2 Multiple Exposures Read Online Free Page B

I would make the effort and could appease my conscience.
    When I arrived at the doctor’s office, I found six other women waiting to be seen, one with her husband and child along. Dr. Bloomberg seemed to have a busy practice. Not that I was surprised given the size of the town. I was sure I had seen signs for other doctor’s offices in the area, but not more than one or two, and I couldn’t recall the specialties of the others.
    Approaching the window to sign in, I realized right away why I felt I’d heard Lissa’s voice before. The petite blonde with a trim figure was almost the spitting image of Reeza Maxwell, the woman who worked at Beautiful Nu U, the gym across from my studio. Reeza had run off to marry one of Spencer’s officers, but I had heard she had returned a couple weeks ago and was able to get her old job back. Lissa must be her sister, and she confirmed it when she introduced herself as Lissa Maxwell.
    “Hello, Lissa, I have a one thirty. I’m Makayla Rose.”
    Lissa smiled. Today, there was no hesitation in her voice, so I put the phone impression down to her being busy. “Good afternoon, Makayla. Welcome. If you can fill out these forms and bring them up when you’re ready, that would be great. Also, if I can have your insurance card now, I can copy it and get that information in the file I’m making for you.”
    I handed over the card and took the clipboard. So far, so good. As I sat down, I surveyed the office. Nothing jumped out at me. Fake potted plant in the corner that had seen better days, a TV mounted to the wall and displaying a soap opera, and an assortment of women’s magazines available for perusal in a rack beside me and across the room beside another bench.
    A couple of the other patients met my gaze and smiled. I offered a polite nod and looked down at the paperwork. The crazy notion that I might be slipped a secret message in the pile came over me, so I flipped through the small stack and checked the back of each sheet. Nothing. This wasn’t a TV drama, darn it all.
    As I sat wondering if and when I would learn anything of importance about Dr. Bloomberg, or if I would need to wait until I was left in a vulnerable state such as in one of those horrid hospital gowns, I decided it might be a good idea to let Spencer know where I was. I texted him and waited for his response. Usually, if he wasn’t on a call, he answered right away. When I didn’t hear back, I assumed that was the case. At least he would see the message later when he got a chance to check his phone.
    The wait to be called was excruciating. I grabbed a magazine and flipped through the pages. What stars did to lose weight, the personal trainers and eating plans they swore by, did not appeal to me. I sighed and put that magazine back to grab another.
    “Makayla.”
    Sighing, I stood. Lissa had been replaced by another assistant at the front desk. Now she stood in the doorway leading to the back of the office to guide me in. “Is the wait usually so long?” I asked, hoping I didn’t sound whiny.
    She offered me an apologetic look. “I’m sorry. We’re just a little behind today. Dr. Bloomberg isn’t up to his usual speed.” We stepped into a hall with a row of doors, and she lowered her voice. “He’s not getting any younger.”
    I smiled. “I guess he’s the exception to the rule in Briney Creek.”
    She seemed confused my comment alluding to the youthful senior population, but I didn’t bother explaining.
    “Let’s get your weight and vitals. Then we can get you into a room.”
    I bit off a groan. Weight. I had stuck to my rigid schedule of only eating two donuts, once a day since I arrived in Briney Creek, and since Peony’s place was closed, I had eaten less than that. However, too frequently Spencer and I ordered in. I was not looking forward to what the scale had to say.
    “Don’t tell me,” I said, chickening out as I stepped on the offensive equipment. “I’ll do better. I promise. The next