Chapter IV:
One of Two Solutions, Though They Didn't Think of the Other One
They arrived at the hospital faster than James had expected. Jumping out of the car, he went around the other side, and took the baby from Lily. She got out, and looked around to see where James had gone. She saw that he was already at the door.
He stopped at the receptionist area, and as soon as Lily got into the waiting room, she sat down. He told the lady at the desk what they were there for, and she told him to have a seat, and said that the doctor would be right with them.
He joined Lily. Neither of them talked. The baby cried, and Lily did all she could to comfort it, but nothing would work. Maybe this was a sign that this really wasn't her baby. No, it couldn't be.
When the doctor came out and spotted Lily and James, he sat down in a seat next to James, clipboard in his hand.
"What seems to be the problem?"
"This isn't our baby," replied Lily and James at the same time.
"What do you mean?"
"This is a boy. Our baby was a girl. That's what the people told me when I went in for one of my appointments," said Lily, anxious to meet her real baby.
"Well, let me check." The doctor went back into his office and came out with a file folder. Lily and James' names were on the tab. He looked through it, and smiled.
"Not to worry. This is your child. There was a little confusion during that appointment. The doctor that you had was filling in for me, and he was moving from room to room. It makes sense that he might have confused the sex of your child with the sex of another patient's child. I am sorry for the mistake. Is there anything we can do for you?"
Lily and James were completely speechless. How could this be their child?
Finally, Lily spoke: "Is there anyway to make the baby into a girl?"
The doctor looked shocked. No one had ever asked him this before.
"What do you mean?"
"I mean, plastic surgery is very popular, and is it safe to try it on a baby?"
"Well, I guess it's safe, but why would you want to change the sex of your child?"
"We have always wanted a girl. We have the stuff for a girl. We planned on having a girl," said James.
"The only thing we can do now is breast implants. I can guarantee you that he will be made fun of as a child in school, if anyone finds out. When he is three years of age, we might be able to do more work on him, but this is all now."
"OKAY!" said Lily and James in unison.
"Let me schedule an appointment. When is good for you to bring him in?"
"Tomorrow."
"The day after."
"Today!"
"I see. Well, let me check and see what I have open. I don't think there is anything that soon, but I will see when I can get him in." The doctor disappeared behind his desk, shaking his head and muttering to himself.
He returned with a sheet of paper in hand.
"I can take you next Tuesday at 10am. How's that?"
"Sound good," said Lily looking at James, who nodded in agreement.