“Babies have their own schedules,” Mrs. Shelton said as she, Cam, and Eric went to the waiting room. “It may be a few minutes or a few hours before your sister is born.”
In a large chair in the corner of the room was a man. His legs were stretched out onto a small table. His coat was over his legs, and he was asleep. A white-haired old woman and one with blonde hair were also in the room. They were sitting together and reading magazines. In the back of the room were vending machines, one with coffee and one with juice.
“It’s hot here,” Mrs. Shelton said, and took off her coat. She put the coat and her purse on a couch near the sleeping man. Cam and Eric also took off their coats.
Eric said, “Let’s play a game while we wait. Let’s play Geography. I’ll name a place, like ‘Texas.’ That ends with an ‘S.’ Then you’ll name a place that starts with an ‘S,’ like ‘South Dakota.’”
“Let’s do it with babies’ names,” Cam suggested, “and I’ll go first.” Then Cam smiled and said, “Alice.”
“That ends with an ‘E,’” Eric said. “Etain.”
“Hey, that’s a boy’s name. I’m not having a brother.”
“‘Etain’ is a name,” Eric said, “and it ends with an ‘N.’”
“‘Nancy.’”
“‘Y,’” Eric said. He thought for a moment and then said, “‘Yale.’”
“‘Ellen.’”
“‘Nathan.’”
“‘Naomi.’”
A man in a white doctor’s jacket walked into the room.
“Maybe he’s your mother’s doctor,” Mrs. Shelton said to Cam.
Mrs. Shelton quickly walked to the man. Cam and Eric followed her.
“Excuse me, Doctor,” Mrs. Shelton said. “Can you tell me about Jane Jansen? How is she? Was she taken to the delivery room?”
“Jane Jansen,” the man said, and rubbed his chin. “I don’t think she’s one of my patients.”
“She has red hair,” Mrs. Shelton said. “She’s about to have a baby.”
Just then a woman in a white doctor’s coat walked into the waiting room.
“Maybe she can help you,” the man said, and walked toward the coffee machine.
Cam, Eric, and Mrs. Shelton went to the woman.
The woman wore a name tag. Her name was Judith Berger.
“Please, Dr. Berger,” Mrs. Shelton said, “can you tell us about Jane Jansen? How is she? Did she have her baby?”
Dr. Berger smiled. “I was just with Mrs. Jansen,” she said, “and she’s doing very well. It will be a while before I can tell you any more than that.”
Dr. Berger went to the coffee machine.
Cam, Eric, and Mrs. Shelton went back to their seats.
“It’s your turn,” Cam told Eric. “I said ‘Naomi’ and that ends with an ‘I.’”
“‘Ian.’”
“‘Nellie.’”
“I’m getting a cup of coffee,” Mrs. Shelton told Cam and Eric. “Are you thirsty? Would you like some juice?”
Cam and Eric wanted orange juice.
Mrs. Shelton looked on the couch. She lifted her coat. Then she lifted Cam’s and Eric’s coats. “Hey,” she said. “Where’s my purse?”
