2 Multiple Exposures Read Online Free PDF Page A

time.”
    Lissa laughed. “Every one of our patients is exactly the same way. Some face the music, but none like what they see. You’re in good company, Makayla, and you’re not doing too badly. We can all be healthier no matter what our size.”
    “You’re very kind, Lissa. Tell me, are you Reeza Maxwell’s sister?”
    She brightened. “Yes, actually, Reeza is my younger sister. You met her?”
    “At the gym.” I didn’t realize I would groan until after it tumbled out. Lissa chuckled. She scratched down my weight, and I hopped off the scale, averting my eyes. “I’m sure it was a surprise when she decided to run off and elope rather than go through with the wedding your family was planning.”
    “I don’t blame her, really. Mama can drive anyone crazy. I just want my sister to be happy, and I think she made a good choice in that.”
    The wistfulness in Lissa’s voice made me take note of her ring finger. The simple band indicated she was married, but the attitude said maybe not as happily as she would hope. I felt for her.
    “I’m sure she did,” I agreed.
    We moved from the hall with the weight machine—because one wanted to be weighed openly before any and everyone—to a private room. Lissa took my blood pressure, which was normal thank goodness, and went over my medical history to be sure she had everything correct in the computer.
    “Now, you can change into this gown. Take off your bra and underwear, please. The doctor will be in soon. I’ll be here as well, or one of the other assistants. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to ask.”
    Was it my imagination that she emphasized the don’t hesitate part? So far I had seen nothing out of the ordinary, but then I hadn’t met the doctor as yet.
    “Will do, Lissa,” I said with a smile. “Thank you.”
    When she left, I stared at the gown she had placed on the bed as if it was covered in plague. Perhaps I shouldn’t be thinking of the word “plague” in the doctor’s office, but such was the mental trauma I endured at that moment.
    Realizing I had no choice but to wear the gown if I was going to go through with this madness, I began to undress. A knock sounded nearby followed by a male voice, and I figured the doctor was now seeing the patient next door. I groaned. The wait would probably not be as short as Lissa tried to lead me to believe.
    Since another of my fears involved someone entering the room while I raised clothing over my head with my bare bum sticking out, I shed my clothing in a hurry and donned the gown. I sat on the papered table and swung my feet over the side. Reading and rereading the advertisements for drugs provided a little diversion. Then I moved on to examining the inside of the female uterus. Lovely.
    I looked around for a magazine and spotted one on the counter. Cure thinning hair. Might be stimulating reading, I thought, even though I didn’t have the problem. Not yet anyway. I hopped off the table and grabbed the magazine. Several additional articles later, no one had come along, and I heard no more activity next door. Engrossed as I had been in dropping belly fat, I couldn’t be sure when the doctor might have finished with that particular patient.
    After nearly an hour, I had had enough. I snatched the gown tighter around my form and opened the door a crack. No sounds reached me, and I took a chance to stick my head out. Up and down the hall, no one stirred, and I eased into the hall. Feet bare and naked as a jaybird beneath the gown, I longed to return to the room and get dressed. However, I didn’t want to run the risk of Dr. Bloomberg being ready for me then making me wait while he saw someone else because I wasn’t undressed.
    “Lissa?” I called out in a low tone. How embarrassing if one of the patients walked out and saw me in this state. Even if the doctor or one of the assistants did, I would be just as mortified. One didn’t walk the halls in the hated gown even if this was a