“So what did you do last night?”
She stopped. Everyone was usually too busy to catch up on what they did on their nights off. “Uh... I went to a festival in the next county. Not much to do in the great metropolis around camp, you know. What about you?”
Sam wouldn’t look her in the eye. He merely smiled and tried to un-crumple his note. “I did laundry.”
“Oh. OK. I’ll see you out there.”
As she left the front porch of the office, two more guys swept past her and paused with airheaded grins. “Did you have a good night off?”
“Yes. How about yourself?”
“Great,” one of them answered and they rushed on past.
Two of her friends at an information table seemed a little too enthused to see her as she walked past.
“Hi Gia,” they said in creepy unison and then added an equally creepy wave.
She stopped cold. “What’s going on?”
Deborah picked up a stack of papers to use as a fan while her very own rookie looked away and pretended to read a camp roster. Upside down. “Nothing. Why? Is something going on?”
They snickered behind her as she headed toward the gate. If Rebekah had been out here blabbing about her date, well, she didn’t know what she would do. A breach of trust like that would make it hard to keep her professional composure let alone continue their friendship.
Up ahead, Rebekah seemed to be frantically trying to fold something and shove it in her back pocket.
Gia smiled at the waiting children and signaled for Rebekah to step back.
“What’s going on here?” she asked with an unconvincing, upbeat lilt in her voice.
“Nothing, why?”
“Everyone is looking and laughing at me. Is my shirt on backward or something?”
“Nothing’s wrong.” Rebekah clapped along as the greeter group started a rhythmic chant about the books of the Bible and encouraged the kids to join in.
“What is that paper you are trying to hide?”
“What paper?”
“This paper,” Gia said and plucked it from her back pocket.
Rebekah pushed her back further. “Now listen, Gia. This is not a big deal. I took it from Chris S. who said Chris W. gave it to him and there’s just the one copy. It’s been around camp, but no one means any harm with it. They’re messing with you, but it’ll stop once they open the gates...”
But all of Rebekah’s rambling trailed off into one horror-filled gong of noise in her head and she unfolded the piece of newspaper that appeared to be the whole front page.
“That shifty, low-life shutterbug,” she whispered as the air left lungs.
“It’s not so bad,” Rebekah said as if from far away. “It’s really kinda cute.”
Gia steadied her trembling hands. “It’s a violation.”
She glanced at the kids who seemed oblivious to her terror. She skimmed the words. Something about the festival and its great success, something about the crowds, the fireworks, the food. There were several pictures of the festivities, but the one that caught her eye was the series of three connected shots of her and Rocky that ran along the side like a photo-booth filmstrip of their date. One was their posed picture, one was of them rolling through the intersection with huge smiles—and one was of that kiss.
“Put it away,” Rebekah urged. “We’ll deal with it later.”
The crowd at the gate continued to grow.
Rebekah patted her on the back. “Take a breath, Gia. You need to breathe. I’ll get some water.”
“No.” She buried the clipping in her pocket. “I’m fine, but cover for me a minute. I’m going to run to the bathroom.”
“Sure.”
Gia pasted on her best fake smile and acknowledged her co-workers’ great big secret as she rushed past. “Nice one, guys. Now you know what I do on Saturday nights.” She took a deep, sweeping bow before she dove into the bathroom and collapsed on the creaky wooden bench.
She leaned her head back against the wall and pressed her palms into her forehead. Her heart rate steadied as she closed her eyes and tried to relax.
Slimy little paparazzi sneak. He’d snapped that incriminating kiss photo knowing full well it was not what she’d given permission for.
“Why is it, Lord, that every time I let my guard down and get completely carried away in a pleasant moment, some other guy-jerk comes along and takes advantage of me again?”
Muted voices and the rumble of footsteps on the wooden deck outside nudged her back to reality. “Back to work,” she mumbled and pushed herself off the bench.
The dizzy spell hit her in two seconds flat. She tipped to the side like a sinking ship and grabbed for the basin to hold on.
Help me, Jesus...
A flash of black appeared and with one blink was gone again. As her balance returned, she stared at the pale, frightened face in the mirror.
What is wrong with me?
In a split second of clarity, a new idea sprung to life. Those dreams... This near blackout. Maybe she did have a problem. Maybe it involved her actual brain.
Back on the bench, she looked straight ahead until the room no longer spun. “I can’t do this anymore,” she whispered. “I’ve got to see the nurse.”
Someone pounded on the door. “C’mon outta there! As you would say, shake it off. We’ll plan ways to torture that photographer after campfire tonight.”
Gia stood and splashed water on her face. “Coming!”
****
The night was particularly dark and steamy as Gia took her flashlight and headed for the medical shack. She’d made it through the day without fainting or further dizziness, but the threat of a repeat—and now the possibility of brain disease—haunted her every move. Surely Nurse Bernadette would check her pulse, offer her an ice bag and a spell on the cot like she did the kids and everything would be all right.
Gia paused on the porch, set her flashlight down, and rang the bell at the clinic door. Swarms of bugs invaded her space as she stood in the glow of the bare bulb. The hum of the window unit barely masked the low-level drone of a television drama. Word on the street was that the private sleeping quarters attached to the clinic contained an HDTV with a digital antenna and a Blu-ray player. Other than the twenty-four hour responsibility for the health of a full camp and the occasional protruding bone and projectile vomit, it was good work if you could get it. The rotating medical staff got to carry one of the camp’s new, high-tech radios and apparently could watch movies.
The best part of the medical professionals, though, was that they really wanted to be there for the kids. Most were parents who served at the camp during their personal vacation time in exchange for deeply discounted tuition for their own children. It was a win-win for everyone.
Gia heard movement and stepped back to greet Nurse Bernadette. But it wasn’t Nurse Bernadette who flung open the door, unlatched the screen, and barreled outside. It was big, burly, could-have-been-an-NFL-linebacker Paramedic Ash.
“Watcha’ got?” he asked and looked around her for a sick or injured kid.
“No emergency. Only me.”
He smashed a mosquito on the side of his clean-shaven head and brushed it away. “Who’s me?”
“It’s me, Ash. Gia.”
He captured her hand in his massive one and gave it a mighty shake. “Oh, yeah, Gia. I remember you. What’s up?”
“Nothing. I had a question for Bernadette, but I guess she’s gone.”
“Yep. I’m on this week.”
Gia swatted a moth away from her mouth. “Almost swallowed that one,” she sputtered. “I didn’t see any of your kids check in today.”
He stood tall and crossed his arms over his bulging chest. The fit of his camp medical staff tee reminded her of Rocky in that tacky festival shirt. Which then made her think of her unintended exposure in the podunk county gazette. Which then made her stomach turn...
“I got smart this year,” Ash said and beamed. “I’m here this week; sending some of my kids next week. I’ll ship littlest ones to their grandparents and
shazam!
I’m having a stay-cation with my wife.”
“Good call. Well... I’ll let you get in out of the bugs.” She ground her toe into one of the boards. She still didn’t feel well but she’d only ever seen a male doctor once in the emergency room years ago. Talking to men about physical stuff was not comfortable for her. Every kid adored Paramedic Ash, but she couldn’t do it. Not even as her tired body ached and her nausea persisted. Her neurological mass would have to wait. “Have a great, uneventful week, Ash. I’m sure I’ll see you around.”
“Hang on, Gia. Was your question of a medical nature?”
She was off the porch now, shrinking into the trees. It felt safer to talk from there. “Yes.”
“Ask away. I’ll try to answer.” He stepped to the edge of the deck. His voice was steady, comforting, professional. “What’s goin’ on?”
“I had a bit of a dizzy spell this morning. I think I almost passed out because I swear I saw black for a second.”
“Had you eaten and were you hydrated?”
“Yes.”
“Any numbness or tingling like in your arms or hands?”
“No.”
“Are you diabetic or have any other health issues?”
“No. I had my camp physical. Everything was fine.”
“Any other problems?”
“I had a stomach bug recently. Seems to be hanging around.”
Ash shrugged. “I’m sure you’re fine. C’mon in and I’ll get your vitals and we’ll talk a little more about it. Dizziness and fainting is nothing to ignore.”
She retreated further. “I think I stood up too fast.”
“Probably, but I need to check your blood pressure and listen to your heart.”
Now she’d done it. Would he notice if she simply walked away?
“Don’t make me come out there with a thermometer,” Ash warned with a laugh.
She shoved her hands into her back pockets and rocked on her heels.
Buck up, Gia... You know you wouldn’t let anyone else get away with this chicken routine. Besides, you feel terrible.
“I’m coming,” she said and then mumbled something about not being afraid, only shy.
But Paramedic Ash had played her from the start, knowing she wouldn’t have shown up at the clinic at ten PM for no reason, and sensing she was apprehensive. Had to give him credit. He’d already conducted half his evaluation from outside the door.
“I’d rather no one know about this,” she said as she entered the small clinic.
“I promise complete confidentiality but you know the rules. I need to have someone step in while I do a quick exam. Then we can talk privately. The registrar is in the other room signing off on new camper files. Can I ask her or do you want me to call someone else?”
Gia nodded as she wiggled onto the exam table.
“Good. Let me get your file.” He grabbed the door frame and looked back as he left the room. “It’ll be OK, Gia.”
“I know. Just want to get back to work.”
She closed her eyes and let the cool air settle around her. Thank goodness the little camp triage shack was nothing like a regular doctor’s office. She’d have run screaming into the woods if she’d spotted a gown or urine sample cup.
Ash returned with Mrs. Winston and tossed Gia’s folder on the counter. He washed his big hands in the tiny sink along the wall and gathered some basic supplies.
Mrs. Winston stood nearby with a pleasant, reassuring smile. Gia stared ahead and tried to think about anything else.
“You were right about your physical,” he said as he took her temperature. “Nothing off in there.”
She passed the blood pressure test and dutifully took deep breaths and then didn’t breathe at all on cue as he checked her heart and lungs.
He quizzed her about her eating habits and the persistent bug she’d been entertaining. Her answers seemed to satisfy him.
“Lie back for a sec and let me press on your tummy.”
She glanced at Mrs. Winston who sensed her unease and rushed over to plump the plastic-covered pillow behind her head. “Bless your heart,” she said gently and took her hand. “A nasty stomach bug can really wear you down. Especially at camp.”
Now Gia wanted to cry. And she never cried. Days ago she’d been happily ignoring her inconsiderate bug, but the nausea and all that came with it had landed her in a cool room with caring people and a possible brain tumor and... That’s all. She thought she might cry. And she never cried but... What if that dizziness came back? She couldn’t hide that.
Her stomach rumbled as Ash poked around. He hesitated a couple times then moved on.
“OK. You can sit up.”
Mrs. Winston took Ash’s subtle hint and left the room.
Gia hung on to the edge of the paper-covered table and swung her legs back and forth over the side while Paramedic Ash sat on a rolling stool and made notes in her chart.
He tapped the end of the pen on the folder. “Routine question here, Gia. Is there any chance you could be pregnant?”
A cold chill teased her neck and chased goose bumps to her arms. To be pregnant, one needs to have intercourse. While she’d had her moments of questionable behavior in the past, she’d returned her temple to God for safekeeping until the right time. The closest thing to sex in her recent memory was in the crazy dreams she had about Professor Evil and his car.
More of those images floated through her brain. In one scene, she struggled with something but her arms didn’t move. In another, something pulled at her hair so hard she screamed, but she couldn’t make the tugging stop.
She brushed the thoughts away. They had to be dreams, right? She didn’t remember anything like that. If he’d forced himself on her, wouldn’t she know? Wouldn’t there have been signs? Maybe she’d buried them.
She opened her mouth and nothing came out.
“I’m not sitting in judgment here, Gia. It’s been known to happen. This conversation is between us. I can help you figure this out. If there’s any—”
“No, Ash. I’m not pregnant.”
“When was your last menstruation?”
“It’s been several weeks. I’ve never been regular.”
“That could be something. Hormones can wreak havoc on a woman’s body.”
Yes, and she imagined a brain tumor would clog up hormone production altogether. She grew more agitated with each passing second. She fussed with her ponytail and then attacked the jagged edge of her index fingernail with her teeth. “Can I get back to work now?”