Over the rest of the summer, Cynthia began to show more and more and became more physically and intellectually taxed. She was more than ready to give birth. The baby was due the middle of October and it was October 2 and she had quit maintaining the house about a month prior. Roger was taking up most of the household duties in addition to his day job, but he didn't seem to mind.
"Can I get you anything," Roger asked Cynthia as she sat with her feet elevated on the coffee table.
"I'm fine, thanks." She patted the couch next to her. "Why don't you just sit next to me and relax. I'm getting tired just watching you," she said with a smile.
He flopped down on the couch, still wearing a kitchen apron. "Sounds good," he said as he put his arm around her shoulders.
"So, how was work?" she asked.
"We finalized the settlement on that medical malpractice case."
"Oh?"
"The hospital paid a tidy, undisclosed sum to the litigant, and the doctor in question had his hospital privileges removed. He will no longer be practicing at the hospital."
"Will he be working anywhere else?"
"Don't know. He didn't lose his license. At least, not yet. That involves a separate hearing with different parties. I won't be involved in that at all. I hope he does, though."
"Me too. I hope people realize that that kind of behavior doesn't represent the hospital staff at large," Cynthia said.
"Public Relations is working on damage control after this mess. But in the end, we can't control how people will see the hospital. Only time will tell. The hospital has an otherwise stellar reputation."
"True," she replied.
"Wanna watch some TV? I need to get my mind off work."
"Sure," she said.
The two watched television for about an hour and a half and they retired to bed. They had been sleeping for a couple of hours when Cynthia started having some powerful cramps and got up to go to the bathroom. Minutes later, Cynthia shouted, "Roger!"
Roger shot up in bed. "What? Is everything alright?" He got up and ran to the bathroom door and pushed it open.
Cynthia was standing in a puddle of fluid. "We need to get to the hospital. It's time," she said, holding herself under her belly.
"Okay," he said as he walked up to her and escorted her carefully from the bathroom. He threw on some pants and a shirt without tucking it in and dressed her in her bathrobe. They rushed through the house to the garage after he grabbed his car keys off the kitchen table. He placed Cynthia in the passenger side of their 1949 Buick Roadmaster and quickly got behind the wheel and drove her to the hospital.
They arrived at the Emergency Room at Hermann Hospital at 12:15 am. Dr. Jameson was the on-call obstetrician. Cynthia was rushed to delivery, leaving Roger behind to wait. He used the nurses' station phone in Emergency to call Cynthia's parents. Deborah had answered the phone and told him that she and Jacob would be there as soon as possible. Roger went to the waiting room and paced.
A nurse entered the waiting room. "Here. I thought you'd need this," she said as she gave him a cup of coffee.
"Thanks," he said.
"You should really take a seat. These deliveries can take a long time," she said.
"My wife was due in two weeks. Is this too early for the baby to be born?" he asked in a worried tone.
"Oh, heavens, no. Babies are often born this early quite safely, and some are born two weeks late. Every pregnancy's different."
Roger, relieved, said, "Thanks."
"Don't worry, she'll be fine. Dr. Jameson is very good."
Roger alternatively sat and drank coffee and paced the room for the next hour, when Deborah and Jacob showed up to be there for their grandchild's delivery. The three of them waited together.
"I can't believe we're going to be grandparents, Jacob," Deborah said. "Seems like just yesterday I was giving birth to Cynthia."
"Yes. And you don't look like a grandmother, honik," Jacob said with a smile.
"I can't believe I'm going to be a father," Roger chimed in.
Jacob replied, "Exciting and frightening all at once, isn't it? Being responsible for another person's life?"
"C'mon, Jacob. Don't add more pressure to the boy," Deborah said shooting a look of consternation at him. "He's going to be great. Roger, you are going to be great at being a father."
"I hope so," Roger said. "Right now, I'm just worried about Cynthia getting through this."
"She will. Women have been doing this for thousands of years. She is very strong," she said.
"You're going to have your hands full with two grandchildren after January," Roger said.
"Yes. Two new babies in one year. We are very blessed!" she exclaimed.
"It's going to keep you busy, for sure," Roger replied.
"Are you hoping for a boy, son?" Jacob asked.
"Actually, I'd prefer a girl, but I'd be happy with a healthy baby of either sex," Roger replied.
Deborah smiled. "Yes. Another strong female for the Glass-Parsons family. That would be very good." Jacob rolled his eyes but smiled. "Have you picked out any names?"
"Yes. We have a few picked out for each. Cynthia will pick if it's a girl and I'll pick if it's a boy," Roger replied.
"What are the names?" Jacob asked.
"I think we're going to keep it a surprise. We're waiting on the baby to arrive before one is finally picked," Roger replied.
"You're keeping us in too much suspense," Deborah said. She paused and continued, "Robert and Janice won't tell us either."
"Don't worry. The possibilities are all great names," Roger replied.
"What are Cynthia's plans after the baby is born?" Deborah asked.
"She's been talking about wanting to go back to work on a limited schedule in about a year," Roger replied.
"Good. I know she is a great doctor and can help so many people. It's good for her future daughter, if she has one, to see her mother living out her dreams," Deborah said.
"I agree, and Cynthia thought the same thing," Roger said. "It will be good for a son too." Deborah nodded in the affirmative.
"When are your parents getting here, Roger?" Jacob asked.
"They'll be here the end of October. They will stay with us for a while to spend some time with the baby and help out," Roger said.
"Why so long?" Deborah asked.
"Dad has to work, and they said they wanted to give us some time with the baby alone for a while," Roger said.
"That's understandable," Jacob replied.