Read Online Cold as Ice by Charlene Groome - Free Book Online Page B

married to Timothy to find out what was happening; not knowing gives her little hope of a positive outcome.
    There’s a knock at the door and it opens.
    A female doctor wearing khakis and low-profile running shoes smiles as she walks in. “Carla? Hi, I’m Dr. Fossett,” she says, stepping forward to offer a handshake. She puts down Carla’s medical folder. “You’re here to discuss infertility?” the doctor asks, skimming the information.
    Carla nods. “I want to know if I have a problem with getting pregnant.”
    â€œAre you trying?”
    â€œNo.” Carla sucks in her lips. “Well, not right now. I was married and had two miscarriages. I don’t know if it’s me, but I need to know. I want kids.”
    â€œBut you’re not with anyone at this time?” The doctor’s eyes concentrate on her patient’s, as though trying to grasp the concern.
    â€œI’m not. No, I don’t know if I ever will. . . .”
    â€œWhen was your divorce?”
    â€œTwo years ago.”
    â€œYou’re what? Thirty?”
    â€œThirty-one.”
    The doctor gives her a gentle grin. “You have time.”
    â€œBut women’s eggs start to decrease in their thirties, making it harder to conceive. I want to know what my chances are.”
    â€œTrue. But it doesn’t mean that you can’t, or won’t, be able to. I mean, it may take a longer time, that’s all.” The doctor tucks a strand of her shoulder-length brown hair behind one ear.
    â€œBut I’ve had miscarriages.”
    â€œIt happens.” The doctor grips the clipboard at her chest. “Are your periods normal?”
    â€œYes.”
    â€œHave you had any tests done to see if there were any problems?”
    â€œNo.” Carla swallows.
    â€œAt this point, it’s hard to say if there is a problem.” The doctor puts down the clipboard at the raised counter, keeping her hand on the papers. “Once you start trying, we can look into it.” The doctor smiles. “Women who are focused on having a baby tend to be unsuccessful because of the pressures they put on themselves. There could be environmental factors, not necessarily an infertility issue. At this point, my suggestion is relax, look after yourself, get yourself baby healthy, as I like to call it—multivitamins, plenty of rest—and things will work themselves out.”
    Carla can feel her chest grow heavy. Wasn’t the doctor going to do any tests? Doesn’t she care that she has been unsuccessful getting pregnant before?
    â€œWhat about artificial insemination?” Carla spits out.
    The doctor holds her laugh and says, “You don’t want to go down that road unless it’s the last resort. You need to try naturally first.”
    â€œWhen I was married, we had a healthy sex life.... I just don’t understand.”
    â€œMen also experience infertility. That’s why I’m saying it’s best to wait to see if it happens naturally. We need to start at square one.”
    â€œLook, I don’t know if I’ll ever marry again. Honestly, I don’t see that happening for me. And if it does, I’ll be too old to have a baby, never mind being an old mom. I don’t want that. I’m thinking about this now, something I should have done with my ex-husband.”
    â€œAnd be a single parent?” The doctor shakes her head. “It’s a hard job. Motherhood is tough, and when you don’t have support from your partner, it’s even tougher.”
    â€œI want to be a mom so bad. I feel like I’ve missed my chance, you know?” Her eyes sting as the realization surfaces. If only she and Timothy had tried harder, wanted it more. If she’d exhausted her efforts, she wouldn’t be here.
    The first time she got pregnant she was ecstatic. They’d tried for three months and finally it happened. The hardest part was keeping it a