"Why of course, Doctor," she said. "Here's a gown and mask ... but hurry ... she's well into the second stage now."
I pushed open the door of Delivery Room number three. The doctor looked around and his eyes widened in surprise above the mask as he recognized me. It was Ray Thorne.
"Pat, look who's here!" he said.
Her hair was wet and her upper lip moist from the strain and the warmth of the room. I bent over her and her eyes were big as she recognized me.
"Darling, you got here! You got here just in time!"
In that highly emotional moment she was not her usual stoical self. She began to cry. I dropped my mask. The hell with so-called sterile technique! These bugs were all in the family. I kissed her. She smiled even though a hard pain was beginning.
"Now it will be all right," she whispered.
I hung on to her hand and looked up at the mirror that pictured the other end of the delivery table.
"Push hard now," Ray said, as the baby's head came down. She strained and gasped, her face reddened with effort.
"OK, I've got it ... easy now ... easy now," Ray was saying.