SH Medical 08 - The Baby Dilemma by Jacqueline Diamond Page A

seemed the best course.
    As Paige weighed her words, she noticed how pretty Sheila was, petite with large eyes and a full mouth. Not an Amazon like me. Annoyed at the unprofessional thought, she said, “I didn’t realize I knew your ex-husband. Coincidentally, he just rented a room from me for the summer.”
    “For the summer?” her patient asked, puzzled.
    “I have a place near the beach and I advertised for a roommate,” Paige explained. “If that’s a problem, I can arrange for you to see another doctor until Dr. Franco returns. It shouldn’t disrupt your care.”
    Sheila shrugged. “No big deal. I feel comfortable with you, and anyway, most of the ob-gyns around here are men. I prefer a woman. It’s like you’re on my side.”
    “I hope we’re all on the same side.” If the husband wasn’t on board with having a child, that indicated major problems beyond the scope of a medical office. Still, a doctor treated the whole patient, and to some extent that included the state of her marriage. “I’d like to meet Gil. Do you think he’d talk to me on the phone? I might be able to persuade him to come in.”
    “Quite the opposite. I’m sure he’d convince you of whatever he wants you to believe.” Sheila made a face. “He’s an insurance salesman. Smooth talker. I thought he loved me and wanted a family, but now I’m not so sure.” A tear slid down her cheek.
    “Have you discussed your concerns?” To Paige, that seemed a no-brainer, but in her practice, she’d found that some spouses didn’t communicate well.
    “We just end up arguing.” Sheila accepted the proffered box of tissues. “Thanks.”
    Paige leaned against the counter near the sink. “We can’t proceed without his cooperation. It isn’t fair to subject you to invasive procedures until we rule out a problem with the sperm.”
    Sheila blew her nose. “You’re right. I mean, the least he can do is accompany me to a visit. Then the ball will be in your court, Dr. Brennan.”
    “I’ll do my best.” Finessing a reluctant husband into a sperm test wasn’t one of the subjects covered in medical school. However, a meeting ought to give Paige a clearer perspective on the situation. “If he can’t come in on a weekday, perhaps we could work in a consult at the hospital while I’m on call.”
    “One way or the other, I’ll drag his tail in here,” Sheila replied. “He owes it to me.”
    As they wrapped up the visit, Paige hoped the couple wasn’t having serious problems. She’d seen the heartbreak when a woman became pregnant just as her marriage disintegrated. One of her patients, abandoned by a cheating husband, had become so distraught she let her sister adopt the baby.
    A few minutes later, as Paige jotted her notes, Sheila’s words replayed through her mind. I was trying to punish him by hooking up with Gil. She couldn’t imagine cheating on her husband just to get back at him.
    Still, one thing was obvious: Mike had apparently sacrificed his marriage rather than become a father. If she’d harbored any delusions about a future together, that put them to rest.
    Tamping down a twinge of frustration, she pulled up the chart for her next patient.

Chapter Eight
    The last time Mike encountered Gemma Hightower had been a few months earlier at a chamber of commerce mixer. Her husband, Roy, who owned a real estate brokerage, had been doing double duty at the event. A longtime member of the city council, he’d been elevated to the part-time position of mayor this past January but still had to keep his company solvent in a tough market. So, while representing the city, he’d also been glad-handing potential clients.
    His wife had circulated, head high, acknowledging people with a nod. She’d only paused to speak to those who’d earned their way into her social circle through charity work or connections.
    Gemma Hightower, alias Mrs. Jones, still wore a regal air and quite a few thousand bucks’ worth of designer clothing as she