Free Another Man's Baby by Dyanne Davis Page B

remember how it was when I came home.”
    “Which war?”
    “ Vietnam , what else?”
    “Were you married when you went over?” Eric couldn’t help asking.
    “Yeah.”
    Eric scooted back on the table, aware of the paper crinkling beneath him. This was the most unusual doctor appointment he’d ever been to. And the doctor was the most unusual doctor he’d ever known. His heart was pounding in his chest. He wondered if Mike had talked to the man. He studied him. Eric had not told Mike what problems he was having, just that he thought he needed to see someone before he and Gabi started trying for a baby. Mike had suggested a urologist, which made a lot of sense. When he’d given Eric the name of one in Indiana , along with a look of pity, Eric had looked away but had taken the number. Neither man had spoken of Eric’s reasons for going since.
    “A friend of mine recommended you, Mike, another marine from Great Lakes ,” Eric said slowly, baiting a trap just in case. Have you had a lot of luck with soldiers?”
    “I’ve seen a lot of soldiers, marine, air force, navy and army, but I can’t discuss any patient’s complaints or treatments with you. That wouldn’t be ethical.”
    Good , Eric thought, the doctor had passed the first hurdle. Let’s see how he does with the next one, he thought, going in for the kill. “Mind if I ask you a personal question about your return to the States?”
    Eric was watching the man’s eyes, looking for a change. But his eyes remained open and friendly as he folded his arms across his chest, pushed back in the chair as though he had all day to talk and wasn’t worried about any other patient.
    “Go ahead, Lieutenant, ask away.”
    “When you returned home did you have problems making love to your wife?”
    “No, but I also didn’t have any problems making love to hookers and every other woman who would let me.”
    “You said your wife’s a psychologist. She forgave you?”
    “No, she divorced me. She should have but it wasn’t like we were soul mates or anything. I got her pregnant while we were in high school and married her. I’ve been married twice since then. My last marriage was the magical number. We’ve been married almost fifteen years.”
    This couldn’t be happening. He’d come to the doctor for a quick fix.  Eric couldn’t believe the man was just opening up, sharing his life with a stranger.
    “Why are you looking at me like that? You think I’m nuts, right, Lieutenant? You’re still a soldier. It’s been a long time since I was one. Having been married to a psychologist, I keep nothing inside, especially when I figure my talking can help my patient.”
    “You think there’s nothing physically wrong with me?” Eric asked suspiciously. “You haven’t even examined me.”
    “Don’t worry, I’m going to.”
    While he did his exam Eric noticed the man couldn’t stop talking.
    “Any problem getting an arousal around your wife?” he asked.
    “No,” Eric muttered between clenched teeth. “My wife is beautiful.”
    “I’m not prying.”
    “It felt like it.”
    “You wanted an exam.”
    “That’s a question.”
    “Part of examining is asking questions. Have you been able to make love to your wife since you returned home?”
    “Not as much as I’d like,” Eric sighed, “and definitely not as much as she’d like.”
    “So you’re not having a problem achieving an erection?”
    “No.”
    “How about maintaining it during the act?”
    “I’m maintaining it.” Eric swallowed, not wanting to admit to his difficulties. “Sometimes I find myself putting more thought into making sure I maintain it. I’ve never had to worry about that before.”
    “Why are you worrying about it now? Why are you here?”
    Eric sucked in a deep breath, then another, and exhaled before answering. “My wife wants a baby.”
    “You don’t.”
    “I promised her before I went over there the first time that we’d have a baby when I came home for