"So, Dr. Parsons, I hear this is your last day," Nancy Kearney, the duty nurse asked while Cynthia filled out some paperwork on the counter of the nurse's station.
"Uh-huh," she replied, still writing.
"When's the baby due?" Nancy asked.
Cynthia looked up and smiled, "Around the middle of October."
"Are you excited?"
"Getting there. Mostly nervous," Cynthia replied.
"Ah, yes. The first one is the hardest in that regard, well, in a lot of regards," Nancy said.
"I imagine so," she replied.
"How much time are you planning to take off?"
"I don't know yet. We're playing it by ear," Cynthia said.
"That's probably for the best."
Just then, Head Nurse, Sally Tompkins walked up to the nurse's station. She looked at Nancy who returned an odd glance and said, "Nancy, don't you have some work to do?"
Nancy smiled and said, "Oh, yes. I'll get right on that," and she left the nurses' station and walked down the hallway out of sight.
"I'm glad I ran into you, Cynthia. Dr. Peterson said that he needed a consult on Dorothy Lovell, but he's getting ready to leave, so if you want to catch him, I just saw him the doctors' lounge."
"Okay, can you take these for me?" she asked as she handed Sally the forms she had been filling out.
"Sure," Sally replied.
Cynthia walked down the hall to the doctors' lounge. When she was several yards away from the lounge, she saw the cardiologist, Dr. Franklin and a nurse talking to each other. What she didn't see was the rap Dr. Franklin made on the door as she approached.
"Hi, Dr. Parsons. How are you?" Dr. Franklin asked as Cynthia approached.
"Good. I'm here to talk to Dr. Peterson." She looked at the nurse and said, "Hi Linda."
Linda smiled and returned the 'hello' with a nod.
"I just saw him in the lounge," Dr. Franklin answered.
"Thanks," she replied as she turned and opened the door and walked into the lounge. Dr. Franklin and Linda followed her in, as she realized the surprise. There, on the dining table, was a large sheet cake, and standing behind the table were Drs. Peterson, Carraway, and Stephenson. A group of people shouted, "Surprise!" She looked around the room and saw her obstetrician and 3 other doctors and half dozen nurses, as well as a smiling Roger. There was a banner taped to the cabinets above the sink behind everyone, that read, "Don't Be a Stranger." Roger walked up to Cynthia and put his arm around her waist while everyone smiled and applauded. She put her hands over her mouth and stifled tears.
"We are going to miss you, Dr. Parsons," Dr. Stephenson chimed in.
"Yeah. We're happy about the baby and all, but we're really looking forward to having you back here," Dr. Carraway said.
"What a surprise!" Cynthia exclaimed. "You shouldn't have…."
"What? Are you kidding?" Dr. Stephenson asked.
Roger tightened his grip around her waist as she let out some tears.
Dr. Peterson broke the seriousness, "Well, I have to get back to work, so let's cut this cake and have some."
"Yes," Roger said, looking at Cynthia.
Dr. Peterson began cutting the cake and placing slices on paper plates.
Dr. Carraway asked as she received her slice of cake, "So, how long are you going to be gone?"
"I was just telling Nancy Kearney, that I'm not sure. Whenever I feel ready, I suppose," Cynthia replied.
Roger said, "In the short term we're preparing for our little boy or girl."
"Which would you like, Roger? A boy?" Dr. Carraway asked.
"Actually, I'd kind of like a little girl so I could be in a house full of women," he said with a smile.
Dr. Peterson, who had three daughters and no sons, said with a sigh, "You say that now…." and ate a bite of cake.
"No, really. I'd be happy with either, but I think I'd like to have a little girl."
Cynthia agreed after taking her slice of cake, "I'm the same." She continued, "I'd eventually like to have one of each."
Roger smiled at Cynthia and put his arm around her waist again.
"What will you be doing between now and when the baby's born," asked Dr. Carraway.
"We'll be getting the nursery in order," replied Cynthia. She continued, "and I might actually try to finish a book or two for the first time in a long time."
"And stocking up on all the baby necessities," said Roger.
"How much have you gotten done with the nursery?" Dr. Carraway asked.
"I've painted the room," said Roger. "That's about it."
"We still have to decorate and get a crib," Cynthia said.
"I don't think you told me when you are due, Cynthia. When is it?" Dr. Carraway asked.
"The middle of October. Just about three more months to go," Cynthia replied.
"Are you nervous?" Carraway asked.
"A little. I'm going to receive caudal anesthesia during delivery, so I'm comforted by the idea that I'll have less pain," Cynthia replied.
"The miracle of modern medicine," Roger said before taking a bite of cake.
"Do you have family coming out after the delivery," asked Dr. Stephenson.
"Yes. Actually, since Cynthia's parents live so close, they will be coming on the day of the delivery. My parents will be coming from Dallas a week or so after," Roger said.
"It's going to be helpful to have the support after the baby is born," Cynthia said.
"Yes it will be," Dr. Carraway affirmed.
"Have you come up with any names yet?" Dr. Peterson asked while throwing his paper plate into a nearby wastebasket.
"No. We really need to get cracking on that," Roger said.
"We gave my son a name that matched my husband's initials and my daughter a name that matched mine," Dr. Carraway said. "It helped us to have a system to avoid arguments."
"We just aren't sure what we'll do yet about names," Cynthia said.
"Well, a name is important. Name can be destiny," Dr. Stephenson waxed philosophical.
"That's deep, Gordon," Dr. Peterson replied. "I'd like to stay to chat and eat more cake, but I have to get back to work. Congratulations in advance, Cynthia and Roger."
"Oh, hey, did you really need a consult on Dorothy Lovell?" Cynthia asked.
"Yeah, but it's not an emergency. Sometime when you have a few spare minutes this afternoon would be fine," Dr. Peterson replied.
"I'll make time," Cynthia said.
"Thanks." Dr. Peterson wiped the cake out of his mustache and left the doctor's lounge.
"I better get back to the office too," Dr. Carraway said. She walked up to Cynthia and hugged her. "Let me know if you need anything while you're off."
"I will," Cynthia replied. Dr. Carraway left to go back to her office.
"Yes. Let me know if you need anything as well. Either of you. And, don't forget to bring that baby by for a visit after he or she is born," Dr. Stephenson said.
"We will. Thanks Gordon," Roger said. "I'm going to head back to work too, Cindy. I'll see you later tonight," Roger said as he kissed her on the cheek. He tossed his paper plate into the wastebasket, and walked past Cynthia, gently squeezing her arm on the way out.
"I'll leave with you, Cynthia. Where are you heading," Dr. Stephenson asked.
"I'm heading back to the nurses' station," she said.
"Great. I'll walk with you," he replied.
Stephenson escorted Cynthia back to the nurse's station where she stayed and finished the paperwork she was working on earlier, and he went back to his office.
Later that day, Roger was able to leave work a little early which was something that happened rarely. When he arrived at home, there was a package in front of the garage. He carried the awkwardly large box through the front door and into the living room. He grabbed a utility knife out of a kitchen drawer and cut open the box to find a baby crib in five pieces. He hadn't ordered it. Had Cynthia? The hardware and instructions were included, so he moved the pieces to the nursery and began putting it together.