PART 3
She shook her head. “Here?” Another shake. Then he touched one particular tooth.
Chloe flinched so violently that the metal instrument in Dr. Evans’s hand stopped in midair.
“That one?” he asked. She nodded. “How long has it been hurting there?”
Chloe glanced toward Mark. Only for a second.
But I saw it. And so did Dr. Evans.
“A few days,” she whispered.
Mark stepped closer.
“She mentioned it earlier this week.”
Dr. Evans didn’t respond.
He examined the tooth again, then asked the hygienist to take an X-ray.
While she prepared the machine, Mark stood beside me.
“See?” he whispered. “Nothing serious.”
I looked at him.
“You don’t know that.”
He smiled.
“I know our daughter.”
Something about the way he said our daughter bothered me.
Not because it was wrong.
Because it sounded rehearsed.
The X-ray took only a few minutes.
Dr. Evans stared at the image on the monitor.
His face became completely expressionless.
Then he zoomed in.
He looked again.
And again.
“Doctor?” I asked.
He didn’t answer immediately.
“Is the tooth infected?”
“No.”
His answer came too quickly.
“Then what is it?”
He finally looked at me.
“I’d like to do another examination.”
Mark laughed softly.
“Is that really necessary?”
Dr. Evans turned toward him.
“Yes.”
There was something in his voice that made Mark stop smiling.
The doctor asked the hygienist to leave the room.
Then he looked directly at me.
“Mrs. Carter, could I speak with you privately?”
Mark immediately shook his head.
“You can tell both of us.”
Dr. Evans paused.
“I’d prefer to speak with Chloe’s mother alone.”
“Why?”
“Because she’s the parent responsible for her medical care.”
Mark’s expression hardened.
“I’m her father.”
The room became silent.
Dr. Evans looked at him for several seconds.
Then he said quietly:
“I understand.”
But he didn’t sound like he believed him.
I felt confused.
More than confused.
Afraid.
“Mark,” I said softly, “maybe you can wait outside.”
He looked at me as if I’d betrayed him.
“Seriously?”
“It’s just for a minute.”
His eyes moved from me to Dr. Evans.
Then to Chloe.
He smiled.
“Fine.”
He leaned down toward Chloe.
“I’ll be right outside, sweetheart.”
Chloe didn’t answer.
Mark walked out.
The door closed.
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