Saving Abby by Steena Holmes Read Free Book Online Page A

stepped into the room, buttoning up a light sweater as she did so.
    “I brought some coffees as a thank-you.” Claire held the tray out.
    “Oh, perfect!”
    “I brought one in for Dr. Shuman as well. I wasn’t sure if he’d be in today or not.” Claire reached for her own cup and held it between her hands, letting the warmth of the hot coffee permeate her cold fingers.
    “Of course I’m here.” Dr. Shuman’s voice boomed in the small room. He stepped through the open door and came over to give her a hug. For an older man, he was quite handsome. In his mid-seventies, Will Shuman ran daily, worked out at the local gym, ran healthy-eating seminars in town, and didn’t look a day over fifty-five, even with a full head of silver hair.
    “Abigail was just telling me you need some blood work done. And I hear you haven’t been taking your iron pills like she told you to.” He shook his finger at her. “You always were stubborn, even when you were a child. It’s because of you I still have strawberry lollipops in the cupboard, you know.” He turned toward Rebecca. “She wouldn’t have any other kind, just those.” He shook his head. “Stubborn, just like her mother.”
    Claire’s face flushed as she handed him his coffee. With a smile playing on his face, he walked her through to the back, where the treatment rooms and offices were. They found Abby sitting at her desk studying a file in front of her.
    “Here she is, Abigail. She even brought coffee.”
    Abby jumped in her chair, dropping some papers she’d been holding.
    “Will,” she said, her hand pressed tight against her chest. “You’ve got to give me some warning.” She shook her head. “You need to start whistling or wearing a bell or something.” She smiled as she came to the door. “Your birthday is coming up, Dr. Will. Just you wait,” she teased.
    “She says that every year and then only gives me books.” He shook his head before he sauntered back down the hall. “Rebecca, I think it’s time we get this afternoon party started,” he called, his voice ricocheting along the walls.
    They both watched him until he disappeared through the waiting room doorway.
    “He seems particularly chipper today,” Claire said.
    “He’s getting ready to leave for a fishing trip.” Abby smiled. “Have a good nap?”
    Claire nodded. “I’m still really tired though.”
    Abigail narrowed her gaze. “You know Josh is worried, right? Frankly, I’m not liking what I’m seeing either. Let’s see what your blood has to tell us.”
    Claire bit her lip.
    “Honestly,” Abigail said as she shook her head. “I’ve never seen a grown woman so on edge when it comes to needles. You should be used to them by now.”
    “I thought I’d be done with them, to be frank.” She shrugged.
    Abby led her into a small treatment room close to her office. It was the one Abby liked the most—she kept drawings that some of her younger patients had made for her on the walls to help brighten the sterile environment.
    On the counter sat a tray with a needle, vials for blood, and a small container.
    “What else did Josh tell you?”
    “What do you mean?”
    “He thinks I could be pregnant.” Claire swallowed hard past the words. She would know if she were, and she wasn’t.
    Abby gently rubbed her arm. “It won’t hurt to check.”
    Abby proceeded with her usual checkup—listening to Claire’s heart and making her breathe in deeply, which forced her to yawn way too many times.
    “Is it possible to be tired of being tired?” she asked after another big yawn. Claire watched as her friend inserted the needle with as much gentleness as possible, and then she turned her head away once the blood started filling the vials. That part always made her squeamish.
    Abby chuckled, and Claire knew it was because of her reaction.
    “Considering you’re the one saying it, yes.” She took one more vial of blood before easing the needle out and putting a bandage on