“Caroline, it has been nearly four months since your last visit,” Dr. Aris said, her voice carrying a quiet, measured authority. “Your last three prenatal appointments were marked as canceled by the patient.”
I touched my collarbone, tapping the skin twice through the paper gown. “Luke said the clinic had a scheduling conflict. He told me you had to reschedule them because the office was short-staffed.”
Dr. Aris stopped writing. She looked over the top of her silver-rimmed glasses, her gray eyes steady and unblinking.
“We have four nurse practitioners and three doctors on staff every day,” Dr. Aris said. “We do not cancel three consecutive appointments for a high-risk pregnancy, Caroline.”
My fingers froze against my collarbone. “He called the office for me. He said the receptionist told him the digital files were misplaced during the system upgrade.”
“I was told you were resting at home under a different doctor’s supervision,” Dr. Aris said.
