laugh. He had to give her credit. “That makes more sense.”

“Really? So, what’s wrong?” Madison looked more relaxed since the truth came out.

She looked at Ephraim. “You may want to hold her hand for this.”

Ephraim took her hand. “What is it?”

“You bruised yourself. I’m guessing you went down at an angle because you’re only bruised on the right side.”

“So, it’s not my cervix.”

“No, I’m afraid it didn’t get that far.”

“What do you mean it didn’t go that far? It went all the way in.”

“Madison, you have an unusually thick hymen.”

“Meaning?”

“It only stretched a little bit to the right. The penetration was incomplete. This is very rare.”

She dropped her face in her hand. “Even after that it’s not complete?”

“No, I’m sorry. If you want, we could perform the procedure right now. I can complete the tear with an incision.”

“I guess I don’t have much of a choice,” Madison whimpered.

“If you’ll get undressed I can give you a little shot and in ten minutes I can take care of it.”

“And the pain will go away?” She sounded hopeful.

“Well, I believe a good amount will. The area is swollen and pulling at the hymen, what’s left of it. I think this will help yes.

You will still be sore.”

“So, it just needs to be broken?” Ephraim asked.

“Yes.”

“Will it hurt her if it’s done in another method?” He didn’t want to see her hurt and he most certainly didn’t want this to be a

medical moment.

“I would say it would have to be done very carefully at this point. With great care.” She gave Ephraim a meaningful look. “I’m

afraid it’s going to hurt her a lot more this time around.”

“Ephraim, just let her do it please. It really hurts.”

He pushed a loose strand of her hair over her ear. “I’m really sorry about this, baby.”

“I know.”

“I can’t stay in here for this.” He pressed a kiss to her forehead.

“I know that, too. Call my Grandmother to come get me please. There’s probably going to be some bleeding and I want to get

home as soon as this is done to relax. I know you have to go back to work,” she said a bit slowly as she tried to get her

message across.

His jaw clenched, but he didn’t argue. “I understand. I’ll see you later tonight.”

“Hold up. Doctor Hahn, will I still be considered a virgin?”

“Of course, this is just a matter of stretching tissue. In your case it needs more help because of the unusual thickness, but you

are still very much a virgin.”

Oddly enough that made him feel better. He would still be her first, he would see to that.

********

“She’s all set.”

“Is she okay?” he asked.

Dr. Hahn nodded. “It’s better this way, trust me. With her problem she would have ended up here no matter what.”

“Thank god.” He felt so relieved. He didn’t like the idea of her being in there alone. He wanted to know what was happening

to her and to hold her hand, but he couldn’t. He would hurt her if he smelled her blood.

“Where is she?” Mrs. Buckman asked as she hurried over to them. Candy was close behind looking equally concerned. That

was a shock.

“Dr. Hahn, this is Mrs. Buckman and Emma Buckman, Madison’s mother and grandmother.”

“Madison is fine. She has prescriptions, one for pain and one for anti-inflammatory. Since she doesn’t have insurance her best

bet is to pick them up at the pharmacy on Reynolds Street. Also,” she pulled out a pamphlet and handed it to Candy. “She asked

about a payment plan application. Have her fill this out and she’ll need a co-signer.”

He pushed off the wall he’d been leaning against for the last half hour. “What do you mean she doesn’t have insurance?”

“I’m sorry, Detective. I can’t discuss that any further. You’ll have to ask her. I can only say that some of the school unions have

harsh contracts.”

“Thank you,” he murmured. He wasn’t going anywhere until he saw her. He would have to hold his breath the entire time and

rely on the women to ask the questions.

“Yes, thank you, doctor,” Mrs. Buckman said.

Candy looked over the pamphlet. “I can’t co-sign this I have bad credit.” She handed the pamphlet to her mother rather hastily.

Ephraim doubted Candy would help her out even if she did have the money.

Mrs. Buckman sighed. “Don’t worry I’ll figure something out to help her. I don’t want to see her stuck in a payment plan, but if

it’s over five hundred then I'm afraid she’ll have to. I need to have the foundation fixed and a new roof put on by next month.”

“She should be out soon,” Ephraim said, hoping to change the topic.

Mrs. Buckman looked suspicious while Candy looked resentful. “Ephraim, what is going on here?” Mrs. Buckman demanded.

“You better not have made me a grandmother, Ephraim. I’m way too young to be a grandmother.” That was why she was upset.

It wasn’t over Madison. “I’m trying to find a good man if I’m a grandmother that won’t happen.”

“Hush now, Emma, this is about Madison not you. Now you tell me right now if my granddaughter is in some sort of trouble

and you tell me now.”

“Mrs. Buckman, she’s fine. She hurt herself. That’s why her stomach hurt so I gave her a ride here today.”

“How did she hurt herself?”

He shook his head. “I don’t know you’ll have to ask her. I think she was too embarrassed to tell me.” He hoped she came up

with a good explanation.

Mrs. Buckman pointed her finger at him. “I’m trusting you with my granddaughter, Ephraim. The only reason I haven’t asked

her to move her room is because I don’t want to treat her like a child. If I feel for one minute that you are mistreating her or

making her unhappy in any way I will-“

“I’ll move out in that case. I wouldn’t hurt her in any way,” he finished. That wasn’t what she was about to say, but it was

better and the truth.

The door leading to the patient exam rooms opened. The scent of her blood reached him. Ephraim gasped and stumbled back

against the wall. The blood was too strong, too concentrated. He closed his eyes and fought for control.

“Ephraim, are you okay?” Mrs. Buckman asked. He nodded.

“Are you sure?” He nodded. He exhaled, slowly releasing the tainted air. His body slowly relaxed.

“Ephraim, what are you doing here? I thought you went back to work.” He opened his eyes. He couldn’t not look at her. It was

as simple as that.

He cupped her cheek. “I’m fine. It didn’t hurt. Now I feel better.” He nodded and pressed a soft kiss to her lips.

It was starting to become a little uncomfortable not breathing, but he was fine. He didn’t need to breathe. It was just a habit.